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The perfect time to simplify and clean out clutter is just ahead of a big move. What better way to clean out your wardrobe, bookshelf, garage space, or kitchen than to create a worthy donation to a local cause?

At American Moving, we believe it's never too early to get into the holiday spirit and never a bad time to give back to the community and those in need.

If you would like to donate but don't know where to start, we've put together a few simple tricks to trim down on your gently used goods.

Track Your Usage

This tip applies to anything from clothes to silverware. It's as simple as consciously noticing what you tend to use on a regular basis and which items in your home are collecting dust.

In your closet, for example, the best way to gauge what you wear is by reorganizing your closet. Hang everything up, and as you wear and wash items, re-hang them on the left side of your closet. Each time you hang an item, place it on the far left side and continue adding exclusively to that side of your closet. After a few months, the clothes on the right will generally be what you wear the least since those on the left will be the ones worn, washed, and hung most recently. From there, decide whether you're willing to let go of those items left untouched, and begin to build a donation pile. To choose other items, take a look at your favorite pieces and check for any light wear or damage that you'd consider replacing. Of course, no one wants a torn or pilling sweater, but a fly-away thread here and here isn't hurting anyone.

This applies to other areas of your home too. If you find yourself choosing the same towels and sheets over and over while others collect dust in the back of the linen closet, consider donating those items to a family in need. Unused canned foods, excess kitchen items, and used books and movies are also great gifts to give back.

Finding a Cause

Even if you can't name the nearest Salvation Army donation center or upcoming food drive off the top of your head, worthy causes are not hard to find in Denver. Whether you give through your child’s next school-run program, church, community group, or find your own volunteering opportunity, our biggest ally in targeting a cause this season lies in the power of the Internet and social media. If you're struggling to pin down exactly how or where to donate used items, simply ask your feels-hundred Facebook friends or do a quick Google search when waiting for your coffee in the morning. Opportunities are at our fingertips in 2017!

After you've finished de-cluttering your home and are ready to prepare for moving day, contact our friendly experts at American Moving to plan and execute your big move at the right price for you.

Tips from American Moving

As classes begin across the country, college freshmen are experiencing their first taste of life away from home. Despite the late-summer marketing pushes from big-name superstores about what essentials and accessories your student needs to succeed this year, some of those items are not as important as one might think.

Of course, we want our kids to be prepared for the challenges of university life, from making new friends to killing it in the classroom. Here’s a list of five common dorm items that can be crossed off before you even grab the shopping cart:

1. Mini fridge

This one’s on the top of our list for a few reasons, and the first is that a mini-fridge is often already supplied by the university. If not, there are only a few reasons your student might actually need one for their dorm room. However, with improving nutrition and hefty meal plans often required by large schools for first-year students, their needs will often be taken care of by the nearest dining hall—perishable items and all. Plus, it’s best to keep dry goods only in a dorm room, especially when residence halls are already known for mysterious smells and easily transmitted winter-season viruses.

2. Headboard

This is a fairly new trend, but it’s popping up everywhere. Installing a custom headboard, whether ordered online or hand-made, to your newly minted scholar’s dorm bed is an expense easily spared. Our recommendation is to use that extra cash to make the bed itself more comfortable, whether it be through more substantial bedding and pillows or a mattress pad and cover. In college, a good night’s sleep is far more important than excess personalization and flair.

3. Ikea-like furniture

The bottom line is that a dorm room has most, if not all, the furniture a student needs (except maybe extra dancing space, that is). Most rooms come furnished with a bed that will loft if needed, a desk, chair, lamp, dresser, and closet space. The best investments for extra storage space often lie in temporary or rolling plastic drawers, storage bins, or collapsible shelves. Save any wood or metal furniture for sophomore year and beyond.

4. Excess Wall Decor

Chances are, your student is about to grow and change. Their first year of school may lead them to new interests, opportunities, and fresh insight about who they’re meant to be and what they want to pursue. Aside from important family photos or their favorite band poster, save any decorative purchases after move-in. After all, their ideas of how to fill their space will usually not come until they’re actually living in it.

American Moving is here for all your residential moving needs. Give us a call today to schedule a service.

If it’s not your first move around the block, you’re probably in on the secrets to moving delicate items and precious valuable. But because it’s so important to protect your most important items, heirloom, high-cost, or otherwise, make sure you understand the available insurance protections out there, common packing tips, and how to communicate valuables effectively to your movers.

Insurance

First, check out available insurance on the market for your items that need it. We do handle this type of insurance, and it’s possible to buy policies that protect your items in transit, in storage, and in your current home on moving day. If you’re renting, your renter’s insurance policy will often cover any damages incurred during moving day as long as it’s left activated through the move. If you’re planning on putting some items in storage, then talk to the site manager about insurance coverage options for your items as they hang out on that site. Last, coverage for a big move might just be a click away.

Packing

Everyone knows you have to wrap your valuables, but not everyone knows how. clean, non-printed newspapers can be purchased from American Moving. Packing peanuts are also still very popular when it comes to moving more delicate items, but most opt for wrapping each individual item with clean newsprint paper before packing. Be sure to provide a layer on all sides of glass items like tall cups, beer and wine glasses and other figurines. Another life-hack tip before moving is that if you subscribe to any popular food delivery services like Hello Fresh or Blue Apron, begin to save their packing materials as you near your move. Oftentimes, those services will include ribbed paper or covered pads to keep food safe and cold, and those can easily be repurposed to protect your dishware and other valuable items when moving day finally comes.

Communication

Our teams at American Moving are here to help you and make moving day as easy and stress-free as possible. If you’d like us to pay particular attention to an item, be sure to clearly label that item as high-priority and then reiterate your instructions verbally to us. This way, we can take special care in how and where we move that item out of your old house and into the new one.

Find out more moving tips and get a quote from American Moving by giving us a quick call today.

As we near the end of peak moving season (typically from late spring to early fall every year, while the weather’s hot and sunny), we’ve put together a list of commonly asked questions to help prepare anyone planning their big move next year and want to start preparing.

What day should I move?

This may be difficult if you work full time, but statistics show that moving on a weekday is best. This is for a few reasons. One is that the most popular moving days are Friday and Saturday, and those are the days our services at American Moving are in the highest demand. Plus, if you have a family with young children, it’s often easier to move big items and the bulk of your things when they’re in school. Now, this is simply based on the logic that you’re expected to label boxes, direct movers on where to put furniture and be present throughout the day. It’s harder to give kids the right amount of engagement and attention they deserve as moving happens, so this is why you should shoot for a weekday if it’s possible. Finally, utility services like cable and internet providers are in business on weekdays, and can more easily meet with you to set up those services at your new home on day one.

How much will it all cost?

That all comes down to where and how much you’re moving. Generally, the industry standard is an hourly rate, with moves that stretch over 100 miles turning into a by-weight rate. Of course, it’s easy to get a quote from American Moving! But, moving day doesn’t always go as planned, and since the service is charged by hour, it’s best to be prepared and disclose any important information to your movers ahead of time. For example, will they have an elevator or have to take things upstairs? How many rooms are you packing up, and is absolutely everything moving with you? This will give services like American Moving a better idea of what they’re providing during your appointment, and it’ll help determine how much you’ll end up paying in the end.

On the day of the move, you need to be present. There is paperwork to sign and you need to show the movers exactly what is being moved. After the movers have loaded the truck you will be asked to do a walk-through. That is the time to point out anything that may have been missed once the truck drives away they are done.

At the unload they will place boxes in rooms based on the rooms written on the boxes (ie., bedroom, kitchen, garage). Furniture will be placed in the location you specify. It is helpful if you already have a basic idea of where you want furniture placed. If the movers have to keep rearranging and switching furniture around it will take longer and you are paying hourly.

Tips and Food

It is normal to tip movers for a job well done, and they will accept those tips and divide them up amongst themselves. However, providing food or drinks is by no means expected of you. Of course, these gestures are often appreciated, but they simply show us how amazing and generous our community in Denver really is!

Plan your next big move with American Moving, and call us today.

Moving day is approaching, but you’re simply feeling anxious about the move itself rather than excited to fill your new home with life. We understand - we’ve been there.

There are a few key steps to take when getting ready for moving day, and getting these tasks done early on in the moving process can save you time and stress in the long run.

First, create a room system when it’s time to pack. Once you have your moving supplies, take the packing process room by room. Start with a room that houses non-essential items or that you rarely use. It’s important to sort as you pack, and decide which items you want to take with you and which to toss for later. While sorting, designate a special place to keep excess that you’ll donate, and be sure to try recycling as much as possible before throwing extra bags away.

Next, remember to change your forwarding address for all essential mail. From your bank statements and bills to important subscriptions, let your mail beat you to your next address by a few days. This will help avoid delays or late payments that happen as a result of the moving process. Also, let your extended family members know what your new address is so they can file it away for next year’s Christmas card. If you order anything new for your next home, be sure to forward those packages to your new house so you don’t have to move them immediately upon arrival. Also included in this step is setting up utility services at your new home and schedule when to stop services when you leave your old one. It’s inconvenient to arrive at a new place and lack electricity, gas, trash, or water since you’ll begin using these utilities immediately upon move-in. Scheduling an internet provider appointment a few weeks ahead of time is also smart since many companies are easily booked up during the moving season and your internet access may be delayed if you’re not proactive.

Finally, find a moving company that’s right for you. The very best movers come prepared with the right materials and insurance to pack your items safely and securely in a truck that is large enough to fit everything without damaging any items. Experts will drive the truck to its new location and help you begin moving things into your new home. A savvy packer will label boxes and know which should go in which room, so all they have to do is direct movers on moving day. At American Moving, we’re here to make moving day as stress-free as possible for our neighbors in Colorado.

Have questions about your upcoming move? Drop us a line.

Moving can easily bring out the worst in us all. Not only is it a high-stress process, but it also tends to happen at the peak of summer, bringing heat to an event that already gets us sweating. But, when it’s time to move in the Denver Metro area, American Moving is here to help you through your local moving while keeping your sanity - and most prized possessions - intact.

What should you and your family look for in a moving service?

Insurance & Proper Licensing

First, look for whether the service carries the necessary credentials to handle your precious cargo. Is the company properly insured and licensed? At American Moving, our team has been in the moving business for 20 years. Since 1997, we’ve shown our customers our very best in quality work, professionalism, and competitive pricing for our services.

Reviews & Referrals

Arguably, American Moving’s biggest claim to fame is that 80 percent of our business comes from referrals. We’ve relied on our customers telling their friends and family about our services, and have always allowed our actions and customer experience to do the talking. Because a good review is often the best marketing, our team has never slacked on providing quality service to our clients, no matter how big or small their moving project might be. When looking to book a moving service, call us to find out how we built our stellar reputation in Vail Denver Metro and Boulder County.

Price & Service Transparency

When hiring movers, homeowners just want one thing, and that’s to reduce the stress of moving without breaking the bank. At American Moving, our packing and moving supply lists are accessible online at all times so you can get an idea of the materials you’ll need for your moving day, and how much it will cost. Speak to one of our friendly representatives today to get a quote for a local, national, or international move. We’ll help you strategize just how much cash, how many hands are on deck, and how much time you’ll need to get the job done. We also offer stress-free packing and unpacking services.

Ready to hire a mover? Call us today and hear about our insured, licensed, reputable, and professional team that’s been in business for two fantastic decades.

Let us help you with your big move!