DFW Moving & Storage

Dallas movers Moucka and Lohner with DFW Moving and Storage offer tips and advice on how to safely move your pets.

Moving a Waterbed - Your waterbed is an investment in your comfort, health and well-being. With adequate planning and correct packing, your waterbed can be transported safely.

If you do not have an exact record of the cost of your waterbed, you might want to obtain a current retail cost prior to selecting a protection plan from your mover. If you desire replacement cost rather than depreciated protection, many moving companies, including United Van Lines, offer full-value coverage against loss or damage.

The following are some general guidelines for preparing your waterbed for shipping:

Draining and Disassembling Your Waterbed

• Disassembly time will vary with each waterbed because of the difference in mattress sizes and drainage methods used. For information on how to drain a particular type of mattress, contact a local waterbed store or the manufacturer. Allow adequate time to completely drain and disassemble your waterbed. Most moving companies require customers to drain mattresses prior to moving day.
• Unplug the mattress heater and allow it to cool before starting the drainage process. Otherwise, the heater can scorch or even melt your mattress.
• If your mattress is to be in storage for more than five weeks:
• Add mattress conditioner to the water a day or more before draining to prevent the growth of mold and mildew.
• Use a vinyl cleaner on the outside of the mattress as a protectant.
• There are three ways to drain waterbed mattresses:
• Straight siphon method - takes about an hour, can be used for “freeflow” mattresses that have no interior baffles.
• Using a faucet adapter and drain pump - typically comes with mattresses, can take up to three hours depending on your water pressure and type of mattress.
• Using an electric pump - available for rent or purchase at waterbed stores, draining typically takes about 30 minutes.
• Get as much water out of your mattress as possible!
• If you press down on the mattress and see a handprint afterward, continue draining.
• Have your cap and plug handy to place on the mattress fill/drain hole right after draining to ensure a vacuum-packed seal.
• Put all screws, nuts, and bolts in a plastic bag and tape it to the back of the frame.
• Ask your mover about arranging for drainage and disassembly of your waterbed.

Folding Your Mattress

• If you have a motion-reducing mattress, you must use special care while draining and moving it in order to prevent the interior baffles from shifting.
• After the mattress is completely drained and sealed: 
• Fold it into thirds, starting from the head of the bed and folding towards the foot.
• Make sure the baffles do not shift out of place, but if they do, try to reposition then. (They should be in place before you refill your mattress.)
• You may pack the folded mattress with blankets in a box.  Make sure it will not be at risk of being punctured or otherwise damaged by other items.
• Finish by folding the mattress in half widthwise.
• The heating pad and tube thermometer must be treated with care.
• Roll the pad and thermometer – each separately – from either end.
• Rolling items ensures the elements in each will not be broken or twisted.

Upon Delivery

• If any servicing or reassembly is required for your waterbed, advise your moving company representative at the time of your estimate so appropriate arrangements can be made. Because a waterbed holds 80 to 200 gallons of water, you should determine where you want the bed placed before you fill it.

Dallas movers Moucka and Lohner with DFW Moving and Storage offer tips and advice on how to safely move your pets.

Moving with Pets - Most of you wouldn’t dream of leaving your much-loved “family members” behind when your move. But pets, like people, are happiest and most content when in familiar surroundings. Many have an instinctive fear of a new environment, even though they may adjust to it quickly. 

Careful pre-planning will minimize or avoid relocation problems. Pre-planning for the transfer of your pet, as well as for your household goods, should begin as soon as you know you are going to move. Consider… 

State Laws and Regulations – Almost every state has laws applicable to the entry of pets.

•  Contact the state veterinarian in the capital of your new home state to learn the laws. You should also contact the city clerk or town hall in your destination city to learn about license fees and regulations for your pet.
•  Vet Visit – Many states require a health certificate listing of all inoculations and  verifying that your pet is free from infectious disease. Ask your vet for the certificate and keep it handy when traveling. To find a vet in your new state, ask your current vet for a recommendation. You can also call the AAHA at (800) 252-2242 and ask for the Member Service Center or visit their Web site at www.healthypet.com.
• Pet Identification – In addition to permanent identity and rabies tags, make an ID tag with your pet’s name, your name, destination address, and an emergency name, address and telephone number, in case you cannot be reached. A luggage-type tag with writing space on both sides is easy to use.
• Familiar Surroundings – Once moved into your new home, use your pet’s familiar food and water dishes, bed, blanket, and toys to make him/her feel “at home.” Try to keep things in the same locations as they were in your previous residence – for example, food and water dish by the back door.

Moving Your Pet by Airplane

• Contact airlines for their rules and regulations, transportation charges and pet insurance.
• You will be responsible for a shipping container/carrier to transport your pet.
• Make your reservations well in advance, because pet approval is granted on a first-come, first-served basis.
• Feed your pet no less than five or six hours before flight time, and give him/her a drink of water about two hours before take-off.

Moving Your Pet by Auto

• Plan ahead and purchase carriers, supplies and first-aid kits. Start a list of items you’ll  need for a pet travel kit including collapsible dishes, favorite toys, your pet’s regular food and a few treats.
• If your pet is not used to car travel, start taking him/her on short trips to get accustomed  to car motion. If necessary, ask your veterinarian about tranquilizers to relax your pet.
• Do not feed or water your pet just before starting. A few treats during the day will keep him/her satisfied. Plan regular stops to give your pet a drink or a short run. Take a container of fresh water with you, because a sudden change in drinking water may cause a temporary upset stomach.

Moving With a Dog

• After moving into a new house, immediately walk your dog around the neighborhood so that he/she becomes familiar with the new area.
• Maintain the feeding and walking schedule from your original residence.
• Immediately establish boundaries in your neighborhood or yard for your dog to roam.

Moving With A Cat

• Do not let your cat outside until he/she is familiar with the new living environment to reduce the risk of running away.
• Constantly surround your cat with familiar items during the move to reduce the emotional effects on your cat.
• Do not expose your cat to your new living arrangements all at once. Limit the number of rooms the cat is allowed in and gradually let your cat explore.

Careful pre-planning will minimize or avoid relocation problems. United has created a booklet that offers suggestions for simplifying the transfer of your pet, including a checklist of things to do and a special section on horses and ponies. For a copy of “Moving with Pets,” contact a United agent in your area.

Dallas movers Moucka and Lohner with DFW Moving and Storageoffer tips and advice on how to safely move a hot tub.

Your portable hot tub represents a sizable investment in your comfort and enjoyment. Naturally, you want to safeguard it from damage during your move. With careful pre-planning and proper preparation, it can be transported safely to your destination.

The Pre-Move Survey

• Be sure to point out your hot tub to the moving company representative as the time of your estimate.
• Because of the space portable hot tubs take on a moving van, a “bulky article charge” will be included in your estimate.
• If you do not have an exact record of the cost of the hot tub (including any accessories you have purchased), you may want to obtain the current retail price prior to selecting a protection plan for your mover.

Preparation Before The Move

• The construction of hot tubs varies greatly, so it’s best to call the dealer or manufacturer before dismantling any part of the unit. A few rules of thumb, however, do apply.
• Most important is that the equipment pack be serviced prior to the move. The equipment pack consists of the heater, filter(s), pump, blower, and electrical and plumbing units. It weighs about 40 pounds, with most bolted down by screws.
• Many dealers recommend removing the equipment pack, draining it and packing it separately in a sturdy box; however, for some models, it’s best to leave it attached to the shell.
• The hot tub must be drained prior to moving day.
• If you have had the unit only a short time and have not experienced draining it yourself, either call the dealer to make arrangements or obtain instructions on doing it yourself. Most hot tubs are equipped with a hose bibb drain that attaches directly to a garden hose.
• After draining, a hot tub typically still contains about five or six gallons of water. You should use a wet-dry vac to remove the remaining water so it does not spill and damage your carpeting and/or floor.
• If you are moving from a warm climate to a cooler one where freezing temperatures are possible during the move, the entire plumbing system should be drained by a high-pressure vacuum. This will eliminate potential damage to the pipes. You should not attempt to do this yourself.

Upon Delivery

• When you reach destination, carefully check your hot tub. If there is any damage or missing parts, make a notation on the inventory. Most moving companies, as a part of their normal services, will place a hot tub in the location you request at destination. You should plan for reassembly of your unit by a local dealer. If you need help in making these arrangements, check with your agent prior to your move.
• Remember, pre-planning is the key to successful transportation of your hot tub, just as it is with your other treasured possessions. Your efforts before the move will ensure the enjoyment of your hot tub for years to come.

Dallas movers Chris Moucka and Mike Lohner, founders of DFW Moving and Storage, offer tips on how to have a successful garage sale before you move.

Planning a Garage Sale - A garage sale held prior to moving can help both lighten the load and bring in some extra cash.

Pre-plan

• Pre-planning brings to mind details that otherwise might be overlooked in organizing a garage sale, highlighting the various steps necessary for its ultimate success. Allow at least three weeks for preparation.
• Check with local authorities for restrictions applying to garage sales. You might need a special permit or be required to pay a fee or collect sales taxes. Signs advertising the sale might be limited or prohibited.
•  Consider a joint sale with one or more neighbors; share the work, fun and profits. The greater the assortment of items you have to offer, the more potential customers you’ll attract and the more successful the sale will be.
• Decide where to hold the sale — the garage, patio, yard, basement of if other families are involved, a central or community location.
• Set a date and hours for the sale. Sales on weekends and warmer weather generally fare better. In some communities, there are “traditional” days for sales. Arrange for alternate dates in case of rain. It’s best to avoid holidays.
• Let your insurance agent know you’ll be holding a sale, and make certain your homeowner’s policy will cover any liability for injuries.
• Start saving shopping bags and cardboard boxes for customers’ convenience.

What to Sell

• Go through your house with a record sheet or notebook, listing everything you want to sell. If you have fewer than a hundred items to offer, consider having a joint sale with one or more neighbors.
• Generally, proceeds are not taxable, provided the merchandise is sold for less than what you paid for it and you’ve held no more than a few garage sales in the past year.

Sorting It All Out

• After identifying items you want to sell, the next step is gathering them all together and making sure they are tiptop shape.
• Gather all of the items in one place for convenience in pricing and making minor repairs. Sewing a gaping seam and adding glue or a nail can mean the difference between a sale and a “leftover.”
• Bundle various “go-togethers,” such as cake pans and a cake rack, all of which could be sold as a unit. Or, wrap a few unrelated items together as a “surprise” or “grab bag” specials.
• See that clothing and linens are clean, and that sizes are clearly marked. Preferably, iron them and put them on hangers or fold neatly. Pair shoes and mark sizes.
• If you’re having a sale with other people, be sure to mark each item with a code number and/or color so it can be identified easily when sold. This will eliminate questions about profits at the end of the sale.
• As you identify items to be sold, put price tags on them right away and take to the garage sale holding area. Don’t wait until just prior to the sale to start pricing. Price tags should be placed on the underside of dishes – never on top where the pattern could be damaged during the removal of the tag.

Pricing

• Items should be priced according to their worth to consumers, not the seller. For items in good working order, charge about 20 - 30 percent of the original purchase price. Used clothing and books generally fetch lower prices.
• Keep prices in increments of $.25 or whole dollars – for ease in figuring costs and change due.  Remember, you can always go down on a price, but you can never go back up.
• When setting a price on each item or group of items, keep in mind that your merchandise is used and should be priced accordingly. Try to look at your items objectively.  Look for a happy medium – not too high, not too low – with enough leeway for a little bargaining. Make exceptions for the “collectibles” you think warrant a higher price.
• Mark “AS IS” on anything that doesn’t work or is in some way defective, and price accordingly.
• Place a price tag on each article, and list the prices on a record sheet. For convenience and to avoid lost tags, use the press-on tags available at stationary and office supply stores. Small pieces of masking tape will also work.

Advertising

• They key to a profitable garage sale is to operate it like any successful retail business in a competitive market. One way to do this is to advertise cleverly and aggressively. 
• Consider coming up with a slogan to use on large signs, as well as using balloons. Be sure to play up ad offbeat merchandise that mint intrigue and attract shoppers.
• Let people know about your garage sales by:
• Running an ad in your neighborhood newspaper.
• Announcing the sale to members of clubs in your community.
• Putting signs in windows or on bulletin boards of neighborhood stores.
• Inserting a notice in your church newsletter or school newspaper.
• Distributing announcements throughout the neighborhood.
• Put up signs in the area the day before your garage sale. Be sure to have a BIG sign at the sale site. Also remember to retrace your route and take down signs and announcements after your sale.
• When making signs, BIG and BOLD lettering is a must. Include the date, times and address of the sale. Black lettering on white or yellow paper is very effective.
• If you put up directional signs in your neighborhood, be consistent with their appearance so shoppers don’t get confused and attend another sale.
• Don’t be surprised if you have shoppers arriving the night before the sale just to look around, or who arrive an hour before your posted start time. You must decide if you want anything sold before you are ready.

Displays

• Before arranging your wares, remove from the sales area everything you don’t want to sell. Cover with a sheet or drop cloth heavy items that can’t be moved and attach a big “NOT FOR SALE” signs to them.
• Organize clothing by size and set up a rack on which to hang apparel. A clothesline stretched across the garage or a ladder suspended horizontally from the ceiling will serve this purpose.
• Boards set across sawhorses will serve as temporary display counter. Leave aisles wide enough for customers’ convenience.
• Group similar items together. Use corrugated cartons to hold smaller article, compact discs, records, and books. Stand compact discs, records, and books on end for easy flipping.
• If possible, provide a convenient electrical outlet or extension cord for testing appliances.
• Have a tape measure on hand so shoppers can measure furniture to see if it will fit in a particular spot in their home.
• If you have a lot of clothes for sale, consider providing a mirror and makeshift dressing room. Make sure you have someone in charge of checking shoppers into and out of the room. In order to prevent shoplifting, it is wise to use cards with numbers that correspond to the articles of clothing shoppers want to try on.
• Consider making a sign for each area of your sale, such as Books, Magazines, and Music; Housewares and Kitchen Gadgets; Odds and Ends; Everything on This Table 3 for $1; and Surprise Grab Bags $.25.

Security

• There is always the possibility that your sale might be visited by people hoping to pick up something for literally nothing. To guard against this:
• Try to always have at least two people present so the sales are is never left unattended. A person alone in the selling area might be subject to physical intimidation by the unscrupulous. Shoplifters often work in pairs, so one can distract the seller’s attention while the other takes wanted items. Be alert to these tactics.
• Instead of keeping your cash in a small box, wear a money belt to make change, and keep large bills in your pocket.
• Group similar items together. Use corrugated cartons to hold smaller article, compact discs, records, and books. Stand compact discs, records, and books on end for easy flipping.
• Allow customers in the sales area only. Strangers might visit your sale solely for learning whether you have anything worth burglarizing later.
•  If anyone brings a shopping bag or other container, ask that it be left with you until the decision of what merchandise to buy has been made.
• Keep an eye on people who loiter for no apparent reason, particularly those who seem to be watching you.
• Display small, easily concealed items in an area that will be easy for you to watch – perhaps near the checkout counter.
• Keep the doors of your residence locked while you are conducting the sale at your home. If you have a cordless telephone, take it with you, but keep it away from shoppers.
• The most effective way of frustrating suspected pilferers is to follow them around and ask what they are interested in and whether you can help. Such close supervision will soon cause them to leave.

Ready, Set, Go!

• Have everything ready the day before the sale so you will be ready to go at your advertised starting time. You’ll need:
• Plenty of change, including dollar bills. Pick up coin rolls at the bank before the sale. Be sure you know how much change you have on hand to start with.
• An old fishing tackle box or plastic container that has divided sections to use for change.
• Paper and pencil for computing costs. (A small calculator is helpful but crucial if you have to charge sales tax.)
• A record sheet. Mark off without delay the items sold and price changes made.
• A trash container, which you should keep close by as items are sold so your sales area remains neat.
• Wrapping supplies – newspaper, shopping bags, cardboard cartons, twine, a stapler, and scissors or a sharp knife.
• Have a firm CASH ONLY policy, with big sign to that effect. Accept checks only if you know the writer well.
• Ask for a deposit if a customer wants an item “held.” It also is wise to set a time limit for holding items.
• It’s a good idea to keep pets confined during the sale. Some pets can become agitated by crowds and unfamiliar people, or drive shoppers away. Paws can be stepped on by over zealous shoppers.

Bargaining

• Bargaining is expected. List the price changes on your record sheet.
• Discounts, especially on major items, often will close the sale. Ten percent is a good beginning discount offer.
•  Some shoppers might want to bargain with you at the beginning of your sale. Tell them you will discount everything after lunch if they come back.
• Reduce prices near the end of the sale. A cash profit, however small, is better than winding up with many leftovers.
• After the Sale
• Divide up the profits if the sale was a cooperative effort, remembering to deduct the amount with which you began.
• Many banks charge a fee to count and roll loose coins, so you might want to let your children have fun doing that job.
• Keep the money in a safe place until it can be deposited in the bank.
• Remove all sale signs you put up.
• Consider donating any leftover items to charitable organizations such as Goodwill, the Salvation Army and children’s homes. They generally give a receipt for donation so the value can be deducted on a donor’s income tax return. Or, contribute leftovers to church rummage sales, resale shops, schools or community centers.

Congratulations - You’ve made a profit by disposing of all those things you didn’t want to take to your new home…and wasn’t it fun, too?

Dallas movers Mike Lohner and Chris Moucka founded DFW Moving and Storage over 18 years ago and have moved thousands of people both locally and across the United States. As an Agent for United Van Lines DFW Moving and Storage adheres to the high standards for customer care and quality of service. For more information about how to move call DFW Moving and Storage at 972-242-7711.

DFW Moving and Storage provides moving services to clients in Dallas, Frisco, Plano, McKinney, Allen, Garland, Mesquite, Carrollton, Farmers Branch, Coppell, Lewisville, Denton, Southlake, Grapevine, Flower Mound, and Irving.