BROOKLINE MOVING COMPANY BLOG

More than 90 percent of homes throughout the nation are expected to experience higher heating costs this winter as compared to last year, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s Short-Term Energy and Winter Fuels Outlook. The higher projected costs of residential natural gas, as well as propane and electricity, are the biggest culprits.

In addition to taking a hard financial hit during the wintertime, our environment also pays a heavy price. Electricity production causes approximately one-third of greenhouse gas emissions, and 11 percent of greenhouse emissions are due to the use of fossil fuels that are burned to heat homes and businesses, notes the EPA.

Fortunately, there are a number of eco-friendly options for battling the cold and living more comfortably that can lessen the impact on your pocketbook as well as our planet.

Dress up your windows

Trapping more heat inside your home can be accomplished by using window shades and blinds that are made to keep cold weather out and the warm air in. Windows account for 25 percent of heat and air loss in a home. Installing cellular shades can help save heating costs in the winter as well as the cost of cooling your home in the summer.

For optimal insulation, as well as good aesthetics, be sure that your window treatments, shades, or draperies properly fit the window space. Look for cracks in window frames, and seal them with caulk in order to maximize heat conservation.

Fun do-it-yourself projects

Those cold, dark days often mean boredom for the kids. Help keep them entertained with one of these useful craft ideas for keeping warm.

• Draft snake: This is a great way to keep cold air from sneaking in. All you need is a piece of material that is eight inches wide and five inches longer than the width of your door. Fold the fabric with the back side and long edges together, and then sew one end to create a 4-inch wide tube. Trim the seam to 1/4 inch and then turn the tube right side out. Pour some type of filler into the tube, such as dried beans, dried corn, or rice. Fold the seam in and then sew it firmly together. Now, let the kids in on the fun by adding a piece or red ribbon for the snake’s tongue and two beads for the eyes. When your door is closed it can be placed against the bottom to prevent a draft while also adding a bit of whimsical décor to your home.
• Rice heating bag. Rice heating bags are a great alternative to electric heating pads or electric blankets. Older kids and teens will have no trouble making these; it may be a good opportunity for you to teach them how to sew, or let them get some more practice. Just cut two pieces of 100 percent cotton fabric in the size or shape you desire, leaving about a ½-inch seam. Cut and sew the material together, leaving an inch open on one side so that it can be filled with uncooked rice. Don’t fill it too full, about three-quarters is usually just right. Next, sew the opening closed. When you’re ready to use it just zap it in the microwave for about 20 seconds or so and you’ll have the perfect item for warming up on a chilly day or even soothing aches and pains.

Alternative heating source

A pellet burning stove is a cheaper alternative to utilizing fuel oil, propane, or electricity to heat your home. According to Energy.gov, it produces very little air pollution and is considered to be the cleanest solid fuel, residential heating appliance. These stoves burn pellets made from a variety of materials, such as wood chips, corn kernels and other biological materials that are easy to work with and also offer a higher combustion efficiency compared to wood.

Meanwhile, your present to them looks like a toddler got tangled up in wrapping paper and then took a nap.

Well, don't turn to the old gift bag and tissue paper cop-out just yet. These nine gift wrapping tips and tricks will make you into a wrapping genius.

1. Get Creative With The Packaging

Flickr/Jilligan86

Notice the candy-shaped package at the top.

For smaller gifts such as perfume bottles, socks, or nail polish, ball them up in bubble wrap or tissue paper and stick them into an empty paper towel roll. Wrap the roll in paper, twist the wrapping paper at the ends, and secure with some ribbon to make it look like a piece of candy.

For medium-sized gifts, repackage them in an empty coffee can or shoe box — basically any empty (clean) container you have lying around the house. Broken-down shipping boxes are perfect for larger gifts.

If you have softer items like scarves that didn't come in a box, use a square piece of cardboard (or cut apart a cereal box) and place your folded item on top. This will give you a hard surface to wrap around.

2. Hide The Price

It's bad manners to let your gift recipient know how much those mittens cost, or that they were on sale in the bargain bin.

Instead of cutting off the tag entirely (rendering the item nonreturnable) or leaving sticky residue on the gift, color over the price with a sharpie or slap on a festive holiday sticker.

3. No Wrapping Paper? No Problem

Everyone knows the tried and true newspaper or magazine cover method of wrapping presents. It's fine, and it works.

But a much more likely last-minute item you would have in your home is a potato chip bag. Dump those delicious chips in a Ziploc bag, and then cut the chip bag open to expose the bright, silver-y inside. Wash it with soap and water and then once it dries, wrap the presents with the silver side facing out.

4. Get The Right Tools For The Job

Amazon

The tools you'll need.

Scissors and tape are fine, but if you're serious about becoming a better gift wrapper, then buy the right tools.

A rotary cutter and pop up tape dispenser, both for under $15, will save time and energy. The pop up tape dispenser fits on your hand and cuts the tape for you, while the rotary cutter evenly slices through wrapping paper on flat surfaces — think of it like a pizza cutter for paper. No more jagged edges or wads of discarded tape.

5. Wrap Presents On A Hard Surface

To avoid tearing, wrap presents on a hard surface, like a table or a counter top. Working on the floor or carpet makes it harder to control the paper, which is when most people become frustrated, start to rush, and then tear through the paper with the gift's edges.

6. Keep Post-It Notes Handy

If you're like me, you wrap all your gifts first before putting on name tags or writing cards. The trouble with this method, of course, is when there are two gifts of equal size meant for two different people.

Write the names of your gift recipients on Post-It notes ahead of time, and place them on each gift as you finish wrapping. It will only take a second, and makes it easier when you go back to add name tags.

7. Wrap Gifts Upside Down

This is an obvious one, but it's easy to forget. Place the gift face down so that the wrapping paper overlap is on the underside of the gift.

It's a small thing, but we inherently assume when opening a present that the side with the bow or nametag is also the top of the gift. Children will just tear into the top of presents, and it's nice to be rewarded immediately with what the gift actually is instead of the bottom of a box.

8. To Get Perfect Ends, Fold The Sides First

After securing the paper around the gift, it's time to fold the ends. This is the trickiest part of wrapping, and can make the final product look fantastic or awful.

I personally prefer folding the sides first. Then fold the top flap and the bottom flap to meet each other in the middle (or slightly overlap, depending on your preference) and secure with tape. This genius infographic from the Container Store is a good visual guide to follow:

Container Store

9. When In Doubt, Use Decorative Tape

For the truly hopeless gift wrappers out there, buy some decorative tape.  That way even if the ends look awful, there's tape everywhere, or there are a few tears you don't care to fix, you can just cover all your mistakes with some sparkly, festive tape.

It can even take the place of ribbon, and your gift will at the very least look presentable.

More than 11 percent of the U.S. population move to a new home every year. Depending on the distance and size of the home, these transitions can be costly and complicated endeavors, requiring hired movers and moving trucks along with innumerable phone calls and coordination between your current and future destination. The process of moving can get even more complicated when it occurs during the holiday season. While it can be a convenient break in the schedule, particularly for families with kids in school, moving during the holidays requires extra planning and preparation. Here are some things to consider when preparing for a holiday move.

Keep track of the items you will need for the holidays

Moving typically requires preparation on your part to pack up your items, and a common mistake is to box everything up early and quickly to get it out of the way. But where did that heavy coat go? And what happened to the Christmas presents that were already wrapped? To ensure you keep track of seasonal items and have access to them throughout your move, Chipman Relocation recommends making a list of holiday-specific items that you will need to have on hand. You can then pack these items together in a specially marked box that is always accessible.

Inform everyone of your timetable and day-by-day plans

A holiday move requires some coordinating between your moving plans and your seasonal plans. It gets complicated quickly, and it can create the potential for confusion among any family and friends involved. For that reason, Examiner.com says it's best to create a schedule of your day-to-day activities, and to dispense them to the important parties on both sides. That way your moving company knows when you'll be home so they can get started loading up the truck, and your mother in-law knows when to expect you for the turkey dinner.

Find out when businesses and offices will be open

All businesses have their own policies and holidays hours, and these can range from a single day off to a string of days between Christmas and New Year's Day. Whether you're planning on touring homes, submitting applications or picking up keys, make sure you know when various offices and businesses will be open.

Contact the management companies listed on ForRent and other home listings websites to inquire about holiday availability and keep the lines of communication open.

Plan on delays

No matter how much planning and preparation you do, brace for the unexpected. Delays can come in many forms, so make sure you've accounted for extra time in your schedule so that your plans aren't derailed by one late arrival. Keep calm, stay organized and maintain that holiday cheer—you'll be in your new home in no time!

PREPARING THE MOVING BOX

Ideally, you'll want to get a dish pack, which is basically a double layered box. It offers a bit more protection for your dishes. Any other boxes that are not specifically designed for dishes is not recommended by us.

Before you start packing the dishes, prepare the box by laying a few sheets of packing, also, we recommend lining the sides of the box with packing paper as well.  Let some of the packing paper hang over the edges so you can use it to top the box off before taping.

You'll want to make sure that you fill the box so that it neither bulges nor sags in the middle.

PACKING BOWLS

Bowls should be wrapped individually in two sheets of packing paper. You can stack them 2 or 3 high at a time and wrap the stack with packing paper to keep it together. You'll want to place them upside down in the box.

PACKING CUPS PROPERLY

Cups need to be wrapped individually in packing paper and placed rim down.

PACKING PLATES PROPERLY

Plates should be wrapped individually and then bundled so that about 4 plates are together which should then be bundled into one bunch.  Make sure to place the plates VERTICALLY on their sides, do not stack them as if you would stack them in a cabinet.  This step is critical as it makes sure there isn’t too much pressure on the plates and will allow them to absorb more shock.

IMPORTANT STEP – CREATING LAYERS IN THE BOX

The bottom most layer should be the plates, placed vertically.  The second layer should be thicker items such as drinking glasses and bowls.  The third and the top-most layer should be fragile items such as wine glasses.  When you are finished with one layer, you'll want to make it level with packing paper. To make it even more stable, you can use a cut up piece of cardboard to act as a more protective layer.

Disclaimer:  This post is a general guideline and is in no way a guarantee that following these steps will guarantee that nothing will break.  If you have any doubts, hire a professional to do it.

You’re not the only one to notice a chill in the air as fall settles in—cockroaches, mice, rats, yellow jackets and other pests notice it too, and they’re starting to look for someplace warm to live. Rodent-control calls increase nearly 30 percent starting in October, according to The Guardian. Get your home ready with these pest control tips, before you discover unwanted guests moving into your house:

Close off All Entryways

Begin by getting rid of all the potential entry points to your house. Make sure all windows and doors are sealed. Caulk around the windows. Use weather stripping around all doors to fill in gaps between doors and frames. Look for other openings in the house caused by:

• Dryer vents
• Solar tubes
• Sky lights
• Plumbing vent tubes
• Water heater vents
• Fireplaces

Anything that sticks through the wall to the outside is a potential path for pests, if it's not sealed. All of these should have some kind of insulation in the wall around them and flashing at the opening against the exterior wall. If a vent has been moved, it may have pushed the flashing away from the wall, so make sure it is flush with the wall and sealed against it.

Repair any Rotting Wood

Many pests are attracted to deteriorating wood on your house, the pest control service Terminex reports. Check for rotted roof shingles, siding and trim pieces. It needs to be removed and replaced.

When repairing roof shingles, examine the plywood used to form the base under the shingles. If the shingle has been rotten for long, pests may have been able to make holes through the subroof into the attic. If this is the case, patch the subroof from inside the attic when you replace the shingle.

Check the eves and under any roof overhangs for rotted wood or openings. If openings were made in the soffit to allow the attic to vent, cover them with a fine wire mesh to prevent rats, bats and squirrels from entering. Be safe when working on these higher areas of your house. You can get special roofing ladders and scaffolding from providers like Sunbelt Rentals, so you’ll have a firm base on which to stand as you work.

Wooden house siding can rot underneath so you’ll need to check under each piece to find any damage. Insects especially like rotting wood so these could be the entry points for any new bugs that you see in the house. If the damage is extensive, you’ll want to replace the entire siding piece. Otherwise, you can caulk small holes to fill them up and block access.

Clean Up the Yard

Pests will take up residence in yard debris and piles of leaves and firewood left near or against the house. Clean away all yard waste and place firewood away from your home. Cover the firewood to help keep it dry and less attractive to insects. Prune bushes away from the house to prevent insects from finding their way in. Clean any leaves or weeds away from the foundation.

Animal pests such as rabbits and rats burrow into yard debris because they don’t like open spaces. Remove piles of leaves, limbs and plant trimmings to make your yard less desirable for these fall pests.

When you are a student, cash is often very scarce. Especially in this economic climate, you will find that money does not go very far and value is of paramount importance. With this in mind, you will be pleased that you probably do not have a huge amount of stuff to move about, as student living is rarely a full-fledged affair with lots of furniture and the like. Student halls rarely require much more than your belongings, since they tend to come with a bed, desk and chair, so you may be able to get all of your things in to a car, preferably a parent’s! If you find that you are facing a move in which you have to do everything under your own steam, there are ways of doing it without breaking the bank, so have a look through your options below.

In reality, a first year student should be able to get all of their belongings in to the trunk of a car, or at least the trunk and back seats. You can rent a car for quite cheap, but most students are below the age of 25 which tends to be the cut off point for renting a car or truck. If this is a case that applies to you, then you can ask around for friends or relatives that have a car and who would drive you there for cheap. If you find that they need more money than you are prepared to pay, then have a look into how much stuff you actually have; can you carry it on the train? Man and truck services are unlikely to be much cheaper than a relative, but if you have a little more stuff then it can be exactly what you need. better than renting a van, you get a driver who knows the roads, so you can relax during the journey. The driver will also be on hand to lift your things with you, which will speed up the process a fair amount, and mean less hard work for you. If you are traveling far however, this can be an expensive option, and one that you need to think carefully about.

Man and truck charges are usually done one of two ways. You either pay by the hour, or a set amount for the job, based on how far the drive is and how much stuff you have to move. The reality of the situation is that you need to have a good idea of how long the drive should take in order to compare these price plans, but in general you will find that a price per hour is often cheaper than an overall charge, except perhaps on much longer journeys. The difficulty with this arises if you hit unexpected traffic, as the driver is not going to stop the clock for this kind of thing; he is still on the job, and still working, so you cannot expect him to not get paid. An overall charge will negate this risk, but there will be fewer saving for you. Use the internet to work out the time that the move should take, and then think about traffic in the areas that you will pass through. A good move is to ensure that you are traveling in the middle of the day to avoid rush hour, and if you are using the motorway, avoid holidays and the like, as they will be crammed with people trying to get away!

Whether moving across town or to the other side of the world, it's time to put on your detective hat. Along with carefully packing the heritage china, returning the keys to the landlord and renting the U-Haul, you have to think like a criminal and be as diligent as Sherlock Holmes. Why?

In 2012, 12.6 million people had their identity stolen, reports the Federal Trade Commission. Don't become a victim who is targeted because you are moving.

Destroy Your RX Labels

Identify thieves are crafty and wise. They look for opportunities to steal your identity in sneaky places that many people would not consider a security threat. For example, did you know medical ID theft can start with a discarded prescription bottle? A scam artist could phone in a refill and ask to confirm personal data on file while picking up the refill. If the pharmacy tech fails to ask for ID, the thief will have your address, phone number and other personal information.

The Identity Theft Resource Center says it is very difficult to get your health records corrected if thieves are able to get new prescriptions in your name, primarily due to the HIPAA laws intended to protect you. To safeguard yourself, remove the labels, and destroy them before discarding empty bottles. Contact your pharmacy with a change of address immediately before you move. Send a change of address notification to your medical providers.

The Risks Keep Rising

Twelve million pieces of personal information on the Internet were susceptible to theft in the first quarter of 2012, according to Experian. The majority of ID theft facts and articles suggest the problem continues to grow, even with stronger legislation and computer virus/hacker protection.

Don't leave personal information in your vehicle. Most people put the rental agreement and contract for the moving van in the glove compartment during their move. Identity thieves know this. If you provided a credit card, drivers license and personal contact information to the rental company, that information is likely available on your printed documents. Keep all personal information and documents in a safe place during the move. If you do not already own one, buy a small lock box to secure your documents.

Don't Leave a Digital Trail

If you have old cell phones, computers or laptops, remove the hard drives and SIM cards. Even non-working devices offer a treasure trove of information for talented hackers and ID crooks. To protect yourself, use a recycling service such as RecycleHDD. The company says if they cannot wipe the information securely, they will shred the hard drive to protect your data.

For many businesses there comes a time when they have to expand or simply change their location in order to grow. It’s a natural step which can lead to a considerable success and plenty of new customers. However, an office move is a big undertaking and it’s not cheap to organize. Every business owner understands that the potential office relocation can have negative effects on the productivity of the team, the work flow and even the mood in the office. Most people don’t like such significant changes, especially when they don’t have a say in the matter. It’s important to discuss the moving process and checklist with your staff and ideally have a meeting.

Nowadays there are so many office moving companies that it can actually be hard to choose one for the job. How do you pick a good mover when they all have presentable websites, positive testimonials and relevant experience? Often the best choice is a moving company which also offers storage services. Take a look at your office facilities and plan what you will move and what should be left behind. If you are planning to do some proper renovation of the office, you could put the old furniture and equipment in a storage unit, provided by the moving company. This way you don’t have to throw them away (and waste money), yet you could take care of them once you have more free time.

Documents usually take lots of space to be stored and you also have to be careful where you store them. Make sure they are well-packed and stored in a safe place – protected from theft and weather conditions. Some of these storage services offer delivery to your office door. For example, if you need to retrieve important documents but don’t have the time to drive to the storage unit, you could call the company and ask for delivery. In order for this to be possible, your documents have to be stored in an organized way – according to type or date. The documents you are planning to throw away should be shredded.

When you are choosing the new office facilities, plan how much of the space you can use for storage – closets, cabinets and libraries would allow for arranging all of the important files and folders in an accessible way. Inform your employees of the move as early as possible – it’s important to communicate the move the right way.

An office move will bring a lot of change to your business, so make sure it’s not negative one. Ensure that you have sufficient time to prepare for it and choose a weekend for the relocation – it’s more expensive, but the business wouldn’t suffer because of it.

Shipping is the need of the moment. Many things are shifted from one place to another. At times, the distance is too long and often, things are shipped from one country to other. This is really a troublesome task until and unless you are aware of shipping containers.

Containers that are made for shipping purpose are especially made to withstand the storage, handling, and shipping pressures. The invention of such containers has let commerce advance to the global level with ease. Shipping containers can be of various kinds. Some of them are –

• Intermodal freight containers: these are reusable storage and transport units for shipping purpose from one country to other. More than seventeen million such containers control the global commerce.
• Corrugated box: made of fiber board, these are also used as containers. They are reusable, lightweight but strong enough to handle the pressure of shipping.
• Wooden box: these are mainly used for the shipping purpose of heavy or dense products. Government or military shipments are carried out in these containers.
• Crate or bulk box: mostly made of wood, they are used to transport heavier or large items.

As days are passing by, the importance of these containers are also increasing. This is leading to the direct invest in containers by many people around the world. Yes, it is becoming one of the most profitable businesses. Here are some reasons why you need to invest in this particular field –

1. As the market of shipping containers is growing at a rapid speed, one can rest assured by investing in this business.
2. With the great option of direct investment, you don’t have the fear of losing your money.
3. The investment in this sector is completely led by the demand around the world. Additionally, this business is driven by 90% of world trade.
4. Over the past few years, the hard asset investment in containers has literally overpowered all the leading indices around the world.
5. Around 8 of the best ports around the world are situated in Asia. More than 36% of the containers around the world are handled in these ports. This makes Asia the golden continent for investing in shipping container.

1. There’s even more to be delighted. Among all the largest ship building nations in the world, 3 are situated in Asia. This means about 90% of the global market share is in account in this continent only.
2. Worried about the return? Well, investment in containers will offer the investor a monthly return. This is really once in a million offers in a long time.
3. The professionals who can give you each and every detail regarding this type of investment are situated globally. So, they are by your side whenever you need them.

With all these relishing options, there’s no one who wouldn’t like to invest in containers. So, why wait more? Invest today and earn a handsome amount by the end of the month.

Conclusion:

With so many advantages and almost no disadvantages, this one is an offer hard enough to resist. Numerous people already have invested in shipping containers and now, it’s your turn to earn the profit.

Summary: Along with the importance of shipping containers, the importance of investing in this field is also increasing. With about no risks and monthly payments, this has already become a great field to invest your hard earned money and earn great profit.

Author’s Bio: Mary james is an efficient writer. She has written many articles on structural parts such as aviation bags and other essential equipment parts. Her writings always contain authentic information and is largely followed by a number of online readers.

If it's time to find a new less-than-truckload (LTL) shipper, or if you're just shopping around for a better price, spend some time comparing carriers. Don't just pick one based on price, because the "bottom line" price can mean different things to different carriers. Look at the whole service offering to find the right fit for you.

LTL pricing can be confusing, because each carrier uses different factors to determine the price. The carriers will all quote a base rate, but it's important to understand all of the additional charges factored in to that rate.

Validate Each Carrier

Look for carriers' United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) and Motor Carrier (MC) numbers. Use these numbers with safersys.org to double-check their authority to do business, their safety rating and any complaints filed against them. How big their fleet is, how many routes they use and how many years they've been in business will tell you if you're looking at a stable company.

Comparing Base Rates

Base rates are normally quoted per 100 pounds. The factors affecting the base rate can include:

• Freight classification
• Shipment weight
• Distance of the route
• Origin and destination zip codes

Additional charges may be included for:

• Inside or outside pick-up and delivery
• Lift gate requirements
• Fuel surcharges
• Special pick-up and delivery times

Freight Classification

There are 18 different freight classes based on the shipment density and handling risk. Typically, the lower the class, the lower the rate. For instance, 15,000 pounds of lead shot has a low freight class. It takes up little space and is easy to handle. However, 15,000 pounds of goose down pillows can take up a large amount of space and requires more handling, so it would have a high classification and cost more to ship.

Distance and Price

LTL carriers typically service a certain area. If a shipment must go outside of the area for delivery, it may be transferred to a different LTL that services that area. This service, called interlining, increases the base price, as well as the risk of something happening to the shipment schedule.

Weight and Price

The base rate, or price per 100 pounds, decreases the more your shipment weighs. Carriers work with weight groups and can "round up" your shipment to the next weight group and price break. This is a negotiating point with the carrier.

Minimums and Extra Fees

An absolute minimum charge (AMC) will be applied to your shipment if it falls below the minimums the carrier has established for themselves. This fee is also something you can negotiate with the carrier.

Additional Fees

Other services are lumped into this category and include storage, wait time, packing, fuel charges and special pick-up and delivery requirements. These may be negotiated, or included as a flat fee. You also need to account for any fees for storage units, insurance or additional transportation. Map out a budget to be clear on the cost.

Cargo Insurance

Cargo theft is a growing problem, Entrepreneur reports. The LTL carrier will have cargo insurance, but you will need insurance to cover what the carrier is not liable for. If the carrier has to increase their insurance to cover a special type of shipment, you'll see that expense on your invoice.

When looking for a new LTL carrier to use, understand all these factors that affect the price, so you can better compare services.

Do you have advice for choosing an LTL carrier? Share it in the comments.