Insert witty caption about motorcycles here.

If you have a motorcycle and you need to move, then, logically, you’ll need to move your motorcycle. While you could always drive it to your new home, this isn’t always possible, especially when moving a long distance. Unless you don’t mind riding your motorcycle to your new home with a bunch of cardboard boxes strapped to your back (please don’t do this), you’ll have to find a way to relocate your bike.

One of the best ways is to rent a trailer that is specially designed for the purpose of moving motorcycles. (If you need to rent a truck anyway for your move, you can kill two birds with one stone and get them at the same place.) These special trailers come with wheel chocks and heavy-duty straps to make sure your machine won’t get banged around during the move.

Surprisingly, you could also put the motorcycle inside the moving truck, but, this can be more risky. First of all, you’d have to completely remove all the gas from the fuel tank. Secondly, you’ll have to really secure it into place. One method is to put it between two mattresses to keep it well padded. (If doing this, it would be a good idea to invest in some plastic mattress covers.)

Our final option for transporting motorcycles is to hire professionals to do it for you. If you decide to go this route, you’ll want to look into special movers to handle your prized motorcycle. And how do you go about finding movers for your motorcycle? You can start at Movers.com, where you can get free quotes for your motorcycle moving needs.

Home is where the heart (and vacation) is (are).

In these troubling economic times, a vacation is, unfortunately, out of the question for many families. This may be especially true for families who have recently moved. So, if a vacation isn’t in your budget, you might want to take a staycation instead. Not only will you get to spend quality time with your family, but you’ll also get to know your new town a little better. If you do decide to go on a staycation, here are ten ideas for how to spend it:

1. Go camping - Whether you do this at a nearby campground or in your own backyard, spending a couple nights in a tent is great way to get away from it all, without traveling too far.

2. Stay at a local hotel - If you’re not up for roughing it, why not spend a night or two at a hotel for a change of pace? You can swim in the hotel’s pool, order room service, and have people clean up for you!

3. Have a get-together - With the free time you’ll have during your staycation, you can invite friends or relatives over. Whether you want to plan a fancy dinner party or just spend some time with those you haven’t seen in a while, having a get-together is a great idea.

4. Throw a block party - If you want to take on a larger get-together project, plan a block party for your neighborhood. Doing so will let you meet your new neighbors and get acquainted with those who share your street.

5. Technology vacation - Technology seems to be taking more and more control of our lives, so it may be nice to take a break and disconnect during your staycation. Understandably, it could be hard to give up all your gadgets, so you might want to avoid, at the very least, checking your work e-mail. (A staycation is still a vacation from work!)

6. Discover your town - Whether you’re new to the area or have been living there for a while, your town is most likely full of several places to discover. Check out your town’s website for local attractions so you won’t have to travel far for a good time.

7. Start cooking - Things are pretty hectic during the work week, so you might not get to cook as often as you’d like. During your staycation, though, you’ll have more time spend cooking. You could even take a culinary trip around the world by cooking up some internationally themed dinners.

8. Catch up on some books - We all have some books we’d like to read but never get around to. Well, if you’re on a staycation, you may finally have time to tackle something on your reading list.

9. Watch some movies - If reading isn’t your thing, spend your staycation watching some movies. Whether you want to watch all six episodes of Star Wars or have a romantic comedy marathon, the choice is up to you. Another good idea is to go to the movies during the day to take advantage of lower ticket prices.

10. Do some chores - Seriously. Though it might not be your ideal way to spend a vacation, you just might not have time to take care of some home improvement projects during the rest of the year. And, since the rest of your family will be home, everyone can contribute. Just remember to reward yourself at the end of the day. With all the money you’ve saved by going on a staycation, why not spoil yourself at a fancy restaurant?

The only thing missing here is you!

So, you’ve gone through all the trouble of moving and are in the process of settling into your new home. But that doesn’t mean you have to stay in every day. Your town is probably full of events and attractions and opportunities for you to get involved with this new community.

One of the easiest ways to get involved is to attend local government meetings. These will allow you to get a better sense of what’s going on in your town. It’s also a great way to meet new people who may share your passions and concerns. If you don’t know where or when such meetings take place, just go to your town’s website to find this information.

If you have children, getting involved can be even easier. You can attend PTA meetings, where you can meet other parents. You can also take advantage of your town’s organized sports programs. Signing your kids up and attending games and practices is a great way to get involved. Many towns also offer leagues for adults, in case you’d like to interact with more people your own age.

Another way to get involved in your new community is to seek out opportunities to volunteer. Not only will this allow you to meet like-minded neighbors, but it will also give you the chance to make a difference in your new town. You can check out websites like www.serve.gov and www.volunteermatch.com to find ways to volunteer.

There are many other ways to get involved with your new town, like joining a local religious organization or hosting a block party to meet your new neighbors. For more great ideas, check out this Movers.com guide.

The house long before becoming a mobile home

It is hard enough to take all of the belongings out of a house and bring them to a new house. However, that’s pretty simple compared to moving an entire house. This article in the Seattle Times tells the story of a house about to be moved and highlights exactly what is involved in the process.

The house at the center of the move, which would otherwise be scrapped and the land used for new houses, was built in West Seattle in 1927. It’s new owners plan to move it about a mile away from its current spot. In order to have it moved, the 25-ton house will be gradually lifted up off its foundation and onto steel beams. It will then be moved onto four dollies, which will be used to transport it to the new lot.

As you can imagine, the process of moving a whole house isn’t an easy one. With such a wide load traveling down the streets, the city has to make sure no cars are parked along the route. Also, the contractors in charge of the move have to ensure that the move won’t impact power lines or any other structures on the way to the new lot.

In this particular case, the attic of the home will have to be detached from the house, since it would be too tall otherwise. The home will given a new attic and roof, made from similar materials as the original home. Also, to limit the impact of such a move, the house will be moved at night, which is common practice for home moving. While this may be better for traffic, it can make things more difficult for those who want to witness the spectacle of an entire house traveling down the street.

You can read the entire article to get the whole story about this house relocation. And, if you ever need to move your own house, you can find out more about the process here.

Hopefully that box won't be sealed shut for long.

So you’ve moved into your new home and are now looking at a sea of cardboard boxes that need to be unpacked. Perhaps the one good thing about the packing process is that you have a definite deadline for when it has to be done. There isn’t really any deadline for unpacking, though, so many people end up with boxes that never get unpacked. However, follow the advice here for some tips on getting the unpacking done once and for all.

Right upon moving in, you’ll want to have all of your large furniture pieces unpacked and put into place. Whether you’re using professional movers or friends and relatives, it’s a good idea to take care of these heavy and bulky items while you have the extra pairs of hands present.

After these items are put away, you can focus on the smaller stuff now. It is recommended that you start with the kitchen, since that room is the hub of any home and because you’ll need to at some point. Start by unpacking the necessities, such as silverware, glassware, and your most-used appliances, like the coffeemaker. Your fine china and other items you won’t need right away can be kept in their boxes and put away at a later date.

Your next stop should be the bedroom. If you follow the advice here, the mattresses, headboards, and bed frames should already be in the appropriate bedrooms. Now you can work on setting the beds up. Of course, you’ll also want to make them, so locate the boxes containing your pillows and bed linens. You can also start on getting your clothes unpacked. Though you don’t have to put all the clothes away (those that are off season can wait a little longer), you should have a few changes of clothes put away by the end of the first or second day in your home.

Once you have unpacked the necessities in the kitchen and bedroom, the next step is the bathroom. While you should unload the essential items (toilet paper, soap, and towels) upon arriving, all of your other toiletries can be unloaded later in the day. Be sure you do this before you go to sleep though - you probably won’t want to dig through boxes to find your toothpaste after a long and tiring moving day.

After getting all the essential items unpacked and put away, you can turn your attention to everything else in the coming days and weeks. It is a good idea to start with fragile items, such as lamps, mirrors, picture frames, and other artwork. You can then work on unpacking the items in your living room, garage and everywhere else

By having a plan before you start unpacking, the process will go a lot smoother. Just remember that you don’t have to get everything unpacked in the first day or two. Just worry about getting the most essential items put away first, and the rest can soon follow.

For more information on the unpacking process, check out this Movers.com guide!

The time is slowly ticking down to the end of the day and the start of a three-day weekend.  I know I’m excited.  Despite the upcoming holiday, we’ve had quite a busy week.  Well, at least Patrick and I did.  Sean, meanwhile, has been out on vacation for the week.  Come Tuesday, the three of us will be well recovered from the holiday and back to sharing our moving expertise.

Thankfully, there isn’t any sign of rain for the weekend in our corner of the world.  Although, the temperature for the Fourth of July is supposed to be in the 90s.  Hot, yes.  But’s it’s summer.  It’s supposed to be that way.  As for how I’ll be celebrating the holiday, let’s just say it will involve grilling and fireworks.  Original, right?

Well, that’s enough out of me.  We hope everyone has a great and safe Fourth of July!

The good old red, white, and blue...and black, yellow, and green

Being the host of the World Cup, South Africa has gotten a lot of attention lately. In between the football soccer matches, we get see many images of this beautiful country. With its diverse population, pleasant climate, and economic stability, you may very well want to move there. But, before you pack your bags, here are some things to consider.

Paperwork

The first thing you’ll want to take care of is getting the right documentation to live there. You don’t want to fly all the way to South Africa, only to be held at customs for not getting the right visa. Depending on your personal situation, you may need one of the following:

• Business Visa - for running your own business in South Africa
• Work Visa - for working in the country
• Spousal and Life Partner Visa - if your significant other is a South African citizen
• Retired Visa - for retiring in South Africa

There are other types of visas as well, in case none of the above apply. Just check out this site for more information.

Jobs

If you plan on working after relocating, keep in mind that, like everywhere else, jobs may be hard to come by. What makes it even harder to find a job is that the government tries to ensure that its own citizens are hired before immigrants. The good news is that there are certain industries in which there is a shortage of skilled workers. So, if you are experienced in finance, IT, or engineering, you may have an easier time finding employment.

Housing

Housing units in South Africa are readily available to buy or rent. However, it is recommended that you hire a professional real estate agent. Since you might not be familiar with the exchange rate and other important factors, it is best to have someone well versed in helping foreigners buy South African real estate to assist you.

Finances

If you plan on staying in South Africa permanently, you’ll want to transfer all of your finances to your new bank. When doing so, you would need some documentation, such as a letter from your current bank detailing your use of the bank, a few months’ worth of banking statements, and a passport.

While you should easily be able to open a checking account, you should know that many stores do not accept checks, and it is advisable not to send checks in the mail. Rather, most transactions are paid with credit or debit cards instead of cash or checks.

Healthcare

South Africa has a very good healthcare system, and there are actually some health insurers providing services geared specifically to those who have moved from abroad. Despite the strong healthcare, though, South Africa has a high number of AIDS and malaria cases. Thus, you’ll want to do everything you can to protect yourself from getting these diseases.

Lifestyle

South Africa is an incredibly diverse country that offers something for everyone. With modern cities like Cape Town, Johannesburg, and Durban, smaller suburbs, and rural areas, you’ll probably have no problem finding a great place to live. South Africans enjoy many outdoor activities, and, with the beautiful landscape found throughout the country, who can blame them?

Despite the many positive aspects of living in South Africa, there are a couple things to be aware of. In addition to widespread AIDS, crime is a serious problem in certain parts of the country. To help protect yourself, do some research to find the areas with the lowest crime rates before deciding where in the country you’d like to live.

South Africa is certainly an interesting and diverse place to live. If considering such a relocation, it will be well worth it to visit the country first to check it out. No matter how good it looks on TV, it will be hard to decide if moving there is the right decision without actually seeing it firsthand.

It may be summer, but it's never too late for spring cleaning.

The process of selling a home is pretty complicated. One of the hardest aspects might be making your home appealing to those who come to look at it. That’s why you need to fix it up and clean it before selling.

Since the outside of your home is the first thing potential buyers will see, you’ll definitely want to leave them with a good first impression. One way is to fix up the landscaping of your home. Make sure the bushes and trees in front of the home are well manicured. You can also plant new grass seed and spread fertilizer on your lawn if it has brown spots or is otherwise patchy.

Of course, making sure the exterior of your home looks good is also important. You can freshen it up by giving it a new coat of paint or power washing it. Additionally, you’ll want to clean the gutters and remove any debris that has ended up on the roof. You should also repair any broken windows or other fixtures.

At the same time, the inside of your home may need some improvements as well. Try to make your home as clean as possible. If cleaning isn’t your thing, you can always hire a professional cleaning service to take care of this for you.

Just as important as cleaning up your home is ensuring that everything is in working order. Make sure that any appliance that will be sold with the home, such as the refrigerator, washer, and dryer, are in good condition. Also, check that your toilets, faucets, and light fixture are all working properly. You can also make some minor improvements, like painting the walls.

The more improvements you make to your home, the better chances you’ll have of selling it. Even if you still have a hard time selling your home (and in this economy, that could very well be the case), at least you’ll be able to enjoy the fruits of your home improvement labor until the home sells.

TIP: Promises of free ice cream can be a powerful tool in convincing friends to help you move this summer.

The school year is ending, air conditioners are pumping, and ice cream trucks are swarming around every block. These three signs indicate one thing: summer is here. Of course, one look at a calendar would also tell you that today is the first day of summer. But this isn’t just the start of the summer season, it’s also the start of moving season.

More people move in the summer than any other time of year. This is most likely due to the fact that kids are off from school, eliminating the challenge of having kids switch schools in the middle of the year. Additionally, many people will use their vacation time from work to take care of a move. Addin to this moving mayhem are college students, who often undergo two moves each summer: moving back home when classes end and returning to school for the fall semester.

If you are among the many people moving this summer, hopefully you have it already planned out. Since this is the busiest time of year for moving companies, they can get booked up. So, if you haven’t done so already, book your move as soon as possible.

If you are doing the move yourself and need to rent a van or truck, you should take care of this early as well. Not only are you competing with other people performing their own moves (especially college students at the start and end of summer), but also families renting larger vehicles to drive somewhere for vacation.

Should you need to fly to get to your new home, you should purchase your plane tickets as far in advance as possible. (If you still haven’t done so, go do it now. We’ll still be here.) The longer you wait, the more the prices can go up. Like when renting a van, the number of people traveling for vacation can limit the availability of tickets, while driving up the costs.

Another thing to consider when moving in the summer is the weather. Though long, warm, sunny days are great for summer activities, the heat can impact your move. Lifting all your boxes and carrying them to the truck can be hard enough. Doing so in the hot sun will make the task all the more difficult. When doing this, remember to wear sunscreen and light clothing, drink a lot of water, and take plenty of breaks.

If you are going to be relocating during this busy summer moving season, you won’t be alone. You can follow this advice to help your move go a little smoother. And, if you ever need any more help, you can rely on Movers.com for whatever you need!

Even fish like seafood - until they become it...

It seems that people tend to eat more seafood in the summer. Maybe it’s because fresh seafood perfectly complements a day spent at the beach. Another possibility is that we just enjoy the refreshing lightness of fish during the hot summer months. It’s also entirely possible that people just want an excuse to shout out “Throw another shrimp on the barbie!” like they mean it. Whatever the reason, summer is practically here, so we’ll all be eating more seafood.

While seafood is especially popular during the summer, many people love it all year round. If you fall into this category, then you might want to move to a location famous for its seafood. While there are Red Lobsters serving seafood all over the country, they can’t hold a candle to the fresh stuff available in these ten places:

1. Boston - In addition to being famous for its beans, Boston is an epicenter of great seafood. It is close enough to benefit from Maine’s supply of lobsters, clams from Rhode Island, and the wealth of seafood found in and around Cape Cod. It is also home to legendary restaurants, like Legal Sea Foods, the Union Oyster House, and the Barking Crab.

2. New York - New York is a center of different ethnicities and cultures, each with their own culinary styles. Of course, this translates into a wealth of different seafood offerings. Whether kung pao shrimp in Chinatown, seafood fra diavolo in Little Italy, or a bouillabaisse at a fancy French restaurant, everyone can find their favorite seafood dishes here.

3. Baltimore - Located right on the Chesapeake Bay, Baltimore has easy access to a wealth of great seafood. The most notable of the bay’s offering is the humble blue crab. Of course, you can’t eat crab in Baltimore without some Old Bay seasoning, which was invented in the city in the 1940s.

4. Savannah - While this city has plenty to offer in regard to art, culture, and history, its food is just as important. Those living in Savannah take advantage of coastal Georgia’s abundant and edible marine life, particularly it’s shrimp, crabs, and oysters.

5. Miami - With its constantly warm weather, festive atmosphere, and plentiful beaches, Miami is already a great place to live. When you add in the fact that it has an almost endless supply of fresh seafood (like swordfish, grouper, and snapper), it may be a heaven on Earth for some people.