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Moving is an ongoing exercise in stress.

You’re under constant threat of back injuries from lifting something the wrong way. You must juggle work and moving responsibilities, though dedicated to-do lists can help manage the chaos.

If you must move before you’ve found a new home, though, the biggest stress is where to put your stuff. You know there are storage sites, but what if you’ve never used one before?

Let’s jump in and shed some light on tracking down the right storage options for you.

Storage Options

Before you start scouring the internet or asking friends around about storage, it’s important to know the options.

Right at the top of most people’s lists are self-storage sites. This is where you rent a unit at a facility and fill it yourself. As a general rule, you want a facility that includes climate control to protect antiques, books, and photos.

Vaulted storage is where your belongings get packed into a wooden storage container and placed in a warehouse. Most vaulted storage facilities offer delivery services. You should, however, make sure they deliver to your final address.

Storage and moving containers are typically steel containers. You can get them delivered to your address to pack before the move. Most companies will also store and deliver the container at a later date.

If you plan to use containers, make sure to ask whether they get stored in a climate controlled facility.

Ask for Referrals for Storage Sites

Good luck finding an adult who hasn’t moved at least a few times. Millennials alone account for around 43% of all moves. The good news for you is that it means you can get referrals from your personal network.

The odds are that someone you know has a history with great, bad, and mediocre storage sites in the city. This can make your local move a much smoother affair. If you’re moving to another city, there’s a chance that someone you know lived there in the past.

You can turn to social media and ask for recommendations. Plus, there are always online review sites that excel at exposing how companies behave.

Ask Friends and Family

If you just need temporary storage while you knock a new place into shape, talk to friends and family. Someone might have a garage, room, or shed they don’t use for anything.

The key here is to play fair. Friends and family might offer the space for free, but you should insist on paying something. There are two good reasons for this.

First, it motivates you to get your stuff out of their space. It’s easy to get apathetic when you get things for free.

Second, it means they get something out of the deal. Even if you’re paying $50 or $100 a month, most people can use the money.

Parting Thoughts

Picking one of the many available storage sites is about making good use of your resources.

Your personal network is always a good place to ask for referrals. People move all the time, and you will know some of them. This extends to your digital network as well, by way of social media.

When all else fails, ask friends and family about temporary storage options.

Browning Moving & Storage specializes in residential and commercial moving and storage. For more information or a quote, contact us today.

With arctic temperatures setting record lows there has never been a better time to move to Lakeland, Florida. Even for residents of other southern climates, Lakeland is a great place to live and relocate to.

But if you are trying to find affordable moving companies to get to Lakeland you might not know where to start. Knowing who to trust or how to find the best deal can be challenging.

Use these three tips to get the best from your move:

1. Plan Ahead for Affordable Moving Companies

A proactive approach makes a big difference when it comes to getting value. Too many homeowners are left scrambling when it comes to finding affordable moving companies.

Pressed for time, they end up settling for a company with less than stellar service. They may even suffer lost property and damaged personal items as a result.

With existing home sales seeing record-setting highs in recent months it is all too easy to get caught by surprise. Instead of waiting, start working on securing a quality mover when you list your home or place an offer on a new one.

2. Look For Referrals and Reviews

All of us love getting the valuable insight of a trusted friend or family member when it comes to deciding on products or services.

But with new residents of Lakeland, it may not be so easy. People new to the area may have trouble knowing who to trust when it comes to moving companies.

Using a company with solid reviews is also a good bet. Either way, focus on referrals or reviews to get the best value.

3. Look for Value

One mistake many customers make is they buy the cheapest service they can find. Too much is at stake to gamble on the safety of your belongings.

Planning a move requires trust, reliability, and safety. You need a company with an excellent track record of sticking to a schedule.

Imagine the possible headaches if a mover doesn’t show up on time, or if they don’t reach your destination with your items intact.

Rather than solely choose based on price, pick based on value. The peace of mind and care you receive will be worth it.

Use The Best in Lakeland

The good news for residents of Lakeland and those relocating to the area is that there is a clear choice for moving companies. Customers rely on Browning Moving & Storage because of years of experience and top industry affiliations.

With customizable solutions for residential and commercial moves, Browning Moving & Storage can cater to the unique needs of customers. Plus, our United agent status gives us the resources of 7,000 trucks and over 21 million square feet of storage space.

We have the tools you need and the quality customer service to handle your move.

Contact Browning Moving & Storage today to get the service you can trust.

Are you moving your office to a different location? Upgrading to a bigger and better office is exciting, and is often a sign your business is doing well. But with moving comes a myriad of expenses and stress.

When you’re in a negative mood, this can impact the movers who are helping you through the moving process.

This may not be the biggest concern on your mind, but the movers are the professionals. They’re the ones who know how to achieve the easiest move possible.

Don’t let deadlines and time constraints stress you out. Here are 4 moving tips that will benefit you and a commercial moving company.

1. Schedule in Advance

To properly prepare yourself for your move, schedule your mover well in advance.

Give yourself at least several months lead time when contacting movers to schedule your relocation. The size of your company, distance of the move as well as availability will all be factors when determining your moving date.

2. Donate Old or Unused Office Equipment

Do you have office equipment, supplies, or even furniture you don’t want or need? Do good for someone in need while making the process smoother for the commercial moving company. Donate the unwanted equipment to charity.

This is especially true for outdated electronics. Do you plan on upgrading your printer, copy machine, phone, and even your computers? If they work well, resell them or send them to a charity.

3. Start Packing Early

When the moving company arrives, they want everything packed and ready to go. So the last minute moving deadline doesn’t interfere with your work, start packing early. Don’t stress about packing the whole office, pack a little at a time.

Worry about the little items first, such as the small items around your desk. As those are packed, focus on the larger objects such as furniture.

4. Always Label Your Boxes

Chances are, you’re upgrading to an office with different rooms. You’re going to need to direct your movers. If they see an unmarked box, they will place the box in a random place.

To increase production, label your boxes by the room they need to go.

When the boxes are in their designated rooms, this makes unpacking easier.

You also won’t endure the hassle of finding lost objects or materials. If the movers don’t know what’s in the box, they can’t be blamed for placing the boxes in the wrong room.

Will You Hire a Commercial Moving Company?

Moving to a brand new office is exciting and exhausting. If you’re not properly prepared, this only hurts you and the moving company. Use these tips to prepare yourself for your next move.

Always pack in advance, schedule your mover far in advance, donate unused equipment, and label your boxes.

When the time comes, your productivity and organization will satisfy the movers.

Are you a Floridian who’s on the move? We help residential and commercial moving in Tallahassee, Lakeland, and Tampa.

Studies show that the average person moves about 11 times in their life. While moving can be an exciting time to start something new, it can also be stressful, time-consuming, and expensive.

Luckily, there are steps you can take to make your moving process more manageable. If you’re moving in the Tallahassee, Lakeland, or Tampa area, Browning Moving and Storage has full-service movers that can make your move seamless. Here’s why hiring a moving service is a great idea.

Packing Boxes

Estimates indicate that, if you live in a three-bedroom house, you will need 80-100 boxes to move all your possessions. If you plan on handling this on your own, this means that you need to locate this many boxes, pack them with all of your belongings, and seal them securely.

With full-service movers, they will take care of all of this for you. Because they have experience with moving, they will know how to best pack your items to maximize space and keep them intact. They will also be able to pack up your home much more quickly and efficiently than you could in your home.

Ensuring Safety

Some people assume that they will be able to handle their own move, but then end up injuring themselves on moving day. Your couch may be a lot heavier than you anticipate.

If you’re not familiar with how to safely move items, it can be easy to pull a muscle. It’s best to leave this to professionals since the last thing you want to add to the stress of a move is an injury.

Insure Your Possessions

No matter how careful you are, accidents do happen. A vehicle collision could damage possessions between your old home and your new one. A valuable item could also be stolen during transportation.

When you use a moving company, your items will be insured. This means that if an item is lost, stolen, or damaged, you will be able to recoup your loss.

Storing Items

In some cases, you will have to move out of your current home before your new home is ready to move into. Perhaps you have a lease that ended, and you haven’t found a new apartment yet. Or maybe you got a great deal selling your current home, and you are still searching for the right new home.

With a moving company, you will be able to securely store your possessions until your new home is ready to move into. Movers will pack up your current home, and then, when you are ready to move into your new home, will bring your items out of storage to your new home.

Hire Full-Service Movers Today

With these benefits in mind, it’s easy to see why working with full-service movers is the best option for your next move. Letting movers handle your moving day challenges will make the entire process much easier.

If you’re ready to plan an easy move, contact us. We’ll work with you to get you settled in your new home.

Moving from one home to another is a big deal. But what if it’s your office moving?

Many companies decide to pack up and move to another state and sometimes even another country. Reasons cited range from wanting to lower the cost of business to desire to branch out into fresh markets.

If you’re part of this move, you no doubt have tons of questions.

Where do you begin? What to pack first? Who’s in charge of what?

Relocating your workplace is pretty stressful – but lucky for you, we’ve got answers to your questions! Follow these tips and tricks to have a smooth transition to your new office.

Don’t Wait Until The Last Minute

20% of people are affected by procrastination. If you’re one of them, this advice is for you!

We put this tip at the top because it’s just that important. Once you’ve got the green light, start getting your things together.

Talk to the Boss

Now’s a good time to check in with your boss. See if there are any rules you need to follow during your relocation.

Find out what to do with unwanted furniture, old documents, and what the office moving dates are. Having a definitive game plan ahead of time makes a big difference!

Computer Care

Your desktop and other assorted equipment are sensitive and delicate. As such, you’ll need to take extra steps to protect them during the move.

Wrap computers and monitors in thick blankets or bubble wrap. Don’t stack them or put anything else on top of them.

Don’t forget to label your cables! Keep them neat and tidy in clear bags, too.

Update Your Info

Don’t forget about your contacts. Make sure your clients and coworkers know where you will be.

Update everything – your website, your business cards, and your phone number. Make sure you keep a copy of your important contacts, too.

Take Care of Sensitive Documents

Time to tackle the biggest hassle of any office moving adventure: the filing cabinet.

Here’s where your company’s most important files reside. Make sure you pack it up with care and take your time.

Ask if any files are recyclable or if they need to be shredded. Then take the important stuff that’s going with you and put them in clearly labeled boxes, so there’s no confusion at your destination.

Hire a Moving Company

Consider hiring a moving company to help take the stress off of you. That way you’ve got someone to do the heavy lifting for you.

Call them ahead of time – a couple of months if you have that option. It’s best to work out the details as soon as possible.

Bonus tip: make it easy for them and yourself by having the boxes ready to go when they get there. They will move everything – including a garbage can with trash in it.

Office Moving Can Be Fun If You Do It Right!

Plan in advance. Make sure you get ahead of the most stressful parts of office moving so you can make it as smooth as possible.

Want to make it even easier for yourself? Let us help! Contact us today, and we’ll take care of all of your moving needs!