What to Pack from Your Pantry
Do you have a move planned for 2024?
Planning what to move will help you save money and reduce stress. Due to safety concerns and the risk of creating a mess and attracting bugs, certain pantry or food items cannot be moved.
The list below will help you plan for moving day.
Everyday UNOPENED pantry items your movers can pack:
Cereal
Oatmeal
Soup
Canned Vegetables
Condiments
Juice
Dried Fruit
Spices
Perishable items mover cannot pack:
Frozen food
Refrigerated food
Produce
Opened food products
Things in glass containers
Things that can melt due to heat
If you are moving across town, you may wish to move perishable foods at your own risk.
We recommend donating items that cannot be moved to friends, family, or a local organization in your community that will benefit from the gift. If you would like us to donate your perishable items in your vehicle, please let us know, and we gladly take them to a local food pantry.
Learn More
If at any time you are preparing for our arrival and you have a question, please give us a call at 910-455-0481. We are here to make your move as stress-free as possible.
Tips to Help Make Your Move Stress Free
Tips for Keeping Your Pets Safe During Your Move
Does your pet get anxious or show signs of stress when they see you get out a suitcase? Moving can be a source of anxiety for your pets. We recommend you discuss your upcoming move with your veterinarian. It is never too early to plan for your next move and how you will keep your pet safe.
Below are tips from our clients and Facebook fans that they have personally used when preparing for their move.
1. Purchase a travel roller bag specifically for your pet. Include in this your pet's shot and medical records, medications, favorite treats and food, blanket, water and food bowl, plastic bags, toys, food and a bottle of water, etc. One Facebook fan recommends keeping the bag in the back seat of your vehicle so you can easily reach anything you may need.
2. Double and triple check that hotels along your route are pet-friendly and that your pet meets their requirements for weight etc. Do not rely on the information on their website. One fan had their reservation declined by a national hotel chain that was independently owned and did not allow pets despite the website saying they were pet friendly.
3. Discuss with your veterinarian regarding giving your pet Benadryl or other medications to help with the anxiety during the move and the drive. If your pet is prone to licking and chewing, you may want to have the “cone of shame” handy.
4. If your dog does not travel in a crate, we have heard from several Facebook fans that they recommend using a harness and seat belt extender made for dogs. A pet seatbelt will keep your baby from jumping from the back seat to the front seat and from the front seat to the back seat. It is advised your pets stay in the back seat, so in the unfortunate event of an accident, they do not get injured by the air bag. The seat belt will help keep them safe, secure, and prevent injuries. When your dog wears a harness and uses a seat belt, there is also less risk of him or her escaping at the gas station or rest stop. Think about safety at all times.
5. On moving day, another fan recommends introducing your dog to the movers. Introducing your dog to the movers will reduce aggression and stress for your dog. Remember, often, your dog's job is to protect the house and your property. Don’t get mad if they want to bark. They don’t understand the movers are allowed to take your furniture. Several fans suggested sending your fur babies to a friend's house, daycare, or a kennel, so they do not escape and run away in the excitement and confusion of packing. Also, you do not want to have your movers accidentally trip over one of your babies.
6. Remember to verify that your pet's microchip is up to date with your accurate contact information and a recent photo of your pet.
7. Shower your pet with affection. Moving is stressful for everyone, including your fur baby. Be prepared for accidents, whining, and the need for lots of positive reinforcement. If your pet is crated or kenneled, placing a t-shirt you have worn in the crate or kennel will provide reassurance and comfort to your pet. In the car, you may want to let your pet snuggle with your old pillow.
Moving is stressful for everyone. We hope our tips help you and your pet have a safe and happy move.
5 Tips for Keeping the Christmas Spirit Alive When Moving
Will you be moving during the Christmas holidays?
Our tips will help you keep the holiday spirit alive.
- Christmas Eve Must Haves – do NOT let the movers pack the Christmas stockings. Keep the family Christmas stockings and a few select ornaments with you in your vehicle. Do not let these items get on the moving truck. You will want to display these things in your hotel room or wherever you will be spending Christmas Eve.
- Presents – since space will probably be very limited in your vehicle, we suggest you pack small gifts or have larger presents delivered to your hotel room or destination. Amazon Prime two-day shipping makes it easy for Santa to make his delivery on Christmas Eve.
- Keep the Christmas Spirit Alive – now is not the time to be cynical about moving during the holidays. Adopt a positive mindset and keep the Christmas spirit alive. Sing Christmas carols while driving, reminisce about Christmas past and find places to explore on your trip. Skype or FaceTime with family and friends during your road trip and on Christmas Day.
- Acknowledge Negative Emotions – be prepared for the sad times. Try not to get angry when others display negative behavior. Understand that moving is stressful and can be emotional. Do your best to prepare everyone, and keep them informed of the plan for each day so no one feels lost or left out.
- Make Memories - enjoy the adventure and make new memories that will be shared with future generations. If one person loves to take pictures, appoint that person to be the family photographer. Does someone enjoy researching online? Appoint that person to be the historian and share information about your new destination. Get everyone involved and make positive memories that will last a lifetime.
Moving during the holidays can be a fun and memorable experience when you follow our tips.
J.E. Thomas & Sons Moving looks forward to helping you with your next move
and making it stress-free.
Tips for Moving in the Heat!
Summer is a busy moving season because kids are not in school. Moving is somewhat arduous under the most favorable circumstances yet doing so during the summer presents unique challenges. While moving in the summer, you'll have to give a tad bit of additional thought to how and what you are packing, and how to beat the heat.
PLANNING AHEAD
Proper packing of household items is your best protection against property damage, regardless of whether you're moving a short distance or cross country. It's enticing to leave everything to the last minute. But don’t. Successful moves start with planning.
HEAT AND YOUR BELONGINGS
Some Items are advised not to be packed, as they won't fare exceptionally well in a hot moving truck and ought to be brought with you in your vehicle or donated to someone who can use them. Items such photo albums and candles do not fare well in a moving truck in the summer. Also, musical items such as instruments, cassette and video tapes, compact disks and vinyl records could warp or be damaged by high temperatures in a hot truck.
PACKING TIPS
Separate things that may cause problems during the move. Along with the above-mentioned items, don’t forget that certain baking ingredients or foods will not move well during the summer. Make it easy for your movers by separating the things that will not go in the moving truck, so they know what not to pack.
Do not wrap leather upholstered furniture in plastic; it will sweat; pad leather furniture with blankets instead. You can also remove furniture legs if detachable to prevent damage.
HYDRATE
Moving in the summer heat is exhausting and draining. It is critical that you stay hydrated during the moving process, since you will most likely have your doors open letting the heat in your home. It is recommended that you keep cold water on hand not only for yourself but for your movers. They will probably have their own water, but it is always nice to offer them something cold to drink.
When you and your movers stay hydrated there is less of chance that a heat related injury or illness will occur. Staying hydrated will also help keep the packing and moving process moving along at the expected tempo.
Learn More
If you have questions about what can be
safely packed and moved, please contact
us at (910) 455-0481.
We are here to take the stress out of your
summer move.
The Swedish Death Cleaning Method
Decluttering for Your Move
Happy New Year. Do you have a move on your schedule? Now is the perfect time to begin to prepare by decluttering your home, garage, and storage unit. Have you heard of the “Swedish Death Cleaning” method? We just learned about it a week ago, and it got our attention. It sounded a bit drastic but at the same time, made sense.
Our interpretation of the concept of the Swedish Death Cleaning method is that you prepare to clean and de-clutter with the intent that when you expire, and your family has to come into your home and pack your belongings you won’t leave them to discover things that could be upsetting, hurtful, or embarrassing.
Our version of the Swedish Death Cleaning method to help you prepare for your upcoming move is as follows:
1. Plan to go room by room. Do not get distracted or discouraged. Focus on one room at a time. Make time for deep cleaning and purging.
2. Make your piles – keep, donate, or toss. If you find something that you borrowed, return it.
3. When examining an item, think about what your children will do with the item. Will they keep it, donate it, or toss it? If in doubt, ask them if they want it. Why are you keeping the item? If you have multiples of one item, do you really need them all? If your children do not want your china collection, stuffed animals, or books, it may be time to consider donating them or selling them.
4. Vital records, tax records, and must keep documents. I recommend scanning these items before storing them in a fireproof box or plastic tote. Label the box, tote, or storage device large enough that its contents can easily be identified by you or family when you arrive at your new destination. When following the Swedish Death Cleaning method, you will want your family to quickly identify the contents of the box and know they are important.
5. Understand the psychology of why you are keeping certain items. Again, will your family members want them? Do you use it now? Are you holding on to it due to sentimental value? It might be time to give it to the person you would like to have the item upon your passing or donate to an organization that can put it to good use.
6. Do not hold on to the toss or donate piles. Do not second guess yourself. Take the toss pile to the dumpster or trash can. Immediately take the donate pile to your local thrift store.
7. Make a plan not to bring new items or clutter into your home. Before buying something, ask yourself if you really need it.
The Swedish Death Cleaning method sounds drastic. But it is a great way to reduce clutter and save you money on your move. When hiring a mover, you are paying for your mover’s time, packing materials, and the size of the truck. The Swedish Death Cleaning method will help you save money on your move.
Contact Us
We provide free estimates. Contact us today at 910-455-0481 or complete the form on our Home Page.
We look forward to helping you with your move.
5Tips for Preparing to Move Your Refrigerator
If you are taking your refrigerator with you to your new destination or putting it in storage, our tips below will help keep your other valuables safe from mold and mildew.
Preparing for Moving Your Fridge
- Remove all contents from inside the fridge.
- Unplug your refrigerator.
- Turn off your water supply line to the refrigerator. Disconnect your refrigerator from the water supply. Do this at least 24-48 hours before our arrival.
- Disconnect the ice maker, ice dispenser, and water dispenser and empty the lines of water.
- Clean and dry your refrigerator. Don’t forget to check for a drip pan underneath your appliance. You don’t want us leaving a trail of water as we move the fridge to our truck.
Other important things to remember:
- Do NOT lay the refrigerator down on its side. You do not want to risk the oil that runs the cooling mechanism in the compressor unit to flow into the cooling lines.
- Wait at least three hours before you plug in and turn on your fridge after we have moved it to its new location. Again, this is so the oil that may have flowed to other places during the move can flow back to the compressor when it is upright and in its new location.
- Do not risk injury to your appliance, floor, or self. Call us to help you move your refrigerator.
The average refrigerator weighs anywhere from 245 – 420 pounds. We have the equipment to safely move your refrigerator and over 30 years’ experience moving fridges, pianos, safes, and other heavy objects.
Do not hesitate to give Debi a call at 910-455-0481 to learn how we can help you move your refrigerator or other household goods.
Preparing Your Outdoor Equipment for Moving
Here are some tips to prepare for us to move your outdoor equipment.
Swing Sets
Please dismantle before we arrive. Wipe away any dirt that could cause rust. If there are screws or nuts and bolts used for assembly put these in a ziplock bag, so they do not get lost.
Barbecue Grills
Empty out the charcoal and clean your grill. If your grill uses propane, please disconnect the propane tank. Remember, we cannot move the propane tank.
Swimming Pools
If it is an inflatable pool please deflate. Ensure the pool is free of water so that it does not mold or mildew in transit.
Lawn Furniture
Again ensure your chairs and table are clean and free from dirt and sand before we arrive.
Once you get these items ready for our arrival we recommend you cover them with a tarp or store safely in your garage. You do not want an afternoon thunderstorm to get everything wet.
Three Things to Remember Before Moving with Your Pets
Before you move with your pet:
1. Make sure their microchip is up to date with your current cell phone numbers.
2. Have all their medical records and shot records with you. You never know when you will need to show proof that they are current
3. Make sure they have a tag on their collar (even if it's a kitty). Remember, you're moving, so your previous address won't work. Get a new tag with your phone number on it, instead.
Understand What Movers Cannot Move
Plan for Our Arrival
We are often asked what can be packed and moved. It is easier to list what cannot be packed and placed on the moving truck.
To maximize your movers time and your investment we encourage you to ensure the below products are NOT present
on the day the movers arrive to pack your belongings.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has Hours of Service (HOS) that most drivers must follow. You do not want your packing delayed because your movers have met their HOS. The HOS start when they leave their place of business, and you must remember to factor in the time it will take them to return to their place of business.
You do not want to pay your movers to spend their time sorting what they can and cannot put on the truck.
We recommend donating items that cannot be moved to friends, family, or a local organization in your community that will benefit from the gift.
If at any time you are preparing for our arrival and you have a question, please give us a call at 910-455-0481.
We are here to make your move as stress-free as possible.
Hazardous Items
- Anything Flammable
- Acids, Aerosols, & Most Cleaning Products
- Weed Killer, Fertilizer, & Propane Tanks
Contact us for a complete listing of items that we cannot move at 910.455.0481 or click on the button below and send us a message.
Perishable Items
- Opened Food Products
- Things in Glass Containers
- Things that Can Melt Due to Heat
Get Organized for Your Move
Moving does not have to be stressful. We've all heard the horror stories of a pot on the stove with food in it being wrapped and packed. Or the movers packing the air mattress and linens that were going to be used for the actual move. Our tips below will help you maximize your move and reduce stress.
1. Moving Binder.
Create a moving binder. A moving binder is where you will keep inventory and To Do checklists, important papers, phone numbers, and contracts. We recommend you select a binder that is a bright color or a color that does not blend in with all the other binders on your bookshelf. You want to easily identify it. Hold on to your moving binder on moving day or keep it in your vehicle. You do not want it packed and put on the moving truck.
2. Sort.
Now is the time to sort your household items, clothing, and toys into categories – keep, toss, and donate. Make a timeline to ensure you get through each room before the movers arrive. Donate and toss items you do not want to take with you before the movers arrive. Do not spend money having things that you no longer need or want being packed and move
3. Identify and Stage.
After completing step two above, you will want to stage the items that you do NOT want the movers to pack and move in a room that they do not enter. Put a note on the door – do NOT move the contents in this room - or something similar. This step will save your movers time and supplies, which will save you money. .
4. Visualize.
Visualize where your items will go in your new home. Look at the floor plan or the actual place and decide where you want your furniture placed. When the movers arrive, the unloading will go faster and smoother.
5. Stress Pack.
Create a stress pack for each family member. The contents will be age appropriate and used to keep stress at bay. For children, you may have a few new books, coloring books, games, etc. You want new items, so the child can't say they already read the book or played the game. Include a few favorite snacks and any medications that may be needed. For adults, you may want to include pain medication or aspirin, favorite snacks, and single serve beverages of choice. Make these unique for each person, and when tempers start to fly, you can provide the stress pack to de-escalate the hissy fit.
Moving does not have to be stressful. These five tips will help you get organized and reduce the stress typically associated with moving while saving you money. We look forward to helping you with your next move. Contact us for a free estimate at 910-455-0481.