Olympic Prize Packages

Are you curious to see what the prizes are for tomorrows FAN• tastic February Olympic Giveaway!  We are giving away 3 prizes; Gold, Silver, and Bronze.

Silver

Bronze!

The gold medal prize will be revealed tomorrow!

Fan us on Facebook and/ or Follow us on Twitter to be eligible to win.  Live drawing tomorrow on our uStream channel.

Final week of FAN•tastic February

Are you extremely happy about the service you received from MoveforFREE.com?  Refer your friends to us and tell them to stop by our social networking sites.  Like our blog, Facebook page, Twitter page, and of course YouTube.

Also, this is the last week of our FAN•tastic February contest.  This week we are giving away 3 Olympic Prize packages!  That’s right… 3!  Not 1.  Check out my video below.

And yes… that is snow you are seeing in the video.  It kinda snowed a little bit in San Antonio yesterday.

New Twitter Background!!

Hey MoveforFREE fans and followers!  I decided to do some new artwork for yesterday for a new background on our twitter page.  I would love to hear what you guys think!

Two more weeks to go…

We are halfway through FAN•tastic February.  This month we are sending out a big THANK YOU to all of our moveforFREE fans on Facebook and our followers on Twitter.  Anyone that is a fan or follower is automatically eligible to win our weekly giveaway!

Week 1 we gave away our football prize package for the “Big Game.”

And last week one very lucky San Antonian received our Valentine Sweetheart Prize Package!  We were lucky enough to give it to her in person!

This week we are giving away a Beat the winter blues prize package!  Including…..

Just fan us on and/ or follow us on

Testimonial Tuesday

We really love to hear our customer’s opinions!  Feel free to post your opinions, suggestions, or comments here, on our Facebook page, or on Twitter.

Here is a great one from Ankin A. from Euless, Texas.

This is the second time i have used your service, you guys are the greatest, friendly, nice, and quick… I have recommended your company to several of my friends and they have used you guys..thanks again.  I will use you again in the future. (how about a referral fee program?..ha ha)

We value all of our customers and really do appreciate everyone of them.

FAN•tastic February Week #2

Thank you so much to everyone that has made MoveforFREE.com a fan on their facebook and/ or following us on Twitter!  We now have over 300 fans and over 40 followers!  February is off to a great start.

One of our main goals for using these great social networking tools is to be more connected to our customers and or future customers.  Using Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, etc.. we are able to hear from you… our fans!  We can answer your questions, share your testimonials with the world, and share our successes with the people that matter the most!  Thank you!

This week we are giving away a Valentine Sweetheart Prize Package to one lucky Fan or Follower.  To be eligible to win is as easy as 1- 2- 3! Just like MoveforFREE.com is as easy as 1- 2- 3!

1. Fan us on Facebook
2. Follow us on Twitter @MoveforFREE
3. Live Drawing on each Friday in February at 10AM CST

Testimonial Tuesday Extravaganza!

We get a lot of testimonials here at MoveforFREE.com! Just take a look at our Customer Opinion section on our website.

But I have to say this one is one of the best! A super big thank you to Will L. of Houston, TX.

This is what Will Had to say about MoveforFREE.com…

FANTASTIC!!

“I’ve never been so happy using any website before. Seriously, I use the web for everything from pillows to cars, but THIS… this was FANTASTIC. I found a great apartment at a greatly discounted price (15% below market), and when it came time to move – BAM! Luis and Jesu (the movers) were there RIGHT on time and had all my stuff loaded in two shakes of a jackrabbits tail! I barely had enough time to say goodbye to my neighbors (though they gave me every second I wanted)! And even though I was moving almost an hour and a half away to the other side of town (Rayford/Sawdust and 45 to near Westheimer and 8), they kept in constant contact and let me know where they were, so that when I pulled up at my new complex they were RIGHT behind me. They unloaded me in about two minutes – putting EVERYTHING right where I wanted it. They even COMPLETELY refused my offer to help! They were exceptionally professional, and I really couldn’t have been happier with how those two fine gentleman handled my stuff – loading/unloading or even while driving. My stuff might has well been the Queen’s Jewels for how gently they handled it every step of the way. Really, way to go for those guys! But the best part – after they loaded me in, they brought me the bill – and it was CHEAPER than what I was told! I was told right off the bat that there would be an out-of-zone charge (and with the hour-and-a-half or so each way I understood!), but I couldn’t have paid a friend gas money for what this cost me. I will NEVER move apartments with anyone else ever again! Thanks so very much for everything, it was the single best moving experience of my life. I’ve always said moving was the single WORST thing in the world, but tonight changed my opinion about moving. SERIOUSLY! I hope to be a customer of your service until the very last place I ever rent. “

We take great pride in our employees and our business. Thank you so much to Will for taking the time to write to us and let us know how you felt about your experience.  We appreciate you, your kind words, and your willingness to take the time to let us know how we did.

Photo Credit

Ten years strong and still moving!

How to (Correctly) Pack

In the past 6 years I have moved 4 times.  One time across country.  And the other 3 within the same city.  By now I would have to call myself an expert mover.  Especially an expert packer.

I officially present to you… Becky’s “certified” expert packing advice.

1. First be sure to get boxes for free!
2. About 2- 3 months before you move, start going through your stuff and figure out what you can either; trash, giveaway or keep.  (Including clothes.)  If you haven’t worn something in like 5 years it’s probably a good time to donate it to your local charity.
3. Once you have gone through all your stuff, you can start packing things that you don’t necessarily use everyday, i.e. books, off season clothing, and nic- nacts.
4. Make sure you tape the bottom of the boxes so they don’t fall apart when you pick them up.
5. Don’t pack your boxes too heavy.  When packing books, for example, spread them out over a couple of boxes.  Mix your heavy objects with some light ones.  Put the lighter items on top.
6. Use some sort of packing material for your fragile items.  Newspaper or bubble wrap work great.  I like to get the free newspapers at the grocery store.  (Some people don’t like to use newspaper, because the newsprint tends to rub off.)
7. Be sure to label your boxes.  Sometimes it helps to label them with what room they will be going in.  Make sure to mark “Fragile” on the boxes that need a little extra care.
8. I like to write what is in the boxes on the outside.  This is good when you move and don’t remember where exactly you put your hammer.
9. Don’t pack your cleaning supplies!  This will be the last thing you need in your old apartment and the first thing you need in your new place.
10. Set aside a box or a bag with a change of clothes, toiletries, TP, and anything else you may need for the first night in your new place.

Handle with care?

Photo Credit

Talking to your Children about Moving

SO moving can be stressful as it is, but throw children into the mix and things can get a bit more interesting.

For one, different children react to moving in different ways.  And depending on how old your kids are will also change on how they react to the news.

Here are some great ways to talk to your children about moving.

1. It is recommend that you let your children know as soon as possible that you are moving.  They will need time to get used to the idea.  And if you are moving far it will give them time to let their friends know.
2. Tell you children that you are open to questions about moving.  If you let them know you are open to discuss things then it will help them feel more comfortable about moving.  For example, if they ask you if there will be any parks near by, you could suggest they get online to look.  Having them feel like they are a part in the moving process will make them feel less worried about the whole process.
3. Your attitude can affect the way your children react.  If you have a bad mood about moving then chances are your children will too.  Acting up- beat and excited about the move can lift your child’s spirits as well!
4. As I said before it is important to encourage your children to help in the moving process.  Let them know that you are moving as a family and as a family everyone is going to help with the planning, organizing, packing, and moving.  By doing this your children will feel appreciated and will bring the whole family closer together during a very stressful time.

Think of moving as your a new adventure and encourage your children to participate.  I’m sure there will be a few tears shed but, the overall outcome will be sure to come out better!

Bonding with your Family During your Move

As I have said many many times before moving is one of the most stressful events in a person lifetime. All the packing, extra expenses, the actual moving day, the list goes on and on.

The stress level only increases when it’s more than just yourself that is moving. What if you have a whole family to move? The stress level is sure to increase, especially with children.

Some might find it difficult to not let your stress get the better of you and take you frustrations out on your family… the ones you care about the most.

But! There are ways that a family can still bond throughout their moving process.

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On of the main things to remember is try not to let your stress overpower your emotions. Just remember to not let the move overpower your life. Start early. Do a little at a time.

Children may react to the move differently then you. If you are moving far, allow them to say goodbye to the old place, friends, and neighbors. Recognize they may need more time then you. You might consider telling them as soon as you know for sure that you are moving, so they have time to adjust to the idea.

If your children are older (pre- teens/ teenagers) they might want to have a goodbye party or spend a lot of time with their friends. While, you may want them to pack and help with the moving chores, this process of saying goodbye can be very important to them.

Try putting on music during a long day of packing that you can all enjoy. Music always helps stressful situations.

As far as packing goes, give your children a checklist of tasks that they can accomplish on their own. This will make them feel that they are an important part of the move.

Checklist for younger children….

Have them sort their stuff they want to move into three piles.

Keep
Throw out
Give away

Have them mark their boxes/ belongings with their own personal logo/ seal that they designed.

Have them pack a first night backpack with some stuff they will need during their first night in their new place. Things like a special blanket/ stuffed animal, favorite pair of PJ’s and favorite book will help them feel more “at home” when they get to the new place.

Checklist for pre-teens/ teenagers

When you tell your teen that you are moving, remember to tell them that this is a very stressful process for everyone and you would really appreciate lots of help. They can help in many ways.

They can take care of the younger children. They can be there to comfort them if they are anxious about the move. And especially be there to take care of them on the moving day. When people are moving big heavy furniture and boxes it is especially important to have the little ones out of the way.

Assure them that you are open for ideas on how to develop a strategic packing and moving plan. Children sometimes just like to feel included in big events! They like to feel like they can help.

Show/ tell them how to pack tactfully by packing the stuff that you don’t use very often first and the stuff you use daily last.

Have them write their own name on their boxes. Let them decorate them, so they no which one’s are theirs.

Make sure you don’t shadow over them to much. Teens like to prove to their parents they can do stuff on their own.

Hopefully these tips will help you turn a stressful event into a…. well a less stressful event. Use your family to your benefit. Use it as a bonding process instead of a fighting, anxiety filled incident.

GOOD LUCK!

*ideas adapted from http://www.moversdirectory.com