Everyone loves settling into a new place, but very few like the process of moving. Add in some below freezing temperatures, a few flurries or the dreaded sleet and an already arduous task becomes a nightmare.

Luckily, there are some advantages to moving in an off-peak season like fall or winter. Those using movers pretty much have their choice of prime dates. And usually, many leasers are so desperate …]]>

Everyone loves settling into a new place, but very few like the process of moving. Add in some below freezing temperatures, a few flurries or the dreaded sleet and an already arduous task becomes a nightmare.

Luckily, there are some advantages to moving in an off-peak season like fall or winter. Those using movers pretty much have their choice of prime dates. And usually, many leasers are so desperate to get an apartment rented out that they waive security deposits. But there are a few things you should keep in mind when making an off-season move.

Safety first

Moving is a contact sport; we pick up boxes, carry furniture up-and-down stairs and are always on our feet. You’ll need to take a few more breathers than expected, even if it’s not on your agenda. Don’t let the low temperature play a trick on you; you still need to keep hydrated through the whole process.

Drink plenty of water. Have a few extra gloves and hand warmers for yourself and your helpers. And don’t be afraid to take a break for some hot tea, a warm meal or even some shut eye. We like to joke with our customers that the first thing we set up is the bed so you can take a nap!

Slow down

Be extra careful! The more the temperature drops, the more likely a slip-and-fall incident can occur. And with a large piece of furniture in your hand, a simple step up can turn into a disaster. We like to wrap our larger pieces of furniture in padding before we start moving things out of your old apartment. And we are always very careful of fragile items in boxes and take extra care to not damage anything.

Avoid a bad encounter with black ice be being aware of where you’re going and moving slowly. Rushing through the process on iffy weather days can cause drops or lost items, and that only adds to the stress. Take your time packing, and take it easy on the move. It will get one.

Choose your van and driver wisely

Winter is unpredictable, especially in Chicago. And winter driving is a pain when there are snow gusts, ice on the roads, sleet and hail, or darkness as early as 4pm. Add to that a moving truck filled with thousands of dollars in furniture, clothes, dining items and everything else you own? Anxiety runs very, very high.

In this instance, it’s never good to skimp. If you’re not 100% comfortable with navigating the winter roads in the big moving truck, ask a friend who you truly trust. And if you don’t know of anyone, hire someone. We only work with skilled, professional drivers that maintain their trucks and themselves to the highest standards. If you’re going to splurge on anything in your upcoming move, we suggest investing in a reliable driver.

You finally made the big move, and you’re just getting adjusted to your new home. Congrats! Moving can seem like a never-ending process of boxes, bags and bubble wrap. And you’re ecstatic about settling into your new place. But don’t get too comfortable just yet. You need to let some people know you moved, and below is a list to get you started.

The essentials

These are the easiest to remember: the post …]]>

You finally made the big move, and you’re just getting adjusted to your new home. Congrats! Moving can seem like a never-ending process of boxes, bags and bubble wrap. And you’re ecstatic about settling into your new place. But don’t get too comfortable just yet. You need to let some people know you moved, and below is a list to get you started.

The essentials

These are the easiest to remember: the post office and your friends and family. Sure, most of our bills are online and shipped to us via email, but we still do get some form of snail mail daily. Be sure to go online and update your address with every major mail carrier. And you can shoot your family and friends a quick email with your new digs as well; they’ll need it for the housewarming!

Financial Institutions

And we’re not talking just about your insurance company, bank and credit union. Every financial company you do business with needs an address update. That includes your credit card companies – including department stores, boutique shops and restaurants (ahem, Starbucks). A few others you need to contact:

• All your lenders – mortgage, home equity, auto and student loans
• Retirement pensions plans, 401K, IRAs, social security and veteran affairs
• And don’t forget Google, PayPal, Mint and any other online bill payer.

Health providers

This should probably be near the top of your list. And the first one you contact should be your insurance company. Next, get in touch with your pharmacy and any hospitals that you’re on file at. Don’t forget to let your primary care physician know. And when the time comes, alert people like your dentist, eye doctor and other specialty physicians.

Even if you’re moving to another area and have to change primary care physicians, it’s still a good idea to update your address with the one you’re saying goodbye to. Send a thank-you card along to any doctor you’ve been with for a while. It’s a small gesture, but such a great way to cut ties.

Memberships, subscriptions and service providers

This list includes a lot of things people forget to update. Maybe you read your favorite magazine online, but still love to get that printed copy each month. Remember to update all of your subscriptions: movies, magazines (USPS will only forward them for 2 months), newspapers, book and music clubs, and mail order houses.

Also be sure talk to the people at your house of worship, health club and community group. If your kids are in any extracurricular activities, let those organizations know as well. Here are a few others to keep in mind:

• Any home maintenance service providers: house cleaners, lawn care, pool services and landscapers
• Your veterinarian
• Your childcare provider

We realize this is only a partial list of who you need to tell about your big move, but we hope it gets the ball rolling. Once you’ve contacted all the necessary people, businesses and organizations, you can finally relax and enjoy your new digs.

Though the best way to familiarize yourself with a new place is to just walk …]]> Whether you’re moving to a new country, a new city or just a new neighborhood, it can be pretty intimidating to find your way around. There are more map applications and websites to count: MapQuest, City-Go-Round, Yahoo! Maps, Google Maps, etc. Modern technology has made finding places pretty easy. But knowing where to go to get what you really need? That’s more of a challenge.

Though the best way to familiarize yourself with a new place is to just walk around, you probably need more insight that just where things are. Looking up “Mexican restaurant” in the phone book won’t tell you if it’s good or not. An address and phone number isn’t a great way to figure out if there’s good service. So here are a few things you can do to find places, products and services that fit your needs in your new city.

Local media
Every city has a local newspaper. Scouring the business and features sections are good places to get some idea of what’s in the area. Also, check out local magazines, both the glossies and the alternatives. Those are great for long-form features on local restaurants, boutiques, salons and nightlife. And the smaller alternatives aren’t as advertising-dependent as larger publications; that means you’ll get a more honest review of what’s in town.

Reviews websites
Google Maps is great for giving you an address as well as reviews of a lot of places. But sites like Yelp are much more thorough when looking for something in particular in a new city. Let’s say you need a haircut. Head over to Yelp, type in “haircut” and the site will list local businesses that list “haircuts” as a service. To further narrow down your search, you can click on certain price points as well as areas and features. Once you’ve found a few you like, you can read the reviews of others who’ve been there.

Social networking sites
Twitter, Facebook and Foursquare are excellent tools for getting good information straight from actual consumers like you. A simple tweet or status update – “Does anyone know where I can find a fun cooking class?” – can net responses from people familiar with your new city. And sites like MeetUp.com can not only introduce you to new places, it also connects you with current residents of similar interests.

Here at Golan’s, we’ve got getting to your new residence covered. But we want to make sure that everything after the move goes smoothly as well. Trying a few of these tips will familiarize you with your new city and help you meet a few new people along the way.

Since 1987, Chai Lifeline’s mission has been to restore the light of childhood to children whose innocence ended when life-threatening or lifelong illness was diagnosed.

Through programs that address …]]> On November 3rd, 2010 Golan’s donated a truck and movers to help with the annual Chai Lifeline Toy Drive. The day required 10 stops from Wrigleyville to Northbroook, delivering toys collected from during their toy drive. Golan’s has been a proud sponsor of this endeavor for the last years.

Since 1987, Chai Lifeline’s mission has been to restore the light of childhood to children whose innocence ended when life-threatening or lifelong illness was diagnosed.

Through programs that address the emotional, social, and financial needs of seriously ill children, their families, and communities, Chai Lifeline restores normalcy to family life, and better enables families to withstand the crises and challenges of serious pediatric illness.