Unfortunately, we hear often on the news about moving company scams and in the past we made efforts to inform our current or potential clients about the risk of being mislead by unreliable movers with bad reputation. Of course, it is unpleasant to see such negative news that affects the whole moving industry. As we mentioned before, trust is essential in moving services, it’s hard to obtain it and easy to lose it. From this perspective, it is our duty to offer the best advice to online users, especially if they consider moving their belongings in the near future.

Below you can find an excerpt from the DailyRecord that presents the case of a woman from NJ, who was scammed by a fictitious moving company:

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“A woman who moved this month from Ridge Road in the township to New York state is missing the entire contents of her five-room home in what authorities say looks like a moving company scam.

The victim, who wishes to remain anonymous, told Jefferson police on Jan. 5 that the moving company, NJ Elite Movers of Garfield, quoted her $1,500 to relocate her to a new home in Chestnut Ridge, N.Y.

The movers packed her stuff into their truck and then told her she would have to pay an additional $600, according to her statement to police. She agreed the company would take possession of her belongings until she paid in full. When she tried to schedule delivery the following week, she found the phone number had been disconnected, police said.

Jefferson Police Capt. Eric F. Wilsusen said his department has been in touch with the Garfield police about the incident [..].” The entire story can be read here

In conclusion, it’s important to mention that if you need to book a moving company:

• Be sure that it gave you an accurate estimate
• Discuss all the details before the actual move
• Check for credentials, company’s profile on Better Business Bureau
• Check if there are any complains on the online communities
• Trust moving companies with experience, recommended by your friends and family

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Relocation is a fast-moving business, literally and figuratively , that’s why we, at Empire Movers, try to be up to date with everything related to residential, corporate moving and in general every aspect concerning relocation and moving.

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Recently we have found an interesting article by Chicago Tribute regarding corporate relocation and we would like to share the main aspects with you. It emphasizes an important shift in the way businesses develop today, as companies are not defined by a certain place, town or location anymore. They become “global nomads”, as the author stated. Disneyland is no longer about Orlando, Florida and KFC is not about Kentucky. In the past, location was tied to the company’s brand, but this statement is no longer valid:

“Technology and globalization have accelerated the corporate relocation trend by making it easier to communicate and move products anywhere in the world.”

“In recent years some of the more high-profile relocations include Boeing leaving Seattle for Chicago, and Philip Morris relocating from New York to Richmond, Va. Illinois lost Newell Rubbermaid to Atlanta; Northrop Grumman shifted from California to the Washington, D.C., area. Chiquita left Cincinnati after Charlotte, N.C., offered a hefty incentives package.”

This corporate mobility could be explained by the economic efforts of different cities and regions that compete with each other in order to attract investors, offering financial stimuli, low taxes and infrastructure.

“Companies need to ask themselves would they be an effective, more profitable business, elsewhere, is a question companies ask today more often because they have more options.”

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You can read the entire article here

With our vast experience in moving and relocation services, office and residential relocation, we thought we are the King of Boxes and Bubble Wrap and that we can maneuver every given box, despite size, complexity etc. Well, it was true, until we have heard of…Maru Maru is already a worldwide renowned online star thanks to his master that started to show Youtubers short films with him “battling” all types of boxes. As we have seen, each box is a real challenge for him, it’s a fortress to be conquered and occupied.

“Occupy Boxes!” is definitely his personal mission Check below the best of Maru and Boxes, in our opinion. Enjoy!

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Manhattan Relocation #5 FAQ

First time relocating? Then, it’s natural to have lots of questions about what should be done, what type of packing should be used, moving planning etc. However, before planning your move, it’s best to know from the beginning what kind of moving help it’s suitable for your specific needs?

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Manhattan Movers Answer

After browsing on several forums related to NYC moving, movers’ websites, probably you’ve encountered several terms such as: self-storage services, self-moving services, corporate relocation etc. and made things a little bit confusing.

Actually, we can refer to three general categories of moving:

(1) Full-service moving services

It’s the all-inclusive relocation offer for you. Especially, if you want a stress-free experience, it might be the best option for you. Packing, driving, storage and loading/unloading are all done for you by professional movers. So, you don’t have to worry at all! Of course, it represents the costly option and it might be recommended if you’re changing your location and have massive or valuable objects to transport.

(2) Self-service relocation

As you may anticipate, the moving company is responsible only for transportation. It’s convenient especially for small moves and if you would like to take care personally for packing and other tasks.

(3) Friends or family /DIY

It’s the all known do it yourself type of move, you’re the chief and your moving team consists of friends and family. It takes rigorous planning and research and actually it’s not cost-free, as you would think. The effort put into this, time spent and nerves often are the real cost in this type of move. That’s why you should figure out if saving money is the main priority for you.

Good luck choosing the type of moving for your needs!

Moving can be fun! We state this with every occasion on this blog Here is another great idea to make the moving process more pleasant: uplifting music for your move! We all know that music is a great therapy for stress; it can induce a positive attitude toward a situation. Overall, it’s an important instrument to make you feel better even in tense moments such as packing and relocation. Check our moving playlist below, maybe will find something you like. If you have suggestions to improve this music list, you can use the comment section or our Facebook, Google+ or Twitter account!

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(1) Go Your Own Way – Fleetwood Mac

(2) Island in the Sun – Weezer

(3) Help – Beatles

(4) Hit the Road Jack – Ray Charles

(5) Forever Young – Alphaville

(6) Road Trippin – Red Hot Chili Peppers

(7) Three Little Birds – Bob Marley

(8) On the Road Again – Willie Nelson

(9) “I like to move it, move it”

(10) King of the Road – Roger Miller

Usually, relocation involves moving with the family to a new place, moving to college, moving your business to another office location. However, do you know how to handle all the aspects when relocating a senior member of your family or friend?

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• Particular needs. An elderly person requires special care and attention that is why it’s best to have tolerance to their wishes, as it’s not a simple process for them.
• Communication. Yes, sometimes, a sincere talk can help you understand the feeling of your senior friend as with the age it’s much more difficult to move to another place, as you tend to attach our feelings and hopes to a single place, especially if it’s the house where we were born and spend our childhood.
• Patience. In order for the transition to be smoother for your aged relative, give them time to accustom to the idea of leaving and don’t offend their memories. Packing can be really emotional, as it reveals things, objects from our past associated with people and places.
• Planning. Make sure that you make all the arrangements in order to assure the comfort of the person involved . It’s best to prepare the documents, contact real estate agents if you consider selling the house and a moving company if it’s needed.
• Get to know the new place. Help your friend meet the neighbors, get at a town meeting, look for hobby club in the area.  It’s best to see the bright side and to accommodate to the new situation.

Winter is one of the best time of year to relax at home with the whole family, celebrating the holidays. This is a time of meditation, new plans and resolutions…and the last thing you would associate winter is with relocation:)

But in one’s life can occur many situations when you have no other choice then to move your things to a new place during the cold weather. Let’s see how you can cope with the winter relocation and make it less stressful!

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• Cheer up First, we would recommend to cheer up and see the bright side of this “cold moving story”: during the winter the moving rates are lower than in the peak season. Professional movers would be more than happy to help you move in the new home in this cold season.
• Get help! If it’s your first moving experience, maybe it would be best to have the assistance of experienced movers. Some things are not suitable to be transported in a moving truck during winter (for example, plants) and a moving company can offer your valuable information that can save your money and time.
• Stay warm! Do not forget to have comfortable, warm clothes, equipment for each member of the family in order to avoid getting a flu or worse.
• Walking on thin ice… It’s great to have an emergency kit, especially if you would like to transport yourself some items. The ground can be slippery, that why be sure to get help and be precautious, while remembering the correct techniques of lifting and carrying.
• Strategize! It’s best to be prepared in advance for any risky weather conditions and plan at least the major milestones during the moving in order to not have any unpleasant surprises.

The first days in the new location can be hard and stressful: one of the moving trucks didn’t arrived yet, you forgot where you put the soap, some boxes are unmarked and you have to search in all of them to find the necessary items to get through the day.

Well, then why not compile a list of essential supplies to help you?

This moving checklist is great in order to not forget to pack separately items that you use on a daily basis.

Of course, this list is far from being complete, as each person/family has its own specific needs.

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1. Pair of scissors are great especially when moving in order to unseal packing boxes.
2. Dishwashing liquid + laundry soap. You can pack a small bottle of dish soap, enough to survive the first couple of days.
3. Kitchen knife. It’s best to put an all-purpose knife in your moving essential kit, as it’s indispensable even for basic cooking. Also, it can be used for other household purposes.
4. Dishes. Of course, mugs, plates and other utensils will be needed for serving meals in the family.
5. Pot – Pots can be very versatile if you consider cooking. You can choose a larger one, as it is suitable for different cooking tasks.
6. Medical set with all the essential supplies for potential emergencies (injuries, cuts).
7. Trash bags. They also come in handy for the first days in the new location.
8. Rolls of toilet paper. It’s useful to have several of them in the house, if you’re not accustomed to the new surroundings and a supermarket is hard to find nearby.
9. Flashlight / electric lamp. You can discover that your new home is out of electricity, so they can be useful too.
10. Sponges & cleansing liquid. Of course, you should be prepared for all kind of situations, so don’t forget about them as well!

Invented in 1957, bubble wrap is not only one of the most POPular packaging material. Admit it, when you see a piece of this material, you instantly think “pop it, pop them all!” , that’s why we thought it would be nice to present here the reasons why we are so grateful for this invention.

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1. It’s one of the best protector for our precious, delicate objects during transportation.
2. It’s not just a packing supply while moving, it’s a mission: Get all the bubbles popped!
3. Bubble wrap reminds us that simple life things can make us happy
4. When we see bubble wrap, we know that something new arrived. It announces presents, surprises…and presents are always welcome
5. It’s creative. Bubble wrap inspired book writing and creation of different non-conformist items.
6. Stars love it too: Farrah Fawcett appeared wrapped in this all-time favorite packing material on a Playboy cover.
7. It’s an efficient stress reliever
8. It’s a pointless, but fun activity!
9. It’s a hobby shared by thousands of people. The official Facebook page of this product has at this date 551,436 fans
10. Finally, we love bubble wrap for this…

It’s easy to lose small parts of the items you take apart while moving. Solution: Tape screws securely to the item’s bottom

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