Tag: Moving Services

Packing Don’ts for Moving

Posted on by olympiamoving

Packing is hard and tips are always welcomed.  Everyone has heard about the packing dos, but packing don’ts are just as important, and not following those guidelines could end up adding time and money to your move.

We’ve been moving families for over 20 years.  Olympia Moving & Storage provides full packing services, but many of our clients also pack themselves.  We see our self-pack clients make the same mistakes over and over again.  Below are the most common packing don’ts we see our clients disregard. These packing don’ts are moving time-savers and prevent moving damage, whether you’re moving yourself or working with a moving company.

packing don'tsLocal Moving Packing Don’ts:

  • Don’t pack books in medium or large boxes, you’ll over-pack and boxes could break during the move, or worse, you could pack a box too heavy to move.  Always pack books, CDs, and files in small 1.5 cu.ft. boxes.
  • Don’t forget to disassemble your lamps and lampshades and pack them in appropriate boxes, 6.1 cu.ft. boxes are best. Lamps and lampshades cannot be wrapped, they must move in a box or risk damage.
  • Don’t pack your fragile items or books into plastic totes. This does not securely protect fragiles from damage and will over pack the tote, making it too heavy to lift.  Wrap fragile items and pack them into 1.5 cu.ft. boxes, or pack fragile dishware into 5.1 cu.ft. dishpack boxes.  Those boxes have thicker walls for better protection.

Interstate Moving Packing Don’ts:

  • Packing artwork and mirrors can be scary, but it’s important to remember that bubble wrap isn’t enough to protect them. Artwork and mirrors must be packed in mirror or artwork boxes to avoid damage.
  • Vases and plant pots must be boxed and cannot be placed freely in your moving vehicle or they will get damaged and may cause other items to get damaged as well.
  • Don’t transport your items in trash bags. Your belongings aren’t garbage and while this seems like an easy packing cheat, your bags will rip in transit. Bags are also cumbersome and can’t be stacked to utilize space in a moving vehicle.
  • Floor lamps must be dismantled and packed in a tall lamp box.

General Moving Packing Don’ts:

  • Moving filing cabinets can be daunting.
    Large filing cabinets (3-5 drawers) must be emptied completely or they will be too heavy to carry.
    Small cabinets (2 drawers) can remain full but emptying them will be appreciated by your movers or helpful friends.
  • Dressers are best to be emptied at least halfway and should only contain clothing and linen
  • Fragile items, books, and jewelry cannot be transported in drawers of furniture items.  They may damage the furniture piece, make it too heavy, or run the risk of getting lost or damaged if not packed properly.
  • All containers must have tops to ensure items are not susceptible to damage or displacement. This will also ensure that all boxes and items can be stacked inside the moving vehicle.
  • All boxes should be filledas best as possible to ensure safe transport and loading. If the space is not used items are more likely to shift and get damaged during transit, and boxes could collapse while they are stacked in the moving truck.

Our general rule of thumb is that everything that fits in a box, should go in a box!

Have other packing questions?
Call us today at 800.222.4744 or click here to request a free, no obligation moving estimate and start planning your move.

If you’re still intimated by packing, no problem! Request an pricing for full or fragile packing services as part of your estimate with Olympia Moving & Storage.

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Olympia Moving Pulls 82 Ton Airplane to Fundraise for Special Olympics Virginia

Posted on by olympiamoving

The 2015 Dulles  Plane Pull on Saturday was the biggest Plane Pull yet in terms of fundraising, plane pull teams, and attendance. The event raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for Special Olympics Virginia athletes and 71 teams participated. For the first time, the event featured two planes being pulled!

As the Official Logistics Sponsor, Olympia Moving & Storage worked closely with event organizers at Special Olympics Virginia to make Dulles Plane Pull a success. The Washington, DC moving company donated crews, trucks, and warehousing to manage the equipment, set up, and breakdown.

For the first time, Olympia Moving ran an “Are You As Strong As An Olympia Mover?” fundraising game. Hundreds of athletes, kids, moms, dads, and even monks tried to hit the bell on the high striker to prove their strength.

Of course, the Olympia Moving crew was also eager to prove their strength and fundraised to pull the 82 ton airplane.  The crew pulled the plane 10 feet in 6.194 seconds – our best time yet!

Thank you to the generous partners to Olympia Moving & Storage who donated to our plane pull team!  All the money we raised will provide free sports training and competitions for athletes with intellectual disabilities:

To see team Olympia Moving & Storage pull the plane and all the other plane pull excitement, be sure to check out this video.  We look forward to sponsoring Dulled Plane Pull again next year!

Visit olympiamoving.com/specialolympics to learn more about our ongoing work and charitable partnership with Special Olympics.

DC Moving Company Sponsors Dulles Day Plane Pull

Posted on by olympiamoving

Olympia and Plane PullOn Saturday, Olympia Moving & Storage, a premier Washington, DC moving company, will sponsor the Dulles Day Plane Pull. This is Olympia Moving’s third year as the official logistics sponsor for this event to benefit Special Olympics Virginia.

During the week leading up to the Plane Pull, Olympia Moving has been busy receiving event supplies, managing pick ups and deliveries of event equipment, and assisting with set up and break down. All these services are donated free of charge to Special Olympics Virginia. This year, the moving company will be running a fundraising game “Are You Stronger Than an Olympia Mover?” Event attendees and children will have the chance to hit the bell on a high striker and win a prize. All proceeds from the game will benefit Special Olympics Virginia.

The Olympia Moving crew will also be participating in the Plane Pull and will pull a 164,000+ pound Airbus 12 feet in support of athletes with intellectual disabilities. The crew will be looking to beat last year’s pull time of 7.01 seconds. Olympia Moving & Storage has been fundraising for the Plane Pull over the past month, and would like to thank their following partners for their generous donations to their campaign:

The Olympia Moving crew has even been pulling their trucks in their yard to practice for pulling the plane!

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The Dulles Day Plane Pull is a popular event for Northern Virginia families and continues to grow.  Last year over 30,000 people attend the Plane Pull, and for the first time the 2015 Plane Pull will feature 2 planes for teams to attempt pulling!

It’s not too late to donate to team Olympia Moving! Click here to donate and fund competitions, sports training, and health programs for athletes with intellectual disabilities. 

Olympia Moving & Storage has been a charitable partner to Special Olympics Virginia and Massachusetts since 2013. Last year the Washington, DC moving company’s in-kind and monetary donations to Special Olympics organizations totaled almost $50,000. Earlier this year, Olympia Moving & Storage also sponsored Special Olympics athlete Amanda Church’s trip to World Games in Los Angeles. There she competed and won silver and bronze medals in aquatics. Visit olympiamoving.com/specialolympics to learn more about our sponsorship.

Amanda Church World Games Final Update (July)

Posted on by olympiamoving

Amanda Church_Olympia Moving

It has been an inspiration to be Amanda Church’s Special Olympics World Games sponsor, watch her training updates, and cheer her on. She has been on an incredible journey and we could not be more proud. Amanda represented the United States, finished strong at her swimming events, and showed the world what athletes with intellectual disabilities are capable of!

Olympia Moving kicked off World Games by driving Amanda and the rest of the Massachusetts World Games delegation to the airport. They were off to L.A. in style!

Amanda shared her final Special Olympics World Games update with us after the games:

Amanda’s Training Update: July 2015

Current Event Times:

Event Competition Time
100 Breaststroke 2:09.00
100 Freestyle 2:15.00
200 Breaststroke 4:29.00

I had a great time at World Games.  I competed in 4 events.  I competed in the 4 by 50 freestyle relay, the 100 meter Freestyle, 100 Meter Breaststroke and the 200 Meter Breaststroke.  I did great at World games and had a blast.  I even got the opportunity to meet Michael Phelps.

  • In my 100 Meter Freestyle I got a 8th place ribbon but had a great finish time.
  • In my 100 Meter Breast Stroke, I got a 5th place ribbon and also had a great time.
  • In my 200 Meter Breaststroke I got the Silver Medal. I had a great time.
  • In the 4 by 50 relay my team and I received the Bronze Medal. We were so excited.

Check out this video of Amanda in the 100-meter freestyle (lane 5, white cap) – look at her go!

Special Olympics Massachusetts interviewed Amanda after the race:

Congratulations, Amanda, on your medals and achievements!

Congrats Amanda

Learn more about our sponsorship of Amanda.

Resources for Moving Senior Citizens

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Resources for Seniors Moving

Olympia Moving relocates hundreds of senior citizens every year.  Whether our clients are moving interstate to their retirement destination or downsizing locally, arranging a seamless move for seniors has its own unique challenges.  Our move consultant Ben Knowlton discusses some of these challenges in this video.  When Olympia Moving works with senior citizens moving we adjust our process to work patiently with the client and stay in constant contact to reduce worry and stress.

We’re always exchanging ideas with other thought leaders in the relocation industry.  Bill Mulholland is the Founder and CEO of one of Olympia Moving’s partners, American Relocation Connections.  ARC works with top service providers like Olympia Moving to deliver corporate and individual relocation from top to bottom.  As an expert in relationship-based relocation,  Bill shares his tips for relocating seniors:

By Bill Mulholland, Founder and CEO of American Relocation Connections

Are you or a loved one moving homes as a senior citizen? The moving process can feel overwhelming and exciting, and there’s a lot of work to be done. All moves take careful planning and execution, but luckily, with the proper foresight and resources, you can make your relocation smooth and painless.

Use this five-step resources guide to help you tackle that big To-Do list.

1. Arrange for support throughout the move

Do you have an adult child who will help you with the moving process from beginning to end? Moving as a senior citizen can be complex because adult children may be too tied up with jobs or obligations from thousands of miles away.

If this is the case, never fear – you can always hire a “senior move manager”, or a professional who will take you through the steps of moving from packing the first box, up until making sure the phone lines at your new home are connected!

To find a senior move manager in your area, check with the National Association of Senior Move Managers.

2. Economically dispose of your unwanted items

Chances are, if you have been living in the same home for many years, you have accumulated treasure and junk alike. When you relocate, make this an opportunity to clean away the stuff you don’t really need. Be selective when choosing what to take with you to your new home – the more you decide to bring, the more it will cost you in time, money and valuable space. Rather than throw everything out, you can sell goods to antique vendors, tag sales or auctions, or even recycle some items for cash back!

To find an estate sale near you, look on EstateSales.net, where you can find a company to sell your items for you, or you can hold your own yard sale and advertise on the site. If you’re not sure how to price your goods, check out this infographic for some basic tips to holding a successful yard sale.

3. Pre-arrange your new floorplans

Now that you have thrown away your unwanted items, you can start to plan how you want everything to look in your new home. If you have hired a senior move manager, they will happily sit down with you to discuss how furniture will be arranged in your new home. The benefit of pre-arranging your floorplan is that you can arrive at your home and happily find everything already where you expect it to be.

For free online software to help you plan your new arrangements, consult these recommendations by Apartment Therapy. If you are feeling overwhelmed by the detailed aspects of the software, you can always draw a floorplan out by hand and show this to your moving team.

4. Organize travel plans and travel partners

If you are relocating across town, getting to your new home could be as short as a 20-minute drive on the freeway. However, if you are moving across the country, you might be flying out to your home – or even taking a train all that way. It may be helpful to consider if you would like someone to travel with you.

When you are planning your move, be sure to ask your travel partner far in advance so they can block out their schedule. You might choose your child or a close friend to accompany you to your new home. Senior moving managers can also travel with their clients from the old house to the new to make sure the trip goes smoothly.

If you would rather hoof it yourself, be sure to check a few travel tips so you can be as prepared as possible for your trip.

5. Unpacking and settling down

Don’t forget to plan for what comes after the unpacking! Do a bit of research about your new home. What are some nearby community events? If you are moving to be closer to your family, arrange a pre-set schedule to spend time together, whether that is every Tuesday or every other weekend – whatever you need to feel at ease in your new home.

If you will not have a car, look for travel arrangements. Most public transportation systems have senior discounts, and if you prefer to use a taxi system, research which cab companies are the cheapest and most reliable. There are also specific transportation services for senior citizens available. Find a transportation program in your new city with Eldercare’s service locator.

Moving as a senior citizen can sound like a tiring process, but it doesn’t have to be. Plan ahead and don’t be afraid to ask your friends and family for help; that’s what they are there for!

Use the resources in this guide and look for services that you can utilize to make the moving process easier on yourself. Oftentimes, if you simply ask your moving company for their tips and insight, they will have some great advice for you. Before you know it, you’ll have moved into your new home and all settled in!

Bill Mulholland has been in the relocation industry for 15 years and is the founder and owner of American Relocations Connections (ARC), an innovative third-party relocation company operating both domestically and globally.

If you need a relocation partner in everything from real estate to moving to mortgage contact American Relocation Connections to get started.  Are you a senior citizen moving soon, or are you ready to assist a loved one with their relocation?  Call 800.222.4744 for a free moving estimate from Olympia Moving & Storage, or request an estimate online.

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Official Logistics Sponsor of Special Olympics Massachusetts Summer Games 2015

Posted on by olympiamoving

For the third year, Olympia Moving served as the proud logistics sponsor for Special Olympics Massachusetts Summer Games!  Summer Games is the biggest athletic event for athletes with intellectual disabilities in Massachusetts, and a favorite job of the year for the crew at Olympia Moving.  The move coordinators and sales reps even donate their time to help out on Summer Games weekend.

Olympia Moving donated logistics assistance valued over $20,000 to Special Olympics Massachusetts Summer Games.  In addition to managing all the pick ups and deliveries for the event’s equipment, Olympia Moving moves over 2,000 participating athletes into their dorms and manages their luggage.  Athlete move-in is special for the Olympia Moving staff and crew because it gives them the opportunity to welcome the athletes to the games!

Here are some pictures of our crew with the athletes on this great weekend!

To learn more about our ongoing support of Special Olympics Massachusetts, visit https://www.olympiamoving.com/specialolympics

You can also read the training blogs by Special Olympics World Games athlete Amanda Church, sponsored by Olympia Moving.

Amanda Church Special Olympics World Games Training Update (June 2015)

Posted on by olympiamoving

Amanda Church_Olympia MovingAmanda Church, the Special Olympics World Games athlete sponsored by Olympia Moving & Storage, has had a busy month!  She’s entering her final training for her competitions in LA World Games in July, along with athletes from 177 countries!

Amanda gave us an update with her training!

Amanda’s Training Update: June 8th

Current Event Times:

Event Current Time
100 Breaststroke 2:02.00
100 Freestyle 2:26.00
200 Breaststroke 4:32.00

“This past weekend June 5th-7th was Summer Games 2015. I had a ton of fun. I got 4th place in the 100 Meter Freestyle, but I know I was in a tough heat, but that is ok. I am challenging myself to make sure I will be ready to try to reach the Gold at World Games. I also got a Gold Medal in my 100 Meter breaststroke, and also in the 200 Meter breaststroke. My times were awesome. I also did all these events on Sunday.”

“I am going to keep on training really hard to get ready for World Games! The harder I train, the more I feel good about heading to World Games, and looking forward not only to compete, but to have the chance to get to meet other Special Olympics athletes from all over the world.”

Wow, Amanda!  Congrats on your medals!  Amanda was also interviewed by Fox 25 during summer games, you can check out the video:

Boston News, Weather, Sports | FOX 25 | MyFoxBoston

Amanda also represented Special Olympics at the Unified Relay, as the World Games Flame of Hope passed through Boston. Here’s a picture of her on stage with Boston Mayor Marty Walsh!

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Olympia Moving was also at Special Olympics Massachusetts Summer Games, running the logistics and moving the athletes into their dorms! Check out photos of our crew with the athletes!

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Learn more about our sponsorship of Amanda.  

Amanda Church Special Olympics World Games Training Update (May 2015)

Posted on by olympiamoving

Amanda Church_Olympia MovingAnother training update from Olympia Moving-sponsored Special Olympics athlete Amanda Church! She continues to improve her times as she gets ready to compete alongside 7,000 other athletes at Special Olympics World Games 2015 in Los Angeles!

Amanda’s Training Update: May 10th

Current Event Times:

Event Current Time
100 Breaststroke 2:03.00
100 Freestyle 2:18.00
200 Breaststroke 4:26.00

“This past Saturday May 9th my Mom took me to the YMCA in Easton so I can get some training in. My Mom timed me on my 3 events.”

  • My 100 Freestyle time is now 2:18.00
  • My 100 Breaststroke is now 2:03.00, 3 seconds off my goal time which is 2:00.00
  • My 200 Breaststroke is now 4:26.00. I am only six seconds off from my goal time of 4:20.00 for the 200 Breaststroke.

“I am now swimming longer distance to help build more endurance so that I can reach my goal times and be ready not just Summer Games but World Games as well.”

“Last weekend at Life we had family weekend. One great thing that they do at family weekend at Life is a 5K run/walk. I jogged the 5K and I was the first female Life resident and Special Olympian to finish first. My name is going to be on a plaque at the Life Rec Hall.”

Wow, Amanda!  You’re a strong competitor in the pool and on the track!  Click here to learn more about our sponsorship of Amanda.  Click here to make a donation to support Amanda and her fellow Special Olympics athletes as they work to meet their goals!

Olympia Moving Launches Updater Address Change Dashboard!

Posted on by olympiamoving

Olympia Moving & Storage excited to announce our partnership with Updater to bring our clients an easy address change dashboard full of time-saving tools and discounts. The Updater address change dashboard will allow our clients to accomplish the following in just a few clicks:

Updater Dashboard
Visit olympiamoving.updater.com to access your easy change address dashboard!
  • Change your address online with the post office, subscriptions, and organizations
  • Set up utilities and home services
  • Get exclusive discounts on home services and moving materials
  • Ecards to notify friends & family of your move

This service is designed to save customers hours on moving-related tasks in a way that is easy and secure.

This new benefit, which is FREE for all Olympia clients, is just another example of how Olympia utilizes technology to provide extensive resources for our clients’ moves. Olympia clients also get access to The Olympia Move Portal to manage their move, an online moving resource center, and a dedicated relocation coordinator.

Updater also recently featured Olympia Moving & Storage marketing manager, Rachael Fischer, in their blog post: How to Market Your Moving Company: Tips from Olympia Moving and Storage

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Stylish moving / change of address cards and e-cards
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Why is a Moving Company In-Home Survey Important?

Request an estimate from the company that provides the most moving resources: Olympia Moving & Storage

Amanda Church Special Olympics World Games Training Update (April 2015)

Posted on by olympiamoving

Amanda Church_Olympia MovingOlympia Moving’s sponsored athlete, Amanda Church, is training hard for the upcoming Special Olympics World Games in Los Angeles. She was kind enough to send us an update on her progress. You’re crushing it, Amanda! We’re so proud of you and your training achievements!

Amanda’s Training Update: April 12th

Current Event Times:

Event Current Time
100 Breaststroke 2:04.00
100 Freestyle 2:29.00
200 Breaststroke 4:32.00

“Today I went to the YMCA in Easton to get some training in. I have set goal times for each of my events:”

  • 100 Breast Stroke goal time: 2:00.00
  • 100 Freestyle goal time: 2:20.00
  • 200 Breast Stroke goal time: 4:20.00

“Besides getting ready for Summer Games and World Games, The Life Program is having family week coming up the first weekend in May. I am going to be giving a speech about both of my experiences at life and Special Olympics.”

Amanda’s Training Update: April 30th

Current Event Times:

Event Current Time
100 Breaststroke 2:06.00
100 Freestyle 2:19.00
200 Breaststroke 4:29.00

“Today was my Swim Qualifier at Bridgewater State University. I competed in 3 out of my 4 events.  I even beat my goal time in the 100 Meter Freestyle . My goal was 2:20.00 and I did it with a time of 2:19.00.  I also competed in the 200 Breaststroke and the 100 Breaststroke.  I got a Gold Medal in both my 200 and 100 Meter Breaststroke, and a Silver in my 100 Meter Freestyle. I am ready to keep training for State Games in June, and World Games.”

“Another exciting thing that is coming up in my life is my brother Jared is getting married in October in California. I am very much excited to have another soon to be sister in law.”

Way to go, Amanda, on your medals and wins!  Read more about our sponsorship of Amanda.