Tag: movers NJ

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How To

How to Choose the Best Moving Company in NJ

best moving company in nj

Are you planning on moving to a new place in New Jersey? A cursory Google search will turn up dozens of options which can lead to analysis paralysis. The more options you have, the harder it can be for you to decide which one to choose. While this might not be an issue for non-pressing purchases, choosing a reliable NJ moving company is crucial if you want a seamless transition to your new home. After all, you’re trusting them with your belongings! In order to find the best moving companies in NJ, it’s important to set aside some time to do proper research and vetting if you want to avoid potential issues and scams down the line. Not sure how to start? This handy guide walks you through how to choose the best NJ movers.

Ask People You Know

Word-of-mouth is still king. Before you even look online for NJ moving company reviews, ask your friends, family, and coworkers for their first-hand experience. White you don’t need to give them the third degree, you should ask them about what it was like working with the moving company. Were they communicative, on time, and professional? Did they damage anything and if they did, how did they resolve the issue? Did their initial quote match the final bill? All of these can help you narrow down your choices before you start doing your own online research.

Of course, just because one of your friends had a good experience doesn’t mean that other people felt the same way. Even bad moving companies can get it right sometimes! But asking for referrals is a good start so you can narrow down your choices.

Check for Licenses and Insurance

All professional NJ moving companies must have the appropriate licenses and insurance in order to legally operate within the state. These include mandatory registration with the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) to receive a USDOT number, a unique identifier that allows the government and consumers to Current and new address

  • Estimated size of move it or access the company’s compliance, inspections, crashes, etc. In order to receive the USDOT number, companies must have proof of up-to-date insurance. On top of this, NJ movers must be licensed by the Division of Consumer Affairs, which supplies standards that companies must abide by including minimum insurance coverage, fitness standards, contract requirements, and claims procedures.

Most reputable NJ companies will display their USDOT number on their website so you can easily look them up. If they don’t have the information, you can call them up and ask or you can call the NJDOT or New Jersey Warehouse and Movers Association for updated details on the company.

Hire Local Movers

Experienced NJ movers can make the process seem easy. They will know exactly how to navigate the crazy New Jersey traffic as well as all the laws for parking and moving into apartment buildings and/or homes. Need to deal with a flight of stairs? The best NJ moving companies have got you covered. More importantly, hiring local movers means you’ll be less likely to be tricked into a scam. On top of that, if you can find something local to either your new or old address, you’ll also save money. Local moves charge by the hour and they start charging you the minute they leave their warehouse and will stop the clock once their trucks are back on site. That means the further away they need to drive in either direction, the more you will need to pay and the more chances there will be for the movers to run into traffic or other issues. Narrowing your search to more local companies can save you a hundred dollars or more!

Do Your Research!

Even if you get recommendations from other people you still need to do your due diligence. Luckily, you can perform most of this online by looking at various online review sites like Google, Yelp, and Facebook. If a company has been in business for a long time, they will have hundreds of reviews from satisfied and not-so-satisfied customers. Read as many as you can and pay special attention to the negative reviews to see if there is a trend in the complaints. If a lot of people are complaining about poor service, damaged belongings, or surprise fees you might want to move on to the next company.

In addition to online review sites, check out the Better Business Bureau to see if the company has a report. Check out the letter grade and read any complaints, reviews, and government actions. You can also review the company’s complaint history on the USDOT website by entering the USDOT number in the search bar.

Call the Company

Once you’ve narrowed down your choices to three options, give them a call to discuss their services and rates. Do NOT send them an email as the purpose of the call is to assess their professionalism and communication skills. Pay close attention to how they answer their phone when they pick up. They should say the company name, not their name. From there, walk them through what you need for the move including things like:

  • Moving date and time
  • Additional services
  • Bulky furniture/times
  • Flights of stairs they will need to walk up
  • Your budget

The more information you can provide the more accurate the mover’s estimate will be. While talking to them, don’t forget to ask questions! This could be from terms they use that you aren’t familiar with to the types of services they provide including providing packing materials, plastic bin rentals, and so on. Trustworthy NJ movers will be more than happy to answer any of your questions and will work with you to find a way to match your needs and budget. If the person on the other end seems annoyed, avoids your questions, and/or tries to pressure you into handing over your credit card information, move on. It’s a clear sign that the company is not professional.

Book Your NJ Movers

Finding a moving company can be daunting, but with these tips you should be able to narrow down your search. Always get an estimate from each of the companies to compare the prices and services they offer. If one seems significantly cheaper than the others, chances are you’ll be hit with a lot of hidden fees at the end. Most companies should be around the same price give or take a few dollars. If it’s still out of your budget, ask if they can provide some kind of discount. This is especially effective if you’re moving between October through April as fewer people move during this period. Once you’re happy with your research and the estimate, make sure to book as soon as possible so you don’t miss out on your preferred date and time.

If you’re looking for a reputable company, give NJ Great Movers a call! We have an almost 5-star rating on all review platforms. Our crew will work with you to make your move as easy as possible.

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General

The Best Places to Live in NJ for Gen Z

Best Places to Live in NJ for Gen Z
Best Places to Live in NJ for Gen Z

Being on your own for the first time after college can be both exciting and scary. If you’re still deciding where you want to move to, why not consider New Jersey? Sure, this might be the 5th smallest state based on land area, but it’s also the most densely populated one with close to 9.3 million residents. Plus, depending on where you move you will be a short train ride or drive away from either NYC or Philadelphia. Depending on what city you move to though, you might not even need to venture outside the state as there are plenty of jobs, entertainment, and more at your fingertips.

So if you’re looking for your first apartment, then consider looking in these NJ cities.

One of the Largest Cities is: Jersey City

If you want to enjoy all the trappings of a large city without dealing with millions of people, then Jersey City might be the place for you. Sure, it’s still crowded as it has almost 300,000 residents residing within 21 square miles, but you still have a bit more breathing room when compared to living in Manhattan. Speaking of Manhattan, you’re only a short train ride away so whether you decide to work or play in NYC, you can make the commute in 30 minutes or less via the Path Train or NJ Transit.

Thanks to its proximity to NYC and being a major port of entry for immigration, Jersey City is one of the most ethnically diverse cities in the United States. As such, it’s an amazing place for foodies. You can try cuisines from around the world such as Cuban, Indian, Caribbean, Filipino, and Vietnamese. In fact, Food & Wine declared Jersey City one of America’s next great food cities.

Jersey City offers more than just amazing food; it’s also a great place for job seekers. Many financial firms have opened up locations in Jersey City since the 1980s including Chase, Merrill Lynch, UBS, and Royal Bank of Canada. Because of the high concentration of financial institutions, Jersey City has been given the nickname the Wall Street West. If you’re not interested in working for a large financial company, Jersey City is also home to Colgate-Palmolive and Salesforce. Of course, you can always commute to NYC if you can’t find something you like. You can get easy access to Midtown, the West Village, and Battery Park thanks to the PATH train and NJ Transit buses.

There are plenty of opportunities available in the area and with the lower cost of living and lower income taxes when compared to NYC, you’ll have more money at the end of the month making this one of the best cities in NJ for young professionals. The best part is that the salaries for these financial institutions and other large companies tend to be close to what you would get in NYC. Which means you’re getting a NYC salary without having to worry about NYC rents and other cost of living expenses.

While rents are rising in Jersey City, you can get more for your money so instead of spending $3,000 for a studio apartment, you can get an actual one bedroom complete with a separate living room and kitchen.

Morristown: The Best Place to Find a Soulmate

If you don’t like the fast pace of city life but don’t want to give up on convenience then Morristown might be the perfect place for you. The city only has around 20,000 residents, making it more than 10 times smaller than Jersey City and measures only 3 square miles, making it one of the smallest cities in New Jersey.

Despite its small size, Morristown has plenty to offer. You can hop on the NJ Transit train to go to NYC. Or you can travel to other locations in NJ such as Secaucus or Dover and everything in between. With that said, you don’t need to leave Morristown if you’re looking for things to do. Why not eat at one of the hundreds of restaurants in the area? Or go on a self-guided walking tour to check out the numerous landmarks and historic destinations like Washington’s Headquarters or Jockey Hollow. After that, shop at one of the small retail businesses to support the local economy.

Average rent in Morristown is around $2,600, but that’s for an 800 square foot apartment. Of course, you might be able to find better deals as the price varies greatly depending on unit type. Still, when compared to NYC, you’ll save quite a bit, especially if you opt to have roommates. Plus, you don’t have to spend your saved money on commuting. There are plenty of jobs available in Morristown as it is home to several pharmaceutical companies like Orexo, Bayer, and Vernalis. There are also plenty of small businesses to choose from if you prefer working in a more tight knit organization.

Morristown tends to skew a bit younger with the majority of the population in their 20s and 30s. As such, a large portion of the population is single! In fact, around 60 percent of the population is single. So if you’re looking for your soul mate, Morristown is the perfect place!

Best City for Young Professionals: Hoboken

Don’t be fooled by its small size. Despite its 1.28 square mile size, Hoboken is home to around 60,000 residents making it the 3rd most densely populated city in the United States. However, the city never feels as busy or packed as some streets in NYC, giving it an almost small town vibe, which is helped by homey store fronts and low-rise buildings in the main areas of town.

You have easy access to NYC via the PATH train and can easily get to the West Village or Midtown for work or play. Of course, you don’t need to go into NYC as Hoboken has plenty to offer. Thanks to its growing population and its status as a college town – it’s home to Steven’s Institute of Technology – there’s plenty to do. It has a thriving nightlife scene with more bars per capita than even NYC. If you’re looking for some entertainment, you can find live music almost any night of the week. Or you can walk along the Hudson River Waterfront Walkway and enjoy the spectacular views of the Manhattan skyline.

One fun historical tidbit is that Hoboken is home to modern baseball! On June 19, 1846 Hoboken’s Elysian Fields hosted the very first recorded baseball match that is recognized by modern rules. The game was between The New York Nines and Cartwright’s Knickerbocker squad with the New York Nines winning. While the original Elysian Fields there is a concrete and bronze monument on the intersection between 11th and Washington street to commemorate the baseball field.

Unfortunately, living in Hoboken isn’t cheap so you’ll probably need to live with a couple of roommates in order to afford rent. Still, you’d likely be doing the same thing if you decided to live in NYC, but at least you’ll have more space in Hoboken and save money in other ways! Just make sure you don’t spend all that extra money on the delicious food and drinks!

Highland Park: The Best Place to Live for Gen Z

Highland Park isn’t just one of the best places to live for Gen Z’s, it’s one of the best places to live in NJ, period. With around 15,000 people, this suburb of NYC tends to fly under the radar as it’s not as close to NYC as some of the other locations in this list. It’s definitely more suburban than say Jersey City or Hoboken, so it’s a great option for you if you want to get away from the fast-paced life in a city. Despite being further away from NYC, the town boasts a fairly young demographic with around 37 percent aged 24 to 44. Chances are a lot of graduates from nearby Rutgers University decided to stay in the area!

This historic location is one of the prettiest towns in New Jersey complete with picturesque tree-lined streets, historic homes, and two large parks at either end of town. While you’ll probably want a car to get around, it’s actually quite walkable. Head down to Raritan Avenue to check out the various boutique shops, restaurants, and bars. There’s a weekly farmer’s market and plenty of town events to foster a sense of community. It’s also centrally located so you can easily get to NYC and Philadelphia.

Want to enjoy some nature? Take a stroll along the Raritan River at Donaldson Park in the South or Johnson Park in the Northwest. You can also travel 15-20 minutes outside of town and visit the Rutgers Botanical Garden.

Highland Park has historically been a bedroom community for nearby Rutgers University and Johnson & Johnson in New Brunswick. While there aren’t any major companies in Highland Park itself, New Brunswick boasts several including Bristol-Myers Squibb, RWJBarnabas Health, and more. There are also many small businesses in Highland Park though it might be harder to find a position locally.

Perhaps the biggest draw of Highland Park is its lower cost of living. The average rent price is around $2,000 for an 800 square foot apartment, making it a great option if you want to save some money. More importantly, it’s a location where you can set roots if you want. It has low crime, great schools, and a welcoming community.

Ready to Move to New Jersey?

If you’re thinking about moving to NYC, but can’t figure out how you’ll afford rent, then consider moving to one of these NJ cities. Many of them are close enough to NYC that you can easily commute if you want. At the same time, they also offer plenty of job opportunities and entertainment that you can live, work, and have fun all in the same place.

Once you’re ready to make your move, make sure to call up some professional NJ movers like us. We’ll walk you through it so you know exactly what to expect and we’ll work with your budget. You can give us a call for a free estimate and hopefully, after chatting with our customer service representatives, you’ll understand why we’re the movers NJ residents trust.

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Moving Tips

How to Move with Kids the Easiest Way

5 Easy Steps for Moving With Kids

Moving is already complicated. When you add kids to the mix, it can be downright harrowing regardless of how old they are. Whether you have a toddler, tween, or teenager, moving can be emotionally draining on everyone regardless of if you’re moving across the country or the next town over. Luckily, there are a couple of steps you can take to make the move easier on your kids. Of course, every child and family situation is different, but the below tips can make relocating easier for the entire family.

Talk to Your Kids About Moving for a Smooth Transition

Unless your child is still a baby, you should have an age-appropriate conversation with them to explain why you’re moving. Toddlers might not need to know all the details, but they should still be informed. Maybe you’re moving for work or perhaps you’re moving to be closer to friends and family. Whatever the reason, it’s better to let them know as soon as possible. After all, children seem to have a sixth sense when the household vibe shifts. Plus, it will be difficult to hide things like packing supplies and moving boxes!

At your next family meeting, include the topic of moving to the agenda. Moving is a big change for kids, especially if they’re already in school so they might need some time to absorb the news and process the information. Try to give them a bit of space in the beginning as their entire world has just changed. Some kids might take the news in stride, of course, but make sure to check-in periodically during the days leading up to the move to make sure they’re okay.

Get Everyone Involved for a Smoother Move

Sure, your kids might not be able to veto the move, but they can at least be involved in the process. Whether you’ve already closed on a new home or not, there are plenty of ways you can get them involved in the process. This will give them a sense of empowerment and make the move more attractive as they’ll be helping with the decision. Of course, their level of involvement depends on their age and their enthusiasm. However, even if they’re not particularly excited about a move, you can still get them involved by doing the following:

  • Give them a vote when looking for a new home. They might not want to spend days looking at homes in person, but many will be more than happy to look at online photos and point out specific amenities they want like their own bedroom, a backyard, a pool, etc. Take their opinions into consideration when making your final choice.
  • Take them on shopping trips. While younger kids might not enjoy trips to the hardware store, they may like going shopping for fun stuff like decorations, new furniture, and the like. You can also help them decide on the look of their new bedroom by choosing paint colors, pillowcases, toys, etc.
  • Let them pack their room. Giving your kids ownership of their part of the move can help them feel like part of the process. Of course, the tasks you give them should be age appropriate. For toddlers, you might simply ask them to pack their toys in boxes. Teenagers, on the other hand, can pack their room by themselves.

Research New Schools Early

Switching schools is a big deal for kids. They’ll have to make new friends, deal with new teachers, and figure out the rules of the new school. It’s one of the biggest changes for your kid and the older they are, the harder the transition can be. While your child will likely feel anxious regardless of how much research you do, the more they know the better! Compile a little report of everything you know about the school and include things like photos, school mascot, colors, extracurricular activities, distance from your new house, etc. For yourself, you should also see if there’s a parent group for the schools where you can ask questions about bullying, school policies, and so on.

After you’ve done that, see if you can schedule some time before the move for an orientation. While you can’t control when you need to make a move, you would ideally move during the summer to avoid mid-year transfer. That way, your child can also check out the school during the summer and potentially get a walk-through from the guidance counselor, principal, or vice principal and get any lingering questions they might have answered.

Check Out the New Neighborhood

If you’re moving for work, see if you can negotiate a visit to the new area as part of your relocation package and take your child(ren) along. You can use this time to explore the neighborhood and find kid-friendly places such as parks, playgrounds, nearby restaurants, and so on. If your child is younger, going to a park or playgrounds is a great way for you and your child to make new friends.

For tweens and teens, your best bet is to look for locations and clubs that match their interests. Many towns have a local 4-H club where kids of all ages can work together to complete various projects in the fields of health, science, agriculture, and civic engagement. For more active kids, go to a recreational field and see if there’s an open game they might be able to join. Many places have more informal youth sports activities.

Ultimately, the more familiar you get with the area, the more your child will feel at home when you make the move. Plus, it will also help you out when you move as you’ll know where all their favorite places are!

Give Yourself Plenty of Time to Ensure a Stress-Free Move

There’s nothing worse than having to rush through the moving process and it can be overwhelming even as an adult. Imagine what it must feel like for a child or teenager having their whole world turned upside down in a couple of weeks! In order to avoid emotional turbulence and tantrums, take the move slowly. If you’re moving for work, see if you can get two months to move. This way, you don’t have to cram everything into a single month and, instead, can do a little bit every day. It will also give your child time to adjust and get used to the idea of moving to a new place.

If you really want to save time, you should hire professional movers. If you’re moving to or from NJ, there are dozens of options to choose from, but you should always look up reviews to find movers NJ residents trust. When hiring movers, make sure to let them know what services you need such as packing, storage, plastic bin rentals, and so on. Hiring NJ movers can free up time you can spend hanging out with friends, hosting a going-away party, or dealing with the occasional meltdown of one of your children.

Visit Your Favorite Places Before Leaving Your Old Town

Carve out some time every week before you move to visit some of your and your child’s favorite places in your old neighborhood. Visit restaurants, attractions, and catalog everything! Heck, you can even create a digital or physical scrapbook of your old hometown so you and your child can look back fondly on these memories. Don’t forget to check in on old friends as well and get their contact information including phone number, email address, social media connections, and home address so you can stay in touch.

Don’t try to cram everything into a single day. Instead, spread out your visits over a few days. That way you can still get some moving necessities done while treating yourself to something fun in the middle or end of the day. Plus, your child will be less likely to be overwhelmed if you sprinkle in some fun things to do over the course of the move.

Establish a Routine as Soon as You Move

People in general thrive on routines. Once your move is done, you should do something familiar as a family to unwind after. Maybe that’s a family movie night or perhaps playing a board game together. Whatever the routine is, stick to it!

If you have younger children you’ll want to stick to your daily routines as much as possible once you move into your new home. It will provide a sense of normalcy for your children and will help keep you on track as well! Of course, you might have to make some exceptions as you’ll need to unpack, but you try to stick to your bedtime and nap schedule as much as possible.

Make Moving Easier with Your Children

Moving is stressful at any age, but for children, it can be a hugely disrupting life event. While these tips can help manage their stress, don’t forget to regularly check in with your children to make sure they’re doing okay. If it looks like your child is struggling, take some time off from packing or unpacking and go outside or maybe just relax with a family movie night. These short breaks can help your child and you feel better!

Categories
Moving Tips

How to Save Money on Your Next NJ Move

4 Tips to Save Money on Your Next NJ Move

Moving to a new home can be exciting, but it’s also expensive. In addition to the money you spent securing your new home, moving comes with its own set of costs. Luckily, there are ways you can bring down the cost of moving, but it will take a bit more planning and effort on your side. Is it worth it? That’s up to you and how much time and energy you have. With that said, the money saved during the move might mean you can splurge on new decor or a nice dinner out once you’re settled in.

If you’re looking to save some money, try out the methods below for your next NJ move.

Declutter and Sell Your Less Useful Old Items

Decluttering is one of the best ways to save money on your move especially if you’re using professional NJ movers. After all, the less boxes and furniture you have, the less time it will take them to load and unload your belongings from the truck. It also means less time you need to spend packing and wrapping.

Of course, deciding what to get rid of can be difficult especially if you have an emotional connection to certain items. However, moving is the perfect time to unburden yourself. Take some time to look at everything you own and think about the last time you used that item. If you haven’t used it in the past year, chances are you don’t need it, but there’s someone out there who might get great use out of it.

One of the best ways to make a little extra cash is to have a garage or yard sale. While you won’t recoup the original cost of the item, whatever money you do make from it you can put towards your moving expenses. If you have items like camera lenses or vintage clothes, you might be able to put these up on eBay for a decent profit.

Of course, there will be items you might not be able to sell. If they’re still in decent condition, you can donate them to your local Goodwill store. While you won’t get any upfront payment, you can write off your donations in your taxes at the end of the year. So make sure you get an itemized receipt after donating! Otherwise, you can post on your local neighborhood Facebook group letting people know they can take the items away for free. Either way, the goal is to reduce the amount of stuff you need to move.

Avoid Buying New Supplies Right Now

The cost of moving supplies adds up quickly – some tape here, bubble wrap there, and all of sudden you’ve spent a couple hundred dollars and you still need more for the rest of your stuff. While there might be times where you have to buy supplies, there are plenty of ways you can avoid it with a little planning.

Besides hiring movers, the biggest moving expense is the boxes. Thanks to online shopping, almost everyone likely has some empty boxes lying around. Consider asking neighbors, friends, and family members for any boxes they might have. You can also go to your local grocery store or liquor store and see if they have any.

If you work in an office, check with the mailroom to see if they have any empty boxes that they plan on tossing. Chances are, you’ll end up with more boxes than you need. If you don’t have any luck with friends and family, you might be able to find some options online via Facebook, Nextdoor, or Freecycle.

You can also reuse some of your own items for packing. Instead of using bubble wrap, why not wrap fragile items in t-shirts, towels, newspaper, or sheets? They’re an excellent option as they will still protect your valuables without costing any extra money. Just make sure that the movers are extra careful as you don’t want to deal with broken glass in your clothes!

Consider Self-Packing Everything to Save Money

Sure, hiring professional packers might make your job easier, but it comes at a pretty hefty cost especially if you do full-service packing. While it might be a time-consuming task, it’s a lot cheaper to pack everything yourself. If the money you save isn’t enough motivation,  then consider this: you can pack your boxes in the way that makes sense to you.

While professional packers will generally do a good job, sometimes they’ll group items together that don’t necessarily make sense. You have complete control over what item goes into which box. That will make it a lot easier when you need to unpack as you’ll know exactly where everything is.

If you need the extra help, instead of springing for the full-service packing consider a partial packing option. This allows you to pack the majority of your items while leaving certain rooms to the pros. So maybe you don’t want to deal with packing all the fragile items in the kitchen.

Hire the pros! It’ll save you some time and, while more expensive than packing yourself, will still be cheaper than if they packed everything. Just make sure to ask the movers how much they charge and how long the packing services will take before you agree to this option.

Hire the Most Affordable NJ Movers

Yes, you can go the DIY move, but doing everything yourself is not just stressful, but can be dangerous! Even if you’ve moved multiple times in your life, you won’t have as much experience as professional movers who move almost every day of the week.

The pros know exactly how to stack the boxes in a truck to avoid damage, navigate tight corridors and corners, and lift heavy items properly. Many people have injured themselves trying to move furniture or even heavy boxes and there’s nothing worse than having to move with a strained back or ankle.

There are plenty of NJ movers to choose from, but that doesn’t mean they’re all equal. While it might be tempting to go with the cheapest option, chances are they won’t be very professional and could end up damaging your belongings during transport. In the worst case scenario, they might be a scam and hold your belongings for ransom until you pay a higher fee.

To avoid this, you’ll need to do plenty of research online and by directly calling each company. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and always look up their Department of Transportation number to make sure they are properly licensed. You should also look up online reviews to see what their customers think. Once you’ve done all that, you should be able to find movers NJ residents trust.

Once you’ve found the right movers, make sure to read the contract carefully. Are there any fees you weren’t expecting? Most local movers charge an hourly rate, which ends up being cheaper than volume pricing. However, if there’s inclement weather or you haven’t finished packing yet, your final price might end up higher than what you expected.

Also, don’t forget to check what kind of insurance and liability options they offer. If you own a lot of valuable items, you might want to get full liability coverage. If the company doesn’t offer it, you can always get a third-party option.

Easily Save Money on Your Next NJ Move

By following these tips, you should be able to save yourself a few hundred dollars. What you do with that money is up to you! These tips only work if you start planning your move at least a month in advance, so make sure to start as soon as possible. When it comes to finding reliable NJ movers, you can always give NJ Great Movers a call for a free quote.