What to expect from professional movers

It’s no secret, moving can be a difficult task! Between packing up your belongings and preparing the kids for a new school, you may find yourself overwhelmed with the options before you when it comes to hiring professional movers to help.

At TWO MEN AND A TRUCK®, we have more than 30 years of experience in the moving industry and make it our top priority for our trained, uniformed, and caring teams to exceed your expectations. We treat your items like our own and strive to make your moving experience stress-free and enjoyable.

We asked our move heroes what customers can expect when they move with the Movers Who Care®, here’s what they had to say.

Like us on Facebook for more helpful tips and updates. TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® is the first and largest franchised moving company in the United States. Let us help move you forward!

Surviving your move: What to know about moving into your first apartment

Apartment moving pic

Written by Katie Peterson

At TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® we know moving can have its fair share of challenges. There’s the packing, the cleaning, and let’s not even mention move day itself. Moving into your first place is stressful, and apartment moving has its own set of headaches. Neighbors are more like roommates, there are a ton of rules and regulations while renting an apartment, and what about all those stairs? We’ve come up with some tips to help you survive your first apartment move.

Ask questions

-Ask the landlord about any concerns beforehand. Good questions to ask might include what kind of maintenance is available if something goes wrong in the apartment, how old the building is, and even questions about the previous tenants. Your landlord will love bragging about any new construction, and you will be making a more informed decision about your new place as a result.

-If you have a chance, talk to some of the current residents of the building while you are there. What do they think of the landlord? How are the other tenants in the apartment? This will help you make an informed decision about the apartment and give you a chance to introduce yourself to some of your future neighbors if you are already serious about renting.

Be prepared and organized

The actual move into your new apartment is all about being prepared and organized throughout the process. With these tips in mind, you’ll be ready for anything that comes your way.

Before your move:

-Make sure to bring paper documentation to your lease signing. This might include proof of employment or a copy of your lease with highlighted areas you might have questions on. Especially in competitive markets where multiple tenants are looking to rent, it pays to be prepared! This will also give your landlord a good idea of your trustworthiness and ability to bring important documents in on time (like your rent).

-Schedule a walk-through of the apartment with your landlord before you move in. This is a good opportunity to take photos of the condition of the apartment for reference when you are negotiating your security deposit. The photos can also be used to ensure you took care of the apartment when you eventually move out and want your deposit back.

-Measure the dimensions of your new apartment before you buy furniture or bring in items you already own. This will save you the headache of having to return any items that won’t fit, and the backache of your movers trying to fit the furniture through the door. Important spots to measure include the area for a washer and dryer and the nook for your refrigerator (if you have to supply them), tight doorways, and wall space for seating.

On move day:

-First things first, clean every nook and cranny of your new apartment! Scrub all those places you won’t ever be able to get to once your furniture is moved in, and even the places you will. It will save time and energy later in the day when all you have to do is a quick trip around the apartment with the vacuum.

-Schedule a timeframe to move into your new place at a reasonable and respectable time. The earlier, the better! Make sure you have enough time to finish moving in before residents in your apartment building are thinking about going to sleep. Your neighbors will appreciate meeting you during daylight hours as opposed to when they are complaining about the noise in their pajamas.

-Schedule any big items you’ve purchased to be delivered on separate days or spaced apart on the day of your move. Items such as mattresses and large furniture pieces will have their own deliveries and can create inconveniences on move-in day if arriving all at once. The day after your move, or a few hours after the movers have gone, are good times to schedule these deliveries to ensure the elevators and parking lots aren’t crowded and remain accessible to other tenants.

Be friendly and considerate

-This probably goes without saying, but be friendly! Introduce yourself to your surrounding neighbors. Even if you don’t go around knocking on your neighbors’ doors be sure to say “hi” in passing or on the elevator. You might make new friends, or at the very least, get to know their names in case their mail ends up in your box by accident.

-Make sure your landlord knows who you are and has a face to go with your name. It will be useful for him/her to know you in case you have a maintenance problem or you are a few days late on the rent. A little effort will ensure your landlord knows you as more than just a name on a check.

-Be considerate of the noise level and your activities at certain hours. Bouncing a basketball in your room on the third floor is never a good idea, especially if it’s at three o’clock in the morning.

Moving into your own apartment for the first time can be exciting, scary, and stressful all wrapped up in one. Making preparations beforehand, staying organized, and being considerate of your neighbors are great ways to help you survive your first apartment move!

What advice do you have for moving into your first apartment? We’d like to hear! Like us on Facebook for more helpful tips and updates. TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® is the first and largest franchised moving company in the United States. Let us help move you forward!

Moving with kids: avoid the moving day blues

TMAT306

Written by Katie Peterson

In movies, it always seems like moving is just about the worst news a kid can hear. Boxes are packed, the sad music plays, and it starts raining just as the car pulls out of the driveway, right past the “sold” sign in the front yard. But moving with kids does not have to be a dramatic movie plot-twist. Here’s how to help your kids avoid the moving blues and maybe even have a little fun along the way!

Before the move

Move meeting

Conduct a family “move meeting” to talk about the process and ease their nerves about the move. The more your children feel involved in the decision making, the less they will feel like they are being forced to do something they don’t want to do. Create a moving day plan so they may check off the events as they happen. For example, 1. Movers arrive, 2. Truck is all loaded up, 3. Drive to new house … and so on.

Start planning their new room

Help your child plan their new room setup and design. Take your child to the new place and have them talk about where they want to put their furniture or what color they want to paint their walls. This will help build up their excitement and give them fun decisions to make.

New owner letter

Sit down with the whole family and write a letter to the new owners of your home. This can be a fun and memorable experience for everyone. Tell the family moving in why the house is special and what they need to know going in, such as the first bedroom being the best room for making forts or the neighbor’s cat Frisky often wanders toward the apple blossom tree in the back yard. The family will have fun remembering stories while you write and the new owners will love the personal instruction guide.

During the move

Put them to work!

Assign age-appropriate tasks for the kids. Utilize those extra helping hands! Older kids might be able to help label or tape boxes while younger kids help wipe down tables or clean windows. Make a game out of these mini tasks by awarding winners for the fastest packer or the most rooms vacuumed.

“Day of move” box

Pack a “Day of Move” box for each child to keep their favorite small items with them. Packing all of your belongings into boxes and putting them in the back of a moving truck can feel overwhelming, especially when you don’t quite understand where your stuff will end up. Your child might even like Truckie’s moving journal to write down some of their thoughts about the move to keep with them. If your kids have some of their favorite things, they will feel more comfortable with the rest of their belongings being packed .

After the move

Go exploring

Explore your new neighborhood! Once your tennis shoes are finally unpacked, take a stroll around the neighborhood with the kids. This will be a great opportunity to get familiar with the area and maybe meet some of your neighbors.

It’s all about attitude

Stay positive and keep your excitement up. Make sure your kids know how happy you are to be in the new house. Your kids will feed off of your energy and how you are reacting to the move, so if you are positive and excited about it, chances are they will be, too!

Moving with kids can be tough, but with the right preparation and a positive mindset, you can make moving with your kids a memorable adventure.

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.

College moving 101: tips for your first move

Written by Corinne DeVries

Where do you even begin?! Preparing for your first move to college can be stressful and overwhelming, to say the least. The uncertainty surrounding what will soon be your college life is looming ahead. You’re not sure where everything on campus is, where your room is, what you should pack, if your new peers will be welcoming, or if you’ll get everything done before your move in date.

Thankfully we have quite a few college moving experts on hand to offer their advice on expertly preparing you for your move, so you’ll have one less thing to worry about!

Getting started and getting there

Most universities and colleges begin sending brochures, flyers, and check-up emails a mont College moving h or two in advance to prepare you to move in. Often, among these materials will be a list of suggested items you need to bring. This is a good way to start your list of items you know you need to bring. Another important thing to remember is most campuses get crazy busy during move-in days. A high influx of cars are on campus, makes parking and getting to your dorm or apartment just short of impossible. Be sure you check what time you are scheduled to move in and where you can park to unload your belongings, and try to stick with this schedule! A lot of students will be moving in on the same day, and if you try to move in at a different time, there may not be a place to park and unload. Lastly, on move day, give yourself a little extra time to get there—there are many people in one area, and getting through campus or around town can take a lot longer than usual, and you want to make sure you are punctual for your move-in time.

Roommate bonding

It’s a good idea to get to know your roommate and become familiar with them so you don’t feel like you’re moving in with a total stranger. Meeting up to grab lunch is the best way to introduce yourself but if you don’t have time, or you roommate doesn’t live near you, you can always chat online or over the phone. This way you can find out what they like to do in their free time, as well as figure out who will be bringing what items. The typical list of items students share with their roommates are things like a futon, fridge, microwave, TV, carpet, etc.!

Sharing a bathroom

Check if your dorm is suite style or community bath. If you’re in a suite style dorm, you will want to stock up on cleaning supplies. Usually with four people plus your friends that come over, your bathroom gets gross pretty quickly. Get to know your suitemates and set up a weekly cleaning schedule for the bathroom. Since cleaning supplies can be a hassle to pack, you will most likely want to find the local convenience store once you move in, and get cleaning supplies for your bathroom.

If your dorm has community bath, you will probably want to invest in a carrier for your shampoo/conditioner, tooth brush, razors etc. to make trips to the bathroom simple. You can just grab your carrier rather than trying to carry everything in your arms. Sometimes toiletries can be awkward to pack. If you don’t want to deal with trying to find a place to squeeze your toiletries in with all of your clothes on move day, you may want to wait and buy these items at the convenience store once you arrive.

Other essentials

Be sure to read through all of the information the university has sent you about measurements. All dorms are different, so before buying your futon, carpet, or fridge, check the size of your room to ensure what you’re buying will all fit in your room. Also, double check things like bed size. Some bunk beds or lofts in college dorms are longer or a different size than your average twin bed. If you’re planning to buy your own sheets, double check the bed size to make sure the sheets will fit.

Linen agreements

Some campuses offer linen agreements for on-campus living. So if you don’t want to go out and find sheets that fit, check to see if your campus offers a linen agreement. Often linen agreements include washing the sheets as well as shower towels. These items usually need to be returned at the end of the year during checkout, but it’s one less thing to pack!

In addition, check the laundry situation in your dorm. There may be washers and dryers in your dorm hall. Some campuses may include the use of the machines in your housing contract. However, some may require you to use cards or quarters. If this is the case, you may want to bring quarters or find a nearby location where you can exchange cash for quarters!

Survival kit

Some things you may not think about when moving into the dorm is that you will most likely get sick whether it be a cold, the flu, migraines, or maybe you will get a really bad paper cut! Or for those bad days where you seem to be spilling everything, whether it be on your carpet, desk, or even on yourself, there are a few things you will want to pack:

First aid: bandages, antibiotic and hydrocortisone ointments, pain killers, digital thermometer, decongestant, and antacids
Laundry: detergent, stain remover stick, and fabric softener
Cleaning: antibacterial wipes, glass cleaning wipes, microfiber dust cloth, roll of paper towels, broom, and dustpan

Tips

Pack light
- The dorms aren’t very big and there isn’t a lot of room for clutter. Try to only pack the essentials with maybe a few decorative items such as pictures of family and high school friends to make it feel more like home.
- It may be easy to pack clothes in a suitcase, however there isn’t a lot of storage space in a dorm room so try to pack clothes in garbage bags or something that can be easily thrown away or stored for when it’s time to move out again.
Pack like things together
- If you pack similar belongings together, it makes unpacking on arrival so much easier.
Tool kit
- Bring a tool kit for move in day and have it handy in case you want to loft/de-loft your bed, put together a table you brought, or something of the sort.
Explore
- Introduce yourself to people living on your floor or in your hall. The friends you make in college will likely become lifelong friends.

Also find nearby convenience stores because we all know there is that one thing you forgot to pack and you won’t be able to wait for mom to send it to you in the mail.

TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® is the first and largest franchised moving company in the United States. To learn more moving and packing tips subscribe to our blog or like us on Facebook.

A day in the life of a TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® mover

Written by Dawn Kroeger

For people seeking work where two days are never the same with a mobile office that displays ever-changing views, they need to look no further than TWO MEN AND A TRUCK®.

Frontline roles, such as mover and driver positions, feature a fair amount of diversity and autonomy. Do you believe being a mover is “just moving furniture” and anyone could do it? Think again. Since no day is “typical”, check out a common day in the life of a TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® mover.

We promote and encourage the development of professional and career skills for all team members from moving, customer service, business knowledge, and practical business skills and training. Our goal is to develop leaders. We are Movers Who Care and throughout team members’ time in our system, we want each of them to learn and develop the skills that can impact them throughout their life. So each day like the below, we are moving people forward.

6:30 a.m.

Wake up ready to take on the world with the discipline to make the most of each day. No need to get up early for a workout; your job is working out! Proudly put on your uniform, eat a quick breakfast, grab an energy drink and a gallon of water, and you’re out the door.

7:15 a.m.

Arrive at TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® and take part in a quick team huddle where you are reminded of safe lifting practices and the importance of exceptional customer service.

7:30 a.m.

Receive your assignments for the day. Check out your truck, ensuring everything is working properly, do a full truck inspection, check all customer-requested boxes are inventoried and loaded, and each piece of equipment is accounted for and in working order.

7:45 a.m.

Begin any necessary customer paperwork, take care of any loose ends before departure, then hit the road.

8:15 a.m.

Arrive at your first customer’s home, and introduce yourself while showing your charisma and competence in order to put your customer at ease. You are moving their memories after all. Complete a walkthrough, ensuring the customer you fully understand expectations and illustrating your communication skills and diligence to get the details right.

8:30 a.m.

Begin the move by loading the truck, paying special attention to an antique table the customer’s grandmother brought over from Ireland when she moved to the states as a young woman. Continue loading items.

11:15 a.m.

Stop to answer a few questions your customer’s uneasy eight-year-old daughter has about how you are handling her American Doll and Barbie collections. Assure her they will be safely packed at the back of the truck so they will be the first thing off it at her new home.

11:45 a.m.

Ensure everything is packed to customer’s expectations, then head to the new home.

12:00 noon

Arrive at the customer’s new home and take a few minutes to enjoy a customer-provided lunch of sub sandwiches. These folks love to show their appreciation by feeding you! This is also an opportunity to learn more about customers, hearing feedback about the move and validating how your role is so critical to their new direction.

12:15 p.m.

Begin unloading the customer’s belongings into their new home, being sure to honor your promise about the American Girl dolls and Barbies! Smile when you give a very relieved eight-year-old her most prized possessions.

3:00 p.m.

You are nearing completion of your first move and feeling good. Everything is safely placed in its proper place to the elation of the customer. The customer cannot believe how you and your team member hustled to accomplish this move. Your customer is thrilled, pays for the move, and adds a nice tip for you and your partner!

3:30 p.m.

You clean up your truck, put equipment back in place, and head to your second and final move of the day – a retirement-age couple downsizing into a senior community.

3:45 p.m.

You arrive at the customer’s home, introduce yourself with a smile and eye contact, explain how the move will go, and answer any questions the customers have. These customers seem a little melancholy. You learn they are leaving the house in which they raised their children, so it’s understandable.

4:00 p.m.

You begin the move and realize your customers have purged many of their belongings and are moving minimal pieces into their new, one-bedroom apartment at the senior community.

5:30 p.m.

The truck is loaded, and you are ready to support your customers in beginning this new chapter in their lives. While loading you find a bracelet in the couch. You give it back to Mrs. Customer and she begins to cry. The bracelet had been a 25^th wedding anniversary gift, and she had lost it last year.

5:45 p.m.

You arrive at the senior community and begin to unload. The unload goes smoothly, and you chat with your customers about new traditions they will begin now that they have moved. You share a story about your grandmother’s positive experience in a similar community, and they begin to feel at ease.

7:00 p.m.

Customer’s belongings are unloaded and Mr. and Mrs. Customer are finally relaxing; in fact, they seem genuinely relieved and maybe even a little excited. Mrs. Customer tips you with a jar of home-made strawberry jam. You leave feeling proud of your ability to put people at ease while executing a safe and damage-free move. And you remember you really need to call your grandma tonight.

7:30 p.m.

You arrive back at the office, complete paperwork, clean up your truck, and prepare for tomorrow’s customers.

On the drive home you reflect on this job. It is a hard job. You have to be strong, a problem solver, a communicator, and, sometimes, a friend. It is physically and mentally tough – but so rewarding. You really feel like you are making a difference in one of the most stressful life events in which people undergo. You know if you keep up your hard work and positive attitude, you will work your way into a leadership position at TWO MEN AND A TRUCK®. Until that day you will continue to give your best to the people who depend on you each day. Moving is much more than just moving stuff. It’s moving people forward, including 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 to an Island? TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® has you covered.

Written by Dawn Kroeger

During peak season, Mackinac Island is a tourist destination for up to 15,000 visitors daily and home to nearly 500 year-round residents. Perhaps the most noticeable observation upon arrival by first-time visitors is the absence of automobiles. Visitors and residents travel by foot, bicycle, or horse drawn carriage creating a throwback tempo comparable to the 19th century. Tour carriages and horse-drawn taxis transport folks wherever they need to go. But what happens when you happen to be one of those 500 year-round residents moving to the island? You call the best mover around, of course.

Executing a smooth move is a work of both science and art. Over the past two decades many elements of the moving industry have changed, but some aspects have remained constant – movers, driver, and a truck. When the Bay City, Mich., location answered the call to move a family’s belongings to the island, they added a new element to the mix: movers, driver, and horse and buggy.

The Michigan franchise recently moved a customer to Mackinac Island, the premiere tourist spot for northern Michigan. The island, nestled within Lake Huron, is the perfect spot for hiking, biking, and indulging in infamous Mackinac Island fudge; however, it is not the easiest destination in which to complete a move. In addition to being surrounded by a body of water, the Bay City team had to undergo another obstacle since Mackinac Island outlaws motor vehicles, prohibiting a TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® truck from driving around the island.

While every move completed is a bit different, the Mackinac Island move included a few more steps. The movers loaded the customer’s belongings onto the truck, rode a ferry over the waves of Lake Huron to the island, and then transferred the items onto a dray led by two horses. Once on the dray, the movers maneuvered the horse-drawn cart with the customer’s belongings through the bustling, winding streets of the island to the new home and unload. To minimize the length of the move, two horses and two drays each pulled 4,000 pounds at once and rotated between the dock and the customer’s home, creating a smooth move process uninterrupted by challenges.

“I was excited, nervous, and a bit shocked when we received the call to move someone to Mackinac Island,” said President of the Bay City location Jessica Pula. “We were bidding against two other major moving companies for the job.

In the end, the customer selected the locally owned TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® based on reputation and was thrilled with the outcome of the move to Michigan’s iconic Mackinac Island.

Eight interns and a truck – Part 6

Written by Cheyenne Yost

Abby King – Marketing

Meet Abby, she’s a marketing intern and my partner in crime here in the marketing department at TWO MEN AND A TRUCK®/INTERNATIONAL, Inc. We have teamed up on various projects and tasks throughout the summer. Though it’s only her first internship, Abby has gained an immeasurable amount of knowledge and experience in the corporate world. After meeting on our first day back in May, we became fast friends and I couldn’t have asked for a better coworker and newfound pal. Here’s what she had to say about her summer interning at TWO MEN AND A TRUCK®/INTERNATIONAL, Inc.

Q: Can you tell me a little bit about yourself and your background?

Abby: I was born in Rockford, MI but lived most of my life in Okemos, MI. After I graduated from Okemos High School, I went off to college at Central Michigan University and I’m excited to start my senior year at CMU this upcoming fall. When I graduate in May I will finish with a degree in Advertising and MDPT (Media Design, Production & Technology).

Q: What made you apply at TWO MEN AND A TRUCK®?

Abby: TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® has always been a familiar company to me. CFO Jeff Wesley has been like my second dad since I became friends with his daughter in first grade, and I also went to school with CEO Brig Sorber’s son, Brycen. When I started to mature and actually understand the history and concept behind TWO MEN AND A TRUCK®, I realized how amazing it would be to work for such a highly respected company.

Q: What are your usual day-to-day tasks here at the office?

Abby: The awesome thing about being in the marketing department is there is no such thing as “usual day-to-day tasks”. One day I could be designing an ad for a TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® franchise, while the next day I could be walking around as our mascot Truckie at a local event, having kids bombard me. One of the biggest projects I have worked on this summer is updating the marketing grass roots manual for franchises to utilize. Not only have I helped update the content of the manual, but I have been given the opportunity to integrate my own designs with the original designs of TWO MEN AND A TRUCK®. I will be the first to admit that I do not have the patience or attention span to sit behind a desk and work on the same task all day, every day. That’s why marketing and I are a perfect match, the variety of tasks keeps me engaged and entertained.

Q: Do you have past internship experience or is this your first one?

Abby: TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® is my first and most likely last internship experience. I think it is safe to say that an internship at any other company would not compare to my experience here.

Q: What is your favorite TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® Core Value and why?

Abby: I would have to say my favorite Core Value is THE GRANDMA RULE®. There is always a mutual understanding of the rule when I tell people it means “to treat everyone the way you would want your grandma to be treated.” I love how the concept of the THE GRANDMA RULE® is so simple, yet the message behind it is so meaningful.

Q: What are your interests or hobbies?

Abby: I enjoy being active and I’ve played/attempted just about every sport in high school. I spent the majority of my life playing basketball and soccer, temporarily “enjoyed” running track and cross country, and then resorted to less physical sports like lacrosse and golf. I do not take part in any sports or club teams at CMU. However, walking from class to class and studying 24/7 is about all the physical/mental activity my body can take.

Q: Who has been the best mentor or teacher for you?

Abby: Though both of my parents have equally been mentors for me, my dad has been more of my teacher when it comes to my degree and future career. Being the general manager at WILX 10, my dad knows the ins and outs of advertising and marketing. He motivates me to strive for my future goals and constantly gives me advice, even when I do not necessarily want or ask for it. Aside from my family, I consider Jeff Wesley to be one of my best educators. Ever since childhood, Jeff has been much more than a basketball coach, parent, and family friend; he has been one of my biggest fans and supporters through all of my good and bad times. Jeff Wesley is the perfect representation of the type of person who works for TWO MEN AND A TRUCK®, which is just another reason why I am so grateful for my internship at this company.

Q: Has the internship taught you anything about your field of study?

Abby: I can honestly say that I have learned more about marketing/advertising from this internship than I have from all of my college courses combined (sorry mom and dad). The amount of information this internship has helped me truly retain, is unreal. Being in an actual work environment with real world situations has taught me communication and coping skills that no professor would ever be able to teach me.

Q: What are your plans after graduation?

Abby: My plans after graduation include getting a job and moving to a city. I would be lying if I said I had any other plans.

Q: Name one goal you hope to accomplish while working here and what you hope to take away from this internship experience.

I hope to leave this internship with a stronger work ethic and a greater ability to adapt to my surroundings. I have a new perspective into the marketing world that I could not have gotten in a classroom.

If you are interested in working at TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® visit our careers website.

Eight interns and a truck – Part 5

Written by Cheyenne Yost

Kasey Trierweiler – Finance

Meet Kasey Trierweiler, one of the finance interns here at TWO MEN AND A TRUCK®/INTERNATIONAL, Inc. Returning for a second internship this summer, Kasey knows her way around the office and is the second returning intern placed this summer at the corporate office. Being back for a second year allows Kasey to immediately join the team and have an instant impact. We are grateful Kasey came back for a second time. Check out what Kasey had to say about her repeat appearance and her experience as a finance intern.

Q: Can you tell me a little bit about yourself and your background?

Kasey: I am 21 years old and hail from Grand Ledge, Mich., which is just west of Lansing. I have four brothers, one sister, and a dog. I go to Madonna University where I major in accounting and play on the softball team. I’m planning to graduate in May 2015.

Q: What made you return to TWO MEN AND A TRUCK®?

Kasey: I interned here at the corporate headquarters last year and I loved it! I am glad they let me come back. I like the flexibility and work environment. I also had the chance this year to work on some projects related to the company evolution and investments that are associated with the Franchisees. TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® is in the midst of multi-million dollar automation project and the support of these projects has been critical to our 20% per year annual growth.

Q: What are your day-to-day tasks here at the office?

Kasey: I am working on three projects right now: Open Sales Order Review, Missing Tracking Number Review, and Special Fees Review. The purpose of these reviews is to make sure franchisees and their administrative teams are utilizing our operating system in the most efficient and effective way possible.

For the Open Sales Order Review I run a report to see all the open sales orders for each franchise. If they have open sales orders, I send them a ticket asking them to close it and inquire if they need any assistance in doing so. This is important for royalty processing and for franchises to have the most up-to-date reporting as most reports are driven from closed sales orders. It’s really a critical piece to a smoothly running, transparent system. This data supports the TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® dashboards which are critical to ongoing continuous improvement training that TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® relies upon.

For the Missing Tracking Number Review, I pull up a report that shows all of the sales orders not yet printed off. I then go into our software and send out tickets to the appropriate franchises. This review prompts a notification to the franchises they may have missed printing a sales order to place in their files. If there is ever an on-site audit or a question from a customer, the franchise will be able to access the record quickly and with accuracy. The Special Fees Review is where I analyze all the charges franchises put into the special fee category and sort those out. This ensures they are properly classifying fees to aid in reporting and categorizing revenue correctly.

Q: What is your favorite TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® Core Value and why?

Kasey: “Be your best and have fun”, because if you are not doing that, then your work will have no meaning. When you have it, it fosters job satisfaction and unleashes creativity in all you do!

Q: What is the most valuable thing you’ve learned while interning at TWO MEN AND A TRUCK®/INTERNATIONAL, Inc.?

Kasey: I have learned about many different computer programs and software which will be useful to me in the future. I have also learned a great deal about time management and priorities when as it relates to project coordination and accountability.

Q: Has the internship taught you anything about your field of study?

Kasey: It has taught me that there are so many different areas within accounting. It’s also opened my eyes to the fact that this profession offers a lot of unexpected variety on a daily basis. At TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® the team I worked work with included the accounting area, the financial analyst team, the QuickBooks team, the procurement team and the project coordinators. There are so many different areas of expertise within this organization and lots of opportunities for great people.

Q: Do you have any advice for the other interns?

Kasey: Advice I would impart to other interns is to get to know the other workers in your department and to absorb the interactions as part of the learning experience. Also, ask any questions you have along the way. Everyone is happy to help the learning process along; they were there once upon a time! Helping each other is part of the culture at TWO MEN AND A TRUCK®.

Q: What are your plans after graduation?

Kasey: After I graduate with my Bachelor’s degree, I plan to go back to school so I can attain the extra credit hours I need and take the CPA exam.

Q: One goal you hope to accomplish this summer/what you hope to take away from the internship?

Kasey: After this summer, I hope to become more knowledgeable with all of the accounting software that we use such as QuickBooks and AX.

If you are interested in working at TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® visit our careers website.

Reduce Moving Stress with a Moving Checklist

Written by Claire Schneider

Study after study indicates moving is a stressful time indeed; however, with a little preparation and organization, moving day can be more enjoyable for the entire family.

To get you started on the right foot, we put together a checklist leading up to the day of your move. Follow these tips to ensure your day is predictably pleasant—right down to the final detail.

Two months prior

• Photos. Before you do anything, take photos of your home. My husband and I do this every time we move, and I am so grateful. I know some day when we expand our family, I will enjoy showing them pictures of where we lived.

• Minimize what move with you. Go through every room of your house and decide what stays and what goes. Don’t forget the basement, attic and garage. This may seem like a lot of work but, trust me, come moving day, you’ll be glad you did.

• Take inventory. Take stock of every valuable item you plan to move. Include photos, along with written descriptions.

• Organize records. If you have kids, make arrangements with their current schools to have their records transferred. Secure copies of everyone’s medical records, as well as recommendations of doctors in your new community.

• Talk to your kids. Moving can be an uncertain time for children, especially if they are leaving the only home they know. Early on, begin including your kids in moving discussions, and give them an idea of what will happen on moving day. Be certain they know they can talk to you about any fears they might have.

Five to six weeks prior

• Research. It’s time to decide if you are going to move yourself or hire a moving company. You don’t need to book anything yet, but it’s good to plan accordingly. When interviewing moving companies, make sure to ask if they are insured and bonded, if they hire full and part-time movers rather than temporary movers, and how they charge. Click here to get your free moving quote.

• Finalize real estate or rental needs. Renters, communicate with your landlord about the upcoming move. See if they have any moving-out guidelines or polices you’ll need to follow.

• Prepare to pack. Order boxes and other packing supplies. Don’t forget to buy plenty of bubble wrap and tape! Look into wardrobe and other specialty boxes as they make packing much easier. Whatever you do, don’t use food or supermarket boxes. You never know what little critter is hiding inside or if the box will be strong enough to support your possessions.

One month prior

• Begin packing. Pack up items you don’t frequently use, and clearly label each box with the name of the room for which it is assigned.

• Pick you moving partner. Now that you’ve done your research and thought it over, decide how you want to move. If you decide to use a moving company, make your reservations plenty of time in advance to secure your ideal day and time. Many moving companies are filling up reservations faster than ever!

• Notify utility companies. No one wants to pay for utilities they’re not using. Notify each company of the day you are moving, and arrange for your new accounts to be started when you arrive at your new house.

• Change your address. To change your address, either go to your local post office or visit usps.com and fill out a change of address form.

• Notify important parties. Contact your bank, insurance provider employer, and magazines or newspapers you subscribe to. Celebrate your milestone with creative moving announcements featuring your new address, and mail them to all of your friends and family.

One week prior

• Finish packing. Remember to pack important and sentimental items separately so they are easily accessible. Plan on keeping this box with you personally when you move.

• Confirm move. Confirm the time the movers will arrive as well as other specifics and make sure you have prepared exact, written directions to your new home for the movers. Also include contact information, such as your cell phone number.

• Clean. The last thing you want to do before you move is clean everything in your house. In order to save you time, begin cleaning rooms you don’t use as often. It’s also a good idea to make a “survival closet” containing things for the last cleanup before you move out. For example a broom, dust cloth, dust pan, mop, etc.

Day of the move

• Pack your suitcase. I highly recommend packing a suitcase or use our “Day of the Move” box with essential items and clothes for the day/night. You will be exhausted after the move, and when it’s time to get ready for bed, you don’t want to have to dig through multiple boxes.

• Eat a healthy breakfast. It’s going to be a long day so make sure you eat a nutrient-rich breakfast to help you stay energized during a rigorous day.

• Initial walk-through. Take the time for an initial walk-through with the movers. Did they do a thorough inventory of your items and know what will be moved?

• Lock up. Walk through the entire house and make sure everything is out. Also check to make sure the windows are locked, the lights are off, and the doors are closed and locked.

Click here to download your free moving checklist!

Career Move Month

Written by Claire Schneider

Before I began working at TWO MEN AND A TRUCK®/INTERNATIONAL, Inc., I was one of the many people who thought the company only consists of movers, drivers and customer service representatives. When I first heard TWO MEN AND A TRUCK®/INTERNATIONAL, Inc. was hiring, I wasn’t interested because I knew I could not move heavy furniture. My husband then urged me to just see what types of positions they were looking for, so I did. I had heard of the company before, but I thought it was just a local business and didn’t realize, until I began looking at the positions, that it was actually something much greater.

I am now the Social Media Specialist at TWO MEN AND A TRUCK®/INTERNATIONAL, Inc. and, unlike a lot of my friends, I am actually working in the field I got my college degree in and I love it! I have learned so much about this great company and feel really proud to be part of all it stands for.

Part of my job as Social Media Specialist is to work with the franchises on how to improve their social media presence. With Career Move Month approaching, there was one conversation that really stuck out to me and that was with TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® Troy’s Nicole Trice.

Nicole Trice

Nicole moved to Michigan last September from Nashville, Tennessee and has a communications degree from University of Tennessee in Knoxville. She is now working at TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® Troy as a Customer Service Representative and manages their social media. I loved how eager Nicole was to learn how she could improve their social media presence. So when I was thinking of ideas to showcase Career Move month, I decided to ask Nicole to answer some questions for me for a blog post to show how there are so many opportunities and different positions at TWO MEN AND A TRUCK®.

What was the position you applied for?

I applied for the Customer Service Representative position, which is the marketing one as well.

What made you decide to apply for a position at TWO MEN AND A TRUCK®?

I decided to apply at TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® because the position would give me an opportunity to apply the experience that I learned from years of customer service and to gain experience associated with my Communications degree.

How are you balancing both positions?

I like to think that I am a very organized person. I make a list each day of the tasks that I want to accomplish by the end of the day. As I go through the day, I mark the items off. I start the day off as a CSR and I do the social media aspect throughout the day.

What things do you like about being a CSR? And what have you learned?

Honestly, I was a server for 5 years and being a CSR is very similar. I have learned that there is a different approach when speaking to a customer over the phone compared to in person. I like that I don’t have to serve food to people!

What do you like about being in charge of social media? And what have you learned?

I like getting to expand our reach to people. I can let people see that we are real people that care about how we move the customer. I like that I get to see other people’s ideas and I learn something new every day. I have learned how important a Facebook and Twitter are to the business world today. I am learning how to manage websites, blogs and all aspects of social media.

What are some challenges you have been faced with having both positions?

It does get tough balancing both positions. I do wish I had a little bit more time to focus on conquering the social media aspect.

Is there anything else that you think people would like to know about how it is to work at TWO MEN AND A TRUCK®?

We get to help one of the most stressful moments in a person’s life!

There are so many positions like mine and Nicole’s at TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® and now with Career Move Month, we are looking to accomplish our goal of 10,000 applications during the month of April. If we reach our goal we will donate $5,000 to Dress for Success. Take a look at our new Career website for positions in your area!

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.