METCALF MOVING BLOG
Unigroup Migration Study: More People Moving Out of Minnesota Than Moving In
The United Van Lines 43rd Annual National Movers Study is out. During 2019, Minnesota experienced a nearly equal amount of interstate movers arriving and leaving. 48% of Minnesota’s interstate movers were coming in whereas 52% were leaving the state.
This is nothing new as we’ve experienced a nearly net neutral amount of interstate movers nearly every year for the past few decades.
Jobs, family, and retirement were the primary reasons Minnesotans left; almost 90% of movers cited one of those three reasons for leaving. The study also found that the oldest demographics were the ones most likely to leave the state: 55-64 and 65 and older.
However, the youngest demographic, those under 34, made up 27% of all movers coming in, the largest demographic group. The incoming movers cited family and job opportunities as their primary reason for migrating to Minnesota.
If you’re one of those interstate movers coming into or leaving Minnesota, contact us at Metcalf Moving & Storage for a free moving quote
Two Months Out: 5 Things to Do When You Move
So, you’re moving into your dream house. Whether you’ve bought your first house or your forever home, there’s a lot that has to be done.
You may think that you can’t do anything for your move until a few weeks before, but the earlier you start, the less stressed you’ll be. If the big move is two months away, there are plenty of things you can do right now to prepare.
Do you want to know what we’re talking about? Keep reading to discover five important things to do when you move which you can start two months ahead of time.
1. Find a Moving Company
While you may feel tempted to try to save a little money and do everything yourself, moving is a lot of work. If you’re taking heavy furniture and have lots of heavy boxes, it’s best to hire a moving company to help you out.
Two months before the move is a great time to start looking for a company. Read online reviews, get estimates, and book your company before they are all filled up for your moving day.
2. Get Rid of Things You Don’t Use
Everyone accumulates stuff over the years. And moving is the perfect time to declutter your home and get rid of anything you don’t use.
Start by going through your closet. Create a stack of items you no longer wear.
Continue to work your way through your home, one room at a time. If the weather is nice and you have plenty of stuff to get rid of, consider holding a garage sale. Anything that doesn’t get sold can get dropped off at your local donation center such as Goodwill.
3. Start Packing
“Start packing…already?!” While two months may seem pretty early to start the packing process, there’s likely a ton of things you can pack now. Guest bedrooms, out of season clothing, holiday decorations, and photo albums can all get packed away.
4. Get Creative at Dinnertime
Is your pantry stuffed with food? You don’t want to have to move unnecessary food.
Start by going through the refrigerator then the pantry. Throw away anything that’s expired. Then, organize what you have and come up with meal ideas using these items.
5. Get Organized
Moving is a stressful life event. But an easy way to take some of that stress away is to get organized.
Start a moving binder that is full of all your necessary paperwork, such as loan documents, receipts, and important paperwork from your moving company.
Also, include a schedule with deadlines in your binder so that you can stay on track during the moving process. You’ll feel better knowing you don’t forget something and that all your paperwork is in one place. Just be sure to keep the binder in the same spot (like on your bedside table), so it doesn’t get lost or accidentally packed away.
Things to Do When You Move
If your big move is still a couple of months away, you may not be sure what you should be doing to prepare. Just follow our list of things to do when you move to ensure you get a head start on everything and keep your move as stress-free as possible.
Are you looking to hire a moving company in Minnesota? Then contact us today to get a free quote.
5 Festivals in Rochester, MN You Need to Check Out
Moving to a new location is more than hiring movers and unpacking things in your new home.
It means settling into the area and getting in a groove. Most people start the process of becoming a local with a work routine and making friends with neighbors. However, if you prefer to jump right in, attending festivals in Rochester can help you do the trick.
For those who recently moved to the Rochester area, here are five festivals to mark your calendars for.
1. Rochesterfest
Rochesterfest is not your average town festival.
Minnesota families come from far and wide to celebrate a weekend of community, culture, and, of course, fun.
For over 30 years, this event has featured live music, games, and delicious food. Unique activities include a parade and scavenger hunt, too.
This is an event you won’t want to miss – and don’t forget your Rochesterfest button to really enjoy all the festivities!
2. Chef’s Playground
Chef’s Playground is focused on culinary excellence and community engagement.
Every year, this beautiful event comes together to celebrate local restaurants. Chefs and guests enjoy a common theme as different cooking styles come together for a good cause.
Part of the proceeds go to supporting at-risk youth and struggling families in the area as well. Dig in to delicious eats and enjoy the evening knowing there’s a brighter day coming for others in the community thanks to you.
3. Fall Spectacular
One of the best ways to get engaged with your new community is to support local businesses.
The annual Fall Spectacular is the perfect event to get acquainted with artists and vendors in the area. It’s a day of shopping and celebration for unique crafts, homemade goods, and more.
If you’re a fan of all things unique and creative, do not miss this event.
4. Festival of Trees
Every year, the Festival of Trees hosts a weekend to celebrate disability awareness and action.
It is hosted by the Hiawatha Homes Foundation, an organization dedicated to supporting the disabled in their daily lives. Guests can enjoy educative events, dancing, and crafting as they come together for a common cause.
The Festival of Trees is also the perfect chance to get involved with the local community as more than a guest. Many volunteers are needed every year to make everything as successful as possible.
5. Here Comes Santa Claus
Here Comes Santa Claus is Rochester’s way of kicking off Christmas time.
It features live music, a tree lighting ceremony, and of course, photo opportunities with Mr. and Mrs. Claus. This is a celebration many look forward to every year, and a great choice to start your family’s Rochester traditions.
Attend Festivals in Rochester like the Locals Do
Shake your moving nerves and put on your dancing shoes.
The festivals in Rochester are waiting to welcome you to the community. Whether you prefer a nice family outing or something a little more adult-focused, there’s a festival with a ticket for you.
First things first though, you have to move in! Call us today to talk about your moving options in the city of Rochester, MN
What You Should Do Right After Moving In Your New Home
So, you’ve hauled the last box in and watched the moving truck pull away. Now that the heaviest work is out of the way, it’s time to get your new home situated perfectly.
The problem is, there’s just so much to do, where do you begin? If you’re overwhelmed, don’t worry. Here are a few of the top things you should do after moving in.
Inspect Everything
Whether you used a moving service or went DIY, one of the first steps you’ll want to take is to make sure everything made it through the move safe and sound.
You’ll want to inspect your boxes, your furniture, and even your appliances to make sure that everything is in working order. This should also be one of the first things you do, especially if you had someone move you. You often only have a very short window to file any damage claims, so this should be done as soon as possible.
While you’re at it, you’ll want to inspect your new home as well. Even if you did a walkthrough before the move, it’s best to do another one. You never know what can happen in the few days, weeks, or months between your first visit and moving in, regardless if anyone’s been there or not.
Get Your Utilities In Order
You may or may not have already had the main utilities connected or turned on. If so, go you! If not, now is the time to make sure you have electricity, water, gas, and all the other fun things that make life easier.
While you’re taking care of your other utilities such as cable or internet, don’t forget about your insurances!
Unpack Using An Organizational ‘Moving In’ List
Unpacking your stuff can be a daunting task that can also dissolve into a disorganized mess if you’re not careful.
The best way to tackle this is to make a list. You’ll want to break it down by putting the rooms that are the most essential to you first, and then move on down by order of importance. Don’t forget to include tasks on that list you’ll need to in order to make your unpacking easier.
Don’t Forget Your Mail
Filing a change of address with the post office is a vital step, but it doesn’t stop there. There’s a whole list of places you’ll need to change your address: banks, sites like Amazon, credit cards, and rewards programs are just a few.
Don’t forget about your car! Besides taking care of your insurance, you’ll need to register your vehicle at your new address, and look into taking care of your driver’s license as well.
Clean and Protect
The process of moving in is messy, dirty work. Once you’ve got everything the way you want it, it’s time to clean up all that packing material and recycle it. Once that’s out of the way, you can make your new home spotless!
It’s not time to kick back just yet, though. If you have children or pets, you need to make sure your safety measures are in place before you can relax. Child and pet-proofing your home is a great way to prevent turning the joy of moving into narrowly avoiding disaster.
Speaking of safety, it’s time to consider your home’s security. Now is a great time to change locks, add security hardware to your doors and windows, and look into a security system if you plan on getting one.
Are You Ready To Move?
If you’re planning a move, we can help! Get a free quote today, and let’s get you on the road to your new home.
Mayflower Recognizes Achievements Of Metcalf Moving & Storage Co.
We are honored by the recognition from Mayflower for exceptional professional performance. The van line presented these awards during the annual meeting in October.
The Performance Excellence Award – For our relentless focus on customer needs.
The Customer Choice Award – For the highest customer satisfaction and loyalty scores.
Million Dollar Club Award – Mayflower also recognized both our Minneapolis location and our Rochester location as top revenue producers, joining the $2M and $1M levels respectively.
What You Should Expect from the Best Movers in the Business
Moving is a pain. Why take it all on yourself if you don’t have to? The best movers in the business can make moving day an absolute breeze.
Whether you’re moving across the city, across the country or around the world, you want a mover that understands your personal needs. But it’s not enough to just understand them. The best movers will go above and beyond to exceed them.
If you’ve never hired a mover before, you probably don’t know what the process is going to look like. When will they show up? What precautions will they make to ensure nothing gets damaged?
Let’s take you step-by-step through the process so you know exactly how moving day will unfold when you hire a great moving service.
1. When Will They Arrive?
When you hire a good moving company, they’ll let you know well in advance when the crew is going to show up. They will also be punctual. If something gets in the way of showing up at the time stated, they’ll let you know right away.
When they arrive, there will be an operator who is typically the crew’s supervisor. This is the person to go to with any concerns or questions during the move.
2. Taking Inventory
The very first thing they’ll do is prepare a written inventory of your belongings. They’ll assess every item’s condition and assign it an inventory number.
You’ll then need to sign off on the assessment (if it’s fair), making sure nothing is missing or incorrectly listed.
3. Time To Load
After completing the inventory, your movers will start loading the moving truck. They’ll take special consideration on loading the truck in the best order possible.
If there are items you don’t want to be loaded, make sure they’re set aside from the other items. You may not want personal items or items of high value to be loaded.
4. Protecting Your Belongings
The best movers have very precise techniques on how they load and protect your furniture and other belongings.
Every piece should be pad-wrapped and taken from your home to the truck. The movers will load the truck from floor to ceiling in a puzzle-like technique that keeps everything safe while maximizing available space.
5. Avoiding Load Shift
If pieces aren’t packed tightly, often they can shift during transit. To avoid this, movers are careful to keep the fit as tight as possible.
Don’t worry if your items seem to be “mixed up” while being loaded on the truck. This is to keep the fit tight. You’ll advise the movers where everything goes once you get to your new home.
Now, Get Out of the Way!
You hired movers so you didn’t have to do the work, right? Relax and let them do all the straining and lifting.
Once your belongings are loaded, the driver will present you with a bill of lading which includes your estimate and expected delivery time (or date if it’s a longer move).
Make sure everything looks good before you sign. After all, you’re temporarily signing off your goods to the mover.
Time For Delivery
When arriving at your new home, it’s best to have two people available. One person can use the inventory checklist and inspect items being delivered. The other will advise the movers on where items are to be placed.
When everything’s complete, you’ll sign off on the bill of lading and inventory. Don’t worry though. If you later discover that something was damaged, you’ll still be able to file a complaint.
It doesn’t need to be caught while they’re still at your home.
Hiring the Best Movers Makes Moving Easy
So that’s the process! And you won’t even need to break a sweat.
If you’re in the Twin Cities or Rochester area, get in touch with us. We promise to make moving day easy on you.
After all, it’s what we do!
5 Important Things You Should Do Before You Move
Moving to a new home is one of the most exciting events to happen in life. However, besides all of the joy and excitement, there is a lot of chaos that comes with relocating your life.
Most people forget to do the smaller tasks which can cause issues in the long run.
Here are 5 important things you shouldn’t forget to do before you move.
1. Change Your Address
Since you’re getting a new address…you should change your existing address.
This one may seem obvious but you’d be surprised at how many people forget to contact necessary personnel to change their address.
Make a list of people or organizations who send you mail, and notify them before you move. You don’t want miss out on any mail at the new home. Be sure to include places that may easily slip your mind like magazine subscriptions and gym membership services.
2. Put the Utility Bills in Your Name
You probably want lights and heat when you move in.
Don’t forget to contact all local necessary utility companies to switch the bills over to your name.
If you wait to do this, you may be stuck without living essentials for a few days. Avoid the inconvenience by staying a step ahead.
3. Organize and Label Boxes and Furniture for Movers
If you’re moving to a new house and plan on putting some things into storage, be sure to clearly label boxes so that the movers know which box and furniture goes where.
Accidentally sending boxes off to storage can be a nerve wrecking and, sometimes, expensive mistake.
Labeling boxes by room before you move will also help with unpacking. The movers will know to put the boxes in the appropriate rooms so you can get straight to setting things up in your new home.
4. Sort Through All Paperwork
Things can easily get lost during a move.
The last thing you want to lose is important documents.
Go through old paperwork to locate things, such as medical records, tax records, and bank documents. Put these papers into a filing system and label them so you’ll know to put them in a safe spot right away once you arrive at the new house.
5. Give the New Home a Thorough Cleaning
Many people forget about cleaning a shiny, new home, but it is important to give it another thorough walkthrough and clean up.
Just because someone before you cleaned it doesn’t mean its spotless enough for you to begin to unpack your belongings. And dust may have accumulated during the time between your move and the previous residents.
Make sure the house is clean up to you and your family’s standards.
Save Yourself a Headache by Remembering These Tips Before You Move
Start ahead of time with preparing yourself for a move. Avoiding these common things that slip most people’s minds can make a big difference for a smooth and less hectic move.
Got questions or need help moving to your new home? Get in touch with us and we’ll be happy to help out.
3 Tips for Minimizing Long Distance Moving Costs
Moving to a new place can be a big adventure with an even bigger price tag, especially across a big distance.
You may be aware of the basics to frugal moving like asking for boxes instead of buying them, or budgeting in advance. Still, long distance moving costs can easily sneak up on you without proper preparation.
Are you planning a cross-country or international move? If so, we’ve got three tips to lower your bill.
Ready to learn more? Let’s go!
1. Sell or Donate Some Belongings
The more things you have to move, the more you will spend on long distance moving costs.
Before you begin throwing everything into boxes, take the time to realize what you don’t even use anymore. This may look like an extra pile of clothes, stuff in the kitchen you never touch, or old holiday decorations.
Set this extra stuff aside and consider selling or donating it. The things you have laying around may be just the thing a stranger needs, and it can potentially put some extra cash in your pocket.
Whichever method you plan to use, get it done in advance.
If you wait until last-minute to sell your old dining table, you can’t guarantee you’ll get rid of it. Also, most charities prefer you call ahead for them to pick up bulkier items like a couch or mattress.
Pro tip: Consider the space of your new area versus your old housing situation. Even some of the things you love may be worth getting rid of if they won’t have a fitting place.
2. Redeem Rewards Points
If you’re driving the family across a few states while movers take your belongings, you will have costs like gas, food, and hotels to consider.
Most credit card companies offer rewards points on all three, and you probably already have some lined up. Keep racking up more points before your move.
Once the road trip begins, you won’t have to worry as much about an extra pit-stop for gas or a late-night meal.
Plus, you can continue to earn points on the road! In a way, this turns your adventure into a pat on the back from your credit card company.
3. Schedule Your Time
Plan out as much as you can as far ahead as you can.
Consider things like pet vaccinations and car registrations. If you can avoid monthly or annual payments matching up with moving time, you can save taking a big hit to your bank account.
Additionally, planning ahead allows you to make the most of the things in your home right now, such as perishable food items.
Try shopping for only the essentials at the grocery store in the weeks before your move. Or, donate the extra food you end up with.
Get rid of cleaning supplies and extra toiletries, too. These items fall under many companies’ non-allowable lists and won’t be allowed on the moving truck.
Save Big on Long Distance Moving Costs
One of the biggest ways to save on your long distance moving costs is booking your movers in advance.
Don’t wait for the week before or peak season, call us today!
We have all the full-service and DIY moving options you need to make getting to your new home as easy as possible.
The 4 Best Tips for Ensuring a Calm and Easy Move
On average, an American will move more than 11 times during their lifetime.
Chances are good that you’ve already made a big move at some point. As a result, you know that moving can be challenging without proper planning.
For one, the average move costs approximately $12,230. On top of that, packing and unpacking are often stressful.
However, moving doesn’t have to be as difficult or hectic as many people make it out to be. Here are a few steps you can take to guarantee an easy move!
1. Start Preparing Early
Don’t leave everything to the last minute. To reduce stress during a move, start getting ready at least 2 months before the big day.
Research multiple moving companies to find a good deal and avoid scammers. Make sure they have a good standing with the Better Business Bureau (BBB). Furthermore, check Yelp reviews to see what customers have to say.
Beginning your prep early also allows you to avoid wasting money on boxes. You can ask friends and family to stop throwing away boxes and start bringing them over when they can. The earlier you let them know, the more they can contribute.
2. Use a Moving Binder
An easy move is impossible without a good plan. One way to keep your plan organized is to put together a moving binder.
First, make sure to include a checklist in your binder. You can also find inventory lists online and print them out, or design some of your own.
Put a schedule in your binder as well. By creating mini-deadlines for yourself, you can stay on track.
Finally, use the binder to store copies of any loan documents, receipts, and mover paperwork.
3. Take Precautions When Packing
It’s hard to stay calm during a move if anything breaks. But there are ways you can ensure that you won’t have to deal with this issue.
Put heavy items in smaller boxes if they fit. This makes them easier to carry. You can pack more of your lighter items in bigger boxes.
In addition, avoid packing anything too loosely. Try putting towels or clothes in the to fill in any empty spaces in your boxes.
Lastly, after you tape up each box, do two loops around the top and bottom.
4. Label Your Boxes Properly
The process of packing your belongings can be a pain. But unpacking is often worse, as it can be hard to find everything you need once you get situated in the new place.
To makes things easier, use printable stickers to color code your boxes. Markers will work too, as long as they’re waterproof. Just make sure to put either a mark or sticker on each side of the box so it’s visible from every angle.
Alternatively, you can also use a numbering system to label your boxes. For example, you can use #200 for the living room, #300 for the kitchen, and so on.
Final Thoughts on Ensuring an Easy Move
The tips above should help make the moving process smoother. But there are other things to consider as well.
For one, weight can have a significant impact on moving costs, so get rid of any junk in your home before packing. Start early since you may be able to sell your more valuable items online. It’s best to leave old, inexpensive furniture behind.
Also, once you’re settled into your new home, don’t procrastinate with unpacking. Try unpacking at least two hours per day to avoid clutter.
If you need some help with your next big move, feel free to contact us!
How to Be Properly Prepared for Moving Day
Moving can be a stressful event if you’re not properly prepared. But it can actually be fun if you are ready with your boxes, moving truck and help.
Moving itself may not be all that tough. But once the day arrives when you’re supposed to be loading up to get your things to a new location, things tend to go awry.
There are some things you can do before and on the day of your move to keep things running smoothly and get you to your new destination without any bumps or scratches. It all starts with packing and the rest is history.
Read on for a more comprehensive look at what you should be doing to prepare for and be ready on your moving day.
Packing
Packing is the most important part of any move. It’s important to keep the boxes organized and labeled and make sure that you’re not packing unnecessary items. Here are a few tips to get you started…
Pack for the New Location
Don’t just pack up a room according to the space you’re leaving. You want to be sure that there will be room for your belongings in the new space.
If you’re packing the kitchen, for example, make sure items belonging to specific new areas of the new kitchen are placed together and organized accordingly.
Perhaps there are more bathrooms in the new house (or fewer!). You’ll need to pack accordingly.
Take Pictures/Label
Labeling your boxes is essential for organization—both leaving the old house and arriving at the new house.
Take pictures of the boxes as they’re packed up. Indicate the room it goes to or a number system to keep everything in order.
A number system is good because it causes less confusion and therefore less stress on moving day, especially for those you’ve hired or asked to help with the move.
Declutter
Moving and packing are great ways to get rid of things you no longer want or need. Make a pile and/or boxes specifically for charities in your area and get rid of the things that you’re no longer using.
The charities will be grateful and you’ll have less to move.
Be Prepared With Food & Supplies
Moving day is an exhausting event for all involved. Make sure to keep a cooler packed with quick food snacks and essentials like water and Gatorade.
It’s also a good idea to have a box or boxes packed with essentials that will be needed at the new house while the big stuff is still being unpacked. Don’t forget a personal luggage bag for each individual with a few changes of clothes and essential toiletries.
Keep Cash on Hand on Moving Day
There are bound to be unexpected expenses that will come up throughout the move so it’s a good idea to keep a few bucks on hand. Think about a tip for the movers and the pizza delivery person or other tasks that may come up.
Keep it Together
Moving day shouldn’t be scary and stressful if you keep your lists together and pack with confidence. When you find yourself ready to move and need some help along the way, contact our professionals for experience and moving knowledge you can trust.
