On the Move: Boston Commonwealth Avenue

Posted on July 20, 2018July 20, 2018 by cclark

As a Boston moving company, Olympia relocates thousands of families to or from Boston this year. In our “On the Move” series, we take you on the job to see first-hand the homes our crews work in and the variety of services they perform.

On the Move | Luxury Moving Services on Commonwealth Avenue, Boston MA

Moving From: Location, location, location! This beautiful property is right next to the historic Commonwealth Avenue Mall, just a 5-minute walk to the Boston Public Garden.

Moving To: A brownstone townhouse in Brooklyn, NY

When: June 2018

Boston Moving Services

This client needed a full-service move on very tight deadlines. Olympia’s moving consultant, Ida, planned the move to take place over three days.

The Olympia team performed a full pack of the home on the first day. The next day our five man crew loaded the belongings into two trucks. One truck was bound for New York City. The other was going back to our local warehouse for long-term storage. Prior to departure, our crew removed all debris and broom-swept the house to ensure it was ready for closing. On the third day Olympia delivered the shipment to New York.

The crew was headed by Gabe all three days to ensure continuity.

Special Items Olympia Moved

This client had unique, expensive pieces as well as high value artwork and light fixtures. It is routine for Olympia to manage high end items. Olympia worked with our partner who specializes in crating valuable art, chandeliers, and gold leaf frames. The Olympia dedicated moving coordinator also arranged for an electrician partner to properly remove the chandelier from the ceiling.

Considerations for Boston Moving from Commonwealth Avenue

Homes in the historic Beacon Hill neighborhood are the epitome of beautiful Boston architecture, but the area is particularly challenging for a move. This luxury home was a third-floor walk up. Olympia also had to order a few parking permits to ensure they could park right in front of the home on the resident-only street parking on the Commonwealth Avenue Mall.

If you are moving to or from the Boston Area, give us a call at 800-222-4244 or fill out our form online for a free moving estimate!

How To: Find a new apartment in Boston

Posted on July 20, 2018 by cclark

Are you trying to find a new apartment in Boston? If you’re moving to Boston for the first time, or you just looking for a new place, you’ve probably already discovered that Boston is a difficult market. The cost of living in Boston is infamously expensive, and hovers at around 50% higher than the national average, similar to other expensive US cities such as New York, LA, DC, and Chicago.

Where do you want your new apartment to be?

Boston has 23 official neighborhoods that all have different price ranges and characteristics. Do your research to find which spot is best for you.

For most folks, average prices in the neighborhood is the best starting point in the search. Check out this heat map of Boston rent prices, from Jeff Kaufman, a Software Engineer at Google. If you cannot afford living alone in Boston’s most hip neighborhoods, consider getting a roommate to help split up the cost. If you’re buying, consider getting a home with a space you can rent out. There are also many suburbs and adjacent cities that have lower costs and transportation options into the city.

The second consideration is your commute and getting around the city. Neighborhoods along the train lines of the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority (MBTA) – commonly referred to as the “T”- are more sought after and will be more expensive. In other areas, the bus lines or commuter rail are convenient options to get from A to B. If you’re planning on using your car frequently, check out the traffic patterns on Google Maps or Waze, and check whether a parking space is included in your rent.

To find an apartment in Boston, neighborhood vibe is also key. If you want to be right in the middle of a busy city, consider Downtown, South Boston, or the Fenway/Kenmore area. If you are looking for a residential escape away from the hubbub, try Jamaica Plain or Mission Hill. The South End, Back Bay, and Beacon Hill are all higher end residential areas tucked away in the busy city.

Make sure to choose wisely, as this will be where you’ll spend most of your time. Check out the Olympia Boston location page to read more about the surrounding areas.

Make a budget for a new apartment

Plan your budget carefully – ask if heating and cooling is included in the price presented. Boston winters are very chilly, but the summer temperatures are not that much fun either. Is the laundry in-home, in-building, or at the laundromat around the corner? Does the price include everything you need? Decide whether or not you can afford your apartment only after you’ve carefully weighed all the financial responsibilities in your life. Here is a rundown of what to consider when you create your budget:

Rent
Laundry
Heating/Cooling
Oil/Gas
Utilities
Other Living Expenses
- Weekly/Monthly Groceries
- Gas for your car
- Public Transportation Money
- Phone Bill
- Credit Card Bill
- Loan Payments

Keeping even the smallest monthly payments in mind can help keep you out of financial stress and trouble later. Be realistic about how much money you already need to spend each month – rounding up can help build in some cushion in case you make any mistakes.

What you need to know about moving day

Did you finally find a new apartment in Boston? It’s time to plan the move!

Most of the rentals in the city are on the same lease cycle beginning September 1st. All of the local college students also be arrive at their dorms the same week. This causes extreme traffic, delays, and frustration throughout the entire city. If you can, avoid moving on September 1st. If you can’t, plan ahead. Both moving companies and truck rentals will be booked to capacity months in advance. Rates will also get higher as the end of the month creeps closer.

The most key advice for newcomers moving to Boston: If you are moving to your new Boston apartment in a rented truck: do not travel on Storrow Drive, Memorial Drive, or Soldiers Field Road. Your truck will not fit. Do not ignore the “Cars Only” signs.

If you would prefer to leave moving to the pros, contact Olympia Moving & Storage at 800.222.4744 or fill out our form for a free moving estimate!

Preparing to Move Checklist

Posted on July 12, 2018September 23, 2021 by cclark

Preparing to move house may feel like an overwhelming chore, but if you approach it in a focused, organized way it can be a lot easier than you think. You may not relish the thought of moving out but if you take these tips on board you’ll see how, with the proper planning and organization, you might even enjoy the process. After all, the door to your new house is waiting to be opened and that’s a cause for celebration.

This blog was written by Angela Pearse, a blogger for Zumper.com.

1. Should You Hire Movers or Move Yourself?

If you’re looking for a simple solution for your moving woes, then it’s always worth hiring professional movers. Rather than getting frazzled about how you’re going to get your possessions from A to B, let the experts take care of it. Book them in, then all you have to worry about is getting your stuff packed up. Preparing to move is stressful enough, let the professionals deal with the rest.

2. Create a moving checklist

The reason people get stressed about moving is because they leave everything until the last minute and then there’s a mad rush to pack everything up. Start at least a month ahead of moving day and create a moving checklist of all the tasks that need to be done. Ticking off completed tasks week by week will make you feel in control and on top of your packing before the truck arrives. Follow this 9-week checklist for a smooth relocation.

3. Set-up a moving budget

Money, or lack of it, is also a common stress factor when moving out, so do up a list of all the costs involved in the move so you can make sure you have enough cash. Add things like the cost of the movers, packing boxes & tape, utility connection fees and the like. If you have a cat or dog will you need to house them in a kennel or cattery while the move takes place? Add this cost to your moving budget.

4. Transferring Your Information

You’ll need to notify your utility companies about your change of address well in advance so they have time to make the transfers. Not having power or gas when you first move in to a new house can make for a miserable few days while it gets sorted. Don’t forget to notify your employer, doctor, dentist and any other service providers you use, plus your family and friends, of your new address.

5. Measure the new place

While preparing to move, it’s easy to make assumptions that all your furniture will fit perfectly into a new house but sometimes this isn’t the case. It may not be practical to visit your new home to measure up spaces if it’s in another state, but if it’s local then it’s a good idea to do this. If your current furniture doesn’t fit you may need to sell what you have online and order new furniture, but knowing in advance will make things less stressful.

6. Sort through your stuff

You can eliminate two stress factors, lack of money and too much stuff, by sorting through your possessions and decluttering your house before you start packing. Paring down the amount of stuff you have when you’re preparing to move will make it easier to pack, and the less stuff you have, the less it will cost you to move it.

7. Make hard decisions

Deciding what to keep and what to toss is a lot easier if you apply some rules to the proceedings, and make two piles ‘keep’ and ‘don’t keep’. For instance, to keep it you have to have worn it or used it once in the past year. A pile of tops you’ve worn once in the last five years will go in the ‘don’t keep’ pile, likewise so will a hand-me-down cake mixer from your sister you’ve never used.

8. What to do with stuff you’re not keeping

Now that you’ve sorted through all your stuff and have items that you haven’t used or are unlikely to use and that are still in good shape, why not consider selling them online, donating them to charity, hosting a garage sale or recycling them? Selling what you can online will top up the amount you have in your moving budget, and donating to charity will make you feel good.

9. Gather moving supplies

Now you’ve decluttered it’s time to start packing, but you’ll need moving supplies to do so. This includes packing boxes, bubble wrap, newspaper, packing tape, sticky labels and a marker pen. You could beg steal or borrow from friends but a much easier solution is simply to order what you need online.

10. Pack and label boxes

Pack the items in each room, apart from the furniture, into boxes and label the boxes as you go. You may want to keep an itemized online spreadsheet for each box so you know what’s in it, and also for insurance purposes if anything goes missing.

Here are some takeaway tips to keep in mind to ensure you have a positive and rewarding moving experience.

Plan ahead and get organized early on
Clear out the clutter first
Sell or donate what you can
Ask for help from friends and family
Take time to say goodbye
Eat well and get enough sleep
Try to go with the flow

If you are ready to start the moving process, call for a free moving estimate at 800-222-4744 or request an estimate online.

What We Learned From TV Episodes & Movies About Moving

Posted on July 9, 2018 by cclark

Are you stressed about your move? Here are some tips and tricks learned the hard way by our favorite movie and TV show characters. Moving doesn’t have to be as difficult for you as it was in these TV episodes and movies about moving.

“Friends,” The One With The Cop (1999)

<span data-mce-type="bookmark" style="display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;" class="mce_SELRES_start"></span>

Ross, Chandler and Rachel take on the impossible task of moving a giant couch up a tiny stair case. The frustration that ensues is enough to make you reconsider moving without a moving crew! Professional movers are trained on how to move heavy furniture in and out of tight spaces without damage. After watching this episode, you will agree that hiring movers will prove to be more effective than struggling by yourself! To get a free moving estimate, fill out our online form!

Sex and the City (2008)

When Carrie is struggling with packing her apartment, Charlotte, Miranda, and Samantha surprise her by coming over to help her pack. Once they get to the closet, an impromptu fashion show begins! Watch the scene from the movie to see how going through your clothes before packing will save time and space. You’ll also learn that having friends help you pack (and some wine if that’s your thing!) can lighten your day. For more on de-cluttering clothes and more before your move, see our blog.

Toy Story (1995)

Make sure you don’t leave anything behind! In this Disney movie, Woody and Buzz get separated from the rest of Andy’s toys and miss getting packed into the moving van. Make sure you start packing early enough so that you can be sure you haven’t forgotten anything. Prior to the movers departing the home, do a walk through to ensure everything made it on to the truck. Open all closet doors and cupboards. Only the absolute essentials; clothes for the remaining days, toiletries, and bed linens, should be packed last minute. See more tips about organizing a pack to move.

Inside Out (2015)

This is one of the best movies about moving for kids, about a family moving from Minnesota to California. Riley and her parents end up arriving at their new house to the news that their moving truck won’t be arriving on the day they thought. All sorts of things can happen when you’re moving, but especially when moving long distances.

First, research your moving company’s reviews before you hire them to see if they have a good track record of delivering when promised. Second, make sure you understand your interstate moving delivery spread. You can read our blog post on this topic to learn more. Third, make sure you pack enough in your car to keep with you, just so that if your moving truck arrives late, you’ll be prepared. You’ll want to take into consideration the window of time given by your moving company, and tack on a few days just in case.

This way you can feel “Joy” not “Anger” during your move!

Cheaper by the Dozen (2003)

When Tom and Kate Baker tell their 12 children that they will all be moving across the state, it is met with immediate rejection. Once they hear more about it, though, they begin to come around.

If your family is having a hard time accepting that they will be moving, just like the Bakers, try to frame it in a positive light. Focus on the fun and cool things that will be able to happen once at the new home. Make sure to reassure them that they will be able to keep in touch with their old friends back home. Soon enough, the new place will become home, and they are all sure to make new friends.

Here is some more advice for moving with kids.

Mean Girls (2004)

Moving to a new school can be tough, especially if you don’t have time before school starts to make new friends. Cady in Mean Girls was taken by surprise by the clique culture at her new High School in Illinois. Moving into a new school is less intimidating when you have already made some friends to go into school with. To help transition, try moving into the new area as early in the summer as possible. This way, kids can meet people in the neighborhood and around town, and they’ll have a handful of friends by the first day of school.

Follow our 9 week check list for a smooth relocation.

Now that you’ve watched some TV episodes & movies about moving, you’re ready to start planning your own relocation! Call us for a free moving estimate at 800-222-4744 or request an estimate online.