The Benefits of Customized Services From Your Moving Company

Believe it or not, the word “customized” did not enter most dictionaries before the early 1930s. The word customized means “to modify or build according to individual or personal specifications or preference.”

What are your desires and preferences for your next move? Whether moving your business or your home, we at Superior Relocation Services have moving consultants on staff with whom you may meet to discuss your specific needs. And our highly trained consultants are always available to meet your specialized needs.

Do you need to move something of significant financial value such as heirlooms like that grandfather clock from the 1830’s? Maybe you need to move antique glassware or works of art? Is it a piano? Whether it’s a Steinway or an oldie but goodie, we can carefully prepare and pack it for you.

Quite simply, how can we make your upcoming move be the best one yet? We C-U-S-T-O-M-I-Z-E to fit your needs:

CARE about the little things as well as the big.

UNIQUE handling of furniture, artwork, china, computers, electronics and much more.

SPECIAL packing, transport services, and installation of specific items, fixtures or home delivery.

TIMING to meet your moving deadline needs.

OUTSTANDING value with decades of experience included.

MOVERS that will make your move a smooth transition.

INTEGRITY, innovation, and intelligence among our moving team.

ZEST and energy to do the move right.

EFFICIENCY and expertise always.

We are Superior Relocation Services and we are excited to get you moving! Contact us today.

Are You Moving? It Is Time To Do Some Decluttering!

The mere thought of moving can be overwhelming whether you are a well-seasoned mover or haven’t moved in decades. 

Here are some top tips to consider when decluttering before a move:

1.    Begin early.  You will actually save time and money by “purging and decluttering” before your move. We all tend to acquire so much “stuff” and waiting until the last minute can bog us down and add a large amount of stress to the moving process.

2.    Start really small. Trying to do “everything at once” is both mentally and physically exhausting. Keep a checklist and calendar on what you want to accomplish.  Baby steps day by day will turn into large accomplishments.

3.    Set a specific time to do the decluttering. Committing to a specific time will help motivate you to reach your goal more efficiently.  Don’t get frustrated if you weren’t able to finish everything you’ve planned. Remember, you still have next time.

4.    Have what you need as you declutter. You will need boxes, a magic marker for labeling, a bottle of water to drink and some zippy, happy music to help get the job done.  Be in the right frame of mind to get rid of the stuff you no longer need or use.

5.    As you declutter, focus on a process. We suggest labeling the declutter boxes “Give Away/Donations”, “Throw Away/Trash,” “Keep or “Re-Think”, and “Sell” (as in a garage sale or online with eBay, Craigslist, etc.)

For an example, let’s focus on your kitchen. One by one, look at every shelf and drawer and ask yourself, “Do I love this enough to have it packed and hauled to my new home?” If yes, then great! If no, then decide which box to put the item in.  Remember, if you just can’t decide what to do with an item? Put it in your rethink box and continue on.  What about old cookbooks? Look at your pantry, and decide what to do with each thing. Yes …each.  Dump anything with expiration dates long gone. (Spices are something often overlooked for their shelf life.)  Anyway…you get the idea.

6.    Invite a supportive friend to help. Sometimes we get sentimentally attached to things and a friend can help by putting things in perspective and simply asking, “Do you really need this, or just feel like you need it?”

As you can see, there are many ideas on how to make your move easier, more efficient, and less concerning. The truth is that organization and less stuff equals less stress!

We at Superior Relocation Services are here for you.  In fact, we are masters of the moving world with professional experts who will make your move the best.  Please contact us today for more information. We are here for you.

Don't be fooled by pricing!

When you decide to move, getting a handle on what everything costs is a must. Many factors can affect the final cost of your move, so it is your responsibility to understand the true expense.

Many consumers start online with a moving calculator, or get free moving quotes. This is a great place to start, but you should contact at least two moving companies, preferably three, to set a time for each moving representative to visit your home.  During this in-home estimate, walk them through all the spaces in your place - including walk-in closets, garage, attic, and basement. This in-home estimate will give you a more accurate estimate than a calculation over the phone. It is not a good idea to choose a company that does not seem willing to come and take a look at your belongings. When you are given an estimate, be sure you understand what is, and what is not, included in that number.

Is the estimate binding, nonbinding or guaranteed not to exceed?

A binding estimate is a written agreement that clearly describes all services provided. It guarantees the total cost of the move. 

A nonbinding estimate is truly an estimate based on what the movers believe the cost will be. Final charges are based on the actual weight or volume of the shipment, all services provided and any tariff provisions in effect. 

A guaranteed-not-to-exceed estimate allows the consumer to pay the binding estimate or the actual cost, whichever is lower.

Be sure you understand the insurance terms for the move. What exactly does the insurance cover?  Does it cover the full replacement value of an item?  If not, you can typically purchase additional insurance to cover the full value of your items in case they are lost or damaged.

Ask about the company’s history. How long have they been in business? What are they especially adept at? How many trailers do they have and are they clean and relatively new? Do they run a tight ship and have uniformed workers? Are there reviews from satisfied, happy customers?

Finally, talk to friends and neighbors who have moved before. What did they learn and wish they had known before their move?

With all of this said, we, at Superior Relocation Services, want to be your movers.  We are experts in the moving business and will be happy to help plan your next move. Moving is our passion.  That’s what we do.  Feel free to contact us today.

If You Move, You May Be Able To Deduct Your Moving Expenses

Among the many tax topics, many people do not realize that if they are moving to start a new job or transferring with a current employer, their moving expenses may be deductible on their federal income taxes. 

Moving expenses are considered an “above-the-line” deduction meaning that they reduce your adjusted gross income on which taxes are based and can even be claimed if you do not itemize deductions.

To qualify for the deduction, you must meet the following criteria:

A. Your move relates to the “Start of work.”

B. Your move meets the “Distance Test.”

C. Your move meets the “Time Test.”

Now let’s clarify these “ABCs…”

A. Your move must “connect” in both place and time to the start of work at your new location. If you do not move within 1 year of the date you begin work, you ordinarily cannot deduct the expenses unless you can show that circumstances existed that prevented the move within that time.

B. Distance Test – Your new workplace must be at least 50 miles farther from your old home than your old job location was from your old home. For example: If your drive to work was 15 miles at the previous location, your new job location must be 65 miles or more from your old house.

When calculating distance, which route do you consider?  The route to consider is the shortest of the more commonly traveled routes between your old home and the new job location.

If there was no previous work place, your new job must be at least 50 miles from your old home.

C. Time Test – At the new work place, you, as the new employee, must work fulltime for at least 39 weeks during the first twelve months immediately upon your move and for a total of at least 78 weeks during the first twenty-four months immediately following your arrival in the general area of a new work location.

There are exceptions to the time test (including death, disability, involuntary separation, etc.)  These can be found in IRS Publication 521.

Please note that Members of the Armed Forces who move because of military orders and permanent change of station, do NOT need to meet the distance and time tests.

Remember that moving costs must be “reasonable and necessary.” Do your research online via the IRS website and other tax information sources.   It may help lower your tax bill!

All of this being said, whenever you move, please give us a call at Superior Relocation Services.  You have questions and plans, we have answers and moving expertise.  We’re here for you and ready to professionally streamline your next move. 

Best Ways to Attract Customers to Your New Location

There are many good reasons for a business to change locations:  a bigger space for a growing business, fluctuating rent, proximity to customers, or perhaps you just need to reach a new market.   Moving an office can be stressful; however, a new office space will certainly provide many benefits.

As a business owner you must ensure that your existing customers will move with you and you need to know how to attract new customers to your new location. How? Here are some tips on informing your existing customers about your move as well as how to attract customers after your business moves.

1. Be sure to share the news about your move to your existing customers well ahead of time. Send out an email blast to your clientele. Thank them for being a loyal customer and emphasize how your business will continue with its top-notch service and expertise at the new location. Your new location might actually be more convenient to those who haven’t been on-site for a while.

If you are moving for positive reasons, say so.  Say something like “Good news! We are growing and have found more space at [new address]. Come see us at our grand opening on [date].”

Use social media and consider including your new address in direct mail-outs, flyers, and signage inside your current place of business.

Leave flyers/cards with your business neighbors and ask to have them handy at their register or point-of-sale. 

2. Plan! Make sure to allow plenty of time in your day-to-day schedule for extra phone calls and appointments with movers, telephone and cable providers, and other vendors that support you with your daily operation.  Realistically, plan a solid timeline for your move based on your company’s needs.  And don’t forget to call Superior for your no-obligation, price-guaranteed quote, and our customized helpful hints guideline to a successful move.

3. Update or create online listings (i.e. on Google with Local, Yellow Pages, Trip Advisor, etc.) And by all means UPDATE YOUR OWN WEBSITE. Especially the “Contact Us” and “Find Us” sections. To attract new and local customers, be sure to optimize your website for local searches by including keywords and phrases.

4. Consider having a one-day open house with coffee, punch, and pastries.  Have an information table with brochures and a couple door prize drawings (whereby your visitors may give their names, addresses, and phone numbers). Smile and welcome everyone.  What do they need? What do they want to know?

5. Brainstorm on this and see what will work for your particular business specialty – information? Product demonstrations? Questions/answers about your services? 

“Planning is bringing the future into the present so that you can do something about it now.” – Alan Lakein

If you are considering a move–whether from home to home or from office to office – Please consider Superior Relocation Services. Why? We are professional movers. That’s our specialty. That’s what we do. 

Effective April 1, 2016
Superior Relocation Services is excited to announce our new facility at:
1302 Avenue R
Grand Prairie, TX  75050

Don't Depend On Luck When Moving, Do Your Research!

The global celebration of St. Patrick’s Day is around the corner. A time when children indulge in sweets and adults can enjoy a “pint” of beer. There is celebration in the wearing of green and four-leaf clovers for good luck.

The Irish often say that the green hills of Ireland contain more four-leaf clovers than anywhere else around the world. Hence, the “luck o’ the Irish.” 

Did you know that the odds of finding a four-leaf clover have been calculated at 10,000 to 1!

If you have found one, you are lucky indeed! However, if you are moving you must create your own good luck by doing your research. Preparation is the key. Make it an adventure instead of drudgery for the move ahead. How? Here are some helpful tips:

·       Start by using the internet where timely information is right in front of you. Enter the keyword “Moving” and gather information from several sources. We suggest you check with the Southwestern Mover’s Association for a list of worthy movers in your area.  If moving out of state, check the American Moving & Storage Association’s official website, Moving.org.  Both will provide helpful insight and detailed information on choosing a reputable mover.

·       Read the blog New Year, New Plans… Where do you begin? Write down your own questions to ask the three top movers that interest you. 

·       Sit down and write out the dollars and cents of your move.  Make a budget of sorts that you can adapt and morph as time moves forward. The point is to have a healthy idea of what you need and can afford for a successful, pleasant move. 

·       Determine which items you will not be taking along. Donate or dispose of these items. Clean out closets and garages.  Make a fun game of it and turn some music on.  If you don’t enjoy this “work”, then turn on a timer for 20 minutes and then take a short break.  Pace yourself.  You may discover some “lost” or misplaced items in the process too.

·       Research how and when to transfer services (phones, utilities, mail service, etc.) to avoid any interruptions as you move. Put these dates on your calendar.

And finally, a quote by a Roman Stoic philosopher Lucius Annaeus Seneca: “Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.”

This St. Patrick’s Day, celebrate with a pint, create your own good luck by doing your research, and give Superior Relocation Services a call at (888) 591-MOVE (6683).  We are here to service all your moving needs!

When planning a move, what will you do with an extra day?

This year is Leap Year and each of us gets an extra day in February!  Every four years, we are given this gift of time. Historically, it was the ancient Egyptians who found a year was roughly “365 days, 5 hours, 48 minutes and 46 seconds” instead of exactly 365 days.

Two thousand years ago, Julius Caesar officially added Leap Year into the Roman calendar.  The chance of being born on a Leap Year birthday is said to be 1 in 1,461 births. Such people are called “Leaplings” and are considered to have “unique talents and special personalities.” Do you know anyone born on Leap Day? Do you have a child who was?

In any case, each of us gets an extra day this year.  Let’s think of it as a gift of more time to prepare for your move. While adults may be focused on a long list of what needs to be done, the children are a big part of the equation.  They have their own anxiety and concerns about leaving the familiar – home, school friends and neighborhood playmates, and other regular events.

Here are several ideas to effectively use your extra day when planning a move:

• Take this time to create a records file. In this file you should put important record items from doctors, dentists, daycare/schools, veterinarians, etc. You should also use this time research specialists in the area you will be moving to.
• Have the children create “Memory Books” with photos of your present home, pictures of friends, cards and mementos.  Encourage them to draw or write their thoughts in the books. It doesn’t need to be elaborate. A notebook, tape, and colored pencils can work well.
•  Research your new city or town online and talk to your kids about what you’ve discovered.  Is there a bouncy gym or a children’s museum? Is there a nearby library where they have special story telling times? What about the Y or another community sports and activities complex in your new area? All this will perk their interest and deter some of their concerns about the eminent move.
• Prepare a box with the most important things that you will need in the first couple of days at your new home. You should pack essentials such as: a set of clothes for each member of the family, medications, toothpaste, towels, some snacks and drinks, etc.
• Have the children pack a box you could call a “Treasure Chest” with several favorite items in it for the drive to your new home. This will give them something familiar to literally hold onto.  A favorite toy or stuffed animal are comforting and can make their ride and new surroundings seem less foreign.

Lastly, here’s a timely quote:

“Time is the longest distance between two places.” -- Tennessee Williams

Enjoy that extra “Leap Day” and remember the team at Superior Relocation Services is here for you. Let our excellent professional crew and expert planning team create the specifics for your best move yet.