• We consider these responsibilities “tips” that will make your office move with Exodus go as smoothly as possible.
• Disconnect all electrical equipment such as computer cables, phone cables, etc.
• Keep all pathways as clear as possible to help the loading process go efficiently.
• Clearly label items, IF an item is not labeled, we will not move it.
• Have blue print(s) available for posting at new location prior to move(s). Layouts will be posted near building entrances, designated unloading areas, elevators, etc.
• Make sure that adequate parking is available for the trucks at all loading and unloading sites. Inform employees of alternative parking if necessary prior to move.
• Make sure alternative phone lines are available (i.e. cell phones) on day of the move if business phones are to be disconnected.
• Pack all boxes full to the top, and tape or close containers before Exodus crewmembers arrive.
• Please remove all items from walls including pictures, mounts, mirrors, etc. if they are to be moved. Be sure to place labels on these items as well. Set aside any personal items and items those do not need to be moved.
• There must be no construction going on where the movers are working or near hallways or entrances that the movers are using.
• Relax! Let Exodus take the worry out of your move.

Please call us at 970-484-1488 if you have any questions pertaining to these responsibilities.

1. License and Registration

As a new resident to say, California, you must change over to a new California license in 12 days of moving otherwise try getting pulled over and getting slapped with a great big fine! Other states have similar laws. If you arent sure where to contact your nearest DMV or for that matter what the rules are, check out the private, not government website. A great resource for checking in on all of the rule.

2. Change of Address

Not only do you want your magazine subscriptions but you need all of your important mail forwarded to your new home as soon as possible! Get that change of address in from the nearest Post Office,  or here online

3. Register to Vote

Whether you are a political nut or not, being able to vote on an election or issues that matter to you are essential for getting involved in your community. Check out this site to vote on important issues in your new community

Moving away from home for the first time is a big deal. There is an overwhelming amount of emotions and new issues to deal with. To best cope with the ‘big change’ check out these tips and reminders.

Friends This time is for making friends! Whether you are in a dorm or in a house with friends, reach out—meet that person next door to you. Join study groups in classes (not only for curriculum help) but also to make friends. Dorms will often have group outings where everyone will go to activities together.  This elements is so very important for keeping a balanced college lifestyle.

Special Interest Groups, Clubs and Sports No better way to connect with people and things that you love than getting involved with both at the same time. Maybe you love classic books? Maybe you are a soccer player—not quite a scholarship player but would still love to run around. Join the team! There are a multitude of groups and clubs on college campuses that open the doors to people and activities.

Food An easy way to slip into a depression is by eating fat and salt ridden processed food along with drinking your Freshmen year away. If you are looking to avoid the ‘Freshmen 15’ and want to stay happy and vibrant, than don’t neglect things like fruits and vegetables. Make it a point to stay away from the crap, and stick with the greens. The fresher the better.

Home and Family Stay connected. Schedule a time that once a week you will never miss. Sunday nights are great. Catch your family up on school, friends, activities, your grades and maybe even a major change. Keeping this stability and love in your life has proven to be a vital element of college happiness. Also—try to visit home when you can. Nothing better than home cooking and sleeping in your old bed—but still being able to leave! J

It is unfortunate that scam movers take over the moving industry. By following a few steps, you can have the advantage of spotting them before they take your stuff and run. Here are some pointers on how to avoid getting scammed:

• Be wary of radical estimates. Estimates too high or too low should not be trusted, and when it seems too good to be true, it probably is.
• Get everything in writing! If you don’t have anything in writing there is no way to be sure that your given estimate will be honored.
• Avoid companies that only accept cash or large deposits
• Find out if the company is on the American Moving and Storage Association of blacklist scammers
• Avoid doing business with moving companies who do not have a physical address or licensing information on their website

The best way to find a legit moving company is through word of mouth or other local resources. Good sense and judgment should be used whenever you hire any company to do service for you. It is in your best interest to take extra precautions because they are packing up everything you own, stuffing it in a truck for a cross country trek.

If you rang in the new year with a resolution to wake up to a new scene, new place, new state; then this blog is for you! This blog is especially for you if you have never lived in another state but are planning on doing so.

Where do you start? That is a fantastic question and I would probably say with research. Finding a place to move for your first time is exciting, but also a little scary. The unknown can always be a little frightening. You need to know about the good and bad neighborhoods, what the economy is like, you have to find a job and live in a place where the culture matches your values and personality.

First off, make a list of all the things you want in a town/city. Do you need outdoor activities? Warm weather? Easy access to mountains? Peace and quiet? Shopping? Schools? You need to write down everything you want out of your perfect place to live, and then start prioritizing.

Then it’s time to start checking out neighborhoods, apartments, roommates, etc. Where are you going to live? Craigslist.org is of course a great resource, but we advice that you do your research. It is important to go look at the house (preferably with someone) and interview the person you will be renting from/living with. Just like you tour houses that you are looking at buying, you need to make sure an apartment or condo is something that you would enjoy living in, and that your roommate(s) aren’t crazy. Make sure it is in your price range, in an area you want to be in, and you feel comfortable (your intuition is powerful!) Does it match the list you creative from the above exercise?

You also need a plan for meeting people. Depending on your situation, you may or may not be moving with someone. If you are not, I suggest having an idea of how you will meet new people. They say it takes about a year to a year and a half to feel at home and like you have established yourself. A great way to decrease that time is by getting involved in different Meetup.com groups like book clubs, hiking groups or cooking classes. If you are a professional, participating in local networking events like Green Drinks, Chamber events, or industry specific events is a great way to start building your professional network, but also a potential group of friends.

These are only a few of the specifics that need to be worked out and planned for, but they are pretty important to starting the process of moving to another state. We wish you luck, and let us know if we can help you with the new chapter of your life!

1. Think about location when selecting your storage. Where, how easily must it be accessed, how often will you need to access?
2. Try to fill the boxes to the top when packing, even if it’s just with padding and old, crumpled newspapers. Boxes that are only half-filled tend to collapse if anything’s placed on them.
3. If you’re storing a refrigerator in your unit leave the door ajar. This will prevent mold from growing inside.
4. If loading your own unit – leave walk ways in the middle and near the walls of the unit, for access and air flow.
5. Putting pallets, milk crates, or plastic storage bins on the floor of the unit will eliminate the risk of water damage.
6. Full service storage options allows for the unit to be packed professionally; with the blankets, plastic wrap, straps, and all the protection in place during storage.
7. Ask about climate controlled storage. This is best for leather furniture, candles, oil paintings, sensitive electronics, plasma or LCD televisions, records, or any highly sensitive antiques that could be damaged with humidity and heat.
8. Always keep your personal / high value items with you. Don’t store expensive jewelry, identification / personal documents, weaponry (guns and ammo), etc.
9. Empty any gas run equipment before storing, including lawn mowers, trimmers, etc. Just let them run until they are out of juice the last time you use the tools.
10. Don’t store liquids (especially cleaning supplies with harsh chemicals). In the changing temperatures, liquids have the opportunity to freeze, heat, and spill on your keepsakes. If you MUST store liquids like shampoo or lotion (non hazardous) be sure to put them in a zip lock bag and store in a plastic bin.
11. Self Storage? Ask about security measures at the location; cameras? Security guards? Gated area? Code and Key access?
12. Might need to get to it? Put these items closest to the door for easy access.
13. Label. Label. Label. Know what is in each box, in case you need to get to it during storage and so you know where the box goes when you move into your new residence.
14. Use blankets, sheets, and tarps to protect your goods from dust in storage.
15. You are better off renting a smaller unit that is filled or packed to near the top (”high and tight” as they say in the industry), rather than renting a larger unit and only filling the floor area (”floating” per indsustry lingo).

16. Let Exodus Help you do the rest…

“They” say it takes around a year to a year and a half to meet people in a new community that you can truly call a friend. Depending on where you move, it can take longer than that. Here are some tips to make it easier, and quicker!

Chamber of Commerce: Never rule out the chamber, even if you aren’t a business owner. Your local chamber can connect you to businesses you need, events to attend, and new people to meet that can make you feel at home. Check out Chambers of Commerce, USA Directory and Visitor Bureaus US Directory.

Another great way to meet people and get familiar with your new community is through Livability.com  “Livability.com is an online portal connecting people seeking relocation information with some of the most livable communities in the United States.” This website is made for people relocating. They also include local food and a digital newsstand. What a wonderful resource for people moving!

Last but not least, don’t forget about using social media! Twitter and Facebook have features where you can search by city and state. Use Facebook search bar, and for Twitter use Twellowhood.com

Here at Exodus, we hope you make new friends quickly, and start feeling more and more at home!

Office Move? Tips to make it Smooth

• We consider these responsibilities “tips” that will make your office move with Exodus go as smoothly as possible.

• Disconnect all electrical equipment such as computer cables, phone cables, etc.

• Keep all pathways as clear as possible to help the loading process go efficiently.

• Clearly label items, IF an item is not labeled, we will not move it.

• Have blue print(s) available for posting at new location prior to move(s). Layouts will be posted near building entrances, designated unloading areas, elevators, etc.

• Make sure that adequate parking is available for the trucks at all loading and unloading sites. Inform employees of alternative parking if necessary prior to move.

• Make sure alternative phone lines are available (i.e. cell phones) on day of the move if business phones are to be disconnected.

• Pack all boxes full to the top, and tape or close containers before Exodus crewmembers arrive.

• Please remove all items from walls including pictures, mounts, mirrors, etc. if they are to be moved. Be sure to place labels on these items as well. Set aside any personal items and items those do not need to be moved.

• There must be no construction going on where the movers are working or near hallways or entrances that the movers are using.

• Relax! Let Exodus take the worry out of your move.

Depending on how many times you’ve moved, what your timeline is, and what the situation of the move is about; you might be rushed or not thinking clearly while moving. You might just feel like everything needs a box and get it in the truck. However, there are a few items that need to be left out, and moved last. For a friendly reminder, see our list below:

Cleaning Supplies – If you aren’t cleaning the old place, then you might not need to worry about this, but you might want to label cleaning supplies and have it on hand for the new place (depending on its situation when you arrive). If you do need to clean the place, remember to leave cleaning supplies and towels, paper towels, etc., out so you don’t have to dig through boxes or buy new ones.

Tools – There might be some nails in the wall from wall art, or a few things that need to be fixed before you say your final goodbye to your old home. Make sure your tools are on hand, just in case.

Snacks – Moving is physically tolling on the body, and can be a great workout. Since you’re moving all of your belongings, including your food, remember to keep a few snack items available in case you get hungry. There’s nothing worse than feeling hunger pains and experience low energy levels, but you can’t leave during the move.

Toys – If you have kids, you might want to keep a few toys out to keep them occupied if they can’t help you move boxes. Keep them busy so they are happy during the moving, especially since a move can be emotionally taxing on a child.

If you keep these items out and plan for your move, it should be successful! If we can help in any way, please contact us.

Depending on the move, the specifics and details can get confusing. That’s why we created Terminology Tuesdays where each week we will go over five moving terms that will help you have a better understanding of your moving process. Be sure to check out our archives, we’ll be doing this each week. Enjoy!

Accessorial Services/Additional Services – services such as packing, unpacking, extra stop, or shuttle that you request to be performed, or are necessary because of landlord requirements or other special circumstances. Charges for these services are in addition to the transportation costs.

Diversion – when a customer changes the destination of their shipment after it is en route, transportation charges shall be calculated from the point of origin, to the point at which the carrier is able to effect the diversion, plus the transportation charge from the diversion point to the new destination point.

Extra Labor – This is just as it sounds. Hourly labor charges usually a 15 minute minimum, for performing any requested services for which specific fees are not published. This generally covers activities such as removing and placing items in attics and crawlspaces, packing and unpacking owner’s furnished containers, etc.

High-Value Article Inventory Form – the carrier will have you fill out a high-value inventory form to list items included in a shipment that are valued around $100 per pound or more, to ensure they are protected accordingly.

Inventory – a detailed descriptive list of the items in the shipment and their condition before the van is loaded.