admin July 13, 2018 Leave a Comment

Do you value the family and friend photos you’ve collected throughout the years? Do you want to know how to store important documents safe from the elements? Learn how to safely store old photographs and documents so they will last for generations to come.

But before you get started, there are essential facts you must know before handling fragile things.

Things to consider before storing old photographs and necessary documents:

For old photos:

Wood products, like paper and cardboard, impair pictures and should only be used if labeled “acid-free.“
Put your photos in a place where you are also comfortable: not too hot, cold, wet or dry.
Keep photos out of basements, attics, and garages where they’ll be subject to extreme temperature fluctuations and excessive humidity. Store photos in cabinets, closets, or under the bed. Your living quarters are good storage areas since they’re more likely to be climate controlled.
But don’t store or put your photos near a heating or cooling vent.

For papers and documents:

Pick a climate-controlled unit. Remember: 75 degrees or colder and low humidity are the best conditions for photo storage.
Don’t place them on the ground in a storage unit, even if they are packaged up in boxes or containers. Consider using poly bags, zip lock bags, and poly tubing bags in case of flooding or any natural disaster.
Enclose all documents completely, whether in boxes, containers, or frames.

Now that you know the do’s and don’ts when it comes to filing your photographs and documents properly we can now start storing!

Here are some ways on how you can safely save your old photos and important documents!

File Box

You can use this method to keep all of your documents. If you have several of these boxes, use them and put on a label. These are labeled so you can track down what you need and the type of documents. Here are some examples:

Taxes
Owners Manuals
House
Small Appliances
Large Appliances
Medical
Dental
Vehicles
Insurance

File Cabinet

If you don’t have a file box, you could easily find a file cabinet as an alternative. It is still best to have them organized by name or category so you can see what you need at a glance. Don’t forget to use stiff, flat materials and containers to encourage your photos to stay flat. Jamming pictures into a box that is too little in width or length will damage and dogear them before they’ve even made it to storage. Make sure it has the right fit with your containers and your prints.

Don’t overstuff photos in one box

Shoving too many pictures in one box can have the same effect as using a box that’s too small. On the other note, leaving too much space in a box can cause items to shift in transport. If you have extra room, fill it with non-acidic tissue paper.

Use non-acidic dividers.

Ever had to peel photos apart from another? Although it might feel meticulous, placing another type of divider between pictures can save them over time, especially if your photos come in contact with water or overheat. When it comes to dividers, the stiffer, the better to keep items flat and in place.

Go paperless

If you want to go paperless, you can use the scanner on your printer. Then, create a file folder on your computer for these items and organize them to your liking. For example, create a folder or drive called “Home Items.” Under that, make additional folders called Electronics, Appliances, etc. You can now organize your warranties for your electronics or other important papers.

Rolls

Your important documents can be stored into a sturdy tube, so it is less likely to be crushed. Select a container that is at least two inches longer than the width of the broadest sheet. You can use an archival quality paper tube that is buffered with low-lignin content. In one tube, five sheets may be rolled and just roll all five onto the tube at the same time, not one after the other.

Sleeves or Envelopes

Polyester L-sleeves are a big help if you have brittle, damaged or heavily used documents and they have the added benefit of making text and images visible, so you don’t have to take them out of the sleeves just to see them, reducing the risk of tears if you handle them.

When it comes to sleeves, use the ones that are larger than the original size of your document. Any part of the first extending outside of the envelope is likely to be destroyed.

Call the experts in packing and shipping.

We know that packing things that are important to you should be handled with care. You don’t have to worry about that anymore! Hire professionals to keep your memories and vital documents safe from harm.

admin January 17, 2018 Leave a Comment

Moving is stressful. No sugar-coating needed. It is what it is, right? On a lighter note, though, moving can also be thrilling. So let us help you get through this stressful yet exciting time with at least a little less headache than you would usually have.

Here’s the Only Relocation Checklist You Will Ever Need

Congratulations, you have a new home! After you’ve signed the papers and settled the initial payments, the fun and excitement wear out once you’ve realized how much stuff you’ll be moving. So stop procrastinating and start packing! Start as early as:

2 Months Before Moving Day:

Look for and get a quote with a trusted and experienced moving company. Read their customer reviews, know how long they have been in the business, and, of course, their moving prices.
Create a budget for your moving expenses and make a list of the packing supplies you will need. Just because you’re moving eight weeks from now doesn’t mean you get to spend on extra things you want to put in your new house.
Schedule a day off from work for your moving day. It’s ideal that you would plan your moving day on a Friday so that you’ll have time to tidy up your space on the weekend.
If you have kids, look for schools they’ll transfer to and create a different checklist for this so you won’t forget any paperwork. Take note of stuff like transcripts and other requirements their new school needs.
Set up a garage sale. Although optional, having a garage sale will lessen your moving load and you can use the money for other things. After that, you can donate the stuff you couldn’t sell. You can also choose to sell your stuff online.

6 Weeks Before Moving Day:

This is when things can become a little emotional if you’re moving to somewhere far. Schedule your remaining time with your friends and near-by relatives. You can throw a simple dinner or barbecue.
Look for packing tips and hacks you can use.
Think ahead and label your boxes using sticky notes or markers. Through this tip, unpacking will be easier for you once you’ve moved-in to your new home.
Start your minor packing. This includes things you don’t use on a daily basis, like books, figurines, and other knick-knacks.
Measure the doorways and stairs of your new house to make sure your furniture will fit.
Make an inventory. You must check your stuff before and after they go in and out the moving truck. You’ll have a lot of things on your plate, and you wouldn’t know when you might forget a box or two. Better safe than sorry.
Don’t forget to mark boxes or containers with fragile items in them so that your movers will know how to stack your boxes properly.
If you’re moving to a far area, have your vehicles checked and serviced. You don’t want your car to have a breakdown in the middle of an empty road!
Make sure your car is empty if you will have it shipped.
Research about your new area if you haven’t done it yet. It’s not like you’re going on an adventure where you go to a place you know nothing about – you’ll be living there!

1 Month Before Moving Day:

Gather all necessary documents and keep them in a safe place or container. You don’t want to forget passports, birth certificates, financial and legal records, and other essential documents and papers.
Keep parking options for your moving truck in check. You might need to get a parking permit for your moving day.
If you’re moving far, you’ll want to look for a new dentist and doctor nearest to your neighborhood.
Schedule the cancellation of your old services in your former home and schedule installation for your new house. This includes cable, telephone, and internet services.
If you have pets, make sure they have tags on their collars. You should also get their vet records and other essential pet medications. You also need to have them vaccinated if you’re moving to a different country.

2 Weeks Before Moving Day:

Update all accounts, subscriptions, and other records for your new address. This includes credit cards, banks, Social Security, Driver’s license, etc.
Plan 2-weeks worth of meals so that you don’t have to stock extra food that might go to waste. Consume your frozen food and other perishable goods as they will go bad before you even reach your new place.
Return the things you borrowed from your friends.
Remove all light bulbs from your lamps before they get on the moving truck.
If you have a gym locker or other storage areas at work, make sure you clean them out.
Create a list of service providers or technicians near your new home. It’s better if you know the number of your new plumber or electrician just in case something happens.
Transfer or cancel your gym membership or other lifestyle and leisure memberships.
Clean, or at least dust, your furniture before moving. You’re moving your things, not dust bunnies.

1 Week Before Moving Day:

Do some light cleaning in your old house. It’s your way of showing politeness or courtesy for the next residents.
Call or email your scheduled deliveries – if any – and inform them of your move.
Check your closets and shelves for things you might have forgotten to pack.
Defrost your refrigerator the night before you move.
Check the weather forecast and prepare for whatever weather condition you will encounter.
Pack your essentials. These are the things you’ll need for traveling to your new home. You’ll also want to have a weeks-worth of stuff you’ll need if your movers run late.
Recheck your checklists the night before to make sure you don’t forget anything on your moving day.
Set up an alarm and get up early for moving day

MOVING DAY!

Once you’ve arrived at your new home, you’ll have to clean before your movers come. Cleaning is always easier when you don’t have stuff lying all over the floor.
Unpack your essentials and toiletries first, then make your bed, because those are two of the things you’ll need when you finish moving and unpacking – shower and sleep.
You’ve probably had enough take-out by this time, so go grocery shopping.
Put up your curtains or cover your windows for privacy to help you sleep during your first night.

1 Week After Moving Day:

Time for decorations and personalization! Make your new place feel more like home.
Explore your neighborhood. Look for restaurants, cafés, or grocery stores.
Update your friends and family about your move and thank them if they helped you with the move.
Unpack the rest of the stuff you haven’t opened yet.
Leave a review in your moving company’s website or Yelp.

You’re probably tired just after reading this checklist, and we’re not surprised if you are! It only goes to show that moving can be hard work, which is why you should hire a reliable moving company. A trustworthy moving company will stick to your schedule, inform you of the setbacks they encounter and do their best to help you with the moving process.

admin August 28, 2017 Leave a Comment

Do you have a loved one that has passed on to the other side? Have they left their homes and possessions to you but you don’t know what to do with it? If you do, then consider an estate sale as a way to dispose and liquidate the deceased’s belongings.

What’s an estate sale?

An estate sale is like auctioning some, if not all, of a deceased loved one’s property. You may not want the sudden bulk of things or furniture, or you may not have the space to keep them.

Some inheritors even turn to an estate sale because they can’t agree on who-gets-what. Liquidated value is easier to divide that tangible stuff, don’t you think?

So how do you do it?

There are some things you need to think about, like organizing the things you want to sell. A disorganized estate sale will only give you a headache. Especially when buyers or customers come in and ask you where is which. It’s like walking into an antique store or a thrift shop where everything is all over the place. You don’t want that. So stay organized.

Now you can’t have an organized one if you don’t have the proper packing supplies, right?

So here are some of the supplies that you will need to prepare for your estate sale:

Boxes

Boxes may be the first thing that popped into your head when you thought about packing supplies, huh? And you are correct. These are where you place books, toys, and other stuff. But don’t just get one size for everything. Your boxes should also have different sizes.

You can use larger boxes for clothes, bed sheets, or other fabrics. Their size can vary from 28”x24”x20” and above, whatever you think will be enough. Use smaller or thin and shallow boxes for smaller items like cups or tools.

Make your selling easier by using boxes. You can put a sign that says everything is $5 or whatever price fits for what’s in the box. More convenient than individual labels.

Adhesive Labels or Stickers

Using price labels will prevent your customers from asking you about an item’s price. You can use this for less valuable stuff like kitchen utensils or items that can be priced individually. Use it on furniture that won’t get damaged by the adhesive like leather sofas or plastic items.

You may even print price stickers from home if you don’t want to buy an adhesive price label gun. Either way, you won’t have to use paper and tape that need more effort to stick to an item.

Tip: Don’t put a price label on things that are not for sale. Some people remove the price to get a lower price or free stuff. Yes, unfortunately, people like this exist. Keep them away by following this tip. It works. Trust me.

Markers

You can use markers to write information on your boxes or items. If you really prefer paper and tape, write prices or discounts on the boxes. This helps you by keeping interested customers from asking you, “how much?” on minor items like used clothes or books. You can also this for marking an adhesive label or sticker to mean that an item’s already sold.

Organizing hack: Organize your estate sale by writing sections like “Kitchen”, “Living Room”, or “Bedroom.” This will help customers know where to look.

Ziplocks or sealable bags and zip ties

You can use sealable bags for lightweight and non-fragile items like Lego’s or toy sets that don’t have boxes. You can also put broken electronic devices in these bags. And yes, some people buy broken electronics for parts that can be salvaged and used for other devices.

Use zip ties for cables or wires, kitchen utensils, and tools. Put a price on the sealable bag or zip ties to show that the items are sold as a whole.

Bubble Wrap and Styrofoam

No, you won’t be using this bubble wrap for your popping urges. You will use this for the more fragile stuff like cups or porcelain figurines.

You can use Styrofoam for organizing a set of cups or other fragile items in a box. You can also use foam peanuts to prevent fragile items from breaking inside the box.

Tip: You can cover fragile stuff with newspaper to protect them if you’re environment-conscious. Use more newspaper to make it thick because it isn’t as efficient as Styrofoam.

So these are some of the packing supplies that you need for an organized estate sale. Some of the other things you may consider having are security guards, extra employees, calculators, and/or security cameras. These will prevent thieving customers. And you don’t have to handle everything on your own so hire professional packing services to help you with everything. Good luck!