layana56@yahoo.com
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People sometimes assume that choosing a moving company is the easiest part of relocation, so they spend more time researching other purchasing decisions, such as buying real estate, or picking the right mortgage or homeowners insurance.
But the reality is, a moving company is going to do the packing, transporting, and unpacking of ALL your material possessions!
So picking a trustworthy moving company is a key decision — but if made correctly, you’ll find a quality, trustworthy mover at a good price.
Moving companies that charge more than their peers do so often because they provide better amenities and services — a higher level of service, a greater reputation, or a higher demand for their services. On the other hand, companies charging substantially less than the competition are probably pricing their services at this level for a reason; in the worst case scenario, you might find yourself the victim of a moving fraud for those rogue movers that give lowball estimates, only to raise the final price later.
Before wading into the moving company selection, first understand how moving companies charge for their services. Pricing is largely dependent on whether you are moving you’re making a local move, vs. a long-distance move.
Intrastate moves, commonly called local moves at shorter distances, will be priced on either an intrastate tariff or an hourly rate. To determine the hourly rate, movers multiply the number of movers by the number of hours they are working, including the transit time. In most states, there is an intrastate tariff that covers weight and distance for movers in excess of 50 miles. For moves under 50 miles, the hourly rate applies.
For interstate moves, you will be charged on the size of your move, defined either in terms of the gross weight of your items, or the cubic feet that these items consume on the moving truck.
Choosing a Company With that background, here’s a checklist of items to help you determine the best moving company.
Plan — The moving business is cyclical, with most moves taking place in the summer, between April and September. The further ahead you plan your move and start your conversations with potential service providers, the better the you’ll have your first choice of movers. If you wait until the last minute, you may find yourself with no choice at all. Planning ahead saves you and your moving company stress!
Interview — After finding at least three companies you are interested in, get written estimates from each company, and understand the services included in each quote. Once you narrow down the number of candidates to two or three, get on-site consultations. This is when a trained moving company professional does a walk-through of your current residence and crafts a binding estimate ? a binding estimate is a guaranteed price for a move; nonbinding is an estimate based on the movers’ previous experience with similar-sized moves, and can change depending on how the actual move proceeds. An accurate move estimate is based on the quantity of things moved, as well as any physical constraints (stairs, etc.) movers will have to deal with.
Research — Inquire about your moving company’s experience, references, the type of equipment that they will be using, and how they screen and train their employees. Ask if the moving company is a member of national associations like the American Moving & Storage Association (AMSA) or state associations; Participation in AMSA indicates an adherence to certain operating principles and training; this ensures that you are working with a quality, reputable company.
Double Check — Don’t buy moving services unless you know exactly what you’re paying for. Asking the right questions ? and the same questions ? of each mover allows you to assess the companies accurately.
Negotiate — In most moving situations, there will be room for negotiation. At worst, the company won’t meet your requests. But most likely, your request will result in some discounts or additional services being provided to help the moving company finalize the deal. As stated before, moving companies have more business in the summer; you have more negotiating power in the off-season, when they don’t have as many customers.
Follow your gut — If you find two or three companies that you are comfortable, go with your instincts.
Think about your interactions with the company.
Were they responsive and professional? If they weren’t during the sales process, how would they act during the actual move?
Was the staff knowledgeable and helpful?
If something happened and you needed to speak to them, how would the company respond? The actual move tends to have a lot of unknown circumstances and challenges– you will want to know that the company you choose is going to be there to support you throughout it all.
Deciding To Move Is Relocation Right for Me?
How to Find Your Dream Town
12 Kinds of Neighborhoods
Choosing a Neighborhood
How to Make Moving a Positive Experience
Creative Ways to Announce Your Move
Adjusting To Your Move Tips for First-Time Movers
Moving Into a Smaller Home
Helping Your Family Adjust to a Move
Telling the Kids They’re Moving
Preparing Your Children for Their New Home
Newlyweds: Combining Your Belongings
Moving With Pets
Planning Your Move Week-by-Week Moving Checklist
Moving Black Book: The People You Should Tell
Organize Before You Move
6 Steps to a Successful Garage Sale
The Cost Of Moving Creating a Moving Budget
10 Ways to Cut Moving Costs
6 Hidden Moving Fees
Moving Expenses: What’s Tax Deductible?
Bridging the Gap Between Mortgages
Deciding How To Move Exploring Moving Options
What Is a Local Move?
Understanding the Moving Industry
Hiring A Mover Ways to Dodge a Moving Scam
Types of Movers
Moving Estimates
Finding the Best Deal on a Moving Company
Moving Protection: How It Works
Moving Insurance Options
Do-It-Yourself Moving And Storage How to Rent a Truck
Packing a Moving Truck
Choosing a Storage Facility
The Advantages of Mobile Storage
Choosing an Auto Shipper
Packing And Organizing Getting Started On the Packing Process
Packing Supplies Checklist
Finding Budget Packing Materials
5 Reasons Not to Pack It
Green Moving Tips
The Anatomy of a Well-Packed Box
Packing Like a Pro
10 Steps to 11th-Hour Organization
The Perils of Last-Minute Packing
Packing the “Last to Go” Box
Moving Day Tips Tips for a Smooth Moving Day
3 Essential Inspections on Moving Day
Out the Door: Things to Do Before You Go
How to Handle Loss or Damage During a Move
Getting Settled Exploring Your New Neighborhood
Set Your Home Improvement Plan
5 Ways to Make Friends in a New Neighborhood
5 Fast Ways to Make Your House a Home
Narrow down your options with research and in-home assessments
Congratulations on moving! A new home and a new life await you. But first, a lot of research is ahead.
Don’t worry, “research” doesn’t entail an awful, taxing process. In fact, if done right, finding and hiring moving companies can be a smooth, painless exercise — so long as you follow a few basic steps and stay on your toes.
1. Research mover names.
Ask for recommendations from family and friends, check out the phone book for local movers, and go to a Website that offers free quotes, such as Relocation’s prescreened list of quality moving companies.
Don’t always assume that a big van line is the best option; there are plenty of quality, independently-owned movers that can offer you a great experience at a reasonable price.
2. Start calling.
Don’t get quotes over the phone; the only solid estimate is one that you get after you have a moving company representative in your home looking at your stuff.
However, you can use this initial phone call as a good screen to see if you’re comfortable with the movers — ask about the number of moves they make, whether they own their own equipment or contract out, how long they’ve been in business, and whether they’re a member of the American Moving and Storage Association.
None of their answers should disqualify them, but asking these questions is a good way to give you a glimpse of the type of company you’ll be working with.
After talking to a handful of companies, arrange for at least 3 in-home assessments so you can get accurate estimates of how much your move will cost.
3. The in-home assessment.
Show the moving company everything you plan to move. The more thorough you are in detailing what has to be moved, the more accurate the estimate will be. Also, let the estimator know about any factors at your home — or the home you’re moving to — that could complicate the move. A steep set of stairs to climb, for instance, might add to the costs.
Remember: Disclose everything so there are no surprises at the end.
The in-home assessment is a good time to get a feel about the company you’re thinking of hiring — a quality estimator probably represents a quality company. You should also get a lot of information about the company, because this interview will form the backbone of your decision.
There are several factors that determine not only the price you will pay for your move, but the quality of service you receive. For example, some moving companies will negotiate for your business.
Above all, beware of the low-ball offer. There IS such a thing as “too good to be true.” If an estimate is extremely lower in comparison to the others, you’re more likely to get hit up for costs later.
4. The estimate.
Now that you have the moving estimate, be sure you understand it completely. The documents you get from the moving company should include the estimate, which could be a combined document that serves as your order for service and your bill of lading — be sure to clarify with your moving company.
For an interstate move, make sure the estimate has a description of the type and quantity of goods you’re shipping, the distance of the move, delivery dates, and any additional services you’ve requested.
A local move estimate (generally under 50 miles, but it varies state by state) won’t go by weight, but by hourly rate and any additional costs you’ll be responsible for; an intrastate move over 50 miles will be based on weight
During this process, you’ll also be asked to consider valuation coverage to protect your goods. You are covered up to the predetermined amount. Your existing insurance policies could cover you as well, be sure to ask your agent — but it’s barebones, so you might want more.
5. The final check.
You’ve narrowed down your list of your movers; now you should check them out with the secretary of state, the Better Business Bureau, and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to make sure your mover is licensed and doesn’t have any problems with unresolved complaints.
Deciding To Move Is Relocation Right for Me?
How to Find Your Dream Town
12 Kinds of Neighborhoods
Choosing a Neighborhood
How to Make Moving a Positive Experience
Creative Ways to Announce Your Move
Adjusting To Your Move Tips for First-Time Movers
Moving Into a Smaller Home
Helping Your Family Adjust to a Move
Telling the Kids They’re Moving
Preparing Your Children for Their New Home
Newlyweds: Combining Your Belongings
Moving With Pets
Planning Your Move Week-by-Week Moving Checklist
Moving Black Book: The People You Should Tell
Organize Before You Move
6 Steps to a Successful Garage Sale
The Cost Of Moving Creating a Moving Budget
10 Ways to Cut Moving Costs
6 Hidden Moving Fees
Moving Expenses: What’s Tax Deductible?
Bridging the Gap Between Mortgages
Deciding How To Move Exploring Moving Options
What Is a Local Move?
Understanding the Moving Industry
Hiring A Mover Ways to Dodge a Moving Scam
Types of Movers
Moving Estimates
Finding the Best Deal on a Moving Company
Moving Protection: How It Works
Moving Insurance Options
Do-It-Yourself Moving And Storage How to Rent a Truck
Packing a Moving Truck
Choosing a Storage Facility
The Advantages of Mobile Storage
Choosing an Auto Shipper
Packing And Organizing Getting Started On the Packing Process
Packing Supplies Checklist
Finding Budget Packing Materials
5 Reasons Not to Pack It
Green Moving Tips
The Anatomy of a Well-Packed Box
Packing Like a Pro
10 Steps to 11th-Hour Organization
The Perils of Last-Minute Packing
Packing the “Last to Go” Box
Moving Day Tips Tips for a Smooth Moving Day
3 Essential Inspections on Moving Day
Out the Door: Things to Do Before You Go
How to Handle Loss or Damage During a Move
Getting Settled Exploring Your New Neighborhood
Set Your Home Improvement Plan
5 Ways to Make Friends in a New Neighborhood
5 Fast Ways to Make Your House a Home
The American Museum of Natural History, in Midtown Manhattan, offers permanent and changing exhibits covering Asian, American Indian, Pacific islanders, South American, Aztec and Mayan cultures. It also features one of the world’s largest fossils displays, including a Tyrannosaurus Rex and Apatosaurus, plus other exhibits ranging from human body to animals and minerals.
Central Park West at 79th Street. (212) 769-5100
Apollo Theater
A major entertainment landmark, Harlem’s Apollo Theater was originally known as Hurtig & Seamon’s New (Burlesque) Theater, with vaudeville and burlesque for white audiences. In 1934, Frank Schiffman, a white entrepreneur, started showcasing leading black entertainers for mixed audiences, putting the Apollo forever on the map. Legends such as Billie Holiday, Duke Ellington, and Dinah Washington played the Apollo, where amateur nights jump-started careers for Pearl Bailey, James Brown, and Gladys Knight. Wednesday is amateur night. Back-stage tours, in groups of up to 20 take place daily, linking past, present and future. Gift shop merchandise includes vintage Apollo items.
253 West 125th Street, near Frederick Douglass Boulevard. (212) 749-5838
Bronx Magnetism
As for the Bronx, some say how Swede it is, since it was settled in 1639 and named for the Swedish settler Jonas Bronck. More than 60 landmarks and historic districts are in the Bronx, including the Edgar Allen Poe Cottage on the Grand Concourse and the Van Cortlandt Mansion and Museum in Van Cortlandt Park. Wave Hill, a former private estate once home to Mark Twain and Theodore Roosevelt, among others, has spectacular views overlooking the Hudson River and New Jersey’s soaring 500-foot cliffs, the Palisades. Its 28-acres, given to the city for use as a public garden, also has wooded paths, herb and flower gardens, and benches for contemplation. The Bronx Zoo/Wildlife Conservation Park show cases more than 600 species indoor in indoor/outdoor environments.
Bronx Zoo, Fordham Road, off the Bronx River Parkway. (718) 367-1010
Edgar Allen Poe Cottage, Poe Park, 2460 Grand Concourse. (718) 881-8900
Van Cortlandt Mansion and Museum, Broadway at 246th Street, Van Cortlandt Park, Riverdale. (718) 543-3344
Wave Hill, 675 West 252nd Street. (718) 549-3200
Open since 1899, Brooklyn Children’s Museum is the world’s first for youngsters, with nearly 27,000 cultural objects and natural history specimens. The Museum’s first home was in Adams Building, a Victorian mansion in Brooklyn’s Bedford Park, in 1923 renamed Brower Park. Parlor rooms and halls held exhibits, with workshops and a library upstairs. Youngsters were encouraged to participate, not just look. Driving force Anna Billings Gallup becoming curator in 1904, and invented ways for children to use the Museum. During the 1930s Depression, federal WPA workers made improvements, while the Museum expanded its take-home program, now called the Portable Collections. After WWII, the BCM helped children prepare for the “space age.” By 1967, the expanded BCM’s Adams and Smith mansions were deemed beyond repair. Temporary space, called “The Muse,” in a renovated pool hall and auto showroom opened in 1968, leading to experiments with dance and music classes. In 1977, BCM’s Brower Park building opened on the Smith mansion site with other building structures recycled into the architecture. Visitors enter through a trolley kiosk from the 1900′s. A “People Tube” — a huge sewer pipe — connects four exhibit floors, and a corn oil tank serves as “The Tank” — an amphitheater.
45 Brooklyn Avenue, at St. Marks Avenue. (718) 735-4400
A park since 1842, Bryant Park’s midtown location – one block from Times Square – is a big lunch hour destination in warm weather, typically hosting more than 5,000 workers on a football field-sized lawn. Amenities include a French-style carousel (mid-park on 40th Street), chess tables, free yoga classes, 25,000 varieties of flowers, and free wireless access. Bryant Park provides multiple venues for year-round events and gatherings. Six flower beds border Bryant Park’s lawn to the north and south—three on the shady south side and three on the sunny north. Along the northern and southern sides are twin promenades bordered by London plane trees (Platanus acerifolia), the same species found at the Jardin des Tuileries in Paris, and contributing to Bryant Park’s European aura.
Behind New York Public Library between 40th and 42nd streets.
Since Walter Damrosch conducted the first “Young People’s Concert” in 1891, Carnegie Hall has taught all ages about music. Each season includes concerts for families, workshops for teachers and musicians, programs for students and schools, and free concerts in NYC neighborhoods. One-hour backstage tours, (212) 903-9765, detail the story of Andrew and Louise Carnegie and how the Hall was saved from demolition in 1960. Carnegie’s century-long performance tradition showcased artists from Tchaikovsky to Mahler, from Horowitz to Callas to Bernstein, Judy Garland and the Beatles. Gift shop merchandise strikes a chord celebrating the Hall’s 111-year-plus history.
Corner of 57th Street and Seventh Avenue. (212) 247-7800
Designed in 1858 by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, envisioning a wooded urban oasis from treeless, rocky terrain and stagnant swampland, Central Park is New York City’s backyard — a place where people of all social and ethnic backgrounds mingle. The 843-acre Central Park, covering six percent of Manhattan, has more than 26,000 trees, 58 miles of scenic paths, and nearly 9,000 benches on 843 acres. Attracting 25 million people a year, it also houses the Central Park Zoo and Wildlife Center, lakes, boathouse, sports facilities and entertainment. Four visitor centers are: Belvedere Castle, a 19th century stone castle and home to the Henry Luce Nature Observatory; The Dairy Visitor Center and Gift Shop, in a Victorian building with a reference library; Charles A. Dana Discovery Center, with hands-on exhibits; and North Meadow Recreation center, with indoor/outdoor climbing walls, basketball and handball courts. At least eight different free, volunteer-led Walking-tours are sponsored by the Central Park Conservancy, (212) 360-2726.
Belvedere Castle, mid-park at 79th Street. (212) 772-0210
The Dairy at Central Park, Mid-Park at 65th Street. (212) 794-6567
Charles A. Dana Discovery Center, 110th Street and Lenox Avenue. (212) 860-1370
North Meadow Recreation Center, mid-park at 97th Street. (212) 348-4867
Cheapies and Freebies
New York City has hundreds of no-cost or low-cost pleasures from concerts, plays, and museums to TV show tapings, and tours throughout the five boroughs. For a start on cheapies and freebies, drop by NYC’s Official Visitor Information Center at 810 Seventh Avenue at 53rd Street, the City Hall Park Visitor Information Kiosk downtown at the southern tip of City Hall Park, or the Harlem Visitor Information Kiosk uptown at the State Office Building plaza at 163 West 125th Street and Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Boulevard. Awaiting are hundreds of brochures and expert, multilingual visitor counselors to advise on all things New York.
Chelsea Piers
Saved from being paved over by a failed highway project, historic Chelsea Piers has emerged into a $120 million privately financed 30-plus acre waterfront sports-entertainment complex housing a golf driving range, ice- and roller-skating, bowling, and a health club. With the Statue of Liberty National Monument as part of the panorama, four once-neglected piers – 59, 60, 61, and 62 – also have shops and restaurants. Luxury liners of yesteryear once departed from the Piers amid hoopla and champagne. In 1910, the Chelsea Piers debuted with speeches noting eight-years of construction after three decades of talk. In 1907, even before the Piers were done, the Lusitania and Mauretania docked there. For the next 50 years, Chelsea Piers was the city’s premier passenger ship terminal, an embarkation point for WWI and WWII soldiers, and finally, a cargo terminal. Obsolescence struck with jets and container ships requiring facilities Manhattan could never provide. Redevelopment of the four surviving Chelsea Piers brings to mind the days when the famed White Star and Cunrad Lines, with as many as 20 stacks in view, prepared to sail. As the high and mighty disembarked, so did immigrants from steerage below, by 1910 arriving daily by the thousands. Most ships came first to Chelsea Piers, before transferring to ferries bound for Ellis Island and freedom.
Golf Club, Pier 59. (212) 336-6400
Sports Center, Pier 60. (212) 336-6000
Sky Rink, Ice Hockey, Pier 61. (212) 336-6100
Roller Rink, Field House, Pier 62. (212) 336-6500, (212) 336-6200
Chinatown and Civic Center
In Lower Manhattan adjacent to the Civic Center, New York City’s Chinatown, a packed neighborhood still growing rapidly, is the largest Chinatown in the U.S., with the largest concentration of Chinese in the western hemisphere! Both a tourist attractions and the home of the majority of Chinese New Yorkers, Chinatown has hundreds of restaurants (especially on Mott, Pell and Doyers streets), booming fruit and fish markets, and shops for knickknacks and sweets on winding, crowded streets. The Civic Center, anchored by City Hall, is a landmark building which has been the seat of City government for 186 years. The Museum of Chinese in the Americas (MoCa) has exhibits of national scope.
Museum of Chinese in the Americas, 70 Mulberry Street at Bayard. (212) 619-4785
Built for auto tycoon Walter Chrysler in “Style Moderne,” the building exemplifies the machine age in architecture, symbolic of 1920s New York. In the summer of 1929, Chrysler was battling Wall Street’s Bank of Manhattan Trust Company for the title of world’s tallest building. In spring, 1930, just when it looked like the bank would prevail for the coveted title, Chrysler’s crew jacked a needle-thin spire through the top of the crown to claim the title of world’s tallest at 1,046 feet. Since Chrysler wanted not only the world’s tallest structure, but also a bold structure, he decorated his skyscraper with hubcaps, mudguards, and hood ornaments, just like his cars, hoping such a distinctive building would make his car company a household name. The Chrysler Building is now recognized as New York City’s greatest display of Art Deco, characterized by sharp angular or zigzag surface forms and ornaments. Four months after completion of the Chrysler Building, the new Empire State Building claimed title of the world’s tallest.
405 Lexington Avenue. The Cloisters The Cloisters, in upper Manhattan, is a branch of the Metropolitan Museum of Art including parts of five French cloisters, a Romanesque chapel, and gardens. Fort Tryton Park. (212) 937-3700.
Housed in the Andrew Carnegie mansion and considered the design authority of the United States, Cooper-Hewitt – National Design Museum, a part of the Smithsonian Institution, is the nation’s only museum devoted exclusively to historic and contemporary design. Holdings encompass diverse, comprehensive collections of design works, tracing history of design through more than 250,000 objects spanning 23 centuries from the Han Dynasty (200 B.C.) to the present. Special strengths of the library include a 6,500-volume rare book collection and a world’s fair collection containing more than 1,000 items from guides to ephemera.
Corner of Fifth Avenue and 91st Street. (212) 839-8351.
Ellis Island
Lower Manhattan’s Ellis Island, point of entry to millions of immigrants from 1892 to 1924, has exhibits relating the history of the processing station. Among immigrants passing through and going on to illustrious careers are: Irving Berlin, musician, arrived in 1893 from Russia; Marcus Garvey, politician, arrived 1916 from Jamaica; Bob Hope, comedian, arrived in 1908 from England; Knute Rockne, football coach, arrived in 1893 from Norway; and the von Trapp family of “Sound of Music” fame, arrived in 1938 from Austria.
New York Harbor, near Statue of Liberty National Monument. (212) 269-5755.
Midtown’s famed Empire State Building, at 1,454 feet tall, was built in 1931 in Art Deco style with 2 million square feet of office space and an observation tower on the 102nd floor. Construction took one year and 45 days including Sundays and holidays with 7 million man hours. The cost ($24,718,000) was halved by onset of the Depression, with the total cost ending at $40,948,900, including land. The observation area is open 365 days from 9:30 a.m. to midnight, with the last elevator heading up at 11:15 p.m.
350 Fifth Avenue at 34th Street. (212) 736-3100
Fashion Flair
Informing and inspiring clothes horses, New York’s Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) shows off thousands of designer costumes, accessories, fabrics and the work of renowned fashion photographers in the Institute’s free museum. Dedicated to documentation of fashion and style for all levels of society, the museum interprets design from magnificent Balenciagas to sturdy denim within social and cultural contexts. For a fashion update, Macy’s group tour, at $10 per person, discusses the history of the world’s largest department store, from 1857 beginnings to its status today with more than two million square feet of selling space.
Fashion Institute of Technology, Seventh Avenue at 27th Street. (212) 217-5800
Macy’s, 151 West 34th Street, Visitor Center on 34th Street Balcony. (212) 695-4400
Flatiron Building
The triangular shape of the Flatiron Building (an early skyscraper) produced wind currents that made women’s skirts billow, spurring police to create the term “23 skiddoo” when shooing away gawkers assembling for the show. The building apex, just six feet wide, expands into a limestone wedge adorned with Gothic and Renaissance details of Greek faces and terra cotta flowers.
175 Fifth Avenue, between 22nd and 23rd streets.
Grant’s Tomb
Ulysses S. Grant, Civil War general and two-term U.S. president, rests beside his wife Julia in the largest mausoleum in the U.S. The two grand sarcophagi are modeled after Napoleon’s tomb in Les Invalides in Paris. The white granite mausoleum overlooking the Hudson River and Riverside park was completed in 1897, and also displays Grant memorabilia and Civil War artifacts. More than one million people attended the parade and dedication ceremony of Grant’s Tomb, on April 27, 1897. Admission is free.
122nd Street and Riverside Drive. (212) 666-1640
Green-Wood Cemetery
Brooklyn’s Green-Wood Cemetery, an “outdoor museum” filled with extraordinary works of sculpture and architecture, is home to graves of national figures including musical great Leonard Bernstein, artist Louis Comfort Tiffany, newspaperman Horace Greeley and William “Bill the Butcher” Poole, the 19th-century gang leader depicted in Martin Scorsese’s film Gangs of New York. The cemetery conducts regular public tours year-round for $10. Self-guided walking tours are also available.
500 25th Street, Brooklyn. (718) 788-7850
Lower Manhattan’s Greenwich Villages, east, central, and west, are long the focal point of New York’s artistic and literary life, and a popular visitor attraction with lively street activity in and around historic Washington Square.
Daily interactive, hands-on tours of the future site of the Ground Zero Museum, located about an 8-minute cab or subway ride from the Ground Zero site, including the Gary Marlon Suson collection of photographs illustrating recovery efforts, and artifacts recovered from the remains of the 9/11 attack, are given every day in English, French, Spanish and Italian, located in Manhattan’s Meat Packing District. Tours are 90 minutes in length, and advance purchase of tickets is required.
420 West 14th Street, 2nd Floor (between 9th Avenue and Washington Street), Manhattan. (212) 209-3370
Inside CNN
Tracing the history of journalism and the CNN news gathering process with insight on how control rooms operate, Inside CNN provides guided 45-minute tours departing every 10 minutes, at the Time Warner Center.
10 Columbus Circle, near southwest corner of Central Park, between West 58th and 60th Streets. (866) 4-CNN-NYC.
Built to resemble a small Himalayan Temple, the Jacques Marchais Museum of Tibetan Art is one of only two Himalayan-style, monastery buildings in the Western world and is the only one in the U.S. An intricate altar within this little known treasure was blessed by H.H. the Dalai Lama in 1991. The museum collection includes Tsong Khapa (1357-1410) in unbaked, painted clay from the 14th century and Shakyamuni Buddha, in gilded metal alloy from 18th century China. Also on grounds are meditation gardens, and a pond for lotus and fish. The museum’s gift shop stocks items handmade by Tibetans living in exile, along with fine art reproductions, jewelry, mysterious ritual objects, unusual books, sacred music CDs, incense and many exotic, one-of-a-kind items. Events and programs throughout the year include the annual Tibetan Rug Bazaar, a Walking Meditation Series, and a Tibetan Festival with henna body painting. In a residential neighborhood, museum parking is limited and visitors are asked to guard against blocking driveways. Hours throughout the year are Wednesday to Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m. Admission is free for members, $5 for adults, and $3 for seniors/students.
338 Lighthouse Avenue, Staten Island. (718) 987-3500
Jewish Museum
The Jewish Museum, in Upper Manhattan, is the largest such museum in the world outside Israel, with exhibitions covering 4,000 years of Jewish art, history and culture.
1109 Fifth Avenue at 92nd Street. (212) 423-3200
Little Italy
Little Italy in Lower Manhattan, and the place to buy Italian cheeses, sausages and breads, is an excellent place for immersion into Old World atmosphere. In summer, al fresco dining on Mulberry Street is reminiscent of an evening in Naples or Rome.
Tour the vineyards and taste the wines produced at the east end of Long Island, in limousines and party buses with a variety of packages available. 111 Albany Avenue, Freeport. (718) 946-3868
Madame Tussauds New York
In Times Square, Madame Tussauds provides schmooze opportunity with famed personas, where visitors can stand beside life-like replicas of A-listers, icons, world leaders, and politicians. Interactive action includes Sing for Simon on American Idol and Chamber of Horrors, Madame’s scariest exhibit.
234 West 42nd Street, between Seventh and Eighth avenues. (212) 512-9600, (800) 246-8872
Madison Square Garden, on Seventh Avenue between 31st and 33rd streets, has long been the venue for things memorable, from the NFL Draft, CBS Television’s Fall Premiere, Con Edison’s Shareholder Meetings, Product Launches for Intel, presidential birthday fetes including when Marilyn Monroe sang happy birthday to JFK, and religious conferences. The Madison Square Garden Theater is home to the timeless holiday classic, A Christmas Carol.
4 Pennsylvania Plaza, New York. (212) 307-7171
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, one of the world’s great museums, features Egyptian, Greek and Roman art collections, as well as European and Oriental paintings and sculptures, antiques, plus other art forms from around the globe.
Fifth Avenue and 81st Street. (212) 570-3711
Museum of American Financial History
Tracing growth, opportunity and entrepreneurship, the Museum of Financial History, showcases Wall Street activity, the role of capital markets as engines of progress, and American business achievements. The Museum occupies the site of Alexander Hamilton’s law office and the former headquarters of John D. Rockefeller’s Standard Oil Company, directly opposite the famous “Charging Bull” statue. Collection items include ticker tape from the 1929 crash, a working model stock ticker, and the earliest photograph of Wall Street. As the 35th affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, the museum’s message is how a democratic free market economy creates growth and opportunity — the story of the American dream. The Museum serves as a good starting point for visits to the Financial District.
28 Broadway. (212) 908-4609
The Museum of Modern Art in Midtown Manhattan displays 20th century paintings, sculptures, drawings, and more.
11 West 53rd Street. (212) 708-9480
New York Boat Brunch Cruises
On Sundays from noon to 2 p.m., mid-July through October, The 85-foot Festiva, accommodating up to 100, does New Orleans-style Sunday brunch cruises to George Washington Bridge. Brunch, catered by Sylvia’s Restaurant of Harlem, includes one complimentary beverage, plus fried chicken, baked ham, collards, macaroni and cheese, and more. Cost: $50 for adults, $25 for under age 7. Other cruise charter options are available.
79th Street Boat Basin, A-dock, New York, New York. (212) 496-8625 or (888) 755-BOAT.
The New York Botanical Garden is home to the nation’s largest Victorian glasshouse, the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory, a New York City landmark that has showcased NYBG’s distinguished tropical, Mediterranean, and desert plant collections since 1902. At the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, tours, concerts, dance performances, and symposia are always on the roster, as well as special one-time events featuring elements of the Garden at their peak. Each spring, BBG celebrates the flowering of the Japanese cherry trees with our annual Sakura Matsuri (Cherry Blossom Festival), and each fall is spiced up with a multicultural Chile Pepper Fiesta!
New York Botanical Garden, 200th Street and Southern Boulevard. (718) 817-8700 Brooklyn Botanic Garden, 1000 Washington Avenue. (718) 623-7200
New York City Police Museum
From Colonial beginnings to official establishment in 1845 to the present, the New York City Police Museum, in historic Lower Manhattan, captures the rich history of the New York Police Department (NYPD), providing abundant insider glimpses. Permanent exhibits include turn-of-the-century mug shots, photos of notorious criminals and “tools of the trade,” a display of police vehicles, and a model of a jail cell. The museum also pays tribute to every NYPD officer killed in the line of duty throughout departmental history.
100 Old Slip. (212) 480-3100
The New York Public Library
Origins of the New York Public Library, housing more than six million volumes, date to when one-time governor Samuel J. Tilden (1814-1886) bequeathed most of his fortune — about $2.4 million — to establish and maintain a free library and reading room. New York already had the Astor and Lenox libraries, the Astor created through John Jacob Astor (1763-1848), a German immigrant who became the wealthiest man in America and left $400,000 for a reference library. James Lenox left his personal collection of rare books (including the first Gutenberg Bible to come to the New World), but it was intended for bibliophiles and scholars. By 1892, both the Astor and Lenox libraries were in financial straits, and a plan was devised to consolidate Astor, Lenox, and Tilden resources to form The New York Public Library. The system now includes 85 libraries, with collections totaling 6.6 million items, providing free information on a scale unmatched by any other institution. In 1995, The New York Public Library celebrated the centennial of its founding. One-hour building tours of the landmark facility begin at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m, with groups of 10 or more by appointment..
42nd Street and Fifth Avenue. (212) 930-0800.
New York Skyride
New York Skyride, in Midtown Manhattan, consists of two 40-seat big screen flight simulator theaters, featuring a wild ride over Manhattan’s skyline.
Empire State Building, second floor. (212) 279-9777
New York Stock Exchange
Lower Manhattan’s New York Stock has a visitor’s gallery and self-guided tours. A tree outside symbolizes the buttonwood where traders once gathered to exchange stocks. 20 Broad Street. (212) 656-3000.
Upon the 1929 market crash, John D. Rockefeller, Jr. held a $91 million, 24-year lease on a midtown Manhattan tract in the “speakeasy belt” with plans dashed for a new Metropolitan Opera House. Rockefeller boldly decided to build an entire complex targeting commercial tenants, although Manhattan was awash in vacancy and despair. Partnering with fledgling Radio Corporation of America, whose NBC radio and RKO studios boomed despite bad times, Rockefeller also brought in S.L. “Roxy” Rothafel, a theatrical genius using razzle-dazzle décor to revive struggling theaters across America. Resulting was a theater unlike any other within the “Radio City” part of the Rockefeller Center complex. Radio City Music Hall, a palace for the people with quality entertainment at ordinary prices, has since attracted more than 300 million for shows, movies, and special events. It still looms large, and over 75 years its Radio City Rockettes have kicked their way into icon status. The restored Music Hall reflects original grandeur of opening night, 1932, with behind-the-scenes upgrades. Stage Door Tour guests explore the Great Stage and its ‘30s vintage hydraulic system. See Roxy’s renowned private suite with 12-feet high gold leaf ceilings, and meet a Rockette. One-hour walking tours depart from the Music Hall lobby.
1260 Avenue of the Americas, Sixth Avenue and 50th Street. (212) 307-7171
Rockefeller Center, with 24 acres of underground shops, changed the form of Midtown Manhattan, becoming one of the most successful urban planning projects in history. The vast project provided thousands of jobs during the Depression and restored the image of New York as the premier American city. Rockefeller Center is an art deco marvel consisting of 19 commercial buildings covering 11 acres from 49th to 52nd Streets, Fifth to Seventh Avenues. Thirty Rockefeller Plaza, the RCA headquarters, was the largest and first built, and stands as the centerpiece, and now General Electric’s initials brighten the rooftop for the home of NBC. Hour-long studio tours include production areas of various TV shows. The NBC Store also has souvenirs from shows such as “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno,” “Late Night with Conan O’Brien” and “Saturday Night Live.”
Bounded by Fifth Avenue, 48th Street, Sevenue Avenue and West 51st Street. (212) 664-4000
St. Patrick’s Cathedral
St. Patrick’s Cathedral, one of the nation’s largest houses of worship, is in Midtown Manhattan with seating for 2,400, and a pipe organ with more than 7,380 pipes. Fifth Avenue at 50th Street. (212) 753-2261
Home of the New York Mets, Queen’s Shea Stadium was originally to be called Flushing Meadow Park. It ended up named after William Alfred Shea, an attorney instrumental in acquiring a new team after the departure of the Giants and Dodgers. Proximity to LaGuardia Airport makes Shea Stadium the noisiest outdoor ballpark in the Majors. Site selection was done in winter, according to lore, when flight paths were different than during baseball season. When a Met hits a homer at Shea, a red Big Apple rises out of a black top hat, although some say it looks more like a big kettle.
123-01 Roosevelt Avenue. (718) 507-METS
Within a quarter of a square mile, SoHo has roughly 250 art galleries, four museums, nearly 200 restaurants, and 100 stores. Blocks south of Houston (pronounced HOW-ston) and north of Canal streets are home to the city’s largest concentration of cast-iron fronted buildings, built as warehouses and manufacturing spaces, but converted to living spaces, called lofts, for artists and sculptors who appreciated the larger spaces. These 19th-century architectural gems (often Victorian Gothic, Italianiate, and neo-Grecian), prized by preservationists, are now home to the better-heeled. When SoHo became too upscale for starving artists, many moved further downtown to another then half-abandoned industrial district, TriBeCa (the Triangle Below Canal), which has since become a hot destination, most notably for dining. One TriBeCa frontrunner, actor Robert De Niro, has lived and worked in the neighborhood for some 20 years.
Experience New York’s salty maritime history at the South Street Seaport, boasting a museum and numerous shops and restaurants. Browsing is free; museum admission is $5 for adults and free for children under 12.
South Street Historic District near Water and Beekman Streets. (212) 748-8600
For Manhattan skyline spectacle, take the Staten Island Ferry from New York harbor. The ferry runs 24 hours a day and is free at all times. (Vehicle fare is $3.) Big facelifts set for 2004 wrap-up are underway at the St. George and Whitehall Ferry Terminals, to serve more than 65,000 daily riders with enhanced dining and an outdoor promenade easing pedestrian access between Bay Street and the terminal.
St. George Ferry Terminal at Richmond Terrace, Staten Island. (718) 815-BOAT Whitehall Ferry Terminal at Whitehall and South Streets in Lower Manhattan. (718) 815-BOAT
The Statue of Liberty National Monument, measuring 151 feet on a 154-foot pedestal (with a 35-foot waist and an 8-foot index finger), is the tallest statue of modern times. France presented the 450,000-pound Lady Liberty to the U.S. in 1884, commemorating the alliance of the two countries during the American Revolution. It features the American Museum of Immigration.
Upper New York Bay on Liberty Island. (212) 363-3200.
Teddy Roosevelt’s Birthplace National Historic Site
He remains the only U.S. president born in New York City, yet locals and visitors alike often unknowingly walk past the brownstone where Theodore Roosevelt, 26th president of the U.S., was born Oct. 27, 1858. His father’s success as an importer/exporter meant the house where a frail yet bright Teddy lived until age 14 had gas lighting, sumptuous furnishings, and a backyard stretching all the way to 19th Street. The four-story house is filled with Roosevelt family furniture including T.R.’s child-sized chair by the library fireplace. Roosevelt, growing up to become a strapping colonel of the Rough Riders, declined to buy his birth home when plans were announced to raze it in 1916 for a commercial building. In 1919, the year of Roosevelt’s death, the Women’s Roosevelt Memorial Association acquired the site, demolished the new building, and reconstructed his home as a memorial. Period rooms of the narrow, dark Victorian house are restored to reflect their 1865-1872 appearance. The National Park Service offers tours.
28 East 20th Street, New York City. (212) 260-1616
Times Square draws approximately 37 million visitors spending up to $16.4 billion annually. The Times Square Visitors Center, in the restored landmark Embassy Movie Theatre, is steps from more than 5,000 businesses with 250,000 employees, and from world-renowned landmarks and tourist attractions. Times Square is surrounded by 45 Broadway theaters, drawing 11.6 million people annually and generating tickets sales of more than $588 million. Times Square is also the hub of New York’s hospitality industry, surrounded by 28 hotels, accounting for one-fifth of all New York City hotel rooms. Free walking tours depart from the Visitors Center every Friday at noon, rain or shine. Times Square Visitors Center, 1560 Broadway, between 46th and 47th streets.
Tribute – A Celebration of New York City
Tribute is a performance of the never-ending symphony that is New York life. In the heart of Tribute is the Remember Experience viewed in one of two custom-built high definition projection theaters. Visitors also can walk around the floating multimedia screens and explore artwork from the underground and emerging artists gallery. The Remember Experience itself celebrates the beauty and vitality of a city undeterred by tragedy. Remember, speaking from shadows of two fallen giants, dares telling the New York story as never before told. Featured are a September 11th Memorial Hall, a café overlooking historic Bowling Green Park, and a gift shop.
24 Broadway, New York City. (212) 952-1000
United Nations Headquarters, in Midtown Manhattan, offers one-hour tours departing from the United Nations Public Lobby daily covering the Secretariat Building, the domed General Assembly Building, Conference Building and the Hammarskjold Library. The name “United Nations,” coined by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, was first used in the “Declaration by United Nations” of Jan. 1. 1942, during WW11, when representatives of 26 nations pledged to continue fighting together against the Axis Powers. United Nations Day is celebrated annually on Oct. 24.
First Avenue and 46th Street. (212) 963-7700
Yankee Stadium, known as the house in the Bronx that Babe Ruth built, opened in 1923 for a capacity of 58,000, and was the first ballpark large enough to be called a stadium. Bleachers in right center field are sometimes called Ruthville.
161st Street and River Avenue. (718) 293-6000
Statue of Liberty – Although not a part of New York City’s mainland, the Statue of Liberty is the face of the City. One of the world’s most recognizable destinations, the Statue of Liberty might be the highlight of your trip. Take a boat cruise out and around the Statue and make sure to have your camera ready!
Sprinter Van Rental
Times Square – Driving your New York Rental Van vehicle through Times Square is well worth the trip. Times Square will give you an accurate view of the City. Lined with shops, billboards, and thousands of people, Times Square is a must see while in New York City
Central Park – Endless activities and sights await you in Central Park. Relax in the sun, spend the day boating or biking, or take a horse and carriage ride. You can spend an afternoon in Central Park or your entire New York Movers vacation. If your family is along, head over to the Central Park Zoo.
Walking the New York City streets is a once in a lifetime experience. You’ll fall in love with the City and all that it has to offer. At the heart of New York City is it’s most popular borough, New York City. New York City is world renown for it’s attractions, culture, shopping, dining, and nightlife. When you visit the City with New York Luxury Cars, spend some time in New York City. Take a break in Central Park, shop the amazing boutiques, photograph breathtaking skyscrapers, or eat a deep-dish pizza. There is something for every New York Vans traveler in New York City.
Meetings and Business in New York City
If you’re looking to break into the abundant New York City market, look no further than the streets of Manhattan for all your convention and corporate meeting needs! From fully-furnished hotel suites to state-of-the-art software and conference venues, the city of Manhattan has everything you need to make the most of your upcoming Big Apple business venture. Whether you’re planning an intimate board meeting or hosting an international soiree, the venues and services in Manhattan will provide you with a unique atmosphere and cosmopolitan flare.
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The Changing Face of the East Side
The East Village Neighborhood has always been an important part of New York City’s cultural landscape. From the eclectic mix of elderly Ukrainian, Polish, Dominican and Puerto Rican families of the 1970′s to the legions of pierced, tattooed teenagers of the 1980′s, the Village has quite the colorful reputation. Assorted artists, bohemians and punks have also called the village home, not to mention thousands of New York University students. Recent gentrification efforts in the neighborhood have helped restore the Village to its original splendor, highlighting landmarks like the Joseph Papp Public Theater, Tompkins Square Park, and Cooper Union. The Village is also home to some of NYC’s best known bars, including Joe’s Pub. From the famous watering holes to the expensive new establishments, the East Village definitely has an attitude all its own, so don’t miss your chance to check it out!
Don’t miss the rest of New York City
After you’ve hit all of the top attractions, believe it or not, your vacation might just be beginning. Take in some of North America’s best sporting action at Madison Square Gardens with the New York Knicks or Rangers. Why not head to the Theatre District and take in a Broadway Show? With New York Movers, the options are endless in New York City. After a long day of sightseeing, enjoy your night. Why not sit down and relax with a glass of wine and a gourmet meal? New York City is home to some of North America’s best fine dining. After dinner, hit the town and live up the New York nightlife. If you’re looking for a slower day, try the Guggenheim Museum or the Metropolitan Museum of Art. When you visit New York City with New York Movers, there is always something to do and see. If you want to find a gift or a new outfit for yourself, head down to Bloomingdales, it truly is like no other store in the world. Visiting the Big Apple is a unique adventure.
Sprinter Van Rental
Welcome to the New York Neighborhood’s
Driving through the various New York City neighborhoods, you’ll feel like you’re traveling the world. You can feel the ethnic influence in New York City’s food and culture. Each of New York City’s unique neighborhoods will offer you a great view of New York City. Popular neighborhoods include Greenwich Village, Chinatown, Harlem, and SoHo. Don’t miss your chance to see all that New York City has to offer. As you drive from neighborhood to neighborhood, you’ll experience different people, places, shopping, and food.
Get an early start if you need to select your own moving company. You’ll need to reserve a date about a month in advance. Keep in mind that summer is the busiest time for movers, so if you are moving from May-August you may need to be somewhat flexible with your packing and moving dates. The last week of the month is usually the busiest time for movers.
Estimates
Finding the right mover for your needs takes time. You should get at least 3 estimates; show each mover the same items to be moved and ask each company the same questions so that you can make an apples to apples comparison.
You can even get a free moving quote online. Be sure to ask around for recommendations, and check with your local Better Business Bureau office to see if any complaints have been registered about them. If using a major national moving company, understand that you will most likely be dealing with an authorized local “agent”. Ideally, you should check out both the national company as well as the local agent.
The moving agent will send someone over to your home to review the contents of your home and provide you with an estimate based on this visit. If you are getting rid of a lot of things, be sure to tell the estimator what is or is not being moved.
Local movers generally charge by the hour. Interstate companies charge by the pound. Interstate moves are governed by the Federal Department of transportation Surface transportation Board and follow a standard rate book for transportation and packing called “Tariff 400-L.”
Additional charges
There will be additional charges for Long Carries, Flight Carries, Elevator Carries, Extra Pickups or Deliveries, Bulky Articles, and Special Handling. These are costs that are charged by the hauler and can only be negotiated with their approval. These, along with packing charges and materials charges need to be included when comparing estimates.
The estimates you get may be quite different depending on how much weight the estimator thinks you have. Don’t necessarily go with the lowest weight estimate, you’ll still be charged for actual weight and mileage charges in the end. One good idea is to take the highest weight estimate and have the other two movers revise their estimates based on this weight.
Many major van lines place several households on the same truck, so your delivery date may depend on the order in which they need to unload the truck. If you need delivery on or by a certain date, be sure to specify this up front. It may affect the cost of your move.
Lastly, if you are a member of a large union or organization, (i.e. labor unions, credit unions, auto clubs) you may be eligible for some form of discount.
Avoiding problems Get everything in writing, so that if something goes wrong you’re covered. If the saleperson mentions over the phone that they will include something that isn’t on the written estimate, make sure the estimate is revised before you agree to it. Also take the time to read through the fine print of anything that you sign, and ask lots of questions.
Interstate movers will prepare a “Conditioned Inventory” document that lists all the items you are moving and what condition they are in. You’ll be asked to sign this form twice: 1) at origin, to agree what items were taken and their condition, and 2) at destination, to agree that you received everything on the inventory in the stated condition.
Note that many movers use codes to indicate the condition of a piece and you may need to take a little time to understand their coding. Also note that they may tend to note more wear and tear to your furniture. If you have a particularly valuable or fragile piece of furniture, take pictures or a video of it prior to the move and ask about special crating and handling of it ahead of time.
The do-it-yourself move
Moving yourself gives you the most control and flexibility, and can be cheaper if you don’t have a lot of stuff and aren’t moving too far away. Organizing and pulling off your own move can also be more stressful and time-consuming, so factor in what your time and sanity are worth…
If renting a truck, call at least two weeks before your move (earlier if moving at the end of the month) to get an idea of prices and what size you’ll need. You should also reserve any furniture pads, dollies, and hand trucks you’ll need for the day of the move.
If you are driving a long distance and need to spend the night somewhere, try to pre-plan where you will stay. Choose somewhere in a decent neighborhood so you can park somewhere safe and invest in a good, strong lock for the truck to deter thieves.
Ideas Designed to Gain Maximum Efficiency from Your Labor, Layout, and Rental Truck
When faced with a do-it-yourself move, many movers are stressed and overwhelmed just thinking about the huge project ahead of them. However, with careful planning and research, movers can cut their time and effort levels in half; thus alleviating stress. By following a few simple guidelines, do-it-yourself movers can enjoy a stress free move.
Know your new layout – Are you going from a smaller number of bedrooms to a larger number of bedrooms or vice versa? How about the same situation with going from either a garage to no garage? Knowing the layout of your new residence can help eliminate the need to move unnecessary objects around. A great idea is to map out the layout of your new residence and fill in the rooms with the furnishings that you would like to go in each room. If you are going up or down in rooms, make sure you label boxes appropriately for your new living arrangement.
Take inventory – A week or two before you move, be sure to take an inventory of your present belongings. Anything you do not want to move with, have a yard sale or donate the items to charity. This way you do not have to pack any extra items, and if you do not want to move with a lot of belongings, this may help to reduce the size of the moving truck needed. Also, yard sales are great ideas because you can apply the fast cash you make towards the price of the moving truck, thus eliminating some of the financial stress associated with many moves.
Plan for the future – If you are planning on moving again in the near future (college students, military families, people in temporary housing) and space allows, break down all of your boxes and save bubble wrap. Be sure you store all of your boxes in a cool, dry place that is free from any bugs or moisture.
Buy insurance – When picking up your vehicle, go ahead and purchase the extra insurance that is offered with your rental contract to cover any accidents. Even if you car insurance says that you are covered, paying an extra $100 is safer than having to replace an entire moving truck.
Load smart – When loading your rental truck or other moving vehicle, load the lightest and smallest boxes first, and then the heavier ones. This way when you unpack the truck, you will carry the heaviest items out first and leave the lightest ones for last. This is especially important if you plan on moving all day, as by the end of the day most people are tired and are not as vigorous as they were earlier in the day.
By following these easy tips, any move can be accomplished in stages, and help to reduce any stress or anxiety you may have about moving. When in doubt, ask for help with boxing, selling, or carrying. The more hands you can have help you, the faster you moving day will be completed.
Worried because you’re moving soon? This really doesn’t have to be a stressful, chaotic time. Here are some tips to help you achieve a successful, organized move.
1. USE A MOVING CHECKLIST.
Make yourself a moving checklist outlining everything that needs to be done before, and after, your move.
2. LEAVE IT BEHIND.
Avoid moving anything you don’t really need. It is expensive, time-consuming, and physically unnecessary to move things you won’t be using. If you don’t use it now, you most likely won’t use it later.
3. GET RID OF CLUTTER.
Dispose of broken tools, old toys, old clothing and other items that you no longer need, before you move. Give usable items to charity or hold a garage sale.
4. DON’T SKIMP ON YOUR MOVING SERVICE.
Choose an experienced moving firm with an established reputation for good service and reliability. Choosing someone that is unreliable or inexperienced will waste more time and money than you can imagine.
5. ENLIST ANY HELP YOU CAN GET.
You will get a lot more done, with some family members and friends helping you pack and/or unpack. If your children are old enough, they should be helping too.
6. BOX IT.
Get boxes in assorted sizes. Be sure they’re clean, in good condition and have covers so they can be closed and sealed with tape. Start collecting them from your local merchants, or purchase them from your moving company. Liquor boxes are excellent. They are sturdy and contain dividers making them ideal for packing glasses, goblets, vases, etc.–but make sure these boxes have lids. By the way, an easy way to store boxes so they do not take up storage space is to open both ends and flatten them out. Cartons can be resealed with tape as you use them.
7. USE THE A-B-C SYSTEM.
Everything you pack does not have to be unpacked the first day in your new home. If it contains essential items, mark it PRIORITY A. If the contents are important, but not crucial, mark the box PRIORITY B. If the box contains out of season items, holiday items and other things you won’t need right away, mark the box PRIORITY C. Then, unpack in A, B, C order.
8. WRAP IT.
You will need plenty of wrapping paper and heavy- duty tape. Anything wrapped in newsprint will most likely be soiled from the ink and will require cleaning after unpacking. Movers use unprinted newsprint. For items you prefer to keep clean, you can purchase this packing paper from your mover. Kraft paper, tissue paper and shock- resistant corrugated paper make excellent wrapping materials and may be purchased at most major department stores, craft stores or your mover. These papers also make excellent cushioning and lining material.
9. MARK IT.
Felt pens are ideal for marking boxes with information such as its contents, destination room, fragile or this side up.
10. LABEL IT.
As you’re packing, place removable, colored, circle stickers on your boxes to easily distinguish kitchen items, from bedroom items, from bathroom items, etc. Use a different color for each room. If necessary, make a master list so you’ll know what is in each box. If you can go to your new home ahead of time, you may wish to stick a corresponding colored sticker on the door, or door frame, of the room that the box will be delivered to.
11. LIGHTEN UP.
Cartons can be handled easier if they do not exceed 50 lbs., fully packed. Keep this in mind when you’re packing.
12. ROOM BY ROOM.
Pack on a room-by-room basis, keeping the contents of each room in separate boxes. This will eliminate confusion and save time when you’re unpacking.
13. PACK EARLY.
Even if you only pack two boxes a day, in thirty days you will have packed sixty boxes. Start in areas where the goods are not in frequent use such as the cellar, attic, garage, etc.
14. ORDER ADDRESS LABELS.
Order address labels before you move into your new home. They will be great to have on hand when you need to indicate a change of address on anything. Leave a few behind with the people who move into your old home or apartment so they can forward anything that gets delivered to them for you. Give them a few bucks to cover any postage costs.
15. MAKE A SURVIVAL KIT.
Make a survival kit for your first night in your new home. This should include items that will get you through the night if it’s too late to unpack or the movers didn’t show up. Helpful items to include might be: non-perishable food, can opener, paper plates, plastic utensils, bottled water, a flashlight, a few towels, sheets, toiletries, a blanket, toilet paper, pen/paper, a few small games or magazines and a change of clothes for everyone.
16. HAVE SOMEONE WATCH THE KIDS.
If you have children, especially young children, it might be a good idea to have someone babysit them while you are doing anything that involves your move, such as packing, unpacking, etc. Your kids won’t be interrupting your progress and you’ll accomplish more.
17. USE THE ONE ROOM RULE.
Set up ONE room in your new home as quickly as possible. This way, you’ll have a quiet retreat, free of boxes. You and your family will then have a place to go when you need a break from all of the unpacking activities.
18. MAKE IT PET SAFE.
If you have pets, be sure you have a plan for when the movers arrive. Perhaps keep your cats in the bathroom with the litter box, or put your dogs in a fenced in yard. Also, take care to do what you can so your pets feel comfortable in your new home. Bring their favorite toys, give them attention, and don’t leave them alone for long periods of time for the first few days.
19. MAKE THE FIRST NIGHT SPECIAL.
Make the first night in your new home as special as possible. It can be take-out Chinese food, or pizza, but you may sweeten the evening with flowers, candles and music. It will really make a big difference and will help you to unwind and de-stress.
20. DEVISE A PLAN.
Before you begin unpacking randomly, sit down with your family. Discuss a plan, including where things will go, who is responsible for what, etc. It will help things run smoothly.
21. HAVE A TOOL KIT ON HAND.
One of the most important things to have on hand when you’re setting up your new home is a basic toolbox that includes basic tools and hardware, such as a hammer, screwdrivers, nails, hooks, etc.
22. FUNCTION BEFORE FORM.
It is best to first arrange your furniture, and then unpack accessories and personal items.
23. GET READY FOR BED.
As soon as the bedroom furniture is delivered, set it up and put the sheets on the bed. You’ll be grateful that everything is ready for sleeping later on tonight when you’re really tired.
24. LET EVERYONE KNOW.
Inform everyone that you’ve moved with simple postcards, or e-mail for those family members who can receive it.
25. GET ACQUAINTED.
Once you arrive at your new home, schedule some get acquainted days on your calendar. This is a great time to figure out where the supermarket, bank, post office, etc. are and will give you a chance to get familiar with your area. If there is a tourist bureau in town, stop by and see what events and opportunities your town will be offering. Want to get organized? Get your FREE Get Organized Now! Idea-Pak, filled with tips and ideas to help you organize your home, your office and your life, at the Get Organized Now!
How To Plan Your Move in New York and or from New York
You know you have a lot ahead of you, so why wait until the last minute to throw things together? Plan well in advance and start taking steps now to make your move more manageable.
Be an Informed Mover
Start by creating a “move file.” You’ll need a place to keep important information and receipts for moving related expenses. Contact the IRS or visit their Web Site to determine what expenses can be deducted on your next tax return.
Research your new community. Start by visiting your new city and state’s Web Site or contact their chambers of commerce for relocation packets. Check out local entertainment, shopping and restaurants.
This can be lots of fun and will give you much to look forward to. You’ll also want to order a phone book and city map for your new location. This will allow you to start researching new schools and service providers and is a must for your “essentials” box. Finally, consider ordering a local newspaper. Most news providers will send a complimentary issue to prospective customers.
Start Paring Down Moving is tough, but it can also be an opportunity. This is the perfect time to get rid of the extra “stuff” you’ve accumulated. Take it one room at a time and prepare to make tough decisions.
Survey each room and ask yourself:
• Does this have sentimental or monetary value?
• Does anyone really use it?
• Is it worth lugging around?
• Is there room for it in our new home?
If the item in question doesn’t make the cut, ditch it! Plan a yard sale, post an online auction or simply donate anything that does not meet your criteria. This is a great way to earn a little extra cash or another tax deduction.
Start using up items that can’t be moved to your new home. Properly dispose of flammable or potentially hazardous chemicals. This would include anything in an aerosol can, cleaning and lighting fluids, paint, matches and ammunition. Eat foods that are frozen or stored in glass jars and don’t plan on replacing these items until you are in your new home. Finally, be aware that live plants cannot be shipped with your other household goods. Plan on taking these in your car or find new homes for them.
Take Inventory
Sorting through your home gives you the opportunity to take inventory of your belongings. Make a list of everything you decide to keep and assign replacement values for insurance purposes. Make note of items that are difficult to replace.
Either carry these items with you or ship them by insured or certified mail. Such items might include:
• Photos and home videos
• Birth certificates, wills and other legal documentation
• Jewelry, rare coins and special collections
• Stock certificates, insurance policies and financial records
• Computer diskettes with backups of important files.
Know what you will need upon arrival to your new home. Plan ahead and make a checklist of things you will need to pack in suitcases and an “essentials” box. Allow for extra clothing and be sure to make room for treasures, toys and snacks for the kids. Your essentials box should include things you’ll be scrambling for upon arrival.
• Scissors, masking tape, utility knife, can opener
• Coffee cups, paper plates, paper towels
• Plastic forks, spoons, knives
• Dish soap, trash bags, towels
• Instant coffee, tea, beverages
• Toilet paper, toiletries
• Prescriptions, aspirin or other pain relievers
• Flashlight, light bulbs, hammer
• Phone books, pencils and paper, your “move file”
• Telephone, radio, batteries
Plan on keeping your essentials box and luggage handy, preferably in your automobile.
THE MOVER’S LIABILITY FOR LOSS AND DAMAGE All moving companies are required to assume some liability for the value of the goods which they are transporting. Some responsibility is implied by law; the customer may also purchase additional protection. There are different levels of liability under the terms of their tariffs and pursuant to […]
Packing Supplies, Labeling & Packing Tips Keep the following supplies handy for packing: Boxes, marking pen, bubble wrap, newspaper and tissue Tape and scissors Tape measure Use strong boxes and containers that can be secured tightly. Purchase special boxes for dishes, wardrobe and other special items. Pack audio-video equipment in their original boxes. […]
If you're among thousands of people who have picked up and moved their family
to a new home or a new community, you have fresh memories of some of the ups and
downs or thrills or frustrations of moving.
Drawing from personal experience, I know there are lots of ways to help make
your household move easier and more smooth. Read here for help to get your life,
and your possessions, organized for a peaceful and exciting move.
Make a list.
Write everything down! You'll thank yourself later. Before you pack even one
box, create a simple record keeping system. Create a computer-printed list of
numbers with a space to write the contents. Or have a spiral-bound notebook for
the job. You'll place a number on EVERY box you pack and list the contents on
your list. Don't put the list down unless it's in a place you'll call Packing
Central. This is where you'll find your labels, marking pens, box tape, and
other supplies. When describing the box contents, be specific -- "A-D files" is
better than "files", and "Tulip dishes" rather than "misc. kitchen".
Have plenty of supplies.
Don't make me say this twice-- you'll need LOTS of boxes--probably more boxes
than you think, and having enough boxes will make your life easier! (If you buy
your boxes from a moving company, you can always return unused boxes for a
refund. If you got them free from the grocery, just toss any leftovers.) Have
about 10 boxes set aside to use for last minute items on moving day, such as
bedding, clothing, and cleaning supplies. You'll need strong plastic packing
tape to close up the boxes securely. Use unprinted newsprint (newspaper can
stain your items) or packing paper or bubble wrap to wrap and cushion household
good. Again, you'll need lots more supplies than you think, so get extra so the
packing can go smoothly. Return any unused supplies after the truck is packed.
Utilize wardrobe boxes.
These tall boxes are perfect for bulky, lightweight items such as comforters,
pillows, and blankets, as well as clothes that need to remain hanging. Call your
mover to ask the width of the wardrobe boxes they'll be bringing. Then measure
the clothes in your closets (including coat closets) to see how many wardrobe
boxes you'll need. You can also use them for closet storage boxes, shoe boxes,
and other bulky items such as fabric bolts, large baskets, or gift wrap tubes.
Don't make the boxes too heavy to lift, however. One mover told the story of
someone who put a bowling ball in a wardrobe box! When the box was lifted off
the truck the bottom gave way, sending the bowling ball on a wild ride down the
ramp, across the street to the gutter, then down a hill where it finally came to
rest in a roadside ditch. (Is that a strike or a spare?)
Strategize wardrobe box use.
Moving companies will be happy to deliver boxes ahead of your moving day. Or if
you're doing the move yourself, get things organized as early as possible. A few
days before your move, fill some sturdy handled shopping bags with bulky closet
items such as shoes, sweaters, belts, and jeans. On moving day, fill the bottom
of the wardrobe boxes with some of the shopping bags, then add your hanging
clothing. Pack hanging items tightly so things won't move around and fall off of
hangers. Finally, cover the shoulders of your clothes (a dry cleaning bag works
well), then add a few purses or sweaters on top. You'll have fewer boxes, and
closet items remain together. Also, the shopping bags will make it easier to
retrieve your belongings from the bottoms of a tall wardrobe box.
Color coordinate.
Designate a color for each room in the new home, such as yellow for
kitchen, orange for dining room, etc. Apply colored stickers on the box near the
box number. In your new home. Put a matching sticker on the door to each room.
The movers will know where to put everything when they arrive at the
destination. It's also helpful to post a big sign on the wall in the room where
you want boxes stacked, ("Boxes here please") to keep them out of furniture and
traffic areas.
Keep things together.
Insist on keeping things together when you or the movers are packing boxes. Keep
bookends with books, light bulbs with lamps, and extension cords with
appliances. Small, loose parts can be attached to the item they belong to with
tape or placed in small envelopes -- to keep picture hooks with pictures, shelf
brackets with a bookcase, a special wrench and bolts with the wall unit. Keep
larger corresponding items (such as a cable TV cord) in Ziplock bags, and tape
these to the underside or back of the item. As a backup, have a "Parts Box" open
on the kitchen counter and fill it with cables, cords, parts, pieces, brackets,
or nails that are removed from any items of furniture. Keep this box with you,
or mark it well with a rainbow of colored stickers so it can be easily located
on move-in day.
Pack ahead.
Anything you can pack ahead will save you time on moving day. If it's summer,
get your winter clothes out of the way. You don't really need 5 radios or TV's
around your house for the last few days there. Box up your shampoo and extra
toothpaste and live out of a travel cosmetic case for the last week or two. Pare
down cooking utensils and food supplies to bare essentials. Wastebaskets can
also be packed (put things in them!) while you switch to using plastic grocery
bags (hang them on a cabinet door or door handle to collect trash.)
Consolidate cleaning supplies.
If you must clean your old place after moving out, put together a kit of basic
cleaning supplies and rags. Clean anything possible ahead of time (the inside of
kitchen cupboards, the oven, windows, etc.), and if possible, vacuum each room
as movers empty it.
Use your luggage.
Fill luggage and duffle bags with clothing, sheets, towels, and paper goods.
Even for local moves you'll be able to quickly spot your navy suitcase holding
your favorite sweaters, whereas "Box #189" might remain elusive for days.
Safeguard valued items.
It's a good idea to keep valuable possessions, such as silverware, collections,
or antiques, with you. If you have a long move and no room in your car, bury the
items in a box titled "Misc. from kitchen pantry". Either way, check your
homeowner's insurance to see how you are covered during the move, and if you
need additional insurance from the mover. Also, find out what paperwork
(receipts, appraisals, and photos) you might need to file a claim in case of
loss.
Keep important papers with you.
Your list of "important" papers might include: birth certificates, school
records, mover estimates, new job contacts, utility company numbers, recent bank
records, current bills, phone lists, closing papers, realtor info, maps, and
more. Don't leave these with the mover. Keep them with you!
Personal boxes.
Use brightly colored storage tote boxes, one for each person. Let each family
member fill theirs with items they'll want 'right away' in the new home -- a set
of sheets, a towel, a couple of extension cords, a phone, nightlights, address
book, pens and paper, keys, kleenex, and travel cosmetic case, and so on.
Moving may not be the most fun you've ever had, but planning ahead will go a
long way toward making the process bearable.
What to Do Before the Moving Truck Arrives
When reminiscing, few people rarely describe their experience moving their
entire household as "fun."
It totally consumes you for a long time: planning, packing, moving,
cleaning.
When you arrive in your new home, you're faced with even more challenges.
It may seem a small thing to decide where to put the best china or everyday
dishes, but after all the work moving out of the old home, the last thing
you need is another big decision or another major project.
But doing some work to your new home right away will make moving in feel
great.
If you're moving into a new house, you may not need to do anything
at all. Lucky you!
But if you've bought a home with carpet you hate, you're probably
thinking that it has to go. Should you wait until you're moved in, or
tackle the job now?
You may decide that it's too much to think about right now, that you
should leave the decision about replacement for later after you've settled
in.
You may not have the budget or time to do anything but move. But be sure to
weigh in the "cost" to you in both hassle and time if you wait to do a
necessary project at a later date.
Replacing flooring is a major project, and if you have the money
and you can make just this one decision at moving time, you'll really be
doing yourself a favor. If you put it off, you'll be faced with moving all
your furniture out of the rooms. What a bother! Not just for you, but for
the flooring installers as well! There will be furniture all around the
place, and you'll have to move it back into the room when they're done. If
you can do it when you move, be sure to order the flooring well in advance
of your move. Make arrangements to have new flooring installed a day or two
before you move in. Cover the new flooring with mats, tarps, or area rugs so
the movers don't track in dirt or scratch the wood. Then, when they set your
sofa and coffee table in place -- you'll be home.
Below are some other pre-move-in projects that can save you time and
trouble.
Choose the projects that are the most pressing. If your budget won't
allow re-carpeting the entire house, just do one floor. If you can't face
paint decisions for every single room, then just do the rooms where the
decisions are easy.
Painting -
Whether you do the work yourself or hire someone to do it, it's a lot
easier to paint an empty room. There will be no need to move furniture, take
down draperies, clear out the closets, or take every picture or mirror off
the walls. Allow several days to repaint before the movers show up,
especially if you'll be doing the work yourself. This type of work always
takes longer than you think. Or, hire a crew (professional painters or
friends) to come in and get it over with in a day or two. Painting even part
of the house before you move in can be a terrific time saver. If you can't
decide on colors, then just have everything painted a clean white, a pretty
light beige, or other background color you love -- depending on what works
best with your furniture and color schemes. Once the major patching,
priming, trim work, and base coats are in, adding another wall color at a
later date can be a snap.
Crown Molding -
Does anyone not love the look of crown molding? It's a wonderful luxury
to be able to install molding around the whole house all at once, before you
move into your new home. Be sure to prime and pre-paint the strips of
molding before installation, just before painting the interior walls. You
may need to do some touch up at the joints and nail holes, but that's a lot
easier than standing on a ladder for days trying to paint three coats fo
paint on the molding near the ceiling!
Here are some more great projects to do before the moving truck
arrives at your new home.
Re-Key - You'll never know how many keys are floating around for your
new home unless you get new locks or re-key the existing locks. The previous
owners may have given a key to neighbors, workmen, relatives, or cleaning
services, and you'll get some peace of mind if you get new ones. This is a
project to do just before or soon after you move in.
Closet Systems -
Having things organized, fitting into your new home, will really make you
feel great. You'll love wonderful closet systems with double hanging poles,
drawers, and shelves up to the ceiling. If you wait until later, you'll have to
take everything out, pile your clothes in stacks on your bed or floor (can you
visualize your clothes wrinkling in giant stacks), and live out of suitcases for
a day or two until the closet fittings can be installed.
No matter when you choose to do it, professional installers can be in and out in
a jiffy. Do-it-yourselfers may need a bit longer to figure out the instructions,
but once the process is down for the first closet, each additional closet should
be faster and easier. If you do some measuring in your new home before you move
in, you can plan ahead and choose and buy your closet components ahead of time.
Electrical Upgrades -
If you're moving into a new home, you may have all the electrical outlets you
need. But older homes could be a challenge. You can do the upgrades anytime, but
everything is easier to get to in an empty room. Remember, electricians are paid
by the hour and they'll be able to work faster if they have immediate access to
outlets and room for ladders and equipment. Older homes may need GFIs in
kitchens and baths, as well as additional outlets for TVs, phones, computers, or
lamps. This would be a great time to add a ceiling fan, and an electrician can
install a wall switch, brace the ceiling and install a specialized box for the
fan. You might want better work light in your kitchen or reading spotlights over
your bed. Lighten up a hallway with new track lighting or add lights in your new
closets. Two real luxuries that are easy to do are an outlet inside a vanity for
your hair dryer or an outlet on the mantle for holiday lights. How about a
motion-activated ceiling light in a basement or laundry room? All of these
projects can be easier to complete when your rooms are empty. The work can be
completed without your having to move furniture or cover room accessories to
protect them from drilling dust.
Will you be able to park your car in the garage, or will it become the
storage spot for everything from garden tools to holiday decorations? Yes, once
you move in, it's FULL of stuff. So, if you want to build storage shelves,
finish the floor with an epoxy coating, or install a workbench, it can be much
easier to do it before the garage is stacked to the ceiling. Another handy tip
-- if you have sturdy garage shelving from a previous home, arrange to have it
loaded on the truck last, then unloaded first, so boxes marked "Storage" can be
placed easily and quickly onto waiting shelves.
Using the tips and hints here, you'll find that moving into your house can
really be a pleasant experience. You'll feel right at home in a jiffy! Happy
moving!
understand that you will most likely be dealing with an authorized local “agent”. Ideally, you should check out both the national company as well as the local agent.
Get everything in writing, so that if something goes wrong you’re covered. If the saleperson mentions over the phone that they will include something that isn’t on the written estimate, make sure the estimate is revised before you agree to it. Also take the time to read through the fine print of anything that you sign, and ask lots of questions.