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How To De-Clutter Your House Before Or After A Move

12/13/2016

The moving experience is already stressful — but endless piles of clutter can make it much worse. If you’re like a lot of movers, one of the dreaded parts of moving is figuring out what to do with all your belongings. You may find that packing up boxes is overwhelming. Or, if you decide to shove everything in the moving truck and figure out what to keep later, you may find yourself in a new home with a lot of boxes and frustration. How do you decide where to put everything? What stays and what goes? To help simplify what could be a major headache, here are some key tips for de-cluttering — before and after a move.

How to Know What’s Clutter and What’s Not

The hardest part of de-cluttering is trying to know what to keep and what to sell or give away. The de-cluttering process takes time and thought. It’s work. Clear a few days or longer if possible and start going through your belongings. If you still use or love something, put it in a “keep” pile; if you no longer use or love something, let it go. If it’s helpful for you, try going through items in sections, such as:

Large items like furniture
Sentimental items like photo albums, mementos, etc.
Books
Clothes
Storage boxes in the basement, attic or closets
Kitchen appliances and tools
Linens
Decorations

While starting with the largest items may seem logical, you might find it more helpful to start in the opposite direction. By beginning with small items, you can enjoy the snowball effect of tiny successes that inspire you to keep moving forward.

What to Do With the Possessions You Don’t Want

As you’re picking items to keep and picking items to get rid of, the next question is what to do with all the belongings you no longer want or need. Many organizing experts rely on the foolproof strategy of three piles: keep, sell and donate.

Keep: Everything you want to keep, package and move with you to your new home goes in this pile.
Sell: When you find something you no longer want or need that still has value, you can de-clutter while also making a little extra money if you sell it. Whether you go with a garage sale, individualized listings online, a consignment store or another option for selling, you can pad your moving budget.
Donate: Anything that isn’t worth the trouble of trying to sell is a perfect candidate for donating. Likewise, anything that you just want to donate — because you know it can help a local charity or nonprofit — is a prime candidate for this pile.

While going through everything you own takes time, it’s a worthwhile investment when it minimizes what you have to move and unpack. If you have the power to set aside time before you relocate, do it. If you don’t, you can still implement the same strategy after you’ve moved, to help minimize unnecessary possessions in your new home.

How Burrows Moving & Storage Co. Can Help You

As one of Chicagoland’s most reliable and experienced movers, Burrows Moving & Storage Co. specializes in helping customers relocate within the city and its suburbs, as well as into other states. We move furniture, antiques, pianos and other goods, with exclusive ship service for long-distance trips. This means, if you’re moving out of state, you get your own truck with only your items on it. Learn more about our moving services online, or contact us today to set up an appointment!

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How to Avoid Losing Your Belongings During a Move

9/7/2016

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Since moving is one of the most stressful life events that people experience several times throughout their lives, losing any belongings during the move would simply add to the stress. Luckily, there is a way to ensure that your stress level is reduced during the move! It begins with trusting your professional movers to do the job for you. However, even with movers, you have to keep track of your belongings in a way that is organized and efficient. Here are a few tips that will help you avoid losing your belongings during a move:

Pack one room at a time. Even though this may take you a little longer and seem like a challenge, packing one room up at a time, will help you keep track of your belongings from each room. You will pack up everything you have in one room and be able to go to the next, knowing that everything from each room is being packed at one time. It’s much easier to label, color code, and box everything at once when you pack one room at a time.
Create lists. By creating lists of your belongings (especially the most important ones), you’ll be able to better track what you’re packing, which box it is in, and where it goes upon arrival. As you are packing one room at a time, make a list of inventory as you go. There are a variety of ways in which you can organize your lists, but it is very recommended that, at the very least, you track the items that can get easily lost or missed. This can include jewelry, utensils, office supplies, and more.
Pack your smaller belongings with small ziploc bags. Even the smallest pieces can get lost, and these are usually the ones that are the most significant. Using ziploc bags for items like screws, nuts, and bolts but also fine jewelry like earrings and rings, can be a major help in staying organized and avoiding the loss of belongings. If you are carrying small furniture pieces, you can stay organized by putting the small parts into ziploc bags and traveling with them.

With these above tips for avoiding the loss of your belongings during a move, you will find a seemingly stressful experience to be stress-free. The key is to stay organized. By packing one room at a time, creating lists of your inventory, and packing smaller belongings in ziplock bags, you will save, time, resources, money and valuable energy during your next move.

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Things to Remember to Do Before You Move

8/24/2016

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Moving is considered the third most stressful life event, following death and divorce. From the packing, to the lifting, to the loading, and to the reorganizing, it makes sense that people don’t look forward to this process! What makes it even more stressful is that there are so many tasks and responsibilities prior to the move, that people often become forgetful. Here is a list of items that should be taken care of before you move.

Forward mail to your new mailing address. Waiting until you are in your new home delays the receipt of mail from your old address and actually increases your chances of losing new mail. The United States Postal Service recommends that you update your address within their system, several days in advance.
Notify your friends, family, subscriptions, memberships, bank and other government institutions of your change of address. If you’d rather not have to chase down a package from a family member or deal with the fees associated with having mail forwarded, notify people and organizations ahead of time.
Organize your finances. Make sure that you have a system in place that helps you ensure that you are making payments on time and tracking your bills. It’s possible that without a system, you may miss a payment in the whirlwind of the moving process. Don’t fall behind or damage your credit because of this misstep!
Notify your insurance companies. Whether it’s car insurance, home insurance, renter’s insurance, or health insurance, notify your insurance company of your move. If you’re changing zip codes, your rates may change. Make sure your address is up to date so that you will remain covered.
Cancel irrelevant recurring charges in your area. Whether it’s a gym membership or spa membership, anywhere you go that requires a monthly fee will need to either be updated with your new address or canceled if your new location does not have the same business.
Take pictures of your belongings. Whenever you are working with movers, you want to ensure that your belongings remain intact. Professional movers are typically insured, so in case something does happen, you’re covered. Take pictures of the items the movers will be moving to make sure you will know if anything happens.
Make a bag or box dedicated to what you will need the day of the move. Preparing ahead of time always helps you during the process. The bag or box can include toilet paper, paper towels, cleaning supplies, towels, cutlery, plates, sheets, and anything else you think you will need on moving day.

While movers can help you with packing, lifting, loading and unpacking, there are some tasks that we cannot help you with. These are the ones that involve your personal information and lifestyle needs, like the ones listed above. Take care of these before you move in order to streamline the moving process and comfortably settle into your new home!

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3 Reasons Why You Should Hire Professional Movers

8/9/2016

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Moving can be an enormous undertaking, especially if you’re relocating to a different city, moving into a home that is larger, moving into a high rise apartment, or even moving into a place that is smaller. In fact, most people dread moving. Did you know that moving is considered the third most stressful event in life, following death and divorce? From the packing, to the lifting, to the loading, and to the reorganizing, it’s no wonder that many people do not look forward to it.
However, we all have to move on to another residence eventually! The average person moves eleven times in their lifetime. Fortunately, there are movers like Burrows Moving & Storage that can take some of the dread away from the big moving day. Here are three major reasons you should hire movers for your next move.

There’s less of a chance you’ll end up in the hospital. People are often surprised how easy it is to get injured during a move. When you don’t know how to properly pack or lift something, you can potentially injure yourself and others. Typically moving companies will provide best practices for packing those items that can become dangerous, such as sharp objects like knives, fragile objects like glass, and electronic items like cords and appliances. Furthermore, moving heavy items like furniture and mattresses can be awkward and often requires certain equipment. Leave it to the professionals, and eliminate the potential for injury.
Movers will have all of the necessary equipment. Moving large furniture can take on a different level of stress when you realize you don’t have the tools to dismantle each piece. At this point you won’t have to worry about breaking your back, because you won’t be able to fit any furniture through your front door. Furthermore, moving large, delicate items like pianos, require a step-by-step protocol and specific equipment and wrapping, in order to maintain the structure and fragility of the instrument. From the tools to the wrapping to the trucks, professional movers have all of the equipment necessary for your big move.
Your valuables are insured with professional movers. Are all of your expensive and fine furnishings insured? Do you trust yourself with moving your own valuables? If you’ve answered “no” to these questions, you should give a professional mover a call. Licensed movers often provide various coverage to ensure that your goods do not get damaged during the moving process. According Burrows’ “insurance options” page of their website, ”in Illinois (by state law) movers are required to provide their customers with four options for moving coverage in case of damages to household goods.” Reputable companies, like Burrows, all provide insurance options for their consumers.

While a potential hesitation for hiring movers could be the cost of using them, we frequently find that people end up saving both time and money in the long run. Often people underestimate the possible costs of moving on their own: the loss that can result from potential hospitalization, the destruction of valuable furnishings due to lack of equipment, and whether or not they are insured if something goes wrong. Stay safe, be smart, and let your professional movers make your moving day run seamlessly, efficiently and stress-free.

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Burrows Moving and PAWS Chicago: A Perfect Match!

7/19/2016

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With over 30 years of experience in helping people move into new homes, it’s no wonder that Burrows Moving is an active sponsor and supporter of helping animals move into their new homes. Over the past several years, Burrows Moving has sponsored various events from beach parties, to races, to galas for PAWS Chicago in the hopes of helping their mission to save homeless animals. The funds they provide and raise go directly to homeless, injured and sick pets. In effect, they have helped PAWS Chicago reduce the number of homeless dogs and cats that are killed annually in Chicago.

The owners of Burrows Moving are avid animal lovers and have adopted several animals themselves. According to them, “We love getting involved in the community, especially in ways that make a difference. The mission of PAWS Chicago enhances both the lives of people and of animals. If we can help spread the word and inspire others to adopt these animals through our regular sponsorship at their events, then we have contributed to the community in a positive and fun way.” It’s with businesses like Burrows that charities like PAWS are able to thrive and spread awareness about their efforts.

Below are pictures from the most recent event on Thursday, July 14. The event was a beach party hosted at Castaways, featuring food, beverages, raffles, silent and live auctions and pets for adoption. It was sponsored in part by Burrows Moving.

The next PAWS Chicago event takes place on Sunday, July 24. Join Burrows as they sponsor the PAWS Chicago 5K at Montrose Harbor in Chicago! Help save homeless animals with us!

Burrows Moving is an independent professional moving services company that serves the Chicagoland area. They are committed to providing their customers with the best furniture, antique and piano moving services, packing, hoisting and storage services, and local and long distance residential and commercial moving services.

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4 Reasons to Hire a Commercial Mover for Your Business Relocation

7/7/2016

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Moving office space in Chicago not only requires logistical preparation and manpower, it also takes professional moving experience. There are several factors of a commercial move, such as delicate equipment, expensive executive furniture, and sensitive electronics. Whether you’re in a multi-office facility, several floors above ground, or within a warehouse or a one-level storefront, the moving process is complicated. When you hire professional commercial movers for your office relocation, the move itself becomes a lot easier. Below are four major reasons why you should hire a commercial mover for your business relocation.

You are working with highly trained professionals. The movers at Burrows Moving have years of experience working with businesses during their relocation process. We are familiar with how to pack items, what to move first, and how to do it in the fastest way possible. Furthermore, nothing will be missed, as our movers will manage the flow and movement of pieces.
You will have all of the equipment you need. When it comes to commercial moving as opposed to residential moving, you may require enhanced equipment that would be used for more furniture and larger pieces, which would include crates and cranes and multiple trucks. Finding these items on your own will not only be more expensive, but you will most likely have to outsource from several vendors, instead of just one.
You and your employees will have the support they require. Moving can be a very stressful experience. Decrease the amount of office stress by booking a moving company in advance. Your employees will appreciate being able to put the trust of their workspace in the hands of experienced professionals. Furthermore, they won’t be forced to move large furniture or equipment that they have never moved before. Avoid stress, injuries, and headaches with a Chicago office mover.
You will have a systematic process, and nothing will be missed. When you move offices, there’s a lot to consider and keep in mind. From computers to staff room utensils, everything will need to be recorded, organized for transit, and packed properly. However, with their second set of eyes, and a clear process in place, your commercial movers will be able to transition you from one office to the next seamlessly. You won’t miss a thing!

With these top four reasons among many others, there is no reason why you should not hire a commercial mover for your business relocation. When you work with experienced and knowledgeable office movers, you are working with highly trained professionals, you will have all of the moving equipment readily available, your employees will thank you, and you won’t have to worry about forgetting anything. Contact Burrows Moving if you are planning on relocating your business soon.

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Moving a Piano or Organ? Your Questions Answered

6/21/2016

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As we’ve mentioned on our piano and organ moving page, the process of moving a piano or an organ is both a science and an art. Not only are these instruments incredibly heavy, but they are also extremely fragile. It takes more than strength and finesse to move them. Below we have provided our most frequently asked questions about moving pianos and organs.

What types of pianos and organs can be moved?

Any type of piano or organ can be moved. Specifically at Burrows Moving, we have moved spinet pianos, console pianos, studio upright pianos, big upright pianos, player grand and upright pianos, electronic pianos, small baby grand pianos, large baby grand pianos, large parlor grand pianos, and even larger concert grand pianos.

What is the process of moving a piano and organ?

When we move a piano, most of the work is through preparation. The first step is to sufficiently wrap the piano with our special padding and covers. The second step is to remove the legs of the piano through a carefully crafted process that has been perfected by the moving team over time. The third and final step is to place the piano or organ on a cart and/or hoist the instrument as necessary. The above process is very much dependent on the the type of piano, the moving route, and the circumstances of the moving environment.

When should you get a piano tuned after a move?

A piano needs to get acclimated to its new environment for a period of at least two weeks before it should be tuned. The conditions of flooring, windows, sunlight, air conditioning, humidity, and other interior surroundings affect the function and sound of the instrument. Therefore you must make sure to wait at least two weeks before finding a professional piano tuner.

How easy is it to find a piano or organ mover in Chicago?

Professional piano and organ movers require years of experience. By years, we mean at least 10 dedicated years of a myriad of different piano and organ moves. Burrows Moving currently employs 15 of the most experienced piano and organ movers in Chicago, with several of them having 20 or more years of piano and organ moving experience.

The safest and easiest way to move a piano or organ is through professional and experienced movers who have a proficient knowledge and background with moving pianos and organs. Fortunately, companies like Burrows Moving in Chicago, is able to provide these services to you. Give them a call to move your piano or organ today.

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How to Move Into a High Rise Apartment in Chicago

6/11/2016

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In Chicago, one of the most common types of residences are apartments or condos in high rise buildings. While there’s a myriad of high rises gracing the Chicago skyline already, more are being built every year to meet the city’s demand. This means more moves into high rise buildings. However, it’s a different (and slightly more difficult) experience than moving into an apartment that is closer to the ground. Whether the move will be done through stairs or an elevator, the following tips are provided to those looking to move into a high rise building in Chicago.

Prepare to take less with you. Usually when moving into a high rise apartment, depending on the size of the apartment, you will likely have limited space for storage or furniture and belongings that fit better in larger homes and spaces. Taking less stuff also means fewer trips up and down the stairs or elevator! Prior to moving, sort through all of your belongings and either donate, sell or throw out what you no longer need or want. If you’d like to keep some larger items, Burrows Moving & Storage provides storage as well.
Get help or a luggage cart. Carrying boxes up the stairs and in between floors is not only dangerous but exhausting. Call upon a friend or two to help you pack, move and unpack. Enlisting friends and family for moving day not only provides extra eyes for safety and helpful hands for support, but they can also help to keep you sane amidst the chaos! If your building has an elevator, an additional support will be luggage carts. Rent or borrow one for the day. Take advantage of the elevator and load up your cart with as many boxes and bags as possible during each trip.
Hire a moving company. Moving up from the ground floor has its hassles and headaches that only moving companies know how to manage. A qualified and knowledgeable Chicago mover will have plenty of experience moving people into high rise buildings. Moving companies, like Burrows Moving & Storage, know how to pack, carry and re-assemble large furniture and boxes in a manner that is not only organized and quick, but also efficient and safe! This makes moving into a high rise apartment in Chicago much easier for you.

The purpose of these tips is aimed at providing you with a seamless and stress-free move. High rise buildings, with all of their amazing amenities, have their complications associated with moving, especially due to the varying amount of floors between the ground and your new apartment. By preparing to take less with you, getting help and a luggage cart, and hiring a moving company, you’ll enjoy the moving experience and be able to start living in your new high rise apartment in no time!

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5 Unpacking Tips from Residential Movers

5/24/2016

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To end National Moving Month, we’re providing our top five unpacking tips for your next residential move. Moving day can be stressful, so with these five tips, you’ll end the move on a high note. The key is to be as organized as possible from the very beginning of the move and follow the prep instructions and tips from the professional movers. Stay ahead of the day and make the unpacking portion easier with the following:

Make time for the unpacking process. Whether it’s expedited over a weekend, or a slower process that lasts throughout the following week, make sure that you find a good amount of time to get the job done. You don’t want to unpack boxes for months following a move!
While the movers are unloading boxes, have them place the correct boxes into the appropriate rooms. That way, you won’t carry boxes all around your new home while unpacking, and you can simultaneously avoid injuries. Remember to unpack any essential boxes first.
Unpack your rooms in an order that makes sense. Start with your bedroom in case you need another day to unpack the rest of your belongings. Your bed will be ready for you when you are too tired to keep going! From here, unpack the bathroom, followed by the kitchen, and then the remaining rooms.
Have the professional moving company unpack and set up any large rugs and furniture before they leave. Once you have your rugs and larger furniture in place, the rest of the day will seem like a breeze! These items are heavier as well, so letting the movers manage it will help you avoid any physical strain.
Clean up as you go. During the moving process, strategically place a few large garbage bags and/or recycling bins in your home for used moving paper, box tape and trash. Remind everyone to clean up as they go. By the time you’re done moving, you will just have to throw out or recycle the trash!

With any move, begin with finding the right moving company to work with you. Moving companies can pack and unpack whatever is required, and as professional movers, they will do it in a way that is hassle-free and easy. Just make sure that you stay organized and follow a strategic flow throughout the day so that you can seamlessly and comfortably move into your new home!

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3 Important Packing Tips for a Successful Residential Move

5/17/2016

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In honor of National Moving Month, the movers at Burrows Moving are providing Chicagoland residents with our best moving and packing tips. Residents often do not know how to properly pack their belongings, and with limited time to spare during a move, it always helps to make sure that what you own is properly packed. Good preparation through packing is one of the best ways to ensure a seamless and stress-free move. Below are three important packing tips for a successful residential move.

Make note of any furniture, belongings or areas that could be potentially hazardous. This can include anything from chairs with broken legs, to fragile glassware, to a broken staircase. The more your movers know about your belongings, the better. Doing this will keep you and the movers protected, and it will also ensure that any hazardous furniture or belongings will make the trip from one residence to the next safely and in one piece.
Make sure all open bottles of liquids are tightly sealed, and avoid any possible spillage or leakage by packing them properly. A good tip is to line a box full of liquids with garbage bag material. Towels, cloths, and paper can be helpful as well. Packing paper or bubble wrap should also be used to stuff around each individual bottle in order to ensure that the bottles stay upright and do not touch each other. These boxes should be placed near the bottom of the truck to avoid any potential leakage and damage to your other belongings.
Make sure all fragile glassware and china is packed delicately with lots of packing paper (not newspaper as it has to be hand-washed off), bubble wrap, towels and whatever material is required to keep it safe. Use plenty of paper and towels to line boxes containing glassware, and make sure that everything is packed right side up instead of on its side. Mirrors, large picture frames and larger glass decorations should be wrapped in blankets and taped.

With these three important packing tips, your residential move will be a success. Packing prior to the move completes most of the prep work before Burrows Moving arrives. We’ll handle the rest. Happy National Moving Month from Burrows Moving!

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How To De-Clutter Your House Before Or After A Move

How to Avoid Losing Your Belongings During a Move

Things to Remember to Do Before You Move

3 Reasons Why You Should Hire Professional Movers

Burrows Moving and PAWS Chicago: A Perfect Match!

4 Reasons to Hire a Commercial Mover for Your Business Relocation

Moving a Piano or Organ? Your Questions Answered

How to Move Into a High Rise Apartment in Chicago

5 Unpacking Tips from Residential Movers

3 Important Packing Tips for a Successful Residential Move

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