Winter Weather Considerations for Your Move

Are you planning to move this winter? It is important to consider that weather may play a role on moving day if you’re planning to move in the next few months. As providers of local moving services for Dakota County and the surrounding areas, we’d like to discuss some of the things to consider when moving in winter.

The only way to have a successful move during undesirable weather is to prepare for it as much as possible and work with a dependable local moving service you can trust. Why choose local? A local moving service thoroughly understands the weather in our area, the streets you’ll be moving to and from and how to navigate them.

One essential point of preparation is ensuring your utilities are all set up in your new home before the big move. Winter in Minnesota can get pretty cold, especially at night. So to ensure your home is comfortable the night you move in, set up your utilities beforehand.

Dakota County is no stranger to high winds. High winds are hard to prepare for but if they plague your moving day, it may change up the order things are packed, but not much more. We don’t want to have items that will easily blow over or blow away sitting outside, waiting to be loaded. Our local moving services will streamline the process, so lighter items are moved directly from the home onto the truck. Again, in windy conditions it is important to be as helpful as possible to your moving team.

Snow rain and ice can offer some challenges when moving, but they don’t have to ruin it. So if it’s raining on your moving day, don’t panic. As part of our local moving services we routinely cover items before we pack them onto the truck, so that will shield them from the rain, snow etc. If you’re experiencing snow on your moving day, a little extra work will be required. Make sure that steps and walkways are shoveled at both your current home and the location you’re moving to. Assist your local moving services in any way possible. Also remember to be patient, as it is better to go slow and be safe, especially in icy weather.

Are you interested in learning more about our local moving services in Dakota County? Call 1st Choice Movers at 763-559-5934 or you can contact us to set up your Free Estimate.

The Most Essential Contacts You Should Notify of Your Upcoming Move

So, you’re ready to move. Have you begun all the prep that comes with it? Besides packing, there are a few other essential steps you must take; one of them being notification of your change of address. And, it is important to notify all the right people too. In addition to Aunt Edna, there are also a few other contacts that must be notified. As the trusted, professional movers for Dakota County and the surrounding areas, 1st Choice Movers know thing or two about the moving process. That’s why we’d like to take a moment to offer a checklist of whom you should inform of your move and how to get it done. It is important to take care of this list at least a week before you move to make sure you don’t miss anyone.

Start by contacting the post office; that’s the big one. And, it’s not as difficult as you might think. Simply visit the U.S. Postal Service‘s website to start your official change of address. They just charge a $1 fee to verify your identity when changing your address online, so you’ll need a credit or debit card.

Have you told your employer yet? While chances are you’ve been telling everyone at work about the move for some time now; you’ll still need to let human resources know too. Even if your paychecks get deposited directly into your bank account, you still want other important documents sent to your new address, as these papers may contain personal information you don’t want others to get their hands on.

And, don’t forget to register to vote! If you’re a registered voter, an address change is required if you want your vote counted in upcoming elections. In some cases, when you update your address with the DMV, your address on your voter registration will automatically update, but contact the office of your registrar of voters to confirm this.

Some other odds and ends: Update your address with cable, cellphone and internet providers, as well as your electric and gas companies. And, when it comes to your electric, make sure service at your new house starts either the morning of your move or the evening before so you don’t end up moving in the dark or sans air conditioning. Also, it is important to tell your doctors and other health care providers. To avoid missing and falling behind on your medical bills, update your mailing address with all of your health care providers.

And, don’t forget to update your meal delivery subscriptions, newspaper and magazine subscriptions! Either update your mailing address online, or call customer service and ask for an address change over the phone.

Last but not least...let your close friends and relatives know about your move. This is an exciting time so let everyone know the exciting news! And, any time you move, always hire trusted movers to get the job done right.

Interested in learning more about our movers in Dakota County? Call 1st Choice Movers at 763-559-5934 or you can contact us to set up your Free Estimate.

The Real Price of a Do-It-Yourself Move

Considering renting a truck and having a few family members or friends help you move? There are a few things you should consider first. While DIY moving does have a few perks, hiring professional residential movers comes with some of its very own. And, as residential movers for the Twin Cities we’d like to provide you with some information to consider when making the decision.

Has your family grown since your last move? As your family has grown or your taste for the finer things in life has grown, you may not realize just how much you’ve accumulated. It is important to really take a look at everything you have and decide if it’s something you and your friends or family could manage to move. As you accumulate more stuff and more members of your family, the advantages of hiring professional movers continues to grow.

Renting a moving truck or borrowing a friend’s pickup may come at a lower price tag but the added stress and exertion must also be considered. When it comes to renting a truck or van here are also several hidden costs you may be overlooking. Many people forget to include tolls, packing materials, the cost of their time and the cost of fuel into the total for renting a truck. The difference in the price of moving yourself verses hiring professional residential movers usually isn’t worth the stress, sweat and aggravation of moving on your own.

Moving and packing is also labor-intensive and it isn’t always something friends and relatives can manage. If you have a considerable inventory to transport and some of it is valuable or irreplaceable, think twice. Friends are not necessarily experienced movers and are not insured for damages. If your friend breaks the stereo, there really isn’t anything you can do about it. Professional movers can save you a lot of stress and you might be surprised how affordable residential movers can be.

If you’re not experienced with driving big trucks or properly securing furniture, accidents can happen. With professional residential movers they take care of all of this for you for a safer, smoother moving experience.

Are you ready to learn more about residential movers in the Twin Cities? Call 1st Choice Movers at 763-559-5934, or you can contact us to set up your Free Estimate.

Moving Tips for the Busy Season

When people seem to choose the same time period and the same approach for a certain task, there is likely good reason for it. The peak season for house hunting and moving is late spring through summer. That is likely due to the nice weather, tax refund checks and a variety of other variables. As trusted, professional movers for Hennepin County and the surrounding areas, we see many moves during this time.

An increased demand for reliable professional movers during the peak season can pose a number of challenges. So, if you intend to move this spring or summer, you need to be fully aware of all the aspects of a peak season relocation. And, as experts in the industry, we thought we’d provide helpful moving tips for your peak season move. Keep these important tips in mind: 

Try to be flexible if possible. If your own schedule allows flexibility concerning the exact date of your relocation, you can better ensure the moving services and professional movers you want. At 1st Choice Movers, we are a top choice in moving companies for many local residents and do our best to accommodate all those who reach out to us but during peak season, flexibility can help and even provide benefits like mid-month discounts.

If you can, it is important to book your move with your preferred professional movers weeks or even months in advance. And, once you’ve got your move on their calendar, create a detailed moving calendar and timeline of your own to keep organized. List all the moving tasks you need to take care of with the appropriate time limits for each of them. This can help you pack and prepare in efficient manner and keep you from forgetting important tasks.

When searching for moving services in peak season you are very likely to encounter incompetent movers. Their services may seem affordable at first; but once they secure the job, scam artists will disappear with the deposit money or worse. That is why it is important to be diligent, patient and only hire professional movers. And, professional movers like ours are specially trained in taking care of a move quickly and efficiently without accidental damage to your property.

And, these are just some of the things you should consider before your big move this spring or summer. 
Give us a call today and we can tell you even more about our professional movers in Hennepin County and all we can offer. Call 1st Choice Movers today at 763-559-5934, or you can contact us to set up your Free Estimate.