Who doesn’t want to save money?  Wouldn’t you rather have more moo-la to decorate your new digs, instead of spending more on your moo-ve?  Read on for some wallet-friendly moving tips.

• If your new home is nearby, you can cut down moving expenses by moving most of the smaller things yourself and saving the larger, heavier, and awkward items for professional movers.
• Instead of spending money on bubble wrap, old sheets, towels, and t-shirts will protect your dishes and breakable items just as well.
• Read this blog from last month on where to score free moving boxes.
• Spend some time before the move planning where your furniture and larger items will go in your new home.  If you are paying by the hour this will help to save both time and money.
• If at all possible try to actually be done packing before the movers arrive.  Having every box taped up and properly labeled may not be easy to accomplish, but it may help save time and cut down moving costs.
• If you don’t envision that couch in you new home, or there is no room for that extra refrigerator, get rid of it before the move.  Clean out your closets, downsize, have a garage sale, hand off your hand-me-downs, do whatever you can to make sure you have less to move.  Having fewer items to move will mean less weight carried to your new home, less time spent moving, and more savings for you.

Exploring moving traditions and practices in other cultures and countries can both entertain us and provide a broadened global perspective. Journeying North to Canada, to the province of Quebec, more specifically Montreal, we can examine the fascinating tradition of June 1, Moving Day (which also happens to be Canada Day). The Canadian Moving Day was born out of an eighteenth-century law that decreed a certain day in the spring as Moving Day so that landlords could not evict tenant farmers during the winter. The modern equivalent evolved into June 1, so that Moving Day did not interrupt the school year.

Typically most people in Montreal do not own their homes, so the majority of people rent. It is not common for landlords to provide their tenants with stoves or refrigerators. This means that there are literally hundreds of thousands of people moving on June 1 in Quebec. Moving companies have to be booked as far as six months in advance, and of course moving fees are much higher.  Read more about Moving Day here.

It is not surprising that some Canadians would begin to think about moving outside of the box, more specifically moving in a greener and more ecologically friendly way. This is where moving by bicycle comes into play. Transport Myette is a moving company that transports your possessions (including appliances) by bicycle with modified bike trailers. The trailers can hold up to 600 pounds and one video shows six bicycles and trailers transporting an entire household! The founder cites his concerns for the environment and and a need for more affordable moving options as his inspiration. You can check out their website here.  (The website is in French, but there is a tab at the top for an “English” translation)

Do you think moving by bicycle could become a trend in Austin?

Follow these five simple tips to avoid that “Doh!” moment when you’re trying to dead-lift your refrigerator by yourself:

• Never lift with your back. What does that even mean? It means when you are bent over picking something up, keep your head up and your back straight, then lift with your legs. You can do some serious damage to your muscles and spine if you don’t use proper form when doing heavy lifting!
• Plan your route ahead of time. So you’re moving your 46” Flatscreen TV off of the entertainment center and into another room to make moving day easier. You grab the TV thinking, this thing isn’t too heavy, I should be fine. Wrong. Next thing you know you trip on the power cord because you forgot to wrap it around the TV and you land right in your cat’s kitty litter box… or worse, you try to open a door while you’re holding the TV and it crashes to the floor in a shockingly terrible “no more Monday night football” kind of way. Prevent these atrocities by planning out the details of your trip from the living room to the garage.
• Work smarter, not harder. So you notice the coffee table is in the way of where you are moving boxes through the living room. You think to yourself, “I’ll just throw it in the garage for now and get it out of my way.” Smart thinking. The table only weighs 15 lbs at most. (Come on! It’s from Ikea!) Here’s the problem: lifting 15 lbs is no sweat, but lifting a coffee table is incredibly awkward for one person! You just can’t get a proper grip on the thing because of its dimensions. Rather than going at it alone, just grab your buddy and have him help you move it. Yes, we know it’s only 15 lbs. No, we won’t question your masculinity or femininity if you ask for help.
• Wear gloves. This one is a must do if you want to keep those pretty hands nice and soft. Plus it helps if you have sweaty palms when you’re trying to move a stack of boxes to your car to keep things from slipping out of your grip.
• Keep your friends close. Pizza helps. Believe it or not, you aren’t superman. If you are, skip this tip. You’re going to want help during your move. You will inevitably forget things, and that’s what friends are for anyway. Have at least one person helping you, even if they are making sandwiches for the both of you, the good company will keep you motivated!

The cost of moving can be expensive, but one place that you can potentially save money is through finding free moving boxes. You are only going to use moving boxes for a short period of time, so why not get them for free. Here are some potential places to try and score some free boxes.

• Craig’s List -This is an obvious choice, but we hear they go very quickly so if you see a listing act fast!
• Freecycle- This is another website similar to Craig’s List, except for everything is free!You are encouraged to return the favor and list the boxes when you are done as well.
• Facebook- Why not put your social network to work for you? This is perhaps one of the easiest suggestions, just make a post letting your friends know what you are currently looking for some boxes for your upcoming move. You never know who might respond. If you use Facebook to keep tabs on your friends and their whereabouts you may also know of someone who has recently moved, reaching out to your friend and sending a message may also help in your search for free boxes. Who knew Facebook stalking could pay off?
• Dumpster Diving – If you aren’t above digging around in the trash for some free boxes then you are sure to score big. Check in the dumpsters of large apartment complexes where people are frequently moving in and out or in the cardboard dumpster at your local recycling center.
• Liquor Stores – Liquor boxes are small and sturdy and good for toting heavy items, books and breakables. It can’t hurt to ask for some leftover boxes. Try and find boxes with lids though, otherwise the contents will spill out and they will be more difficult to stack.
• Work- Depending on where you work you may be able to add some free boxes to your collection. If your workplace receives office or bathroom supplies or equipment shipments, this may be one of the easiest ways to slowly collect some boxes over time, no extra trips to other places required!
• Walmart or your Local Grocery Store- After a store has received a delivery and re-stocked its shelves there are sure to be some boxes lying around. Just try and avoid boxes with food residue, such as boxes used to transport raw meat. You may also want to be careful what you pack in those boxes, you may end up with some objects that smell like bananas…
• Retail Locations-Retail stores are also constantly receiving shipments of clothing and merchandise. There is certainly a wealth of cardboard shipping boxes to be found at the mall. We hear that boxes from shoe stores and book stores are particularly ideal for moving.
• Starbucks- Word on the street is that Starbucks boxes are easy to come by. Starbucks receives 1-2 shipments per week and often resupply after midnight. If you do some late night waiting around you may be able to get some free boxes of various sizes, bonus if the boxes smell like coffee!
• McDonald’s Fry Boxes- We found this idea on an Apartment Therapy blog. Apparently these fry boxes are small and sturdy and perfect for moving small but heavy items. The french fries are shipped frozen, so the boxes are not greasy or smelly. Interestingly enough McDonald’s Fry Box aficionados and enthusiasts have created their own Facebook page.
• Costco- This one is almost a no-brainer, every time you shop there they give you boxes instead of bags. Nevertheless, most of their boxes do not have lids, etc.

Remember bigger is not always better, sometimes smaller boxes are better to use so you don’t overpack them and they are able to be more easily lifted and carried.

Happy hunting and we hope you find many free boxes for your move!

Photo Credit: sheknows.com

Moving day is usually characterized by long hours, sweat and sore muscles.  While Square Cows may be able to quell their hunger by grazing on grass, you most certainly will have worked up an appetite for some real morsels.  However, your refrigerator is empty and no longer cold, not to mention your kitchen is packed away in boxes.  This is the perfect opportunity / excuse to eat-out or order-in, so have your Yelp or Urban Spoon App handy and check-out your new area’s local cuisine.  If you plan to order-in be sure to have some paper plates, napkins, and plasticware on hand.  These are some useful items to pack in your “last box” – the last box packed and the first box opened.  You may enjoy eating out so much, that perhaps unpacking the kitchen and restocking the fridge can wait a few days…

We’ve talked about moving kids, but what about moving fur babies, or pets, as some people refer to them.  Just as children can be uncertain about a move, pets can also become anxious as you begin to pack boxes.  Here are some suggestions to help ease your whole family’s transition to a new place (pets included).

• If you are crossing state or national lines you may want to do some research, for instance if registering your pet is required, etc.  It is a good idea to take your pet to the vet and make sure your animal is current on all shots and is in good health.  This will give you more time before your next vet visit and will cut down your list of things to do After you arrive at your new home, finding a new vet right away will not have to be an immediate priority.
• If your pet is not accustomed to traveling in a portable kennel, gradually try to introduce the concept to your pet.  A few weeks before the move leave the kennel open and encourage your cat or dog to hang out in the kennel by giving treats for time spent in the kennel.
• Before moving day you may want to go ahead and get new pet id tags with your new address made for your cat or dog.  In case Fido gets lost in the shuffle during the hectic move, your new address and contact info will already be on your pet’s tags.
• During moving day you may want to confine your pet to one room with access to food and water.  Your pet may become nervous with all the extra movement and extra people.  Making sure your dog is safe and away from the commotion, will help him to stay calm as well as keep him out of the way.
• Once you arrive at your new home, unpack some of your pet’s belongings like her bed, favorite toy, food and water bowls, etc.  Setting up an area or corner with your pet’s familiar things will help her to feel more safe and at home.

The Yelp Mobile Lounge was parked all around downtown, making an appearance at various Yelp events.

This year was good, but we are already looking ahead to 2013. If you have any ideas about how we can make this idea even better, let us know!

What to put in the Last Box? (Photo Credit: sheltieplanet.com)

We recommend a box of cleaning supplies as the last thing to pack and first box you should open.  Did you arrange to have a final professional cleaning of your old home? Will you be lucky enough to arrive to a sparkling, clean new home? If yes to both these questions, then this box of cleaning supplies still matters.  However, unexpected life events and delays happen. The cleaning crew may arrive late or not at all!  Be Prepared! Have some Clorox wipes, 409, vinegar (or any cleaning agent of your choice) on hand.  You do not want to move your furniture and belongings into a dirty space. And unless you really don’t like the people moving into your old home,  do not leave it a pigsty!

A Note About Pigsties: Pigs, a fellow farm animal, are noble creatures. By nature, our tasty friends are very, very clean animals. The mud they sometimes wallow in is very clean mud, but granted, it is still mud. Therefore, pig pens have the illusion of being dirty, and it is that illusion to which we are alluding to. You follow? Good! Don’t dishonor the pigsty, clean up your space.

A few cleaning supplies will allow you to wipe out drawers and cabinets before putting in clean dishes, scrub out sinks, tubs, and showers so that at the end of a long day of hard moving you can at least be guaranteed a clean shower or bath.

To help you keep your move organized and clean we have rounded up some great resources.  For those of you who like to check off the boxes as you move along, we have several checklists for you. For those of you who don’t like to check off the boxes, use these anyways. They really cut down on the stress of remembering what you have done and what still needs doing.

First, you should “check” out our very own checklist! (So pun-ny, we know…udderly ridiculous. Moo.)

Real Simple offers a great checklist timeline to thrill the super-prepared, type-A crowd and keep the B-type folks moving in the right direction.

Also, be sure to check out their comments section of this Real Simple checklist. It is surprisingly helpful. Feel free to share your own hints and tricks with us on our comments section!

How could we not discuss organizing without mentioning Martha Stewart?

Obviously, this checklist is geared toward selling Home Depots products, but it gives you a good idea of what specifically to include in your “last box” of cleaning supplies.

Alright, that’s it. Get to it! Call us if you need help or moral support.

Cows on Cows

Every time we look at this picture, it makes us chuckle a bit, but it also makes us feel proud of our boys. Our cows prove, on camera even, that they will go above and beyond for y’all. You may wonder at their methods, but please rest assured that these gentlemen are professionals who have taken every measure to ensure that that couch made it into this house, specifically into that room.

We strive to distinguish ourselves from our competitors in every way, including trying every method to get a piece of furniture into the room you wish it to be. We cannot promise that it will always work. Sometimes physics wins, however we won’t give up until we have tried everything.

Austin Moving Company

Often enough we have been on the job and seen what happens first hand with kids who watch as we pack up their house. They are stressed because their most prized possessions are being packed away, their room no longer looks like their room, and their house no longer feels safe. Not only that, but you are obviously running around like a chicken with your head cut off and the last thing you need is for your kids to start freaking out. So, take some necessary steps to minimize what is scaring your kids.

See more Lolcats and funny pictures, and check out our Socially Awkward Penguin lolz!

One of the greatest things you can do before moving day is to give your kiddos a box (not one to share, but one for each of them). Write “special” or “top secret” on the side of the box with their name on it so everyone knows whose box it is. Then, tell them they they need to put their most prized possessions in the box. We recommend not limiting their imagination. Besides, it’s always funnier to see what the outcome of vague instructions like these will be. Once they have done that, go through their boxes with them. Know what they have put in the box. Seriously, you want to go through the box for rather obvious reasons. Make sure though, when you go through the box to talk to them about their choices. Be encouraging, even if what they put in the box is their bug collection or pretty, pretty prince crowns. Leave them in charge of their very special boxes, and make sure the movers pack those couple small boxes last. (Don’t give them more than one or one that is oversized, that’ll get out of hand quickly. Also, if they have a boulder collection, we leave that in your very capable hands.)

During this process, really talk about what home means. Things in a box are taken a lot of times because they have memories attached to them. Talk about those memories and tell them that those memories are travelling with you to wherever you are going next. It may sound corny, but focus on the idea that it is what you are taking with you that constitutes a home, not the house itself. (Also, remember to make it clear that the people going with you are the most integral part of home. I know that seems silly to say out loud, but some folks get distracted during this time and forget to instill that kind of reassurance). Come moving day, the kiddos may be nervous, but they know without a doubt that whatever is happening, they are not forgotten and neither is what they treasure the most.

You may be asking, how are these guys really qualified to be telling me this? Well, as we said. We move families every day, and we are paying attention. We have kids ourselves. Trust us on this one. Also, if you have any other great ideas about helping your kids have a smoother moving day, we are all ears and cowbells!

Austin Texas Moving Company