Tag: Olympia Moving

4 Tips For Moving Into a Historic Home

Posted on by rhunt

Old homes are filled with character and rich histories. For many, old homes are just as much a part of their family history as a part of the story of their location. There are many wonderful benefits to moving into a historic home, but there are also unique challenges.

Olympia has moved many historic homes in Boston, Washington DC, and Philadelphia – where there are an abundance of antique properties. Olympia Moving & Storage knows how to move in or out of a historic home quickly and efficiently, and use the best practices for you and your new home.

These are Olympia’s tips for moving into your own piece of history.

Your Furniture Might Not Fit

An extra-deep sofa or a king-sized bed may not fit through the door of a historic home. Tight spaces like doors, hallways, and unusual corner rooms can spell disaster for the unprepared. Measure the doorways and halls of your destination in advance, as well as the dimensions of your furniture.

If you find that your furniture doesn’t fit, a professional moving crew can offer solutions. One option is to disassemble the furniture piece so it can move through the tight space without damage. Then, the team can reassemble the piece in its new location.

Another option is to hoist or crane large items through a window. The team can pad and protect both the furniture and the window frame, then either hoist up the piece using rope and a ladder. If window is three or more stories high, the movers can utilize a crane to lift the piece.

 

Prep For Low Energy Efficiency

Moving into a historic home means giving up modern energy efficiency–at least for a little while. 1800’s architects did not design homes with energy costs in mind. Because of this, energy-saving appliances and fixtures are good options to reduce unavoidable energy waste. Understand what sort of wiring and plumbing you are dealing with prior to moving in so you can decide whether an upgrade is in order.

 

 

 

 

 

Antique Protecting

Protecting original furniture and fixtures is key during your move. Packing or protective padding and coverings are required for large, delicate objects like pianos, grandfather clocks, and glass tables. Some items may even need custom crates or special servicing. Again, a professional moving crew is the best defense against undue damage to antiques. For more on protecting furniture, see our blog post Protecting Furniture During a Move.

 

 

 

 

Protecting Your Home

The features of a historic house are works of art. Doors, original door frames, floors, windows, stained glass must also be protected from damage during a move. For example, intricate wood carving on walls can be nicked by other pieces of furniture moving past them. A professional crew can also take steps to protect against these kinds of damage as well. For more information, see our blog post Materials Movers Use to Protect Furniture & Your Home.

 

 

 

 

 

Know Your Home

Understand the history of your home. There are many barriers to making renovations and restorations to a historic home. Check the National Register of Historic Places for more information about general ownership. Individual states also have their own preservation laws. Fully understanding the responsibility of owning an historic home requires some research, so don’t wait to get started.

If you are planning on moving into a historic home, contact Olympia Moving and Storage today at 800-222-4744 or fill out our free estimate form.

How To Pack Records and Record Players

Posted on by rhunt

How To Pack Records and Record Players

Donna Summer, Fleetwood Mac, and Creedence Clearwater Revival all have to travel to your new home — make sure they get there in one piece! Follow our tips for safely packing records to move.

Use Quality Sleeves

Remove records from their jackets and paper sleeves. Toss the paper sleeves in favor of a poly sleeve for the record itself. Slide the jacket into its own outer sleeve, but do not reinsert the record into its jacket. Stack records vertically against their jackets when packing them into their box.

Invest in high-quality sleeves to prevent wear on jackets and records.

Pack Records Tight

Don’t leave records free to shift around in their boxes or they might chip on the ride to your new home. Pack them as tight as you can in 1.5 cu. ft. size (small) box, the best size for the width and weight of the records. For extra protection, fill your boxes with foam inserts, packing paper, or bubble wrap. Records can be heavy, so an additional benefit to a small box is separating your collection into manageable weights for moving.

If you’re unsure about the general best practices for packing, check out Olympia’s How To Pack series.

Keep It Cool

If you’re moving in high heat, your records are at risk of warping. Avoid leaving your records in the heat of the moving truck for an extended period of time. Interstate moves with records can be risky for this reason, so if you have the option, consider bringing your records in your car with you.

Make a Packing (Play)List

Keep a detailed list of all the records you own and their current condition to avoid unhappy surprises during unpacking. This also helps speed up organization when you arrive in your new home. Alphabetical order by artist is the most common method, but you can always pack your records in the order that you want to display them to save time.

How To Pack Record Players

If possible, remove the platter, tone arm, and turntable from the record player. Individually wrap each piece in packing paper or anti-static bubble wrap. Pack the player and its parts into a secure box with the heaviest pieces at the bottom. Fill any empty space in the box with foam, bubble wrap, and other sturdy material. If these parts cannot be removed, particularly the arm or needle guard, secure them with tape or twist ties.

If you are unsure about removing parts on your record player, focus instead on keeping all the components as secure as possible. Tape down any moving parts and secure the entire object in bubble wrap and foam. Just like your records, if you are putting you record player in a box, pack it with as little space as possible to prevent it from knocking around during the move.

If you and your record collection are ready to move, contact Olympia Moving & Storage to plan your move. Fill out our form online or give us a call at 800-222-4474 for a free estimate.

On the Move: Belmont, MA

Posted on by rhunt

Location: Belmont, MA

A Belmont-to-Belmont move | May 2019

Move Overview

Flowers and fresh green grass lit up the front of this charming single family home in Belmont. We sent four movers and one truck to complete this partial pack, load, and deliver. The job was completed in one day between the two Belmont locations.

This move posed some unique challenges. The front door opened into a cornered staircase, so every item on the truck had to be carried up to the second floor at an odd angle. There were also a few items that needed to be disposed of at the destination, including a large sofa.

The move went quickly, however, and our team definitely enjoyed the warm weather after a long, cold spring. Plenty of birds from the next-door park cheered our movers on during the move.

Partial Packing

The move also involved the packing of antique mirrors and lamps. The homeowners packed a large portion of their own items, but they requested that Olympia pack their more fragile items. A partial pack can ease the stress on homeowners who want to do most of their own packing, but are unsure about handling delicate items. In this case, several mirrors and lamps needed protective packaging for the journey. Thanks to our crew, everything arrived at their destination safe and sound.

Olympia offers partial and complete packing services to its customers as part of the move process. We can also provide packing materials to the DIY homeowner.

Great feedback from our client

“This team was extraordinarily thoughtful and felt their way into our needs in such a way to leave us feeling very satisfied and in fact quite pleased…” the homeowner wrote in their review. “In particular we appreciated how the team took the time to move the furniture into positions in our new home that were pleasing to us as well as to disassemble and reassemble those pieces that needed to be separated and reassembled in order to be moved from our previous residence to our new home.”

“Lastly, we were deeply touched by the fact that one member of the team took the time to remake two beds that had been transported from our previous residence to our new home,” the homeowner told us. “As a result of all these factors, we felt the entire team was doing all possible to make us happy and comfortable in our new home. Thank you all.”

If you are moving in the Belmont area, contact Olympia Moving and Storage today at 800-222-4744 or fill out our free estimate form.

5 Tips for a Gardening Beginner

Posted on by rhunt

Moving to a new house is the perfect time to give gardening a try. As you settle into your new home, planting gardens is a great way to give the house curb appeal and make it a welcome outdoor space for your family to enjoy. If you moved from the city to the ‘burbs, you finally have more space to test our your green thumb. If you’re a gardening beginner, now is the time to get your hands dirty in your new yard!

 5 Tips for a Gardening Beginner

1. Decide What You Want To Grow

Like moving, a good plan is crucial to a gardening beginner.

Decide what you want to get out of your new space—and keep in mind that there are different levels of care for different types of gardens. If you’d like a no-hassle project that adds beauty to your backyard, consider a low-maintenance perennial spread. If you’re interested in a bigger challenge with tasty rewards, try out a bright vegetable garden.

2. Know Your New Yard

If you’ve made the jump to move farther north or south, research your new region. Hardiness zones help define which plants thrive in your climate. These are just guidelines, but they can be very help when selecting which plants will brighten up your new home. Check out the USDA’s Hardiness Zone Map.

3. Rain Is A Gardening Beginner’s Best Friend

If you have made the move from a dry climate like Phoenix to a damp climate like Seattle, keep in mind that your garden probably won’t need to be watered as much in periods of heavy rainfall or high humidity.

Protect your plants from over-watering. If your plants are wilting from too much moisture, try to plan your watering schedule around the weather—or befriend one of your new neighbors and ask a local gardener for advice.

4. Dry Heat? Fertilize!

Vice versa, if you’ve moved from a wet climate to a dry climate, you might need to take steps to help your new garden grow. Adding water-retaining fertilizer to your soil can assist even plants that are watered daily in dry, hot climates.

5. You Like Moving, But Your Plants Don’t!

Plant placement matters! While you are growing roots in your new home and community, your plants are doing the same. Observe your yard before planting to ensure plants are positioned to best meet their light, space, and soil needs.

If you have indoor plants that you are considering moving, be sure to check out our advice on moving plants.

If you’re thinking about listing your home, planting gardens, like home improvement, is also a great way to boost the curb appeal and price of your property!

Considering moving to a home with great gardening potential? Contact Olympia Moving and Storage at 800-222-4744 or get an instant moving estimate!

Happy Allston Christmas 2018 from the Bostonians of Twitter & Instagram

Posted on by olympiamoving

The most wonderful time of the year is here again! The signs of the season are everywhere: old mattresses piled on the sidewalks, gridlocked streets filled with rental trucks, and a near-crash for a truck on Storrow Drive. Olympia Moving & Storage is still in the midst of our busiest weekend of the year. In addition to the 40 moves we’re completing daily, you can find us working on the Northeastern campus, moving thousands of new and returning students into their dorms.

Whether you were moving with Olympia or not, we wanted to help everyone have a merry Boston moving day. We posted PSAs on the back of the iconic Olympia trucks, reminding drivers that they can NOT bring trucks onto Storrow Drive. Olympia also created an Allston Christmas survival guide, with advice from the experts to make a September 1st move a success. Olympia has conquered over 25 Allston Christmases, so we know how to navigate the chaos.

With 79% of Boston leases turning over on the same date, it certainly is chaos. According the Boston Globe, more than 138,000 students return to the city and about 2,000 U-Hauls will be on the road this weekend. You can count on the citizens of Boston to document the experience.

Funniest Tweets and Instagrams Allston Christmas 2018

Garbage, as far as they eye can see

It's the most wonderful time of the year #allstonchristmas #trashqueen

A post shared by Heather Rick (@hijabipunx) on

RIP 20 Pratt

A post shared by Jon Nemergut (@jonnemergut) on

Allston Christmas 🎄

A post shared by Diana Espina (@diana_valentina8) on

And so the madness ensues #allstonchristmas @kayvonthefggt

A post shared by Ardvark (@archienema) on

Rental trucks galore

When a Uhaul wasn’t an option, some found innovative solutions

There were a few close calls

But it turns out bridges on Storrow aren’t the only danger

The city and local companies tried to lend a hand

And of course, some much-needed memes

If you need to move in Boston any time of year, Olympia Moving & Storage is here to help. Give us a call at 617-926-5555 or get an instant quote on our website.

What We Learned From TV Episodes & Movies About Moving

Posted on 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)

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.

Olympia Moving & Storage Acquires Austin Moving Company

Posted on by olympiamoving
American Relocation and Storage’s warehouse located in Austin, TX

For Immediate Release:

AUSTIN, TX – Olympia Moving & Storage, a rapidly growing company headquartered in Boston, MA, added its fourth location by acquiring Austin-based American Relocation & Storage Systems on March 1st.

American Relocation, an interstate agent for Wheaton Van Lines, has been relocating families and businesses for nearly six decades. The company, located in North Austin, will transition to the Olympia Moving & Storage brand, making Olympia the largest Wheaton Van Lines agent. Olympia will offer Austin families local, interstate, and international moving services. The company also plans to expand their commercial division in Austin.

“We are really excited about this acquisition,” says Michael Gilmartin, Founder & CEO of Olympia Moving & Storage. “There was already a great team in place, and with our investment and support, I am confident we can be successful in this market.”  Gilmartin believes, based upon the company’s history, that Olympia will add 15-20 jobs in 2018.

Olympia is a leading provider of moving services in the Northeast and has tripled in size in the past 8 years.  In 2017 the company relocated 8,000 families.

“Olympia keeps growing because we are committed to getting it right. There is no secret algorithm, it is all about understanding our customer’s needs, being accountable, and holding ourselves to a higher standard. Our team understands this and it is reflected in our performance,” says Gilmartin.

Olympia’s success is based on a 25-year history and an impressive service record that includes an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau and recognition as an Angie’s List Super Service Award recipient. The company places a premium on hiring, training, and technology with the goal of providing the same high level of service across their entire footprint.

“Last year 95% of our customers said they would move with us again, the result of really listening to our clients and focusing on every detail. This is a great reflection of what we are capable of,” says Gilmartin. “My goal is to redefine the moving industry, and I am looking forward to showing Austin that there’s a better way to move.”

About Olympia Moving & Storage

Olympia Moving & Storage is a full-service moving company in Boston MA, Washington DC, Philadelphia PA, and Austin TX. Since its inception in 1993, Olympia has built an unparalleled reputation for delivering exceptional local moving, interstate moving and international moving services. In addition to residential moves, Olympia offers specialized services for companies preparing for an office or commercial move. Olympia Moving is the preferred mover for numerous universities, law firms and real estate organizations. Our commitment to excellence is reflected in our 95% customer satisfaction rate and our numerous awards. For more information, visit http://www.olympiamoving.com or call 800-222-4744.

Media Contact:

Rachael Lyons | 617.231.1290 | [email protected]

The best social media buzz this Allston Christmas 2017

Posted on by olympiamoving

As another September 1st Boston Move In Day (a.k.a. Allston Christmas) comes to an end, the team at Olympia Moving & Storage is taking a collective sigh of relief. While today, when 79% of Boston’s leases turn over, means moving chaos for the city, for moving companies Labor Day weekend marks the end of the high volume summer season. We anticipate continuing our hard work through the rest of the year, but Olympia Moving & Storage is looking forward to a moment of R&R after working at capacity all summer!

Meanwhile, the rest of Boston is not used to moving being an integral part of their daily lives, and took to Twitter and Instagram this week to complain, meme, and post their curbside finds. Although a weekend of gridlocked moving trucks is annoying, the results are certainly entertaining!

There were big messes

#allstonchristmas or the barricade from Les Mis?

A post shared by Michelle Tan (@michltan) on

And strange sights

Ted went on a bender and didn’t resign the lease. #allstonchristmas

A post shared by haskellhoff (@haskellhoff) on

A few local celebrities stopped by to help celebrate

Folks tried every maneuver and technique necessary to move their belongings in

Solid find! These guys are winning. #allstonchristmas #allstonrockcity

A post shared by Kim Maroon (@kmaroon) on

Some Allston residents were rewarded with great Allston Christmas gift finds

Santa is abandoned in a bucket on #AllstonChristmas

A post shared by Scooter Burch (@havartifreak) on

#allstonchristmas

A post shared by Dianne Jennings (@msjendi) on

A lonely abandoned bong waits to bee adopted atop a trash bin on #AllstonChristmas

A post shared by Scooter Burch (@havartifreak) on

Residents and companies alike celebrated in their own ways

From the top ropes!!!! #wwesuperstar #allstonchristmas

A post shared by Dan Galanto (@letsdolegs) on

And some are just over it!

This Allston Christmas Olympia Moving & Storage was honored by a visit from Boston Magazine, who rode along with our crew this morning to see what the “holiday” is like through the eyes of movers.

What It’s Like to Be a Mover in Boston on September 1
“This is almost like our Super Bowl.”

Whether you’re moving next Allston Christmas or any other day of the year, give Boston moving company Olympia Moving & Storage a call at 800-222-4744 or request an estimate online.

Also check out:

Countdown Checklist For Your Pre-Move Garage Sale

Posted on by Nicole Longo

When it’s time to move to a new home, that could also mean its time to slim down on what you have in your home before the relocation.  A garage sale is the perfect way to do it & make some money while you’re at it! Here is a countdown checklist on how to execute the perfect garage sale!

One Month Before Garage Sale:

  • Get A Date in Mind. Once you have a target date, it will help you remain organized and work towards your goals for the big day.
  • Trash the Trash! As you begin to go through the things you no longer want, separate in to three piles. “Keep, Throw, Sell”
  • Look in to City Requirements & Regulations. Make sure your town or city does not have any specific restrictions that prohibit posting signs around town.
  • Do a some research. Do a little basic research, pricing on antique items and one of a kind pieces. The things you have could have more value than you expect them to!
  • Ask neighbors and friends for grocery bags. Also start to collect folding tables to display the items on.

Two Weeks Before the Garage Sale:

  • Go through the items in your “keep” pile, make sure you still want to keep them in your possession, if not move them over to the sell.
  • Begin to clean and organize your “sell” items – The better condition they are in, the more money they will be worth!
  • Start thinking about pricing – Buy pricing materials & stickers and start a tentative pricing list for the items.

One Week Before the Garage Sale:

  • Begin to distribute ads around town. Post on local town pages & Facebook. Let your friends and family know.
  • Finalize your pricing. Take the list you made a few weeks prior and begin to label all of your items.
  • Go to the bank. Make sure you have plenty of change, all size bills and coins should be in  your possession for the day of the sale.
  • Watch the weather. If rain looks like it could be a factor maybe make alternative plans
  • Have all your sales materials in order. Bags, change, newspaper wrapping, calculator & pens.

One Day Before the Garage Sale:

  • Make sure you have enough signs around town, the day before is the most important day for advertising!
  • Mark off things around the site of the sale as “Not for Sale” – you don’t want anyone trying to buy you potted plants!
  • Check the weather, again – make sure you are good to go for the next day!

The Day of the Garage Sale!

  • Wake up well before the start time of the sale to get everything arranged outside, put the small valuable things close to you so you can keep any eye on them.
  • Organize your items by category so it is easy for customers to browse your sale
  • Lock your home. When you’re busy selling you don’t want to have to worry about your home. Safety precaution!

The idea of a garage sale can be extremely overwhelming. When you break it down by week it can make the day of worry free! Once you know what you would like to move to your new home. We promise to provide you with exceptional service.

For more yard and garage tips, be sure to check out our other blog: Creating the Most Successful Yard Sale Possible

Done decluttering and ready to start moving? Request a free moving estimate online or give Olympia Moving & Storage a call at 800-222-4744

After the Move: Getting Started in Your New Home

Posted on by Nicole Longo

When the movers leave and it’s just you and your family in the new home, it can be overwhelming. It’s time to pick a starting point and start tackling, unpacking, and organizing. We hope with these simple suggestions will help you start making your new house into a home.

Time to pull out that first night box! Something that might have seemed silly a few weeks ago is now essential. Bottled water, snacks, clean clothes & a tooth brush are simple first steps to making your first night in your house feel like a home. Check out the blog on the first night kit  linked here to make sure you have the essentials at your fingertips when they’re needed.

Make sure all the essential services are set up. Double check that the appliances that the movers installed work properly. Make sure the electricity works and you have hot water for a shower. If not, call to get these things addressed.

Boston

Electricity

Water

Internet/ Cable

Washington DC

Electricity

Water

Internet/Cable

Pennsylvania 

Electricity

Water

Internet/Cable

Google “Best take out around me” and celebrate! Make the first day in your new home a memorable one – you’ve worked hard to get to this point and you deserve it! Treat yourself to delicious take-out from your new neighborhood and pop a bottle of champagne. After a full move-in day the last thing you will want to do is worry about unpacking boxes to find pots and pans to cook with, or a trip to the grocery store. Make an indoor picnic, open up a moving pad, and dive in to your first meal in your new home.

Begin to plan out each room. Because all of the moving boxes are labeled and brought in to the designated rooms it will be easy to attack them one by one. A plan will make the unpacking process less stressful. When you are beginning to get settled, it’s apparent that some rooms take priority over others. A simple bedroom set up is essential in the first few days, some clean sheets and hung up clothes will have you feeling refreshed the next day. Nothing is worse than waking up in a new space with nothing familiar around you. That goes for the kids rooms as well, the sooner they get in to a solid routine in the new home, the better. Plus, if you get the kids set up in their rooms it will keep them preoccupied when you set up the rest of the home. After the bedrooms, we suggest getting the kitchen in order. While you might enjoy some take out for the first few nights, nothing gets you settled in a new house like a home cooked meal. 

Safety. Safety. Safety. Make sure that all fire alarms are wired correctly and working. Confirm that the home is child proof as needed. If the new home has a pool, make plans to fence it in.

Change Locks. It is important to change your locks on your new home because you never know who has copies of the keys. It’s an important safety precaution that can be easily over looked!

Manuals & Remotes: When you’re unpacking and unwrapping new things it is easy to throw away or lose track of user manuals and remote controls. Make a designated area for these. You will need them! (Even if you think you know how to work the new fancy washer and dryer)

Schedule a Debris Pick Up. If you find yourself in a pile of empty boxes as you continue to unpack, give Olympia a call to pick up the pieces for you. Also, check out our blog on how to use some of the leftover boxes for the kids entertainment when you unpack!

The most important thing to remember is, the small details can wait. Don’t stress to get everything unpacked and organized in one day! It will all get done, and your home will look great.