Relocation is something we all have to do, at least once (and usually several times) in our lives. And while the idea of moving and shifting to a new address is always exciting – it also brings alive the butterflies in our stomach. After all, there are a hundred uncertainties to take care of, and a million things could go wrong. So why do we tend to remain blasé when it comes to choosing a relocation partner? Hardly much consideration – except perhaps the price – goes into choosing a ‘moving company’. Which is unfortunate, because the right relocation partner can go a long way in easing those butterflies.

So here are some things to keep in mind while choosing a relocation partner, to ensure a quality move:

Do your research well

Make sure you do proper research before ‘homing in’ to a relocation partner. While a Google search is a preliminary must, follow it up by asking from friends, family, colleagues and neighbors.

Ask for references

Any mover worth its salt will have past records worthy of mentioning. Demand to see some references of a ‘job well done’. But don’t take their word for it. Go a step further and verify or double check them.

Look for ‘flexibility’ in approach

When it comes to shifting – with so many little and big variables involved – it is nearly impossible to predict every eventuality in advance. Sudden changes and adjustments are a ‘part of the deal’, so to speak. Your relocation partner should therefore be flexible enough and willing to go the extra mile to accommodate your ‘last minute’ requests.

Care and watchfulness

When it comes to avoiding unfortunate incidents like breakage or mis-routing items to the wrong destination, merely following the ‘text-book’ blindly isn’t always enough. Each member of the mover team must take a proactive and personal interest in the details, and stay extra-watchful at every step.

Compliance is a must for any Good Relocation Partner

Be it safety guidelines or legal mandatories, it is vital that the relocation company follow the regulations closely.

Insurance is a good thing.

Can the mover company add an insurance coverage on demand? Because you cannot rule out the possibility of damage due to human error or any other unwanted incidents and an insurance will help by giving great peace of mind.

Insist on a list 

Hidden costs and frustrations are not uncommon in this field. So, it will be a wise step on your part to insist on a written financial quote with all items clearly listed out. This will ensure transparency and avoid unpleasant surprises later on.

Choose your relocation partner wisely, and you could be wearing a smile right throughout the process. At ShiftKarado, we follow each of these guidelines strictly. This ensures complete satisfaction at every step for our esteemed customers and clients. And guess what? You can get an instant quote in just a few clicks online on our website or app and book a headache and hiccup-free shift.

The metro lifestyle has seen the trend of residential shift from a permanent home to rented apartments. With every new job or a change in lifestyle, you may move again. This essentially means you will need to move to a new apartment every few years. However, wherever you go, you will wish to decorate after you move in, to make the place suit your taste. Here are a few quick tips to help you out –

1. Decorating with Lighting

Try using multi-colored LED lights at key places. They provide a great way of setting the mood with a single switch. Fun shades over lamps and wall-mounted CFLs will provide your space with a unique personality, ranging from snazzy to cheeky.

decorating with lighting

Overhead lights, if possible, are inexpensive and provide an effective way to make small rooms look bigger and brighter.

2. Decorating the Flooring 

Most apartments come with a standard tiled flooring, which tends to dull out after some time. Your new landlord has no incentive to replace the dull flooring until it cracks or breaks. Therefore, the fastest way to decorate after you move to a new apartment is by using carpets and rugs.

decorating the flooring

This will be less costly if you go exclusively for rugs. Make sure they are bright in color and cover the center spot of the room.

3. Decorating the Windows

Whatever your apartment size, make sure your windows are prominent and not obstructed by furniture or other decorations. Windows not only provide natural light, but also make the apartment breezier in appearance.

decorating the window

You can use self-adhesive window films to get a colored or patterned light in the room.

4. Decorating with Flower Pots

After you move to a new apartment, a true way to customize it is by placing flower pots everywhere. Similar ideas which need a DIY approach from you are also mentioned here.

5. Decorating the Doors

You can do the most eye-catching decoration around the doors inside your new apartment. A simple plastic flower row or paper cutouts around each door frame is a simple but effective way of getting a cooler look in a matter of minutes.

There is a myriad of awesome decoration tips which you can use once you move to a new apartment. Most of them are a lot of fun and easy to do. However, please ensure that when you move after a few years, your decorations should not be left behind. Avoid permanent decorations involving heavy repainting, or ones requiring a lot of nails on the walls. The best solution is to ask your landlord before you undertake any such work. As long as you both agree on your decoration, you should be good to go.

Packing and moving a home has myriad facets, all of which need attention simultaneously. There is one aspect, however, which often escapes the mind during the involved chaos. It is the type of house you are moving to. Broadly speaking, there are two opposing house types – apartment vs independent house. Both need a difference in planning because of the differences of their building types –

1 Multiple floor movement

The number of floors involved is the most obvious difference between moving to an apartment vs independent house. Items movement to an apartment need either an elevator or a hoist. In few cases, manual labor is needed to carry the items all the way up where lifts cannot be used for material transfer. This is not the case when moving to an independent house.

2 Timing restriction in moving to an apartment

Most, if not all, apartment complexes impose a timing restriction for commercial vehicle entry and labor movement. This is necessary to avoid inconvenience to its other residents. However, it drastically limits the time frame for your items to be packed and moved. This calls for detailed planning, which may not be needed for moving to an independent house.

3 Vehicle access for apartment vs independent house

Access needed for a commercial vehicle to move your items is an important factor. When moving to an independent house, the access depends on the immediate locality. It may be an easily accessible, broad road which can accommodate a big truck, or it may be a narrow lane whose width is inadequate for a small car. Plans of apartment buildings, on the other hand, already include such considerations. This makes moving to an apartment much smoother.

Packing and moving to any type of house needs good planning. We hope that the tips we provide will help making your planning more comprehensive and your move stress-free.

When you face a stressful task, the best way to focus is to play some songs along. This could be anything, from studying math for an exam or packing your stuff for moving to a new house. We present to you our list of the top five songs on moving, to help liven up your home shifting.

1. Hit the Road Jack

This rhythm and blues song has been around since the fifties and sung by many artists. The reason it got prominence is because of the legendary Ray Charles. His recorded version of 1961 is considered among the top 500 greatest songs of all times. It is still getting multiple cultural references, notably in the recent super-hit film Deadpool.

2. Moving On

This power ballad by the band Asking Alexandria was the last single made by the band, before their lead vocalist left. It was released in 2014 and is the band’s most successful song. The video shows the band moving on tours and according to the members, “…hope this video gives you all a little bit of a look into our world”.

3. I’m Moving On

Many legends, including The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin and Bob Dylan have given their voice to this song. However, it is the 1950 version by Hank Snow, for which is the best remembered. For twenty-one weeks, it stayed on the Billboard country top spot, and paved a path for Mr. Snows multiple later hits.

4. Moving

This pop song hit was released in 1999 by the band Supergrass. This moving single earned them a nomination for the Brit Award for British Single. Featured in the UK top ten, this is a commentary on the band itself, moving about. This song is also the last of the band to be a part of any top ten list.

5. We Gotta Get out of This Place

The classic rock song band The Animals recorded this song. Released in 1965, this is another moving related song to feature on the 500 greatest songs of all times. As a part of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, this song had a deep impact in the sixties zeitgeist.

Nothing beats the stress of packing and moving like some good background music. Choose your pick, increase the volume and smile as you pack. Hope you have a stress free shifting.

There is a large variation between moving within the same city, or local shifting, and going for an inter-city move. The stress, expense, effort and time are different for both. Here are the top 5 differences between the two types of packing and moving –

1. Lower cost for local shifting

Well, let us start with the obvious. An inter-city move of items over long distances, possibly in different states will be costlier than local shifting. The former includes transport costs, taxes etc. It is the most formidable reason for people not move to a new city. They usually overcome this only on getting married or getting a really good job.

2. Single day affair versus a fortnight’s wait

Local shifting is a single day work. You pack things early, move to your new home and start unpacking. It is rare for things to spill over the next day. An inter-city move is usually a process which takes around fifteen days. The time may vary depending on how far or how remote a city you are moving to.

3. Good planning for inter-city move

An inter-city move requires good planning to estimate when your items will arrive. This will tell you how long you will have to live in a new place without them. It is not practical to buy new stuff for only a few days while your belongings are in transit. Thus, you need to plan how to live in a makeshift arrangement till then. A local shifting on the other hand may not need this at all.

4. Your stress level for your belongings

Although packing and moving is a stressful activity by itself, the difference is vast here. For an inter-city move, your items are out of your sight after they are loaded on the vehicle. The next you see them is at point of unloading. For the days in between, you are constantly stressed about their safety and condition. All you can rely on, is the vehicle tracking provided by your packer and mover. During a local shifting, however, you can drive along the vehicle carrying your items.

5. Getting additional help

If you need help in setting up your new eco-system, it is easier when moving within the same city. This includes asking friends to help set you up or getting hired help for initial chores at your new home. In a different city, you may not have friends and the area is unknown for you to find local help.

We understand packing and moving to a different place is difficult work, whether it is the same city or otherwise. We hope you have a stress-free shifting experience in both cases.

When you decide to pack and move in to a new home, there are many things going at once. Too many variables and too many things to keep track of, biggest of all being selection of your new home. Whether buying or renting, you need to confirm that you are selecting a good house. To keep you on top, we have a 7-point checklist so you don’t get the short end of the stick.

1. Check for seepage before you pack and move in

You don’t want the first rain in your new home to dampen your walls and spirit. Check the ceiling corners and rooms with plumbing. These include the bathrooms and kitchen. See if these areas have damp spots or indication of seeping previously.

2. How is the electrical?

With so many funny ads of electrical appliances on the television, you surely know how important this is. See if your prospective home has M.C.B.s and the electrical outlets are in proper condition. Hanging wires, broken or loose sockets need to be fixed before you pack and move in.

3. Worthwhile Neighborhood

More than a simple good or bad neighborhood question, this point has more to do with your eco-system. This includes commute options, entertainment venues etc. If there is someone elderly in the family, you need hospital in your vicinity. If you have kids, you need schools nearby before deciding to pack and move in.

4. Water Availability

Often overlooked, water shortage is common even in the poshest of areas. It is irritating to not have such a basic facility. The simplest way to check this before you pack and move in is to ask your potential neighbors about it.

5. Electricity Backup

Let’s be honest, power failure is a common problem in most parts of the country. The alternate is to have a gen-set or inverter facility. In case your prospective home is in a society, clarify on the details of the backup they provide, on hours and supported load.

6. Maintenance of the area

Even the best neighborhood cannot work if there is no maintenance. A simple inspection of the area will show if there are garbage removal services available. The condition of the community parks etc. will reveal how frequently the cleaning, painting and repairing is done.

7. Confirm there is no litigation

The last and most important point to check, especially if you are buying. You must doubly ensure that the house you are going to pack and move in is not a part of any legal dispute. Even with good laws, you should not leave this to chance. Confirm that the paperwork and documentation are proper.

The house you are going to call home for the future is a big part of your decision process. Before shifting, follow this checklist and you can pack and move in with a smile.

Once you complete packing and moving to a new house, you try to make the place your own. Customizing your new home to your liking goes beyond just putting your belongings all over. There should be an additional touch somewhere for your friends to ascribe the place to you. This is where DIY projects for new home can make a big impact. Here are 5 projects you can undertake. They are simple and make a good impression –

1 In-House Gardening

With the apartment culture across, in-house gardens are the most popular DIY projects for new home. With multiple options available easily, you are spoilt for choice. Material like seeds, soil and pots are easily available in almost all residential areas. You can create a theme – go for sweet smelling flowers only, a different one for different room. Alternately, you can opt for an herb garden, similar to the NBC serial Hannibal, for your kitchen use.

2 Paint Coffee Mugs or Crockery Sets

If you think that DIY projects for new home involve a lot of skill set, relax. This is the simplest one and ideal for beginners. Just take a felt-tip pen and start sketching on a blank coffee mug. Use acrylic paint if you feel comfortable. As you build up confidence, go for a full tea set or your ceramic plates. Remember, after the hectic work of packing and moving, an ideal way to wind down is with coffee, preferably in a mug you have painted.

3 Be a Self-Handyman

If you feel the need to do something macho in your DIY projects for new home, try being a handyman yourself. There are always repairs to do at your new home, despite your best checks before packing and moving in. There are always leaking faucets and defunct sockets. Get a list of pending works, buy the necessary plugs, washers etc. from the local hardware store and get to it. Nothing is more satisfactory than fixing your new home yourself.

4 Decorate the Bedroom Wall

Choose a wall in a room of your choice, whether the living or the bedroom and go bonkers with paint. Nothing says it is your home more than an entire wall covered with your artistic impressions. You don’t have to be a professional artist. The key to make this work is confidence. The more positively you do it, the better the outcome will be.

5 Create a Small Furniture

It is amazing how creative your mind becomes when given old wooden crates, a few metal bars, hooks and rope. With no preconceived notion in mind, just faced with these items can bring the best designer out of most people. From hangers to ottomans to side tables, the outcome is surprisingly, always chic and stable. Give it a try, you will surprise yourself.

There is a difference between living in a house or calling it your home. Home is where you live happily, and an ideal way to bring out this happiness is via DIY projects for new home. Start making your house your home.

The exhausting nature of shifting homes often leaves one hunting for quick tips and tricks to make it simpler. Here is our list of the most proven tips for packing and moving. These are simple to follow and have a great impact in making it a stress-free experience.

01. Make a Day-wise To Do List

Listing out your moving details is always the first step. Remember, the sooner you get down to do this, the easier it will be for you. It is recommended to do this at least 4 weeks before the move. It doesn’t have to be perfect and you can keep revising it.

02. Toiletries, Important Papers and Jewelry move with You

This is one of the best tips for packing and moving. Whatever the case be, these three item categories cannot be left to anyone else. Before the day of the move, make sure you pack them and keep them with you.

03. Sell Your Old Clutter

If you have unused things lying about in the house, sell them before you move. With online sale being so easy nowadays, these will sell fast without effort. You will lower your total volume and cover a part of your moving cost.

04. Using Handy-man Services for Specialized Electronics

This is another of the awesome, but overlooked tips for packing and moving. If you have items like home theater, R.O. water purifier or similar complex electronic items, you will need specialized help. These items cannot be plugged off and boxed. Ask the respective brands to provide help.

05. Do Your Research on Packers and Movers

When opting for professional help, research is indispensable. With everyone claiming to be the best at what they do, you will have to get down to brass tacks. For example, ask about their use of packing material like bubble wrap and carton quality.

06. Get a Transit Insurance

Just like you buy insurance for your car, transit insurance is an added security. It does not mean that something will necessarily go wrong, but will stop your wallet from hurting if anything does happen. Always go for it.

07. Pending Bills and Services Disconnection

Before you move out, make sure you pay your water and electricity bills. Also remember to disconnect internet and cooking gas services.

08. Change Address and Ensure Amenities at New Home

You don’t want to start at your new place half ready. Before moving in, make sure all the services which you disconnected from your old home are ready at your new place.

09. Attention to Breakables

Even if you hire professionals, it is your crockery, mirror and your fragile showpieces. You must pay special attention to their packing. If they are all packed into a reasonably small box, better carry them in your car.

10. Categorize Items and Label Boxes

When the move starts, make sure you have a marker pen in hand. As soon as any carton gets packed, mark it with your name, box number and which room it will go in. It will make your life a lot easier when unpacking.

We hope that when you decide to shift homes, you get to use these tips for packing and moving. They are sure to make this complex job a simple affair for you.

After living in one place for a long period, items tend to accumulate in the home slowly and steadily. When it is time to shift to a new home, you may end up wondering how did you acquire so much paraphernalia. Once you decide that efficiently packing and moving is the way to go, you will have to see which article goes with you and which gets sold off. Here are some helpful guidelines to get you started –

Value

Low value items include those things which are low cost and hold low worth for you. These include items stowed in the attic or storeroom. The reason they are still in your home is chiefly because they may come in handy ‘someday’. Efficiently packing and moving requires these items to be sold off. It is safe to assume that if they have not been used till now, they won’t be used in your new home.

Volume

Efficiently packing and moving essentially means traveling light. Items which take up a lot of space should be sold before the move. These consist of old bike and rickety furniture. Sofa sets do not come under this category, but old plastic chairs, deck furniture and folding beds do. If your bike is an essential mode of transportation for you, then you may have to do bit of analysis. Is carrying an old bike worth the effort and money? Would it be easier to sell it and buy a second-hand bike at your new location?

Replace-ability

Items which can be replaced easily by a local convenience store should definitely be sold. These are items like shoe racks, baskets, buckets etc. which can be effortlessly sold off to household help. Buying them at your new location is equally easy since they are neither price-heavy nor difficult to bring in.

Sentimental Value

This is a very subjective and touchy point. Items with sentimental values can be low value, high volume and replaceable, all at the same time. But if they mean a lot to you, there is no question that they have to move with you. Ensure you have them properly packed for the move.

Deciding to sell your things after having them in your house for a long time will take effort. It is not easy to look at the items you have bought and simply put them up for sale. However, when you are moving to a new home, it is best to get it done, and done properly. The reason to sell your old stuff goes beyond just efficiently packing and moving. After selling them off, you can enter your new home without old clutter and with a truly fresh start.

The most tiring aspect of shifting home is the time it takes for the packing and moving of your goods. Even if you do get professional packers and movers, the job is time taking. There are some finer points which should be remembered as shifting home is an infrequent activity. We list out these points to make sure there are no delays at the time of your move –

Coordinating with Your Society

There are few regulations which must be observed if you are living in a gated community or a society. Some of these rules relate to permission of commercial vehicle entry in the premises. Other rules define the hours during which activities such as vehicle entry, premise parking etc. can be done. Remember to inform your society at least a day before the move. It will ensure that there are no coordination problems or permit issues at the time of the actual packing and moving.

Getting a Correct Estimate

Taking an estimate from your packing and moving partner involves more than just pricing. Do ask them about the approximate volume of your household goods and the estimated time it will take for them to complete the packing. This will give you a fair idea of when you will be done with the entire activity.

Packing and Moving the Valuables

Pre-packing your valuable items is a fantastic idea. You may wonder why should you get involved when you have already hired a professional service.  The reason is simple – when it comes to jewelry and other valuables, it is best to keep matters in your own hands. Have them packed and kept aside so you don’t have to worry about their safety during the actual move.

Availing Handy-Man Services

Even the best packing and moving companies may not employ specialist services. These include dismantling split-ACs or ceiling mounted TVs or any similar installed electronic items. If you feel you may need a handy-man for your home, consult with the respective electronic company to understand the best way to go about it. Alternately, ask your packer and mover if they can provide such services in advance.

The reason you need to take care of these points is to avoid the Murphy’s law. You must have heard about it – If there is a small chance that anything will go wrong, it definitely will. The better prepared you will be on the day of your move, the more efficiently and quickly things will move. Ensure you are prepared on the aforementioned points and Mr. Murphy and his law will stay away.