There could be nothing worse than getting into a car situation on the side of the road of a two lane highway at 11:00 at night with no one in sight for help. Hopefully this would never happen to anyone, but unfortunately the ways of the world state that it must, and in fact does quite often. The next worst thing to breaking down on the side of the road is not having an emergency roadside kit to get you out of a bind. Its key to be prepared for such an event to happen at any time.

Assuming that your cell phone is out of reach to your AAA, or roadside emergency assistance that is more often than not included in your insurance policy, you need to have a number of items that you can pull out on a dime to help yourself out of a sticky (or oily) situation.

Roadside Emergency Kit

• 12-foot jumper cables
• Four 15-minute roadside flares
• Jack
• Tire Iron
• Spare Tire
• Two quarts of oil
• Gallon of antifreeze
• First aid kit (including an assortment of bandages, gauze, adhesive tape, antiseptic cream, instant ice and heat compresses, scissors and aspirin)
• Blanket
• Extra fuses
• Flashlight and extra batteries
• Flat head and Phillips head screwdrivers
• Pliers
• Vise Grips
• Adjustable wrench
• Tire inflator (such as a Fix-A-Flat)
• Tire pressure gauge
• Rags
• Roll of paper towels
• Roll of duct tape
• Spray bottle with washer fluid
• Pocketknife
• Ice scraper
• Pen and paper
• Help sign
• Granola or energy bars
• Bottled water
• Heavy-duty nylon bag to carry it all in.

You are all set—now you can drive with ease and with the knowledge that you have set yourself up for a clean and safe journey—no matter what the bumps in the road cause.

Moving may not always be emotionally painful, but may cause unforeseen physical damage unexpectedly. There are simple ways to avoid causing injury to yourself and if you are smart to others…as you will pass this on as an act of good faith towards humankind

The first and most important factor of your move is your rented equipment. Renting proper equipment not only insures simpler more for heavier, larger items but more importantly saves your from back strain and further injury. Straps are also essential in securing boxes and items that are larger and hard to move on your own.

On that same note packing your boxes should be strategic as well. When packing for your move make sure that your boxes are no heavier than 50 pounds.  This will not only help boxes from not squishing one another but again will prevent back strain in your move.

Also, check out the safety of the area that you are moving into. Inspecting your new area is a vital part of your move. It prevents you from finding things out like “oh, that walkway has a bunch of loose floorboards” or “oh, I just hang-lined myself on that tree branch on my way in”. Inspecting these things before you move your things physically in is key.  Areas to inspect include: walkways, sidewalks, steps, trees, doors and any obstacle that you may encounter with a load of boxes in your hands.

Checking the place that you are moving into assures that you will arrive in one piece.

Organizing your unit can really make a huge difference in your move. Being able to leave your unit knowing that your items are properly stored, labeled and accounted for can leave you feeling confident that your things are safe, organized and clean. Follow these guidelines and your storage unit will be one less thing to worry about in your move.

Cleaning: Before you start moving anything in, make sure to clean up spills, cob webs and other messes. Remember, you are going to be storing your things in this unit for some time and want things to be set up on clean surfaces and spaces. Vacuuming and laying down protective floor coverings can allow your things to stay clean and safe.

Large Furniture and Appliances: These items are the first to go in (protected in their plastic covers of course). Make sure when these items are placed in your storage unit that they are at least an inch away from the walls to allow proper circulation for your space.

Boxes: That’s right, now it’s time for the stuff. Your boxes should all be approximately the same size. This makes things much easier for stacking and re organizing/moving your storage unit items. Make sure more importantly to label all of your boxes. This way your boxes are easily accessible and they are easily recognized in your storage unit.

Stacking: When you are stacking your boxes in your storage unit you should start by putting them on top of furniture and appliances whenever possible. This will maximize your space efficiency. However make sure not to stack boxes too high otherwise you could be creating a dangerous situation.

Inventory: Now that you are done with all of the manual labor, write everything that you have stored in your unit down in an inventory list.  The number of boxes, furniture items and appliances should all be items included in the list.  Keep the inventory list, the insurance policy for your storage unit and contact information for your storage unit in a safe place to ensure that you will have quick and easy access to your things. You never know when you are going to need any of this information.

There’s no doubt about it: moving is stressful. It’s filled with changes, schedule disruptions, mixed emotions and uncertainties, not to mention a whole lot of hard work. Right when you feel like the hard part is over; there are still a few very important things we would urge you to consider, for your safety!

Once you move into your new home, make sure to put fresh new batteries in the smoke detector. More importantly, make sure they are working properly. Once you know your smoke detector is working as it should be, walk around your house and plan the safest exit route, just in case of an emergency. Meanwhile, it’s also important to install a carbon monoxide detector. Unfortunately, every year over 200 American’s die of carbon monoxide poisoning. Make sure your new home has one, if not, put one in. You should also have your heating system, including chimney’s and vents inspected and serviced annually. If you have just moved into a new home, your best bet would be to have them checked right then and there, for your own peace of mind. Speaking of peace, make sure all windows have locks that function properly. Examine your outdoor lighting system and make certain arrangements to install low voltage outdoor system, if needed. Also, trim any large shrubs around the entrance of your home; this prevents a burglar from hiding in your shrubbery. Find out if your neighborhood has a neighborhood watch program. If it does, join it! If it doesn’t, start one! Last but not least, consider installing a security system. There really isn’t anything better with having peace of mind and if you do these things, we assure you that is exactly what you’ll have

If your leaving town for the Holidays there are a few precautions you should take in order to keep your home safe and sound.

Remember to stop your mail and newspaper service before you leave town. Nothing screams “no one is home” like a week’s worth of mail or newspapers stacked in your front yard for the world to see.

It’s really important to remember to NEVER write “take all deliveries to the next door neighbor” hopefully, you understand why.

Trim any overgrown, trees, shrubs or bushes because that is a safe zone for any buglers to hide out.

Don’t change your answering machine to suggest that no one is home, for example, it’s probably not a good idea to say, “Hello, you’ve reached so and so, we are in the Bahamas until the 28^th”. That’s ear candy for anyone with sticky fingers.

Also, now that we are living in this day in age where technology allows us to engage in constant conversation, be careful what you post on social networking sites like Facebook and/or Twitter. You never know who is reading your posts and you’d rather be safe than sorry.

Pull all the plugs out of the walls, this will help save energy and cut back on your bills but also it reduces any chance of fire hazards.

Remove the spare key from under the rug and give it to a neighbor. You could bribe them by some freshly baked cookies to check on your house periodically.

Move valuables away from doors and windows for various reasons.

Use timers on many lights found throughout the house so it may appear that people are home.

We don’t mean to scare you while you are away on a luxurious vacation but we do think it is imperative for any travelers to take these safety precautions so you can arrive at a safe and sound home.

You wouldn’t trust just anyone with your most prized belongings would you? Neither would we. That’s why you have to be very careful when choosing your expert movers, especially when they are handling your most prized possessions. Not only do we want to protect your belongings but your home is equally important to us, with our expert moving team we can maneuver your belongings without damaging walls, doors, frames, or our backs. We have a team that specializes in moving your large, heavy, awkward pieces like your piano, hot tubs and gun safes. Our moving team at Exodus understands how to properly move your things while keeping the conditions of your home intact. We are sure that you have heard horror stories about moves that ended badly. Don’t let your already stressful move become a moving horror story because you choose a mover who does not specialize in moving large awkwardly shaped objects. We provide safe, efficient, reliable, trustworthy service that will not let you down. Trust us, go with Exodus. We promise to get your piano to your new destination safely if you promise to play us a song from your piano, in your new home.

More and more people are finding the need to have extra storage space, more than their homes or garage space can provide. There are different kinds of storage units that are offered but climate controlled storage units have many perks and advantages that make it well worth any extra costs. When you do become interested in receiving information on climate controlled storage units, make sure you are aware of what is considered the moving companies regulations of climate control and exactly what that means for your belongings. One of the advantages of climate controlled storage units is its resistance to harsh weather. Rain and snow cannot penetrate the roof and they are built above sea level.

Here at Exodus, we load weatherproof containers at your location and then they are kept in our secured and monitored storage lot, located directly behind our warehouse. We store them with us until you are ready for delivery. Even though our beautiful state of Colorado experiences extreme weather conditions, don’t be too surprised to know that there is a lack of climate controlled storage options from most movers in Northern Colorado. However, here as Exodus, we offer three options for clean, safe and secure storage: Climate Controlled Vaults; 20’ Ocean Containers; and 48’ Trailers. Any combination of these three types of storage containers can be used to meet your needs. So whether you are located in Loveland, Windsor, Greeley, Boulder, Wellington or Fort Collins, and no matter what your situation,  can find an appropriate storage solution for you.

There are an unfortunate number of untrustworthy moving companies which pervade our industry and give it a bit of a black eye. There are, however, a number of ways to make sure you are hiring a moving company in Colorado with a good reputation, a history of successful moves, and protection for you and your property during the moving process.

We’ve compiled a list of things you should consider when searching for a moving company, inspired by suggestions from AMSA, the Better Business Bureau, and MovingScam.com:

Ask friends, relatives and co-workers about a reliable moving company in Colorado. A first-hand recommendation is far more reliable than ads from companies themselves.

Visit www.movingscam.com to make sure the mover you’re considering doesn’t have a sordid past! To find out which movers have deservedly bad reputations, MovingScam.com has a blacklist, an active message board, and a ton of helpful information.

If your move involves travel within the State of Colorado, don’t do business with a mover that is not registered with the Colorado Public Utilities Commission (PUC). The PUC requires all movers to be registered, which in turn means they must have vehicle, cargo, and general liability insurance. You don’t want to use a moving company Colorado doesn’t list as having this kind of insurance. Hint: Look for their PUC # number placed prominently in their phone book advertising.

Check with the American Moving & Storage Association (AMSA) at www.moving.orgto find out more information about a company, and to see if the company is an AMSA member, or better yet, if they are an AMSA Certified Mover. Exodus is one of two in Colorado who are!

Make sure that you’re considering a moving company which Colorado’s Better Business Bureau lists as a member. Check the Bureau’s website at www.bbb.org. By the way: did you know that Exodus moved the Mountain States BBB in Northern Colorado?

Avoid Internet-sourced movers. Internet brokers are anonymous and can often be hard to track down when you have a dispute or dilemma. Many victims of moving scams report that they found the ‘virtual company’ online. A website (like ours!) is commonplace for businesses, but make sure to find a local, professional mover with a stellar reputation – a hometown firm that moves people nationwide, and who will give you a reasonable cost of moving estimate. (Beware low ball quotes that are “too good to be true.” They probably are!)

Make sure the company will not subcontract out your move. Clarify that the mover who gives you your cost of moving estimate will be the mover who shows up on moving day—if another mover appears, fire them on the spot!

Don’t be afraid to ask for as much information about your mover as possible: get Department of Transportation (DOT) license numbers, dates of operation, owners’ names, and references—which you should then follow up and call.

Make sure your mover does regular drug testing and full background checks of all their employees. And this should be mandatory: determine that they are on the payroll! You don’t want temporary, untrained labor borrowed for your job and then have them take off for parts unknown – with your stuff!

Get solid estimates, read the contracts line by line, and compare them.

Adequately cover your goods – most companies have several valuation options to cover your belongings.

At Exodus Moving & Storage, we’re very proud that we meet our own stringent standards for excellence. We’re not afraid to be held up against the competition, because we know our reputation and quality of service stand up to the test.

There are an unfortunate number of untrustworthy moving companies which pervade our industry and give it a bit of a black eye. There are, however, a number of ways to make sure you are hiring a moving company in Colorado with a good reputation, a history of successful moves, and protection for you and your property during the moving process.

We’ve compiled a list of things you should consider when searching for a moving company, inspired by suggestions from AMSA, the Better Business Bureau, and MovingScam.com:

• Ask friends, relatives and co-workers about a reliable moving company in Colorado. A first-hand recommendation is far more reliable than ads from companies themselves.

• Visit www.movingscam.com to make sure the mover you’re considering doesn’t have a sordid past! To find out which movers have deservedly bad reputations, MovingScam.com has a blacklist, an active message board, and a ton of helpful information.

• If your move involves travel within the State of Colorado, don’t do business with a mover that is not registered with the Colorado Public Utilities Commission (PUC). The PUC requires all movers to be registered, which in turn means they must have vehicle, cargo, and general liability insurance. You don’t want to use a moving company Colorado doesn’t list as having this kind of insurance. Hint: Look for their PUC # number placed prominently in their phone book advertising.

• Check with the American Moving & Storage Association (AMSA) at www.moving.orgto find out more information about a company, and to see if the company is an AMSA member, or better yet, if they are an AMSA Certified Mover. Exodus is one of two in Colorado who are!

• Make sure that you’re considering a moving company which Colorado’s Better Business Bureau lists as a member. Check the Bureau’s website at www.bbb.org. By the way: did you know that Exodus moved the Mountain States BBB in Northern Colorado?

• Avoid Internet-sourced movers. Internet brokers are anonymous and can often be hard to track down when you have a dispute or dilemma. Many victims of moving scams report that they found the ‘virtual company’ online. A website (like ours!) is commonplace for businesses, but make sure to find a local, professional mover with a stellar reputation – a hometown firm that moves people nationwide, and who will give you a reasonable cost of moving estimate. (Beware low ball quotes that are “too good to be true.” They probably are!)

• Make sure the company will not subcontract out your move. Clarify that the mover who gives you your cost of moving estimate will be the mover who shows up on moving day—if another mover appears, fire them on the spot!

• Don’t be afraid to ask for as much information about your mover as possible: get Department of Transportation (DOT) license numbers, dates of operation, owners’ names, and references—which you should then follow up and call.

• Make sure your mover does regular drug testing and full background checks of all their employees. And this should be mandatory: determine that they are on the payroll! You don’t want temporary, untrained labor borrowed for your job and then have them take off for parts unknown – with your stuff!

• Get solid estimates, read the contracts line by line, and compare them.

• Adequately cover your goods – most companies have several valuation options to cover your belongings.

At Exodus Moving & Storage, we’re very proud that we meet our own stringent standards for excellence. We’re not afraid to be held up against the competition, because we know our reputation and quality of service stand up to the test.

So you have decided to make the decision to move abroad. It’s easy to focus on how to prepare ourselves for the big travel day but we cannot forget about our four legged friends and their safety when traveling. We have provided a few pointers that we feel you can benefit from when it comes to moving internationally with your pet.

First things first, we suggest that you contact the local consulate of the destination country; you need to know the pet requirements regarding quarantine and other strict standards. Remember, pets also need documentation for travel but don’t forget that each country abides by different regulations so make sure you do some research!

Find an airline that will work for you. Being comfortable and confident of your pet’s wellbeing when traveling internationally is important for any pet owner; so we suggest you communicate with a few different airline companies to find one that will work best for you and help you feel at ease with your pet’s safety.

It may or may not be time for a checkup but it’s important to visit the vet before your day of departure. This will help you get clarity regarding any questions and concerns for your pet’s health.

Limit your pet’s food intake before the day of travel but allow regular water access because dehydration can be very dangerous to your pet’s health.  It is also important to allow your pet any physical activity before the day of travel.

Even though your pet may be out of your sight when you are traveling, there are a few things you can do to make it easier for the airline to care for your pet. To ensure the best care for your pet, double check that the crate in which your pet will travel in, is large enough for them to lay down comfortably and to turn around and stand freely.  Mark the crate with a sign that reads “Live Animal- This Side Up” including your name, address and telephone number. Provide two bowls and enough food for your pet, incase of any delays or emergencies. If your pet needs any medication or other special attention make sure to make note of that clearly.