My Move to the Suburbs from Brooklyn to Westchester:

Moving from the city to the suburbs is a huge decision that involves a lot of research before you up and leave. While the city is definitely an exciting place to be, it can also come with it’s own set of challenges: high cost of living, small apartments, a frustrating parking situation, a rough subway commute and other issues. It’s enough to stress anyone out! Some people just deal with these conditions, attributing them to what life is like in a big city; whereas others can get annoyed and be totally miserable. Some of these stresses can be further heightened when other factors come into play like living in the city with kids in a small apartment.

That was the situation I was in two years ago, when my family and I decided to move from my hometown of Brooklyn to Westchester. Before the actual move happened there was a lot of unanswered questions going through my mind: What’s it really like up there? What are the schools like? Can we even afford this? How long is the commute? Could we live in the suburbs? While it wasn’t an easy choice to make, I’m so happy we did it. However, I get that moving with kids and to someplace new is really scary and even confusing. Check out what we considered before our big move to help you decide if suburbia is for you.

Moving from Brooklyn to Westchester

#1 Research the school system

If you have kids, this is the first step in your suburb search. You can use GreatSchools to look up the names of your prospective school where you’ll then receive a rating about the school that includes the size of the student body, reviews, test scores, etc. It also includes a link to the school’s website, phone number and real estate listings.

#2 Consider the commute

If you still have to work in the city, you’ll want to factor in the time it will take you to get to work from your potential new suburb. This is really important to figure out if you or your partner will be willing to add in additional time into your daily commute. When we moved from Brooklyn, we found out that my husband’s new commute would be 50 minutes on the MetroNorth, which in comparison to his Brooklyn commute only added an additional 15 minutes. On the flip side, the MetroNorth monthly pass cost around $200 more than the monthly MetroCard, so there were new costs that we had to factor into our budget when we moved. We also lived close to our train station so he could walk to the train. However, many people live outside of the town center and have to pay for a yearly parking permit, which is another cost to consider.

#3 Visit the town

Once you have your commute figured out and are happy with the schools, you’ll want to visit the town. Before we moved, we spent a few days in our new town, having lunch in the area, checking out where the nearby stores were, visiting the local parks and just getting to know what the vibe was like. We also visited the school and had a tour with the Vice Principal to ask additional questions about the school as well as get to see it in person.

#4 Ask questions

We are living in a digital world where we can connect (for better or worse) to literally anyone. When thinking about moving to the suburbs, join a local Facebook group to connect with members of your prospective community. For me, this involved joining a parenting group where I could ask questions about the area as well as get recommendations for local doctors, dentists, day care centers and more. I found this to be really helpful and the community was super welcoming, offering insight and personal advice to my new prospective area that I didn’t find from my initial research. I was also able to connect with people who had kids that were my kids’ ages where we arranged to meet for a playdate with our kids.

#5 Visit homes

Once you feel like you have a good perspective on your potential and feel like you have all of the information needed, you’ll want to get serious about locating a new home. Using all of the information and research you conducted, you’ll have a better sense of the specific area that you want to look for, as you factor in the other aspects of the home buying process: budget, house size, location, to name a few.

#6 Prepare the kids

During this whole research and buying process, you’ll want integrate them in the conversation about moving. This can be hard if your children are older and have their own set of friends and a school that they love. Make sure that you communicate this to them and involve them, as I mentioned, in seeing the new home, meeting people in your new town and visiting their school.

#7 Say goodbye

Of course, you’ll want to say goodbye to your family and friends before you move. Consider having a going away party where your kids can hang out with your friends and you can celebrate your exciting new move to suburbia.

#8 Time to move

Now, it’s time for your big move! You did your research,  visited your new town and said your goodbyes. This will likely be an emotional day as you move from the city. It’s ok to shed a few tears as you say goodbye to the city while embarking on a new chapter in your life.

It’s a big deal to up and leave the city. When you are thinking about this type of move, research is crucial to ensure that you find the right suburb. When my family and I moved from Brooklyn to Westchester, I found this to be a challenging time with a lot of unknowns about the towns in Westchester. Visiting the town, school and meeting people were really beneficial and helped my family to shape our decision to embark on this exciting move.

SAN FRANCISCO UNIVERSITY MOVES:

NOR-CAL Moving Services handles the relocation needs of the Universities located throughout the State of California and Texas. Our San Jose university moving services include, but are not limited to:

• storing furniture for the universities during construction
• setting-up classes for semester ending exams
• setting up before and after for college athletics.

We are trusted by higher education facilities throughout California and Texas for all their moving needs.

We provide a wide range of transportation and warehousing services for local and state universities based on the unique requirements of the facility. Our highly-trained crews are professional and efficient, possessing the ability to work quietly and quickly as not to disrupt students or faculty during the relocation process. We have the specialized services to move university libraries or laboratories based on the unique needs of the university. In addition, our warehouses are fully secured with fire and theft protection systems, conveniently located for any short-term or permanent storage needs of the universities.

We provide competitively-priced, turnkey moving and storage solutions for universities based on their unique requirements. NOR-CAL Moving Services is the mover chosen by the most prestigious universities in California and Texas.
When it comes to moving universities, "We're the leader, and we got there by doing the job better than our competition." Fill out our online quote form to request your estimate right now. Contact us today for detailed information about our San Francisco university moves.

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SPECIALIZED MOVING

How to pack handbags for moving:

In all likelihood you consider your handbag to be your “survival kit” in everyday life – from your phone and your wallet to your lipstick and your pocket tissues, it contains everything you may need while you’re out of home. Besides, it is a fashionable accessory to your outfit and helps express your personal style and aesthetic preferences. Therefore, the chances are that you count your clutches, satchels, and purses among your most cherished possessions – and will want to keep them safe and intact for as long as possible.

When moving house, however, your handbags will be at risk – they may easily get scratched or creased when packed together with other items, the delicate leather may be torn, the fine fabric may be stained, etc. Unless you protect them well enough, you may find your bags ruined when you unpack them at your new home. To prevent such a misfortune, you need to know how to pack handbags for moving the right way.

Here are some great packing ideas that will help you ensure the safety of your clutches and purses during the arduous moving process:

Preparation matters
To be able to pack your handbags safely and efficiently, you need to properly prepare them for the journey to your new home:

Empty your handbags – Any items you leave inside may cause damage to the bag during transportation – hard objects may result in creases and dents, makeup may spill and stain the fabric, etc. Besides, you’ll have no access to the bags’ contents until they are unpacked;
Clean your handbags well – You probably don’t want to relocate any dust or dirt your purses may have gathered over time to your new place. Besides, the delicate leather or fabric of a handbag may be permanently marred if it stays covered in grime for the entire period of the move (your bags may stay tightly wrapped in boxes for days, or even weeks);
Apply a protective spray – Your purses, especially leather ones, can use the added protection – a conditioning and waterproofing spray will go a long way to preserving the excellent condition of your bags during transit;
Stuff the bags to maintain their shape – Fill your handbags with crumpled paper or packing peanuts to make sure that they will keep their shape;
Close all zippers, buckles, and snap fasteners to reduce the risk of damage during transportation;
Wrap any exposed hardware in tissue paper or bubble wrap (secure the wrapping in place with packing tape if necessary).
Now, your handbags are ready to be packed for moving.


Separate equals safe
You certainly know that delicate items – glasses, plates, pieces of art, etc. – need to be wrapped individually and packed in specialized moving containers (dish boxes, picture boxes, wooden crates, etc.) for better protection. While it is true that, unlike these items, handbags are not easily breakable, they are still very delicate (not to mention quite expensive, especially designer ones) and need a similar level of protection in order to survive the move safe and sound.

So, whether you have only a couple of highly comfortable handbags or a large collection of purses in various colors and styles, you need to pack them separately from your other items (including clothes):

Any contact between sharp objects (such as zippers, buttons, and belt buckles, for example) and the fine leather or fabric of your handbags may result in scratches or tears;
Any pressure on your handbags may cause them to crease and lose their shapes;
Colored items (like dyed clothes) may leave marks on the handbag surface if pressed to it for a prolonged period of time; etc.
Therefore, to prevent damage to your purses, you need to prevent contact between them and the rest of your belongings. Fortunately, this is easy enough:

1) Wrap every individual handbag in a protective layer

Your best option is to put your clutches and purses in “dust bags” – thin cloth bags with drawstrings, especially designed to provide protection against dust, dirt, and moisture. Most designer handbags come with one, so all you need to do in order to protect your quality purse is to put it in its duster. If you don’t keep the dust bags (or if your handbags didn’t come with ones in the first place), you can buy some online – they’re not expensive and are usually sold in lots of ten or five pieces which is very convenient if you have several handbags to pack for moving.

Alternatively, you can simply put your purses in pillow cases or wrap them in old sheets or other soft, clean fabric materials (preferably white) that you have at home.

SEE ALSO: What packing materials for moving do I already own

It is also good idea to add some bubble wrap around the dust bags and the fabric-wrapped bags for maximum protection (do not forget to secure it with tape).

2) Place each handbag in an individual box

The best way to pack handbags is to put them in separate boxes of appropriate sizes, provide sufficient cushioning inside the boxes, and seal them well:

Choose a sturdy cardboard box that is slightly larger than the purse, line the bottom of the box with packing paper, and place your securely wrapped handbag in it;
Fill any empty space in the box with bubble wrap, crumpled paper, or packing peanuts;
Place a few layers of packing paper on top and close the box;
Seal the box tightly with packing tape;
Put all small boxes containing your purses in a large moving box, tape it shut, and label it “HANDBAGS”.
3) Make sure the box containing your handbags is well secured in the moving truck and nothing heavy is placed on top of it.

Your handbags will arrive at your new home safe and intact. You have nothing to worry about now that you know how to pack purses for moving like a pro.

Call now for a cost estimate:
(800) 680-6439

4 Tips for Moving Your Pet:

Moving is stressful for everyone involved. Whether you are human, canine, or feline, the process of moving is incredibly stressful. At least you have the luxury of knowing what is happening; your pets don’t understand this which can cause even more stress.

As Hayward residential movers, we have years of experience moving families and pets. Over this time, we have picked up a few tips to help your pets deal with the transition.

• Pack Slowly- You are probably tempted to put off packing as long as possible, but this could be a problem. Not only does procrastination lead to haphazard packing, but it will add unnecessary stress for your pet. They will sense your panic and they will suddenly be overwhelmed by packing material. Introducing this change slowly ensures they have time to adjust and process.
• Prepare an Overnight Bag- When you are packing up items for the trip and first few days for yourself, don’t forget about Fido! Make sure you have their favorite toys, blankets, medications, and food. This will help them feel more at home in the new house.
• Vet Visit- If you are moving long distance, make sure you visit your vet one last time before your moving date. They will be able to advise you on if your pet will need any medication to help with the moving process and they will be able to tell you what you need when you get a new vet.
• Adjust Slowly- Just like how you had to warm them up to the moving boxes, let them warm up to your new home. Create a space that is just for them and filled with all of their favorite things. Slowly introduce them to other parts of the home. This may seem like a tedious process, but the gradual adjustment will allow them to get comfy without having a panic attack.

Your pets are an extension of your family. They may be your babies or best friends and they deserve the best. Just like how humans can feel the stress and difficulties of moving, so can your pets. Make sure they and your belongings are treated well.

Contact the Hayward moving experts at Nor-Cal Moving Services today. We will provide you with high quality moving services that you can depend on. Call or visit our website to get your FREE quote today!

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Driver Paul Seiffert Retires After 56-Year Career:

What makes a truly great moving truck driver, one who stands out in the minds of customers and coworkers alike? Whether it’s personality, experience, luck or a combination of all three, some drivers manage to excel in their field and leave a lasting impression on everyone they meet. For the past five decades, Paul Seiffert has been such a driver. Paul retired in August with 56 years and nearly 2.5 million safe miles under his belt, having won at least 19 company awards and forged many strong connections with others at Wheaton. Paul’s safety record and many awards speak for themselves, but we sat down with him for a more in-depth look at what it’s like to succeed in the moving business for more than half a century.

We started with a simple question: What drove Paul to become a driver in the first place? “Going from 25 cents to 2 dollars an hour,” Paul said without missing a beat. “That was 1962.” Paul accepted an offer to leave behind the job he had worked through high school and begin driving for Move Way in Minneapolis. He graduated on a Friday, and the following Monday, he went to work.

Paul began hauling interstate shipments the following year, driving a Wheaton truck when he headed east and a Lions Van Lines truck when he went west. He was soon contracted to drive another man’s truck out of Las Cruces, N.M. for a year. After frequent good reports on Paul’s professionalism and abilities, Lions offered to buy him his own truck. Amid these negotiations, Paul was informed that a letter had been following him around for the last year. The letter was from his mother: He’d been drafted.

“So that ended buying a truck,” said Paul. “By the time I got home, they had already filled the position. I never was drafted.”

Despite this brief roadblock, Paul stuck with the moving business and continued to make a name for himself as a dependable, personable driver, well-liked and respected by his colleagues and customers.

Fifty-six years is a long time to spend in any business, and Paul has seen countless changes to moving and to Wheaton itself. Speaking of the old days, he said, “If there were two Wheaton drivers in the same area, we were always together. We always knew each other, we always helped each other.” The only recompense for that help was usually being treated to dinner and good conversation. That kind of camaraderie is something Paul would like to see more of among today’s drivers, citing those good relationships as one of the keys to his enduring success.

Another important relationship in Paul’s life is his marriage to his wife, Kay. Paul and Kay celebrated their 52nd anniversary in August. “It cost me a hundred dollars,” Paul joked. “My wife likes lobster.” Because August is such a busy month in the moving industry, this was one of the first times in 40 years that Paul was able to spend his anniversary at home. He credits his long, happy marriage to his wife’s patience and hard work. “She did it all. She raised the kids, took care of everything at home. Special woman,” he said. Paul and Kay had three children: One daughter in 1968, a second daughter in 1970, and a son in 1977 who, sadly, passed away. They enjoy nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, and they have another great-grandchild on the way.

Several Wheaton employees have known Paul for decades, and all are eager to praise both his work accomplishments and his everyday kindness. Ken Krabbe, Sr., who has been with the company for many years and who is currently working as a Seasonal Dispatcher, had this to say when asked about Paul: “I’ve known Paul for at least 40 years or more, and he’s been one the best drivers to work with over the years. He’s always easy to get along with, and he hasn’t really changed over all those years. He always loaded and delivered on time, provided excellent service for all his customers… Just a great person and friend.”

“Paul Seiffert has been a top rate, quality mover for this van line for five plus decades,” said Ron Borkowski, Vice President of Operations. “Even more, he is a selfless, unassuming and classy individual. The value he has brought to our company is immeasurable.”

Chairman of the Board, Stephen F. Burns, says he’s grateful for Paul’s many years of friendship as well as his professionalism. “Paul epitomizes what all Wheaton representatives should strive to be. His work ethic is second to none. His honesty and integrity is above reproach. He will be sorely missed, but his image will be indelibly printed in my mind. Thanks, Paul, for all your contributions in the last 50+ years, and thanks for being such a special friend.”

How has Paul made such an impact on so many? He says that the secret to success is being proud of what you do and doing it to the best of your ability. When asked what advice he would give to young drivers, he emphasized thinking before you act and considering the impact that your decisions will have on you, your customers and the company.

It’s also important, Paul said, to understand your customers and adjust your approach accordingly. “I’ve always enjoyed the work… Even though you do the same thing day in and day out, you’ve always got different customers. You handle them differently to get along with them.” He pointed out that some customers are all business, while others respond to joking and friendliness. Being able to tell the difference can help drivers leave a great impression wherever they go.

One of Paul’s favorite stories comes from his early days with Wheaton, when he and a few other young drivers were playing football in the corporate parking lot between moves. They spotted an older man who was walking around nearby, picking up trash on the grounds. One of the drivers pointed out the old man and said, “We’re so lucky to have jobs!” They all assumed that the man was homeless or unemployed.

Paul knew better. “That’s Mr. Earnest Wheaton,” he informed the others.

Aside from being a humorous moment, Paul always appreciated that Wheaton’s founder, Earnest Wheaton, led by example. No task was beneath him. That same kind of humility is immediately evident when talking with Paul, who dodges praise and shies away from the spotlight. Still, we think it’s important to recognize Paul Seiffert and hold him up as an example of how to be the best you can be, both as a driver and as a friend.

Congratulations on your retirement, Paul, and thank you for 56 years of moving people’s lives!

How to Unpack Your Home After a Move—and Minimize Stress!

You’ve spent months planning, packing, and preparing for moving day, and you’re finally able to take a deep breath and assess your new home—only to see rooms filled with boxes that now need to be unpacked. 

Getting your new house in order after a move can be just as daunting as the moving process itself, and Move-Pros is here to help. Below we’ve laid out a few of our favorite tips for making the unpacking process a smoother, less stressful adventure:  

1. First Things First—Start With the Essentials

One of the first boxes loaded into the new house should be the essentials you need to be comfortable while unpacking. These include personal toiletries, cleaning supplies, and any “must-haves” for making it through a couple nights without the rest of your items.

2. Get Your Kitchen Up and Running

Your family needs to eat, and ordering take-out while moving can quickly add up. Get your kitchen in order first to minimize the stress of planning meals. As an added bonus, a put-together kitchen can make everything feel homier instantly!      

3. Set Up Bedrooms and Bathrooms

After your kitchen is good to go, the next step is the bedrooms and bathrooms. Get all the labeled boxes into their correct rooms, and then start with unpacking one area before moving on to the next room of the house.      

4. Plan Out the Room Before Unpacking

When unpacking a house, you don’t want to constantly be moving things around. Before you start on a room, get the furniture arranged and create a plan for how you want it to look. Having a vision of the final outcome in your head while unpacking will help the whole process go more efficiently.      

5. Organize as Your Go

It’s easy to want to hurry through unpacking just to get boxes out of the way, but resist the urge to take shortcuts! If you need to clean, add cabinet liners, or put up shelves, get those projects done first so everything has a place to go and clutter is kept to a minimum.

Getting settled into your new home is an exciting time in anyone’s life, but that doesn’t mean that it’s an easy process! By working with a qualified moving provider like Move-Pros and following the helpful tips and tricks above, you can make your household move a seamless process that gets you back to enjoying your busy life in no time.