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a grey background with a white square and a black squareHow To Downsize With American Movers | Denver, Boulder, Vail Colorado
December 30, 2017
How To Downsize With American Movers | Denver, Boulder, Vail Colorado

Many in Denver and beyond agree that in life and our living spaces, less is often more. Whether you’re attempting to cut your bills, lessen your impact on the environment, or simply transitioning back to a smaller space after expanding your family over the years, moving into a new home that’s a size down from your old one can make the moving process even more complicated.

Many believe that when they downsize, they also need to sell or give away half of their material ‘life’. This does not necessarily have to be true, especially given the amount of creative engineering that has gone into convertible spaces, furniture sets, and minimalist home solutions over the past few years. Many are loving the idea of ‘living small’, and are innovating everyday products to fit the needs of those with less square footage than the next homeowner. Rather than selling things you may need in the future, focus on purging items you rarely use or have taken largely for granted over the years. Ask yourself questions like, “Could someone else use this item, or will I have a use for it in the future?”. Also, consider whether you’d look to immediately buy a new version of an item if you were to lose it. Would you miss it, or simply forget it was ever there in the first place? The answers to these questions vary from resident to resident, so be sure to reflect on what you value most in your home long before moving day makes it onto the calendar. This is sure to save you a lot of time, stress, and cash in the long run - we promise!

Once you’re comfortable with how much you’re moving to your new, smaller home, consider what types of gadgets and storage solutions you may need to keep things within your home’s main four walls and organized all at once. Whether it’s a bench that converts into a table or a sly shelf in the few inches between the refrigerator and wall, there are plenty of ways to make the most of every single square inch of your new home. Use websites like Pinterest to look for more fashionable ideas, while hardware, construction, and even moving blogs like this one can help you come up with ideas on how to make your life fit into a smaller, more efficient box. And we promise, once the anti-growing pains are over, you’ll love what’s in store for you in your new home.

Ready for the big move to your new home? We’re ready to help at American Moving. Set up a moving day appointment or get a quote from our team by simply calling the phone number featured on our website. We look forward to working with you!

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a grey background with a white square and a black squareKeeping Your House Plants Safe On Moving Day | Denver, Boulder, Vail Colorado
December 15, 2017
Keeping Your House Plants Safe On Moving Day | Denver, Boulder, Vail Colorado

Denver may not be the best place to grow large, luscious, tropical plants outdoors, but our reputation for sunshine can make the great ‘indoors’ a fantastic space to raise house plants and foster terrariums. But if you’re getting ready to move across town or across the country this winter season, keeping those plants safe during the move itself can be a challenge. At American Moving, our job is not just to make sure your furniture, personal items, and electronics make it to your new home safely. We’re also responsible for the things you’ve spent time nurturing and feel attached to. Our reputation as one of the best and most reliable Denver-area moving company comes from our commitment to meeting our customer’s needs and investing our energy into keeping you and your belongings comfortable and stress-free during your big move, all for a cost that can compete with anyone in town. To help us help you, here are a few tips for maintaining healthy plants before, during, and after moving day in the wintry Colorado weather.

The biggest piece of advice to take away from this blog post is to understand that your house plants cannot endure excessive amounts of exposure to cold. They are delicate, and thought they’d appreciate the sunlight and fresh air associated with leaving the house, they are also unlikely to respond well to any temperature below a balmy 65 degrees. When trips are less than 200 miles, risking the life of your plant is not as big of an issue, as they’ll only be stored and lack sunlight for up to a full 24 hours, and even that amount of dormant activity can be avoided. If you believe your plants will not make the trip to your new home, think about making room in your own vehicle for them rather than putting them in the load your movers are carrying on moving day. When transporting them, be sure to do it quickly and efficiently, as plants should be the last things out of the old place and the first things set up in your new home.

To be sure your plants are not damaged in the move, be sure to report your plants into plastic containers two to three weeks before moving day. This will assure that their soil base will stay intact and will not crack or break during the move itself. Conservatively water your plants just before moving, as too much water can cause moisture in the soil to freeze in cold temperatures, which will kill the plant within weeks. Heat your vehicle to a favorable temperature before loading your plants, and take care to keep it there during the drive.

Our expert movers at American Moving are dedicated to maintaining our spotless customer satisfaction record by giving extra care to the items you love most. If you’re moving this winter season, let our crews help guide you through the process and make it a stress-free transition to a new and better home for you and your family.

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a grey background with a white square and a black squareLift With the Knees, Self-Care during the Move
October 31, 2017
Lift With the Knees, Self-Care during the Move

Our mission at American Moving is to make your big move memorable in its ease, simplicity, and efficiency. But even with our services, there's still a fair bit of heavy lifting involved in packing up the life you've built and taking it somewhere brand new.

When packing, unpacking, and arranging your brand new space long after our movers are gone, it's important to practice the tried-and-true self-care tips to take care of your body and stress levels over the course of the moving process.

Breathe Easy

First, be sure to regularly stretch your body and practice steady breathing when lifting and moving heavy or cumbersome items. Holding your breath while lifting not only limits all-important oxygen in the muscles working the hardest but also increases the likelihood of injury. Whether you practice yoga or a simple runner’s stretch, taking time to lengthen and listen to those muscles will also effectively prevent strains, sprains, pulls, or painful nerve tweaks. Your body works hard, so be sure to take care of it, and let American Moving do the heavy lifting on the big day.

More, Planning, Less Stress

At American Movers, we know all too well the stresses of moving day. It's easy to procrastinate packing and avoid planning ahead for a move, especially when you've spent years filling your home with a lifetime's worth of memories and important items. But the only thing that's more stressful than moving those items in a day or two is moving them without the guarantee they're packed correctly and safely for moving day. At American Moving, we're happy to help with this and supply all-important supplies for your move to run as smoothly as possible. We make it a priority to complete the job, free of damages, mishaps, and injuries for all people and items involved. We're professionals, after all, and our experience in the Denver area puts us a cut above the rest. We'll offer the peace of mind that weeks of extensive planning can, but if you'd prefer to take the pre-move preparation on yourself, don't leave it all to the last minute. After all, your mind needs as much care and relaxation as your body.

Finally, take care of your stress by taking care of your budget ahead of moving day with American Moving. Our services are efficient, friendly, professional, and competitive. We’re on a mission to give our customers the biggest ‘bang’ for their buck and offer an incredible service in the process. Ask around - we have a reputation of excellence in our business and pride ourselves on maintaining these promises to our Denver-area clients. Our services are sure to satisfy and meet your needs.

Take care of your body, mind, and wallet by investing in our services and letting our moving experts make your big day a breeze.

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a grey background with a white square and a black squareFall Real Estate- A Quick Denver Neighborhood Guide
October 18, 2017
Fall Real Estate- A Quick Denver Neighborhood Guide

Looking for a new nest this fall? First of all, congratulations on the prospect of finding and owning a home in this beautiful city we call home! 

As Denver’s housing market continues its competitive streak, mortgage and down payments continue to rise, and visitors turn to permanent residents, renters and homeowners alike can benefit from a little extra information and know-how from those who've been around a while. We've put together a list of a few well-known areas and suburbs in Denver and what makes them great for anyone scoping out a new neighborhood.

Capitol Hill

In the (almost) heart of Denver, the Capitol Hill neighborhood offers easy access to the city’s various areas. From downtown to the business district, you'll have a front-row seat to Colorado’s ever-growing capital city. And the architecture and parks in this ‘hood aren't half bad either!

Five Points 

A true mark of the old made new again, Five Points has really come into its own in the past few years. Multiple renovations and apartment developments have reignited the neighborhood and compared to a few other areas nearby, you might be able to save a few bucks on rent in this neighborhood.

Ballpark/Lodo

These two areas of Denver are sandwiched together in the city’s busiest area, making your potential access to transit, shops, restaurants, businesses, and Coor’s Field as easy as possible. However, the cost of living is steep in these parts, as new (and often luxurious) apartments continue to pop up in the area. When looking in these neighborhoods for housing, it's all about weighing what your priorities are and the lifestyle you're looking to lead in Denver.

Highland

On the north side of I-25, the highland neighborhood offers slightly lower rent and a more suburban feel, while still being a relatively short walk or bike ride away from downtown Denver. With recognizable brew and food staples like Avanti, hanging out in highland can offer spectacular views of the city from its northern fringe and the mountains to the West.

Sunnyside

We'll consider this ‘hood the “upper” highland. The further you go, the more suburban the vibe. But it's generally affordable and offers easy access to the cities between Denver and Boulder along US-36.

Broomfield/Louisville/Superior

Speaking of the road to Boulder, these towns are absolutely booming along the Denver-Boulder turnpike. Recently, Forbes’ list of the top 100 places to live in 2017 included all three of these up-and-coming residential hubs. And if you're looking for more square footage per dollar, the cost of living is incredible compared to living in the city.

Whether you're new to town or just looking for a change of scenery, navigating Denver’s housing and rental market can be overwhelming. Let American Moving help with what we're best at, and take the stress out of the moving process. We're here for you!

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a grey background with a white square and a black squarePatching Up-Tips and Tricks to Get Ready for Move-Out
October 15, 2017
Patching Up-Tips and Tricks to Get Ready for Move-Out

It's a common scenario. 

It's almost time for moving day, and everything’s packed up. You've walked through and designated which boxes are headed where, and how much time you'll need to make the move happen. You've hired help like our crew at American Movers or borrowed a friend's truck to make it happen. 

But when everything's picked up, packed, and off the walls, a few lingering tasks remain. 

If you're a renter, the cleaning checklist has only just begun. From dusting to vacuuming to patching and painting holes and scratches, making your home or apartment move-out ready often clouds the light at the end of the tunnel in the moving process. But, some easy rules to follow in these situations can save you a headache and help you earn a few more deposit dollars back.

Get Proof

From the day you move into the second you move out, keep track of your home’s condition with photos. Take wide pictures of each room and more detailed photos of appliances, flooring cracks or stains upon move in and document any changes in condition while you're living there. This way you'll not only have proof of what you did (or did not) damage, and a running photo-list of projects to complete leading up to moving day.

Ask your landlord for paint

This is often left out of lease agreements, but it's acceptable and smart to inquire about any extra paint available that matches the walls of your home or apartment. Oftentimes, landlords will hire a crew to repaint spaces after tenants move out, and they might just have the exact color you need to paint over that patched hole or scratch on hand at the leasing office. It never hurts to ask, and doing these repairs yourself can easily save a deduction or two from your security deposit. Plus, doing it yourself will always cost less than the labor charged for others to do it after move-out.

Leave what you can't fix 

One major project that might not be worth the effort is the carpet. Despite all the vacuuming and steam cleaning in the world, a landlord will most likely invest in professional carpet cleaning or even replacement when taking on a new tenant. Unless you've caused a large stain that needs attention or significant damage to carpeting, this project is most likely not worth the time and effort. It'll get deducted from your deposit anyway. And it's common for landlords to charge tenants up-front for carpet cleaning, whether it's at the start or end of your lease agreement.

Dust and Clean Regularly

This tip often goes without saying, but the more often you deep-clean your space while you live there, the easier it will be to spruce up before you move out. Taking care of your space is important as a homeowner and renter, since a clean home is a valuable one, and a happy landlord is a good rental reference when looking for new housing in the future.

When moving day finally comes, we guarantee you'll want American Moving by your side. Call us today to schedule a service or get a quote for your moving needs.

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a grey background with a white square and a black squareDeclutter in the Fall-How to Donate this Holiday Season
October 10, 2017
Declutter in the Fall-How to Donate this Holiday Season

The perfect time to simplify and clean out clutter is just ahead of a big move. What better way to clean out your wardrobe, bookshelf, garage space, or kitchen than to create a worthy donation to a local cause?

At American Moving, we believe it's never too early to get into the holiday spirit and never a bad time to give back to the community and those in need.

If you would like to donate but don't know where to start, we've put together a few simple tricks to trim down on your gently used goods.

Track Your Usage

This tip applies to anything from clothes to silverware. It's as simple as consciously noticing what you tend to use on a regular basis and which items in your home are collecting dust.

In your closet, for example, the best way to gauge what you wear is by reorganizing your closet. Hang everything up, and as you wear and wash items, re-hang them on the left side of your closet. Each time you hang an item, place it on the far left side and continue adding exclusively to that side of your closet. After a few months, the clothes on the right will generally be what you wear the least since those on the left will be the ones worn, washed, and hung most recently. From there, decide whether you're willing to let go of those items left untouched, and begin to build a donation pile. To choose other items, take a look at your favorite pieces and check for any light wear or damage that you'd consider replacing. Of course, no one wants a torn or pilling sweater, but a fly-away thread here and here isn't hurting anyone.

This applies to other areas of your home too. If you find yourself choosing the same towels and sheets over and over while others collect dust in the back of the linen closet, consider donating those items to a family in need. Unused canned foods, excess kitchen items, and used books and movies are also great gifts to give back.

Finding a Cause

Even if you can't name the nearest Salvation Army donation center or upcoming food drive off the top of your head, worthy causes are not hard to find in Denver. Whether you give through your child’s next school-run program, church, community group, or find your own volunteering opportunity, our biggest ally in targeting a cause this season lies in the power of the Internet and social media. If you're struggling to pin down exactly how or where to donate used items, simply ask your feels-hundred Facebook friends or do a quick Google search when waiting for your coffee in the morning. Opportunities are at our fingertips in 2017!

After you've finished de-cluttering your home and are ready to prepare for moving day, contact our friendly experts at American Moving to plan and execute your big move at the right price for you.

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