Oh Baby! Seven Tips for Moving with Small Children

MOVING April 24, 2012

Moving is stressful for most people, but for parents of infants and young children, relocating can be downright exhausting. How can you pack while your baby is crying or your toddler is pitching a fit? And you don’t want to make tons of noise taping up boxes and moving furniture around while the little ones are napping. Need help switching zip codes without losing your mind? Check out these helpful tips for moving with little kids in tow:

  1. Ask for help. Arrange for a friend, family member or babysitter to keep the little ones entertained for you while you are packing and unpacking. You may also want to hire a professional cleaning service to give you one less thing to worry about.
  2. Create an inventory. Little kids require a lot of stuff–more than you may realize until it’s time to pack it all up. Many moving companies calculate moving costs based on weight, so if your child has outgrown items that you don’t plan on using again, now is the time to sell or donate them.
  3. Pack baby’s room last. Keep your little one’s room as intact as possible until the last minute, so his environment remains as familiar as possible. Disassemble the crib the morning of moving day. Try to have your movers pack nursery items last so that they are the first things off the truck at your new home.
  4. Bring essentials yourself. Be sure to keep your child’s favorite toys, food supplies and snacks, diapers, essential medicines and a few changes of clothing with you on moving day. The last thing you’ll want to do when you arrive at your new home is dig through boxes looking for those things.
  5. Reassure your child about the move. Even infants can sense when they are in a new environment, so be prepared for an adjustment phase. Let toddlers help pack their (non-breakable) items, and offer a reassuring tone of voice so your children aren’t overwhelmed by the bustle of moving day.
  6. Make moving fun. If possible, visit your new neighborhood with your toddler and show her all of the new exciting attractions, such as playgrounds, parks and ice cream shops. Your little one will pick up on your enthusiasm.
  7. Set up your child’s room first. You’ll probably be living out of boxes for a while, but the sooner you can create a relaxing environment for your child, the sooner you’ll maintain his routine and you’ll all get a better night’s rest. Don’t forget to childproof the room so you can keep him contained in a safe environment while the rest of the house is being unpacked.
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Tough Times

MOVING, SELF STORAGE February 23, 2012

Selling your home, needing a room mate, or – gasp – having to move back with your parents are all realistic symptoms of the current financial ills we are facing.

If you’ve lived alone but now need to make space for someone else, or owned a house and are in the process of heading to smaller a abode, there will inevitably be a need to consolidate your belongings.

This can be a painful activity.

It can, however, be reinvigorating.  There’s something to the idea of spring cleaning, of liberating yourself from the overstocked mess of unused items piled high in the garage or that room with the locked door where no one is allowed to peek.  And having a garage sale can be a simple way to free yourself of the unneeded clutter while earning some much needed extra cash at the same time.  Think about advertising on some community boards and free websites like Craigslist.

On the other hand, the stress of having to let go of sentimental items is never easy.

A relatively inexpensive way to hold onto the cherished items that have no place in your new residence is a Self Storage Unit.  These units are safe and convenient, and offer a quick solution to a pressing spacial problem.

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Time & Space

SELF STORAGE February 22, 2012

Think about Self Storage in the grander scheme of things. Think about it in terms of the dimensions: Time & Space.

Okay, I’m not talking sci-fi here, I’m talking about your time and your space. Self Storage Units can be very valuable assets when managing your time and your space.

With a Unit you can create more closet space by rotating winter and summer clothes in and out for the appropriate seasons. The amount of time you can save by having the clothes already separated and ready for use is tremendous. Instead of needing to empty the closets, fold everything, box it and repack the closets, you can simply move the sumer clothes to storage and bring the winter clothes back to empty closets.

A Self Storage Unit can also free up space in your home. Securing those old books, or unused chairs can free up a cluttered room. Turn that newly freed space into a den and create a place to spend more time with your family.

The possibilities are limitless.

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MOVING IN A WINTER WONDERLAND

MOVING December 22, 2011

Today is officially the first day of winter and with that comes the joy of the holiday season, but when you’re moving, there’s also some things to be concerned about. Moving in the winter is never easy, so here’s how to stay warm during your move.

Before your Move
If you’ve already packed or are just waiting around for your move to start, your heat might be shut off already – so make sure to have a safe warm spot to wait, or go grab some coffee around the corner before the big move begins!

The Kids
If you have kids or a dog, they might not be helping you with your move, and it’s not really necessary for them to be walking around in the cold while the move is taking place. So it’s probably best if you make sure they have somewhere to go for the duration of the move. I’m sure the grandparents would be thrilled to take them for a few hours!

When Moving into the New House
Don’t forget the heat when you’re moving into the new house, as you’ll have open doors during the entire move. It’s a good idea, if possible, to turn on your heat the day before the move in order to have an already toasty warm home waiting for you.

Weather is Also a Factor
Temperature is not the only thing you’ll need to worry about, if it snows or sleets or rains or hails, this can add hours to your move and to the length of time you’ll be out in that weather. Be sure to leave enough minutes in the day to complete the move and you’ll also want to have a change of clothes in case your outfit gets wet.

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PUT A NEW LOCK ON YOUR X-MAS LIST

SELF STORAGE December 21, 2011

The holidays are right around the corner and there’s supposed to be merriment and songs in the air, good food and holiday cheer. For the most part, that’s the sentiment of the general celebrating populace.

But, every once in awhile, we read a story like this: last week a storage unit in Portland, Oregon, owned by a locksmith no less, was broken into and many of his belongings were stolen.

According to an employee, the holiday season usually brings an increase in theft at the storage facility. This may be several factors leading to this: increased chance that more valuable items (holiday gifts etc.) are potentially stored in a unit; unit owners traveling during the holiday season and not around as frequently; the holiday security team may not be as familiar with the protocols and procedures.

Be sure to check with your facility’s manager to learn about any possible holiday schedule changes to security and access. You’ll also want to make sure that you have a good, solid lock that is not malfunctioning in any method.

Don’t let this story dampen your holiday spirits, a few simple checks will ensure that your unit and belongings will remain safe and secure.

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