Moving on a whole can be both exciting and tedious at the same time. The truth is that no one wants to be stressed out with a move. That is why preparation is key to a successful move. Moving to a new office space comes with many of the same factors as moving to a new home. The furniture is large and bulky, some items are difficult to pack, and there are several rooms with items that need to be packed away. Needless to say, moving requires a lot of hard work, but there are some ways to make the process a lot smoother. Here are some useful tips that you could find useful when making your office move.

1. Early Planning is Key
   When doing commercial moving, such as moving to new office space, “winging it” is just not going to cut it. You are setting yourself up for disaster. Start the planning process early, delegating tasks, establishing how it should be done and create a deadline as well. Simply establish how you’ll get everything ready for the move. This should include planning what happens on arrival day after you have made it to your new location. Create a checklist to help guide you and keep you on track.
2. Appoint a Move Manager
   If you have a medium-sized business and doing long distance moving, you may need some assistance. Dividing up the work could lighten your workload and make the process less stressful. Having a designated move manager will enable a step by step handling of each aspect of the moving process. You will know exactly how things are progressing from start to finish. Get someone who has solid experience in commercial moving.
3. Do Your Research
   When it comes to finding a moving company to work with, it’s best to do your research before committing to any moving company. Get several different quotes from the local moving companies to get an idea of the best deal since an office move can be pretty costly. Get a minimum of three quotes if you are on a tight budget. Get recommendations and ratings for the moving services that you are interested in, to have an idea of the quality service they provide.
4. Keep I.T in Mind
   Moving to a new office space requires disconnecting and reconnecting everything tech. This can lead to major complications, and that is why it is important from day one to have your I.T. department create a plan for transferring all technical equipment necessary for the office, from computers to phones.
5. Know the Building Rules
   If the building you’re moving into is not owned by your company, you should get a complete breakdown of the building rules around relocation space. There may be rules around the time allowed for moving, or a formal request has to be made to use the service elevator. Building management can provide you with this important information.

6. Get Change of Address Order Taken Care of
   Updating your address in every area that it’s needed is important. Begin by updating your address on documents and place an order for new business cards, envelopes, and letterhead, etc. as soon as you know your new office address. Also, give clients a heads-up as well.

You office move don’t have to be a huge headache if you plan well and stay ahead of things. Start early and make sure you choose a reliable local moving company that you can trust to do the job right. Contact Macdonald Moving Services to assist you with your next office move!

Moving is always a process that can be stressful and overwhelming and one of the most common issues with moving is that belongings and furniture get damaged during the move. While the easiest solution would be to disassemble the furniture and reassemble once you arrive at your new destination, not all furniture is made that way. For furniture pieces that can’t be taken apart, you will need to cover them to ensure full protection of not only the piece but the walls and floors of your new destination.

5 Tips on Properly Wrapping Furniture For a Move

Cover Furniture With Blankets

When picking up supplies for your move, consider grabbing furniture pads and blankets as these are the best protection for your furniture. While any blanket in your home should work, if it covers the furniture, there are also special moving blankets you can rent or purchase from a moving supply company. When wrapping, start at one end and wrap the entire circumference of the piece, then work on covering the top and bottom of the item. Just like with a holiday gift, you will want to ensure every part of the piece is covered. With larger pieces, you may need to use more than one blanket or pad so rent/purchase accordingly and don’t worry about overbuying as the excess blankets can be used for extra protection when loading the moving truck.

Wrap Furniture Legs

While the most ideal situation, as mentioned earlier, is to simply remove the legs of tables, chairs, and other pieces that have them, not all legs can be disassembled. If you can’t remove them, then be sure to wrap them just as you would the other parts of the furniture. Tightly secure the material by going around each leg with padding or blankets, and then plastic wrap. You will want to do these as they are the most common culprits to getting damaged or hitting walls while being moved.

Secure Covers With Plastic Wrap

Once your furniture is wrapped in blankets or pads, you will want to secure the cover so they don’t fall during transport. The best way to do that is by getting a plastic wrap and covering the entire piece of furniture. Not only will the tightly secure the protection, but it will also prevent dirt and dust from settling on your furniture while it is in the moving truck during interstate or international moves.

Use Cardboard To Cover Corners

While blankets and pads are great for most furniture, you will want to have added protection to pieces that have sharp corners. This includes desks, dressers, and square tables. Once you wrap the furniture in blankets and plastic wrap, you should add cardboard to the corners of items that have these sharp corners. This way, if they make content with walls or anything it is the cardboard being rubbed against the wall and not a sharp corner. If you are worried about extra protection to for the bottom of some of your furniture you can apply the same task with the cardboard to the bottom of the piece. This is usually good for dressers.

Use Bubble Wrap

If you have fragile furniture you want to be careful of or want to go the extra mile in protecting your precious furniture then consider using bubble wrap as the final layer. Once the furniture is covered in plastic wrap, take bubble wrap and go around the entire piece and securing it with tape. Do keep in mind that the bubble wrap could hinder the grip of the furniture when it comes to moving it to and from the truck, so decide which pieces you would want that to apply the bubble wrap too.

If you are looking for professional movers to assist with your next move, whether residential or commercial moving, contact MacDonald Movers today!

Moving into a new home is an exciting time. The time leading up to the move, however, is riddled with stress and questions. One of the questions many people find themselves asking is “do I really need the moving insurance?” looking at moving insurance as just an added cost makes it easy to refuse, but we’re here to explain what makes it so important.

What is Moving Insurance?

Moving insurance is similar to car or renter’s insurance. You purchase it as a protection plan in the event of an unforeseen event that damages some of your items being moved. Even with professional movers, the possibility of damages is never completely gone. Moving insurance will help you to replace the damaged items after your move. Different types of moving insurance cover different potential scenarios so be sure to read the fine print!

Value Protection

Value protection comes in two forms. The first is known as released value protection. This is the most basic form of item protection. It works by offering a certain price per pound for your items. This price is never the actual value of the item, but it does give you a portion of the items value back in the event of a mishap. Next, full value protection offers better coverage for your items. This comes with a higher price tag, but it also comes with a higher pay-off for damaged goods. Your damaged item will either be repaired, replaced, or paid for by the moving company if it becomes damaged.

What is a Valuation?

Valuation is a type of value protection that all moving companies have to offer according to the law. Valuation covers any damages to your goods that are a direct result of the movers or moving equipment. It typically won’t cover things like flood or fire though. Ask multiple moving companies about their valuation policy before choosing one for your move.

Assessing the Value of Your Household Goods

Valuing your household goods prior to a move makes filing a claim much easier. Start by making a list of all valuable items, along with pictures of their condition before the move. Then, look up similar items online to find a rough price estimate. Family heirlooms and other options that don’t have an exact value online should be estimated based on the weight prediction you get from your movers.

At the end of moving day you should be able to walk into your new home and find your belongings safe and sound, but if you don’t, moving insurance is the best way to make sure you’re covered! Contact us today if you are looking for a well-experienced moving company to help with your next move.

Moving day can either be a great experience or a stressful one.  Add in the possibility of a blizzard and moving in the winter can become quite the adventure. Just like with our last blog, check out and follow these tips to ensure a successful moving day no matter if you are moving locally, to a new state, or internationally!

1. Check the Snowplow Schedule

One thing we can all agree on is the annoyance of waking up to find out that the plow truck came through and blocked off all your hard work of shovelling the day prior. This causes more strain if this happens on the day of your move as it will delay your schedule as you have to redo the hard work you had already put in.  If the information is available to you, make sure you check the plow schedule as you plan your move.

2. Have Old Blankets Ready

New Englanders know that the weather is unpredictable in the winter.  During your move, you will want to keep your household items protected from all of the winter elements by using old blankets to transport them in and out of the moving truck. If your company offers it, check to see if you can keep your items in storage that you will not need right away during the move.

3. Keep Spare Gloves

Keeping gloves around and using gloves during your move will not only protect your fingers from the cold but protect the moving boxes from any wetness which could run the risk of your items falling through during transport.  Take a tip from your local moving company and stock up on a few extra pairs of gloves to make sure that your, as well as the mover’s you hired, fingers and hands stay warm and dry all day.

4. Double Pack Fragile Items

Like with most high-valued items, you will want to double pack them but for the winter you will especially want to do this.  Accidents can happen, and they are even more likely when you add ice and snow into the mix where both can happen in New England.  Just in case an accident happens, you don’t want your fragile items to get damaged or break.  Take a little time and double pack these items so that if an accident does happen, your items will be protected. If you need some help with packing, be sure to check out different moving guides for assistance!

5. Be Flexible

Whether you are interstate moving or local moving, you need to be flexible with your moving schedule.  Weather shifts, schedules get altered, and accidents happen that could alter your moving experience.  Proceed with caution and if you need to take an extra day or two to make sure your move is successful, then plan ahead while making sure to contact the moving company you have hired.

6. Tip Your Movers Well

You hired a moving company for a reason, to stay out of the harsh weather you could potentially run in to and to ensure your items make it to your destination in one piece. Show them some appreciation for their hard work in less than ideal conditions with a good sized tip. In addition, most moving companies aren’t as busy in the winter, which means less money for the crew.  Tip them well for doing a great job and give them thanks with the addition of a warm cooked snack or items to keep them warm, they will appreciate it!

If you are interested in hiring MacDonald Moving Services for an exceptional moving experience, contact us today!

Moving can be stressful, especially if you realize that you’ll need to move in the winter. Like with any type of plans, bad weather conditions can cause delays. Lucky for you, commercial moving companies aren’t as busy during the winter, so if you know of a company that is readily available make sure to give them a call.  Use these tips below to ensure a successful winter move!

1. Confirm Your Moving Details

With moving companies normally having their slow season in the winter, you will have an easier time finding a company that is flexible enough to work with you on which day you would prefer for your moving day. Regardless, you’ll want to be sure to check in with your local moving company to confirm all of the details of your move and make sure everything goes smoothly and according to the schedule you both have agreed upon.

2. Check the Weather

New England is infamous for the unpredictable weather patterns we get during the winter months.  For this reason, you will want to check the weather prior to your move day. This is critical for interstate moves, as you definitely don’t want to be moving valued items in a blizzard. Even for local moves, snowfall will not make for a great moving situation.  Make sure to communicate with your moving company if you see inclement weather and get a game plan together! If anything, you can see if the moving company you hired offers storage services to hold items while you move in the snow.

3. Cover Your Floors

The winter is usually filled with snow, sleet, rain, and slush that can post a threat of ruining the hardwood floors or stain rugs and carpets of your new home.  You can pick up some cheap rolls of plastic sheeting at your local hardware store and make sure that your floors are protected from the elements as you move boxes from the moving truck.

4. Turn the Heat Off

Your door is going to be open and closed all day throughout the move, so there is really no point in running the heat.  Your furnace will be running all day and all that heat will just be escaping out the front door while you move.  Save yourself some money by having the heat off during the move. For a solution to have some heat in your home during the move, try looking into mini space heaters to cover important rooms of the house.

5. Keep Pets Away For The Day

While we love our furry friends, having to worry if you will step on them while you are carrying around boxes is not an ideal moving experience.  Do you really want to trip over the dog while you’re lugging that 800lb piano out the door? In addition to worrying about tripping on them, they could be a distraction if you have dogs and they are barking constantly due to the movers and excitement about being in a new home.  Your best bet is to find a local kennel to store your beloved animal for the day.

6. Clear All Walking Paths

Throughout the moving day, you will be going back and forth from the moving truck carrying heavy items and boxes.  With winter, there is a higher chance of ice being present on the ground which runs the risk of you or the movers slipping or falling on the ice with your items in hand. To avoid this, take the time and clear the sidewalks and driveway to ensure a safe trip from the truck to your new destination.

If you are interested in moving this winter, make sure that MacDonald Moving Services is your moving company of choice by contacting us today!

Are you planning on doing an interstate move or relocate your business late this summer? Use the beginning of the summer to begin packing, as the weather is milder. As the summer looms on, weather conditions become overbearing with intense temperatures and humidity levels. Getting a head start on the packing gives you more time to make sure your belongings are properly packed to avoid damage. One set of household items you that will require special care during the packing and transit process of your move, are your mirrors. You will need to ensure that the frame and glass of the mirror are properly secured and protected during your move. Follow these three tips to move your mirrors between during an office relocation or interstate move safely!

Use Strong Packing Materials For Wrapping the Mirror

While you may be tempted to use the ever resourceful newspaper to wrap your mirror, we caution that you opt for a more sturdy material. Such strong and sturdy material is packing paper. This material will not rip during the course of the move unlike newspaper. In addition to packing paper, you will want to use packing tape for extra protection.You can draw a large X  with the tape on the glass to keep the glass together in case it drops or shatters during the move.  Using packing tape will also keep the frame together if the mirror collides with hard surfaces in transit. Before wrapping the mirror, place a sheet of cardboard around the mirror for added protection and padding so this will be the first thing the glass and mirror frame come into contact with if dropped. Cardboard will reduce the risk of cracks and scratches on the glass and frame during the move. 

Secure the Edges

The corners and edges of your mirror will be vulnerable throughout the move without proper padding and coverage. Round mirrors should be wrapped in a layer of bubble wrap over the cardboard covering to protect the glass. In case the mirror is dropped, the cardboard will be able to keep the glass intact, rather than having it shatter over the padding. If you have a square mirror with sharp or right angles along the edge, invest in corner protectors. These are readily available at chain stores or wherever you have purchased your moving supplies. 

Label the Mirror Clearly for Transit

After tightly wrapping your mirror with cardboard, paper, and bubble wrap, cover the entire bundle with a layer of plastic wrap. The added layer protects the mirror from moisture forming on the mirror and mold developing between the glass and frame. Using a thick permanent marker, label the mirror as FRAGILE on each side to make sure whoever is moving it will move gently, without risking the mirror breaking.