Looking for the perfect DIY Halloween costume? Look no further – this robot costume is easy to make and perfect for the kids this Halloween!
Follow along with these simple steps to create your one-of-a-kind robot costume and even encourage your kids to help with some of the painting so they can add their own creative twist to it!
What you’ll need:
One TWO MEN AND A TRUCK small box
Green, red, white, yellow, and black paint
White poster or thick construction paper
Glue
Black marker
Step 1: Cut both the top and the bottom pieces off of your TWO MEN AND A TRUCK box and paint the box grey.
Step 2: Cut 10-12 circles out of your poster board and paint them green, red, white, and yellow in order to make the buttons for the robot.
Step 3: Create a “robot power meter” by printing off a color wheel from Google and drawing an arrow on it.
Step 4: Once all the paint is dry, glue the power meter on the upper left side of the box. Then glue the buttons in the remaining space on the front of the box.
Step 5: To hold the costume up, create straps by using grey tape or ribbon and glue those to the front and back of the costume.
This costume is great for kids of all ages and is simple for anyone to make. It’s sure to get double the number of treats when trick-or-treating!
TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® is the first and largest franchised moving company in the United States. Let us help move you forward! For more helpful tips and information on moving services subscribe to our blog and like us on Facebook.
Many companies have a set of “core values” they talk about, where they might include them in mission statements or put them on a plaque somewhere around the building.
We have these at TWO MEN AND A TRUCK as well, but here, they are more than just a list of ideas to promote – they are a literal way of life for each team member with the company, from top to bottom. These core values are highlighted by one that stands out above the rest, and that is THE GRANDMA RULE®.
THE GRANDMA RULE means to treat everyone the way you would want your grandma to be treated. It is such simple, yet effective idea, and it resonates with everyone who hears it. Whether it’s our movers and drivers on a move helping a customer, a move consultant on the phone booking a move, or a marketing manager out in community: keeping THE GRANDMA RULE top of mind encourages us to treat everyone with care, compassion, and respect.
“I believe THE GRANDMA RULE is such an important core value because it truly represents the culture of this company,” said Lauren Trost, a former marketing and sales manager for the TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® Chicago locations who now works at our Home Office location. “TWO MEN AND A TRUCK employees not only practice this core value while at work – it is deeply engrained in their everyday life. Before I started working at TWO MEN AND A TRUCK, the Lansing franchise actually moved my grandma. I witnessed a wonderful display of compassion and strength. For several weeks after her move, my grandma could not stop talking about how impressed she was with the two young men who moved her.”
If you’ve followed our company at all or heard of THE GRANDMA RULE, you might have heard of Grandma Eb. The mother of TWO MEN AND A TRUCK Founder Mary Ellen Sheets, she served as the inspiration for this core value due in large part to becoming a key figure in our brand’s inception.
She offered her home, backyard, garage, and whatever else was needed in the very early days of the company in Lansing, Mich., to help support and grow TWO MEN AND A TRUCK. Her support helped our company build its base, and THE GRANDMA RULE is a fitting tribute to her contributions.
Across all TWO MEN AND A TRUCK locations, you’ll find signs about THE GRANDMA RULE and hear our team members talk about what it means to them. At the same time, it helps put our customers at ease knowing it’s something we make a priority.
“THE GRANDMA RULE, to me, exemplifies everything we want and expect out of our employees and ourselves,” said Brian Stern, a TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® multi-unit franchisee with locations in New Jersey and Maine. “The idea is to treat each and every one of our customers as if they were our grandmothers. If we do that, every customer will be treated with respect, patience, and empathy during difficult moving situations.”
Taking it even further, it’s a great reminder to our seniors that they’ll be in great care if they decide to move with us. Nearly 52% of all moves we complete are for people over the age of 50, and these can generally be tough moves due to the emotional factors involved of people parting ways with a home that has meant so much throughout their lives.
Our teams are specifically trained on how to handle senior moves and understand the importance of making sure they are able to communicate with the customer and provide the highest levels of care in order to make them feel at ease as they complete their moves.
“Often times, a senior move involves downsizing from a long-term home, and it can be a complicated and emotional experience,” said Alexa Lanier, a multi-unit marketing director for the TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® Fort Lauderdale and Boca Raton locations. “Our customer service representatives and in-home consultants work with the customers to account for the destination of all items, which can involve multiple stops or storage. Our movers then take the time to make sure every item gets to where it needs to go.”
It may seem like a small piece in big puzzle, but THE GRANDMA RULE is who we are at TWO MEN AND A TRUCK, and we work each day to live up to this core value!
If you or someone that you know is looking to complete an upcoming senior move, be sure to contact your local TWO MEN AND A TRUCK franchise and see why we are known as the “Movers Who Care®”!
TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® is the first and largest franchised moving company in the United States. Let us help move you forward! For more helpful tips and information on moving services subscribe to our blog and like us on Facebook.
People tend to think of local home moving when they think of TWO MEN AND A TRUCK – and rightfully so – but did you know we also specialize in long-distance moving, too?
It was only right for us to take our local home moving expertise and turn it into multiple service options for long-distance relocations, and we’ve done just that. Long-distance moving can be a challenge, but with TWO MEN AND A TRUCK, you can trust your belongings are in good hands as we help you get to your new destination quickly and efficiently.
We have two long-distance options for our customers: Expedited, and Value Flex® crated.
This is the traditional option of the three, and is exactly what you’d expect when thinking of TWO MEN AND A TRUCK and long-distance moving: our drivers will load up your belongings into one of our 26 ft. moving trucks and hit the road to your new home.
This option provides you with an exact date of delivery for your items, allowing you to plan ahead as you commute to the new destination yourself. Also, your items are the only belongings in the truck during transport, and we offer GPS tracking so you can stay up-to-date on the whereabouts of your items.
This is a new service at TWO MEN AND A TRUCK and is ideal for those who just need to ship a few belongings long distance. Your items are loaded into a secured, cardboard crate that holds approximately 1,000 lbs. The crate is then loaded onto a third-party carry and delivered to the TWO MEN AND A TRUCK location closest to your new destination.
As always, your belongings are the only items in the containers and you are given the same 48-hour window of delivery you would get with Value Flex. Please note: This option is only available at select TWO MEN AND A TRUCK franchise locations.
To learn more about the TWO MEN AND A TRUCK long-distance options or to get a free quote, click here!
TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® is the first and largest franchised moving company in the United States. Let us help move you forward! For more helpful tips and information on moving services subscribe to our blog and like us on Facebook.
Somehow, some way, the summer season has already passed us by and we’re working our way into the fall season.
This means football, back to school, the weather finally cooling off, and for some people – downsizing their home. If there was ever a time to downsize – whether it’s getting rid of some old belongings, or moving on from your home and transitioning to a new, smaller living space – it’s right before winter hits.
However, downsizing is much easier said than done, and can be a stressful task as it usually involves parting ways with certain items that might be meaningful to you and your family. Deciding what you still need and what you don’t have any use for is not easy, but it’s part of the downsizing process.
The best advice we can give is to build a plan on how you want to downsize and take it step by step to avoid getting overwhelmed. We’ve built out four helpful tips below to help you with the process!
Start early
This is especially important for those who have a downsizing plan that involves moving. You’ll want to get started a few months in advance of moving day so you’re ready when the movers show up at your door. Go day-by-day, room-by-room, and slowly chip away at your downsizing plan so you can manage everything without having too much on your plate.
Toss or donate items you no longer use
When figuring out what you’re going get rid of, one easy question to ask yourself is this: how much will I still use this?
If the first thought you have is “not very often”, then maybe it’s time to part ways. This is a helpful mindset to have during the process of downsizing and will help you feel better about moving on from certain things. You can also evaluate certain items by determining how recent you’ve used it. If it’s been sitting for more than a year, chances are it’s no longer of use to you.
If you have items that you need to get rid of but don’t want to take care of it yourself, we now offer junk removal services at select locations!
Try to be flexible
Moving is complicated, and so is downsizing. This is why staying flexible – and calm, if possible – is important. Plans can change, people can have different opinions, and you never know how you’re going to feel until you’re in the moment. Do your best to keep your downsizing and moving tasks simple and work patiently toward your goal.
Practice patience
A downsizing move and the process that it requires won’t in happen in a day – it takes time. Once you have an ideal move date in mind, work slowly, day-by-day, to chip away at the necessary tasks in order to eliminate as much stress as possible when moving day arrives.
If you’re looking for help on completing an upcoming downsizing move, we’re here to help! Whether it’s helping with the entire move or just assisting with packing, delivery, or loading and unloading – our professional moving teams are ready to help. To learn more about our moving services, click here.
TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® is the first and largest franchised moving company in the United States. Let us help move you forward! For more helpful tips and information on moving services subscribe to our blog and like us on Facebook.
It’s hard to believe, but somehow, September has already arrived. Summer is coming to a close, fall is right around the corner, and that signals a major movement for the TWO MEN AND A TRUCK brand: giving back to our communities over the next few months!
While this is an ongoing effort throughout the year, the fall season is a particularly busy time for us as we give back to local organizations through our four, TWO MEN AND A TRUCK fall cause campaigns. These fall campaigns are great ways for our franchises to give back through different avenues which are important to them and their teams. Our founder, Mary Ellen Sheets, made it a point from day one that giving back in the areas we work and live would be a top priority for our franchises, and we’ve continued to live out this mission since the mid-1980s.
On top of our four fall campaigns, we’ve also developed meaningful and impactful relationships with organizations like Convoy of Hope and Cheeriodicals, who we work with year-round as we donate our resources to help with their individual missions.
Below, you can learn a little about each of our four call cause campaigns and what they stand for. If you want to get involved with these in your area, click here to use our franchise locator and find the location closest to you and contact them directly!
Movers for Meals®
Created to support families in the community facing hunger by partnering with schools, business, and other organizations to collect and deliver non-perishable food items to food pantries and local shelters that support the community.
Movers for Mutts®
Created to collect pet food or toy donations for local shelters or organizations who care for and foster stray animals.
Movers for Military®
A fall collection drive created to show support for the brave men and women who sacrificed to protect our freedoms. Essential care items are collected and delivered to veteran’s shelters to support veterans in need.
Truckload of Warmth®
A collection drive for new and gently used winter clothing, such as coats, hats, gloves, and scarves for local shelters or other organizations to distribute to those who need them most.
TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® is the first and largest franchised moving company in the United States. Let us help move you forward! For more helpful tips and information on moving services subscribe to our blog and like us on Facebook.
Take it from us and our experience with more than 8.5 million moves: every move is unique, and each moving need requires different tailored services to get the job done right.
As moving professionals, we’ve adapted to this over time and it’s how our loading and unloading services have evolved. Sometimes you just need the moving help with lifting, but not the entire moving experience.
We’re thrilled to offer customers help with our professionally trained, background checked, and drug screened moving teams to complete the hardest part of a move – the lifting! This saves you the trouble of taking it on by yourself, and will also save you a great deal of money by not purchasing a full move.
How it works
If you’ve rented a moving truck or moving container on your own, we’re still able to offer our help. Once you have the rental ready to go, we can help with the loading or unloading, moving as little or as much as you need. You’ll get peace of mind of knowing your personal belongings are in the hands of professionals, while knowing you don’t have to endure the physical labor of your move.
Our load and unload services are charged by the hour, allowing you to choose exactly what you need help loading or unloading for your move.
Please note: Load and unload services are only available at select TWO MEN AND A TRUCK locations. Click the following link to see if the franchise closest to you can assist with this moving need.
Our moving options don’t stop with loading and unloading, either! We offer a few more specialty service options for those needing help with moving their heavy items.
If you need furniture or other heavy items moved to a different room in your current home, up the stairs, or out to the garage, no problem! We’ll come out and move your belongings where they need to go. This is great for home staging to sell, holiday decorating, staging a party, or home renovations.
New to the TWO MEN AND A TRUCK service list, we can now help you with junk removal of items you no longer need.
If you’re cleaning out the garage or basement, renovating your home, decluttering, or just getting rid of belongings you don’t want anymore, this service can get the job done! Our professionally trained moving teams will remove as little or as much as you need, saving you the heavy lifting. We even offer curbside pickup!
Please note: With each TWO MEN AND A TRUCK location being independently owned and operated, specialty moving services can sometimes be limited to select franchises. Please use our franchise locator link to find the location closest to you and see if they offer these types of services.
We’ve all been there before: you purchased a large piece of furniture or a new appliance, and after the excitement wears off, you realize you still need to get it to your home and inside where it belongs. No sweat – call us to deliver and move it!
We’ll pick up your item from the store, deliver it to your home, and move it into your house with ease, saving you the hassle and pain of trying transport it and move it in yourself.
TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® is the first and largest franchised moving company in the United States. Let us help move you forward! For more helpful tips and information on moving services subscribe to our blog and like us on Facebook.
Moving into a new home gives you and your family a chance for new beginnings. You may be feeling a mix of emotions such as excitement and stress – after all, a new home means more responsibility. There are many different safety precautions that must be taken before you move, and we’re here to help break a few of them down for you!
Use this checklist to ensure proper safety precautions are taken before you move into your new space!
Smoke alarms and detectors
Make sure your home has enough smoke detectors throughout the entire house. Then, make sure each detector has batteries and test them to be sure they work properly. Keep some backup batteries just in case! It’s also a good idea to put carbon monoxide detectors on each level of the home.
Electrical
The best safety tip to live by for the electrical in your home is if it doesn’t look quite right, check it out. If you’re unfamiliar with electrical work, call an electrician to double check that everything is how it should be. Since frayed wires and cords can easily start fires, it’s best to make this a priority for your new home.
Water and pipes
In case of an emergency such as a broken pipe or flooding, it’s best to know exactly where you can shut off the water to your house. You should also have the pipes of the house inspected to make sure they’re fully equipped to work properly without any leaks or breaks.
Home protection system
A home protection system may not be needed by everyone, but it’s a great investment for those who would like a little more peace of mind. Since home burglaries are unfortunately quite common, finding good home security will help to keep the chances of someone breaking in lower.
It’s also crucial to double check the locks on all doors in your house, including the garage.
Have an emergency plan
Have a discussion with your family on exactly what you will all do incase of an emergency. This can include plans for a fire, flood, etc.
If everyone has an idea of what they need to do and where they need to be in case any of these events take place, your family will feel slightly more at ease and in control.
Miscellaneous emergency items
Several stocked first-aid kits around the house
Keep all the emergency phone numbers somewhere safe and visible in the house
Use this comprehensive guide from the American Red Cross to create an effective emergency kit
Once you’ve taken the proper safety measures, you’re ready to make your new house a home!
TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® is the first and largest franchised moving company in the United States. Let us help move you forward! For more helpful tips and information on moving services subscribe to our blog and like us on Facebook.
Some kids are excited about back-to-school time, while others may dread it. Either way, you want your kids to start of the year with their best foot forward. Use these tips to ensure your child has a positive start to their new school year!
Get your kids back into a routine
A week before school starts, try your best to get your family back into a “school routine”. Make sure they’re ready for the early bedtimes and early mornings that are essential for school time. Be sure your alarms are set!
Talk to them about what classes they’re looking forward to
Asking your kids about their favorite subjects will help them to get a little more excited to be back in the classroom. If they don’t have a favorite class, encourage them enter their new school year with an open mindset and willingness to learn about new subjects.
Introduce them to their teachers
Many schools allow you to go meet the teachers and pick up textbooks a couple days before school starts. Use this opportunity to introduce your children to the teachers so they may feel more comfortable with them before school even starts.
Let them pick out fun school supplies
Even if they’re not looking forward to school, more often than not, kids enjoy picking out their new school supplies every year. If your budget allows it, encourage them to pick out their favorite folders, notebooks, and pens. This will give your kids a sense of creative control over their supplies!
Encourage them to join a team/club
If your kids are having an especially hard time looking forward to the new school year, joining a club that interests them or playing a sport they enjoy could help make the adjustment easier. These activities will allow them to make new friends and even discover interests that they may not have known they had!
Keep up with open communication
Keep up with honest discussions between yourself and your children about the day they had at school. If they had a bad day, try and come up with a solution together on how to make the next one better.
The summer to fall transition can be a tricky one, but these tips can help to relieve some of the stress off of both you and your children.
TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® is the first and largest franchised moving company in the United States. Let us help move you forward! For more helpful tips and information on moving services subscribe to our blog and like us on Facebook.
From the early days of two high school students moving customers’ belongings around Lansing, Mich., to Founder Mary Ellen Sheets selling the first franchise to her daughter, Melanie, one thing has always remained the same at TWO MEN AND A TRUCK: a commitment to providing a high-quality moving experience to our customers.
As we’ve continued to expand and evolve the TWO MEN AND A TRUCK brand, this has been a constant which drives the entire company, and it’s what our customers have come to know us for during the last 35 years. However, throughout this time, we’ve learned people can be a bit skeptical when it comes to hiring movers – and understandably so.
Trusting strangers to come into your home and move your items for you can seem overwhelming, especially as you work to pack up your belongings, switch homes, and start a new chapter in your life. Thankfully, our moving teams understand the nuances of moving and how it effects people, and we work hard to take the stress out of this difficult time.
Not only is this a nickname which has stuck around for years, it’s a lifestyle: we want to provide the highest levels of care in the moving industry.
From using top-of-the-line moving equipment and moving trucks on every move, to sending only professionally-trained, background-checked, and drug-screened movers to your home or business – you can be sure you’re getting the best of the best with TWO MEN AND A TRUCK.
Services for any moving need
We’re more than just home movers. We can help customers with business moving, packing, junk removal, storage, long-distance moving, and much more.
Whatever your moving needs might be, we can help!
Support from loyal customers
What better way to learn more about a company than to hear it from customers themselves?
Listen below to what they had to say!
TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® is the first and largest franchised moving company in the United States. Let us help move you forward! For more helpful tips and information on moving services, subscribe to our blog and like us on Facebook.
As summer comes to an end, many young adults are starting to get ready to move into their college dorms. Whether it’s your first or fourth year, these tips will help you to maximize your storage and make the most of your small living space!
Start with a packing list
Creating a packing list before moving into your dorm will allow you to save time and space. A list can also help make sure that you’re only bringing the necessities so you don’t have extra clutter you probably will not need.
Look at your dorm before you move in
Since there are a few different types of dorm styles, look on your school’s website before moving in to see pictures of your future space. This will help you to come up with ideas on how you’re going to organize the room and make it livable for you.
Every space is a storage space
Whether you’re living in a dorm or a smaller apartment, finding storage can be tricky. Places like underneath the bed, desk drawers, a shelf of the closet, etc., can be used to store any of your things. You can even use the back of your door as a hanging shoe rack, or to hang towels.
Hold onto your boxes
Be sure to hang onto the boxes you use when you move in. This will make the process of moving out much less stressful. Flatten out the boxes when you’re done to minimize the amount of space they take up.
Make it your own
Since you’ll be spending the next several months in your new dorm, make it a place you enjoy being in. Create a plan with your roommate on how you want to decorate and personalize your room so you’re both able to have a space you’re comfortable in.
Although it may seem like you don’t have much room in a college dorm, you can always get creative with your new space. Follow these tips to start your new school year in college off right!
TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® is the first and largest franchised moving company in the United States. Let us help move you forward! For more helpful tips and information on moving services subscribe to our blog and like us on Facebook.
TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® 