Jul 10

While most pet owners view their “job” as protection of their animals, all too often animals are lost while on the road. Keeping a few things in mind can reduce the chances of it happening to you.

The situation is far too common - someone moving cross country stops at a rest stop, the family dog bolts out the door when a truck passes and in a panic runs through the open area and disappears. A frantic family searches in vain and desperately calls area veterinarians and friends with internet access trying to locate someone in the area who might see their dog.

The biggest thing you can do for protection of your pet on the road is getting a properly sized crate for him to travel in. A soft bed or towel, a few toys and some training to where this is his safety point will go a long ways towards safety on the road. If there is an accident you don’t have to worry about him surviving the accident only to dart into traffic - he’s safe in his crate, shaken perhaps but safely confined.

Have a collar with tags and current working phone numbers - the number to your old home (which is disconnected!) won’t help. If you don’t have a cellular phone use a friend or family member’s number or even your veterinarian’s number - anything as long as it’s a good number for contact.

Consider micro chipping your pet. This is an inexpensive means of protection and while it isn’t visible it can be picked up if a veterinarian or shelter scans for it - and drastically improves the chances of your dog being returned home.

When you stop at rest stops use the “two door” approach to take your pet out. That is, open the crate and attach a leash securely to your pet. With the car door closed, he cannot slip out of the crate and bolt…and when you open the door to the vehicle he’s on a leash.

Moving in warm weather can be a challenge, and in the crates water often gets spilled. Consider offering water at the rest stops and have ice cubes in the small bowl attached to the crate. This allows small amounts as it melts but isn’t enough to slosh and soak your pet. Also take proportionately sized empty soda bottles - 2 liter for large dogs, 20 oz for smaller dogs and cats - fill about ¾ with water and freeze them. Put these in the crate and your pet has something cold to lie against and help stay just a little cooler. When it thaws you have additional water for your pet.

NEVER travel with your pet in the back of a rental van. They get too hot and there is too little ventilation, even if the back is propped open and secured. An even 75-80 degree day can be a death sentence in one of these vehicles. They are handy for moving *stuff* - pets aren’t *stuff* and even if you stop every hour or so it can be too late to save your pet. Don’t take the chance…have a place he can travel with you. If there absolutely isn’t room for his crate double secure him with a collar and harness to a seat belt…but don’t take a short cut and put him in the back of a moving van or other enclosed place including

Paul Darden is owner and CEO of Buckingham Storage, the only Richardson self storage facility with a 24/7 onsite management team. Darden specializes in the brokering, marketing, feasibility studies, and developing of self-storage personally brokering over 130 self-storage facilities throughout the southwest to both national and regional self-storage operators. If you are looking to move and need if you need moving boxes in Plano, Garland, or Richardson area visit http://www.buckinghamstorage.com

Jul 10

• Ask friends for empty boxes. Check classifieds, free cycle, Craigslist and other sources in your area. Check grocery stores, liquor stores, and hardware and farm stores for boxes.

• Use what you have. When you know there’s an impending move start hoarding plastic bags. These can be used to wrap around collectibles and mugs for no cost packing materials. Use newspapers to cushion between plates and photo frames.

• Low on boxes? Pull dresser drawers out…use the drawers as ‘boxes’ for clothing that will go in the drawers. Once the dresser is in the truck put the drawers back in it and secure them. This saves space and allows the clothing to be protected in transit. Use furniture rugs and blankets to protect furniture in transit.

• This same principle can hold for book cases. Pack your books carefully, lying flat so as to prevent damage, in boxes. Once the bookcase is on board, flat on top of a table preferred, set the boxes inside the openings of the bookcase.

• Get volunteers to help load and clean. A couple pizzas and some drinks can be cheaper than hiring several people to work. With a half dozen organized volunteers a half hour cleaning each means three hours of cleaning time! Have your ‘to-do’ list organized so you know what has been done, needs to be done and is being done.

• Service all vehicles the week before. Having the oil changed, belts and hoses checked and other routine maintenance done reduces the chances of being stalled along the road and having an expensive tow bill as well as hotels, rental cars and other expenses.

• If you are using professional drivers ask if they have a “you pack we drive” option. This way you do the inside work, they load, haul and unload it. Or, if you’re doing a self-serve move, recruit those extra volunteers!

• Don’t forget to check on getting your deposits back - not only for rentals but increasingly utility companies have deposits.

• Check to see if your insurance covers rental trucks if you’re using them. Get it in writing - this can save you money on the daily rental. Don’t risk driving without insurance. Forgetting the height and damaging the corner, limbs scratching the side and various other damages can add up far more than you would imagine.

• Research your route and plan for the least expensive options for lodging. Do you want a kitchenette to save eating out or is it worth it just to sit and have a meal brought to you after driving all day? While having a budget is one thing, looking at the value is another!

• Consider the extra equipment rentals. The large appliance dolly can be a good choice in helping move refrigerators and stoves. Smaller dollies can often be purchased at hardware stores and allow for moving a stack of boxes at a time, which can save time and be a better value if your volunteers are short on available time. If you’re renting a truck consider if you can move during the week, often a better rate than on weekends.

• While there are some costs that are hard to get around - fuel for example - there are many ways you can save money on moving. As you unpack at your new home, pass those boxes along to someone else who’s in need of them. Make the best use of your moving dollar, not just the cheapest.

Paul Darden is owner and CEO of Buckingham Storage, the only Richardson mini storage facility with a 24/7 onsite management team. Darden specializes in the brokering, marketing, feasibility studies, and developing of self-storage personally brokering over 130 self-storage facilities throughout the southwest to both national and regional self-storage operators. For more moving, storage tips, other information, visit http://www.buckinghamstorage.com

Jul 2

The rush for loading and moving is the same whether you’re moving across town or across country. Once the vehicles are loaded the only difference is driving distance. Reducing the stress can help a lot.
Step one - sort and declutter. This can save you time and money in the long run. If you haven’t used it in a year out it goes. It doesn’t matter if it was a gift or was such a great deal when you got it - don’t keep what you don’t use and certainly don’t haul it with you! Have a section in the garage or deck to sort these items out. Give them to people who can use them, have a yard sale, donate to a thrift store or place it on free cycle - but clear it out. This includes clothing!

Go through the kids clothing - anything outgrown goes. Unfortunately almost any time of the year there are fires and people lose everything - they would appreciate these possessions that you or your kids really don’t need anymore. If you really don’t like the item out it goes. If you don’t foresee yourself using it out it goes. You’ll be surprised how much you can lighten the load!

Have plenty of boxes and packing material. While there are moving and shipping places that you can buy this at don’t overlook collecting them. Many people hit up grocery stores and liquor stores - but overlook places like farm supply stores, hardware stores and other sources of boxes. Ask what they do with them…many break them down and crush them, but would be happy to let you take all you want if you come on the day freight comes in. Often you can get not only small boxes for heavy items but large boxes for light items - bedding, pillows and such.

Pack smart. A general guide is the heavier the item the smaller the box. Books, cast iron pans and such go in smaller boxes that are easier to move (especially if you have many of them!). Start early and pack seldom used items a week ahead of time. Get a marker and on it write the room it came from. This allows a much easier time unpacking…you can look at a box and say “oh kitchen pans”. Be sure to clearly mark on all sides glass and other fragile contents. These should be loaded on top with nothing on them.

Call ahead to the new residence and have power, phone and water turned on the day before you get there. Make sure before the water is turned on there are no open faucets or broken pipes. You might have an overlap of service for a day but there is little more refreshing than getting to the new place, unloading for a couple hours and being able to go take a hot shower! Get keys to the new place at least several days in advance.

For boxes containing photo albums or framed photos consider using a garbage bag on the inside of the box - this allows a moisture barrier and even if the box should get wet the plastic barrier protects what’s inside.

Have plenty of help to load and have your piles separated (as you box them) to heavy/durable items (bottom), medium durable (middle) and light/fragile (top) when they’re loaded. If you have to color code them…get markers and use a red for heavy boxes, blue for medium and black only for fragile. The same principle works for rooms - red for kitchen, blue for living room. Don’t just label “bedroom” - indicate which bedroom! If you have to hire a few kids from church it can be money well spent to be loaded and on the road quickly with minimal stress.

Think ahead not only for getting stuff packed and loaded but saving you time unloading also!

Paul Darden is owner and CEO of Buckingham Storage, the only Richardson self storage facility with a 24/7 onsite management team. Darden specializes in the brokering, marketing, feasibility studies, and developing of self-storage personally brokering over 130 self-storage facilities throughout the southwest to both national and regional self-storage operators. If you are looking to move and need if you need moving boxes in Garland, Plano, or Richardson area visit http://www.buckinghamstorage.com