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In the last blog post, I mentioned that I had recently travelled to California to help my daughter move. Despite having underestimated the task and pushing ourselves to sheer exhaustion to get her new place set up, we still fully enjoyed making it an adventure and found moments to laugh and have fun. On Saturday night at around 9:30, we realized that we hadn’t eaten so we ordered sushi and sat on her living room floor for the next hour, surrounded by boxes, piles of books and stacks of items to put away. We ate, watched “Bridesmaids” on her computer, talked and laughed until we cried. It was cherished time together.

There’s no doubt about the fact that moving is a daunting task, filled with stress and a seemingly endless to-do list. However, who said it had to be all serious and mundane? Let’s take a lighthearted approach and explore how you can inject some fun and humor into your moving process. So, let's strap on our moving boxes and embark on this exciting adventure!

Packing Party Extravaganza
Instead of viewing packing as a tedious chore, turn it into a party! Gather your friends and family, crank up your favorite tunes, and set up a packing station with snacks and drinks. Challenge each other to see who can pack the most efficiently or come up with the most creative way to pack a delicate item. Who knew bubble wrap and packing tape could be so entertaining? And if you’ve moved before and you’re completely over packing yourself, go get sushi and watch a movie with your favorite friends and let professional movers pack your home!

The Great Declutter Olympics
Before you start packing or even ditch the idea of packing and let the professionals movers do it, declutter your belongings. But here's a new twist – turn it into a competition! Divide your stuff into "keep," "donate/sell," and "toss" piles, and then swap piles and race against your family members or roommates to see who can declutter the fastest. Make funny commentary about each other's "interesting" items and celebrate the most unusual find with an imaginary award ceremony. Whether you’re moving together as a family or moving away from each other, like college roommates who have graduated, use the time to bond, laugh and make memories.

Moving Box Labeling Madness
Get creative with labeling your moving boxes. Instead of the usual "Kitchen" or "Living Room," use hilarious descriptions like "Stuff We Never Use," "Random Bits and Bobs," or "Don't Open Unless You're Brave!" Encourage your friends or family members to add their own quirky labels too – this will surely keep everyone (including your movers) entertained when unloading at the new place.

Moving Day Dress-Up
Who says you can't dress up for moving day? Pick a theme for the day and dress accordingly. Maybe it's "Funky Hats and Sunglasses Day" or "Superheroes Save Our Stuff Day” or “I Didn’t Know I Kept This Outfit Day”. If you have kids, you can even have a costume contest – it's hard to be stressed when you're laughing at each other's silly outfits.

Moving Truck Karaoke
If you’re moving yourself, buckle up for some moving truck karaoke! Create a moving day playlist with your favorite songs and sing your heart out while transporting your belongings. You can even do this in your own car as you drive to your new home while the professional movers drive the moving truck. Don’t forget to give bonus points for coming up with moving-themed parodies to well-known tunes. Remember, the more off-key you sing, the better!

Dance-Off Breaks
Moving can be physically demanding even when you hire movers, so why not incorporate dance breaks to lift everyone's spirits? When you finish loading or unloading a section of the truck, take a moment to bust a move. If you’ve hired professional movers, each time they empty a room, turn it into a dance floor for a few minutes. Encourage your family and/or friends to showcase their best moves – you might discover some hidden dance talents.

Cardboard Antics
What to do with all of those empty boxes and paper as you unpack? Build a fort or a maze in your new backyard before you donate all of that paper. Make a piñata out of a used box, decorate it and fill it with treats of your choice then invite your friends to a cardboard party. Create a scavenger hunt in all of that packing paper. Whoever finds whatever treasure you plant, wins it!

Make Dining Memories
Whether in the house you’re moving out of or the new place you’re moving into, find a moment to sit among your packed stuff, or even in your empty place, make a table out of a box, order some take-out and reminisce about where you’re leaving or share your excitement about all the things you’ll do in your new place. If you have a family, loved one or roommate with you, take a moment to connect, laugh and make a memory that will last.

Ultimately, moving doesn't have to be a gloomy and serious affair. By injecting fun and humor into the process, you can turn it into a memorable adventure that you'll cherish for years to come. Embrace the chaos, laugh off the mishaps, and savor the joyful moments shared with your moving crew. Who knew that moving could be so much fun? Happy moving!

​Written by Claudia Schouten Jones, Owner
​Elite Relocation Services

I recently flew to LA to help my daughter move her one-bedroom apartment to another apartment three buildings away on the same block. We both thought it was going to be a piece of cake and take maybe three or four hours. Boy were we wrong! I was exhausted by the end of the weekend, had bruises and blisters on my hands and feet, and every part of my body hurt. In addition, as we were nearing the move-out deadline, she wasn’t able to sort through and discard items she no longer wanted. We just threw things into bags and boxes which meant she had to sort as she unpacked, which was not efficient or ideal. On the flight home I thought, ‘How is it possible that I have moved a whopping 30 times in my life so far?’

I’ve moved to different states as well as moved around within the cities I’ve lived in. This was, of course, before I owned a moving company. Whether I hired movers to help with moving or not, the one thing that I most appreciated about the process was the opportunity to purge. It felt so good to rid myself of clutter and to organize my new space in a highly functional way. It is true that whether one lives in a small house or a large house, we tend to fill all of our spaces. For me it tends to be every closet, every drawer and every bookshelf. My last move was from a smaller home to a larger one. Just the other day while I was cleaning, I thought, ‘Wow … How did I accumulate all this stuff? There’s going to be a lot to purge on the next move!’

The truth is that moving to a new home brings with it a sense of excitement and a fresh start. However, it also involves the daunting task of packing up all of your belongings and transporting them to your new abode. This process truly does present the perfect opportunity to declutter and purge the unused items that have accumulated over time. While it may seem overwhelming at first, the benefits of purging unused items during a move are numerous and remarkably refreshing. Let’s explore the reasons why moving is a good time to declutter and how it can positively impact your life.

Streamlining Makes Sense
Make sure you start the packing process early to give yourself ample time for evaluation. As you pack up your possessions, take a moment to look at each item and consider its usefulness and significance in your life. Moving provides a natural deadline to assess the things you own and identify those that no longer serve a purpose. By removing unnecessary items, you can streamline your belongings, making the packing and unpacking process much more manageable. This approach not only saves time and effort but also allows you to start fresh in your new space.

Create a More Organized Environment
Moving offers an excellent opportunity to create a more organized living environment. Clutter tends to accumulate over time, filling up closets, basements, and attics. By decluttering before the move, you can prevent bringing unnecessary items into your new home. This enables you to start with a clean slate and establish organizational systems right from the beginning. As a result, you'll enjoy a more efficient and aesthetically pleasing living space.

Save Time and Money
The more items you have to pack and transport during a move, the more time it will take your movers and the more money it will require. Moving can be a stressful and costly process, but decluttering can help alleviate both. By purging unused items, you can reduce the number of boxes and packing materials needed. This, in turn, can result in significant savings in terms of moving expenses. Additionally, packing and unpacking will be quicker and more straightforward when you only deal with items that you truly need and value.

Benefit Others
Items that are no longer useful to you might just be valuable to someone else. By purging unused items, you have an opportunity to donate them to charitable organizations, shelters, or individuals in need. Your unwanted possessions can find a new home where they will be regularly used and appreciated, helping others while reducing waste. Knowing that your items will serve a purpose elsewhere can add a sense of fulfillment and satisfaction during the moving process.

Embrace a Minimalist Mindset
Moving provides an ideal time to adopt a minimalist mindset. Simplifying your life by removing excess belongings can lead to reduced stress and improved overall well-being. By consciously evaluating what you truly need and value, you can focus on the essentials and let go of the things that no longer contribute to your happiness. This process can help you prioritize experiences and relationships over material possessions, fostering a more intentional and fulfilling lifestyle.

No matter what the reason for moving, it always signifies a new chapter of some sort. By streamlining your belongings, creating a more organized environment, saving time and money, benefiting others, and embracing a minimalist mindset, you can turn the moving process into a transformative experience. So, as you prepare for your next move, remember to seize the chance to let go of what no longer serves you and embark on your new adventure with a lighter and more intentional load.

​Written by Claudia Schouten Jones, Owner
​Elite Relocation Services

Moving to a new home can be an exciting yet often challenging endeavor. Among the many decisions to be made, one crucial question arises; should you handle the move yourself or hire professional movers? It's a dilemma that many people face when planning a relocation.

Let’s get the obvious out of the way; every move is different. A college student moving one bedroom’s worth of stuff to a new apartment four blocks away will have very different needs from a family of five moving a house full of stuff across country.

These different needs mean that there’s not a one-size-fits-all answer to how you should move.
Let’s explore the pros and cons of both options so you can make an informed decision based on your specific circumstances and preferences.

       The Hidden Costs of Moving Yourself

•     One of the primary factors influencing the decision is cost. Moving can be expensive, and budget constraints play a significant role. If you’re looking at self-moving, it’s probably because you want to save money. While at first glance a DIY move may seem way less expensive, you probably won’t save as much as you think. It's important to consider the hidden costs, such as truck rental, fuel, packing supplies, and potential damage to your belongings due to inexperience. On the other hand, hiring movers might seem expensive upfront, but they come with the advantage of providing all the necessary equipment, expertise and insurance, minimizing the risk of additional expenses.
  
  Time and Convenience
•     Picture this, you’re driving a twenty-six box truck with your car in tow. You’ve been on the interstate for about seven hours when it starts down pouring rain. Traffic slows to a crawl and then stops altogether. Multiple accidents cause the interstate to close. You’re exhausted. You’re hungry. You need to use the bathroom. Your body aches because you’ve never driven a rig that large before. And on top of all of that, your truck is getting low on fuel. You are stopped for more than an hour and it’s getting very late. Because of the delay, you miss the check-in window for your new place and have to find a hotel to sleep in for the night. When you finally open your truck the next day to unload it, you realize that you should have played Tetris more as a kid because you didn’t load your truck properly for transport and many items are now damaged … How much would you be willing pay to avoid an experience like this?
  
  Moving can be an incredibly time-consuming process. Packing, loading, transporting, unloading and unpacking require a significant investment of time and effort. If you have a flexible schedule, a smaller load, or ample help from friends and family, a DIY move might be a feasible option. However, if you're short on time, have a large household, or lack physical strength, hiring professional movers will 100% save you a tremendous amount of stress and effort. They will handle the logistics (whether moving locally or long distance), allowing you to focus on other aspects of your move. In addition, full-service movers provide various forms of damage coverage.
  
  Complexity and Expertise
•     Moving involves more than just carrying boxes. It requires careful planning, efficient packing, and crews that know how to secure furniture and valuable items. If you have limited experience with moving, hiring professionals can provide peace of mind and it can ultimately cost you less in the end. Movers have the knowledge and expertise to handle your belongings with care, navigate through tight spaces, and ensure a smooth transition from one home to another. DIY moves, while manageable for small and straightforward relocations, can become overwhelming and risky when faced with complex logistical challenges.
  
  Physical Demands and Safety
•     Moving seems easy, right? Oh your aching back! Maneuvering heavy furniture and lifting bulky boxes can strain your body and increase the risk of injuries if not done properly. Professional movers, like our crews, are trained in the proper techniques to handle heavy loads safely, minimizing the chance of personal injury. They have the appropriate equipment, such as hand trucks and straps, to lift and move items efficiently. If you have health concerns or lack the physical strength required for a DIY move, it's wise to prioritize your well-being and hire professionals to avoid unnecessary physical strain.
  
  Emotional Considerations
•     Moving can be a very emotionally taxing experience. Leaving behind familiar surroundings and embarking on a new chapter can be overwhelming, whether for happy reasons like your family is expanding or for sad reasons like illness or aging. DIY moves can provide a sense of control and a personal touch during the process. However, if you're already feeling stressed or emotionally drained, delegating the moving responsibilities to professionals can alleviate some of the burden, allowing you and/or your loved ones to focus on adjusting to a new home and new surroundings.
  
  

At the end of the day, deciding whether to move yourself or hire professional movers is a very personal choice and depends on many factors, including your budget, time constraints, expertise, physical abilities and emotional well-being. Assess your unique circumstances, evaluate the pros and cons, and consider the trade-offs associated with each option. While a DIY move might be suitable for some, professional movers, like us, offer a range of benefits, from saving time and effort to ensuring the safety of your belongings. Ultimately, choosing the right approach will help make your move a successful and less stressful experience.

Written by Claudia Schouten Jones, Owner
​Elite Relocation Services

I know what you’re thinking, ‘… said no one ever!’ But the truth is, for our company, one that prides itself on operating ethically and providing the highest level of service to our customers, we really do.

Dozen’s of calls roll in each day and often the first words said are, “I’m just calling around to shop rates.” This is the launching point for us to provide some education about industry regulations in Oregon, the reason behind the regulations, and the importance of them. The regulations are in place ultimately for the protection of the consumer, but they also allow us to run our business in a highly customer-centric way with a focus on providing the best quality experience possible instead of chasing after one gimmick or marketing scheme after another.

After all, choosing a moving company isn’t just about transporting your furniture from one location to another, most of the time it’s about transporting family heirlooms, items that represent cherished memories as well as collectibles and investment pieces that perhaps you’ve worked years to obtain. The regulations, which dictate what we (moving companies with authority to transport household goods) can charge, allow you to choose based on the highest quality of service and best reputation.

You’ll find dozens of “moving companies” online when you look in the Eugene/Springfield area, but currently there are only six that have ODOT authority. The web is like the wild wild west in this way. Google, Yelp and others simply don’t vet businesses that list with them. One postcard and your business is in. A couple of 5-star reviews and your business looks legit! So while you’re calling around to the dozens online, you’re likely to find some offering much lower rates, not realizing that they haven’t gone through the rigors of ODOT requirements to gain authority, nor do they adhere to their standards. It’s important to vet prospective movers during the pre-move screening process by verifying that they are in good standing with the agencies that regulate them. Another good resource to find out if they’ve had complaints filed against them is the Better Business Bureau.

You put your belongings and bank account at risk when you choose what we like to call our ‘local rogue movers’. We’ve all heard the horror stories of shipments being hijacked and held for ransom or thousands of dollars in damages caused during a move and no one who will answer their phone afterward or a storefront to go to for a resolution. These folks often fly under ODOT’s radar and if something goes wrong with your move, you have little to no recourse.

On a national level, the USDOT and FMCSA license moving companies that perform interstate moves (moves that cross state lines). Every interstate carrier has a DOT number as well as an MC number and can be found on the FMCSA website. But remember, any intrastate move within Oregon is governed by ODOT and any mover must adhere to ODOT’s regulations.

The following are just some of the regulations that help protect you when you move in Oregon:

- All moving companies that have been authorized by ODOT have an operating authority number. This operating number must be posted on all marketing materials and the mover’s website. Ask for this number when making your initial contact.

- Moving companies with a valid ODOT number have met state requirements for insurance, safety and financial stability.

- All Moving companies with authority to move household goods in Oregon are listed on the ODOT website at https://www.oregon.gov/odot/mct/pages/householdgoodsmoving.aspx.

- Liability and cargo insurance must be maintained by carriers at all times.

- Criminal background checks as well as health and fitness screenings must be completed and maintained on each employee.

- All moving companies must charge ODOT-approved tariff rates. Discounts, sales, under-estimates and kick-backs are not allowed.

- Moving companies are required to provide customers with a General Information Bulletin for Moving Household Goods in Oregon, which explains the rights and responsibilities of both the customer and moving company.

- A Bill of Lading must be provided to customers on move day. This Bill of Lading is the contract between customer and mover and outlines the charges for services rendered.

- In general, any move within 50 air miles of your city is considered a local move and charges will be based on the number of workers and the hours spent performing the move. Anything outside of this radius and still within Oregon is considered an intra-state move and charges are based on a weight times distance calculation.

- Estimates are always non-binding. At the end of the day, charges will be based on actual hours spent or the weight time distance calculation.

- For local Eugene/Springfield moves, time starts when the crew departs the terminal and ends when they return to the terminal.

- At Elite Relocation Services, we encourage all of our clients and potential clients to reach out to us with questions about regulations, rights and responsibilities and anything else relating to a move. And if you’ve scheduled a move with us, we always provide you with move day tips and reminders to help you prepare. Your comfort is always our first priority.

Written by Claudia Schouten Jones, Owner
​Elite Relocation Services

Picture this - crews dispatch at 8 a.m. and arrive at their respective job sites around 8:15 to perform their moves. 8:20 the phone rings. It’s the crew lead for one of the jobs. “Boss, this customer is not move-ready. I’m going to text you some photos.” Ping, ping, ping, the photos start arriving. What we see are garbage bags full of clothing, plastic bins with no lids stuffed with items that are not wrapped, an array of untaped boxes such as grocery store produce boxes, shoe boxes, partially crushed boxes, and a number of items not boxed or packed at all. So we get on the horn to the customer, who by this time is overwhelmed with stress, sleep-deprived and often an emotional wreck. It’s at this moment we realize that the term “move-ready” is not fully understood by everyone.

You might be thinking that being move-ready would simply be common sense, but as it turns out, most folks don’t move very often, some not at all, and there are several things people simply don’t think about until the day of the move when there’s a flurry of activity and no time left to prepare!

Over this last year, more than ever before, our crews have arrived to perform a move only to find that the customer was really not ready. So, in an effort to help our customers and relieve some of move-day stress, we came up with a move-prep checklist, including tips and suggestions to help the move go smoothly.

The following are the most important excerpts from our Moving Guide & Checklist and Move Day Tips & Reminders. For a full list of tips starting one month before your move, visit us online at https://www.eliterelocationservices.com/moving-guide--checklist.html.

Label, Label, Label - Clearly mark every box and container with the room it’s from, its contents, what priority it will be to unpack, whether there’s anything breakable and whether the box is heavy. Use different colors and a consistent format to help identify each box at a glance. Example: Kitchen, Pots and pans, High (priority), or: Office, Books, Low (priority), Heavy. Label cords to electronics or take photos of how they attach so reconnecting them in your new home will be a breeze.

The Cleaner, The Better - Clean dust and debris off of furniture and appliances, especially the tops of items that may not get regular cleaning. We pride ourselves on providing clean equipment and pads. We don't want to bring someone else's dust into your home on our pads and do not want to take yours with us to the next move.

Clear The Way - Make sure walkways are clear and have a rough idea of where you would like furniture placed in your new home.

Do Double Duty - Pack breakables in packing paper or clothing, towels and bedding. Pack lightweight clothes, towels or linens in dresser drawers. If your dresser is antique, fragile, made of composite material such as particle board or is in an area of your home that is difficult to maneuver out of, the extra weight in drawers may put unusual torque on that dresser, so we suggest all drawers be empty.

Be Box Smart - Be sure to use appropriate boxes for their contents. Boxes made for moving and packed well can make all the difference in the protection of your belongings. Containers to avoid as they may not withstand stacking and/or the rigors of transport are: plastic totes, garbage bags, shoe boxes, used boxes that are partially crushed and/or have been exposed to moisture. Make sure boxes are taped along all seams. Find the perfect fill. Don’t overstuff a box, and don’t make it too heavy to safely lift and carry. Try to pack contents firmly so items don’t shift and so the box can be stacked without crushing inward. Pack heavier items in smaller boxes. Lighter items can go in bigger boxes.  Heavy boxes are hard to carry.  Trust us.

Avoid Spillage - Pack items such as toiletries, soap containers, jars, etc. in plastic bags, and make sure to stand them upright in a box, then clearly mark the box as containing liquid items, and note which end must remain up.

Take it Apart - For anything that has to be disassembled, keep all the parts together. Put screws, bolts, brackets, curtain rings, etc., in plastic ziplock bags and pack them in a box marked "Parts Box" so that all of your parts will be easy to locate. Furniture with glass shelving should have the glass removed and boxed if possible.

What We Can’t Haul - Plan to haul flammable or caustic liquids or combustible items such as household aerosols, weapons and ammunition yourself.

Pack a Suitcase - Pack a bag with all your daily essentials as though you were going on a trip or vacation. That way you’ll have a change of clothes and all your necessary toiletries, medications and personal items handy when you get to your new place, without having to rummage through boxes.

Mind Your Littles - Make any necessary arrangements for your children or pets on move day. Line up babysitting or daycare for children and boarding or pet-sitting for pets the day(s) of your move. If children and pets are onsite during your move, (for their safety and the safety of the crew) please ensure they are safely away from movers, trucks and equipment.

Be Available - Make sure someone is at the house while the crew finishes loading. If you leave before everything is loaded, you won’t be able to do a final walkthrough to make sure everything that should be moved is on the truck.
Paying for Your Move - Payment is due when your items are delivered to your new home.

With these tips, you’ll be more than ready for your move and move day will be stress-free!

Written by Claudia Schouten Jones, Owner
Elite Relocation Services