We received the following email from a customer and I just wanted to share. Thank you to Jennifer, Jamison and Bret for  making this an exceptional experience for our customers. Also, thank you to Allen for sharing his story with us.

"While we were very impressed with how you handled the arrangements for our move as well as the very nice gentleman that paid us a visit, in advance (to explain the move and the care that our belongings would receive), we were still somewhat skeptical as to whether this was something that your crew was actually going to deliver on.

I wanted to let you know how much we appreciated the fine gentlemen that you assigned to our move, this past Saturday. My wife and I cannot tell you how much we appreciate that you gave us your best crew. Jamison and Bret were extremely careful, courteous and hard working while maintaining a polite, professional demeanor throughout. They lived up to your promises and then some. In a nutshell, they were phenomenal.

I can tell you that moving is not something that people look forward to.

Thanks to you and your hard working team for actually making it pleasant for us. You can rest assured that we will be endorsing you and your fine company with anyone that asks us for advice on picking movers."

- Allen

The gifts are given, holiday treats are eaten and before you know it, another holiday season is over. It’s time to pack it all up until the next year.

Preparing for the holidays is no simple task, but it can be made easier by a little thoughtful planning while packing at the end of the season.

Careful packing and organization prevents damage and breakage. It is worth the extra time in order to preserve your decorations for next year.

Here are some tips to keep in mind while packing away holiday decorations:

Delicate items

• Wrap breakables in paper. Do not use newspaper –- the print may wear off on ornaments. Use tissue or packing paper. Instead of throwing away used paper run it through a paper shredder, it makes great packing filler.
• Decorations that contain photographs or food should be sealed in a bag to keep them intact and prevent insects or mice getting to them.
• Boxes with dividers are best to pack ornaments in. Local moving companies may have boxes like this. There are cardboard boxes made especially for fragile items. It comes with adjustable inserts that forms individual cells for delicate items.
• Keep extra hangers, hooks and ornament parts in a labeled bag or box.

Lights

• To prevent tangles, wrap lights around empty wrapping paper tubes.
• Leave the plug accessible by taping the ends of the light strands to the end of the tube. Next year you can quickly test the lights before unwinding them.
• Store colored lights in a dark place to prevent fading –- especially blues, greens and purples.

Wrapping paper

• Hanging garment bags provides good storage for wrapping paper rolls. Use outside pockets for gift tags, cards and tissue paper.
• To protect used rolls of paper, cut an empty wrapping paper tube from end to end and slide it over the roll.
• Ribbons and bows can be saved, pack loosely so they keep their shape.

Miscellaneous

• Wrap holiday candles individually in cellophane and store in a cool place so they do not melt together.
• Pack an “open first” box. Place the decorations you use first in here with essentials such as extension cords.
• If you haven’t used a decoration in a few years donate it. If it is damaged, get rid of it.
• Take special care if you are storing your items in a damp area like your basement. Don’t store boxes near sources of heat and moisture.
• The most important tip is to label every box. The more detailed the description, the easier it will be to find things. Use different colors to distinguish different holidays. For example, use orange for Halloween, brown for Thanksgiving, and red or green for Christmas.

Every year, we are very active with Toys for Tots. It is a great charity that helps to give Christmas gifts to kids in need. Starting tomorrow, there will be toy drives at various locations around DFW where you can come to drop off your new, unwrapped toys to donate.

Here are the dates and locations for the toy drives:

Friday December 7^th- Sundance Square in Fort Worth

Saturday December 8^th- McDonald’s in Mesquite

Monday December 10^th- Firewheel Town Center in Garland

Tuesday December 11^th- Arlington Highlands

Wednesday December 12^th- Mansfield Performing Arts Center

Thursday December 13^th- Allen Event Center

Friday December 14^th- The Harbor in Rockwall

These events are extremely fun and there is an incredible energy! Hopefully you can make it out to experience it for yourself. Below I have included a few pictures from past Toys for Tots events. If you cannot make it out to any of the drives, you can always bring donations to any of the drop off locations around town. For all of the drop-off locations and more info on Toys for Tots, just visit their website.

Just like every month, we want to take a moment to acknowledge some important events happening this month!

Birthdays

Willie Ray Jones - Dec 12th

Byron Hill - Dec 28th

Jessica Russell (ok yes, that's me) - Dec 28th

Anniversaries

Clif Hummel - 4 years!

I do want to point out that Clif really has been with TMT for a lot longer than 4 years. He joined our franchise 4 years ago but he actually worked for multiple other TMT franchises before joining us. He actually worked as a mover for the Columbus OH franchise while in college. Thank you, Clif, for all your years of dedication to the TMT system!

Making the transition to a new office can seem like a complicated job. However, by planning the move ahead of time the transition can be much smoother.

We suggest appointing one person to organize the company move. This “point” person is responsible for all communications and logistics. The more coordinated and organized the move is prior to move day, the more efficient and quick the actual effort. This will help save the company costs and the employees’ time.

Create a short guide for employees describing all procedures they need to follow during and after the move. Remember to include a packing schedule. It is also helpful to provide floor plans and diagrams of the office layout, as well as other details about the new location to prevent confusion.

Pack electronic equipment, like computers and printers, in original boxes whenever possible. Otherwise use low-static bubble wrap. For larger electronic items, like copy machines and printers, consult with the vendor or manufacturer regarding the proper method for transportation.

When packing, it’s important to use professional packing supplies and boxes. Use boxes designed for the items you are packing to minimize the chance of damage. There are also other options, such as library carts for files and computer carts for computer hardware, which will save the time of packing boxes.

When moving an office, keep these tips in mind:

• Notify all associates about the move, including employees, landlords, movers and renters. Inform suppliers, magazines, charge accounts, insurance companies, clubs and other organizations of the new address. Get the proper change of address forms at the United States Post Office.
• Let employees know not to overpack boxes. The heavier the item, the smaller the box.
• Label boxes on tops and ends. That way, movers know where to place boxes at a glance.
• Seal boxes with packing tape. Never use duct tape and don’t interlock tops.
• Empty desks and pack all contents in boxes. Seal loose materials and small items in plastic bags or envelopes, then put in boxes with other items.
• Keep security files locked during the move. If security regulations require escorts, make special arrangements with the moving company prior to the move.

Proper planning and organization will help to ensure little downtime and little or no loss of business from the transition to your new office.

We partnered with LakeCities Ballet a few years ago as a sponsor. They have been wonderful to work with and we have enjoyed getting to know them over these years. We have been to a few of their performances as well and the dancers are amazing! Anyway, we recently took a new picture for our ad in their program and I just had to share it! Everyone had a lot of fun and I think we got a pretty neat picture. Thank you to Duane, Manny and all the dancers that took time out of their day to come out and model for us!

Time to celebrate all our special November events!

Birthdays

Corey Freeman - Nov 9th

Chris Francis - Nov 25th

Anthony Lewis - Nov 29th

Happy Birthday, guys!

Anniversaries

Brian Mack - 2 years!

Scott Choate - 1 year

Dennis Jones - 1 year

Happy Anniversary to you all! Thank you for all your hard work and dedication!

We have recently partnered up with Project Elf. We are very excited to work with such an amazing charity. Project Elf Dallas is a non-profit charity working to give a Christmas surprise to families that have recently moved out of a homeless shelter. They are putting together a team of Elves to help us gather furniture, household staples and gifts. Then, the Elves will sneak (with the family’s permission while they are out) into their house on a special day in December to make a holiday delivery by helping the family turn their house into a home with an added touch of Christmas spirit.

This is no small feat as the Elves will be busy moving in furniture, hanging curtains, setting up beds, filling closets with new clothes, filling cupboards, stuffing stockings and decking the halls with holly! All of this, within just a few hours so that the Elves can “disappear” before the family returns, providing a magical Christmas experience to share together as a family in the privacy of their very own house turned HOME!

If anyone wants to help, they need help before the special day to gather items needed from your friends and family. They also need help on the special day with a crew of Elves to load, unload, set up, assemble, clean, organize and manage deliveries. Just visit Project Elf’s website or Facebook page to get more information.

Here are a couple of our guys helping to transport some of the furniture last week.

Another month of celebrations! Here are all our employees celebrating birthdays and anniversaries this month. Please join us in celebrating!

Birthdays

Ramon Addison - October 4th

Alex Mwaura - October 13th

Dedrian Dickson - October 17th

Darcy Miller - October 18th

Brian Mack - October 25th

Julie Hunert - October 28th

Happy Birthday to you all!

Anniversaries

Joseph Bowman - 1 year

Rickie Harrison - 1 year

Happy Anniversary, Joseph & Rickie!

For those of you who have not had the pleasure of meeting Truckie in person, we wanted to take a minute to introduce you. Truckie is our magnificent mascot! He usually joins us at charity events, home shows and other events around town.

Truckie helping to collect toys for Toys for Tots at Allen Event Center.

Truckie met Santa!

If you would like to meet Truckie, he will be joining us in Ft Worth at the end of the month (Sept 30th) for Ft Worth Academy's Touch-A-Truck. It is a fantastic event for the whole family. We will also have Truckie with us at the Toys for Tots events in December. Dates and locations will not be released until closer to the events but check back in early December. You will be able to find all the information here or at dfwtoysfortots.org.

We know that moving process is already stressful enough without the worry of how long it will take to sell your house. Staging can help a house sell faster!

Staged homes have a proven advantage over non-staged homes. On average the return on investment is more than 300 percent for routine home improvements when staging a home, such as landscaping, repairing plumbing and replacing carpets. Experts say a staged house spends 83% less time on the market.

Let's learn a little about staging! The experts at www.stagedhomes.com has offered some advice.

Q: What is staging?

A: Staging prepares a house to attract as many homebuyers as possible. It may involve replacing flooring, updating wall coverings or simply packing up some of the clutter. The goal is to make it easier for a buyer to picture themselves living in the house.

Q: Do you have any do-it-yourself tips?

A: Yes, there are many ways to improve a home. Cleaning is the most important, but most often forgotten step. Stand in the doorway and view the room as a new homebuyer. Focus on highlighting the best and most essential features. De-clutter and remove personal artifacts. Read a home decorating magazine to learn about current trends, but remember to keep it simple. The style should attract a broad group of people. Paint with neutral colors, use minimal window dressings and make sure rooms are well lit.

Q: I don’t think I have time to do this, is there anyone I could hire?

A: Professionals are available to stage a home for you – visit www.stagedhomes.com for more information. Moving companies can also help rearrange furniture, move extra items to storage, pack unnecessary items and may even sell boxes and packing supplies.

Q: Why should I put this much effort into my house when I am moving?

A: Staging a home makes a significant difference in shortening the time it spends on the market and increasing profits. A staged home typically spends 11 fewer days on the market. Packing unnecessary items and cleaning the house in advance also simplifies the moving process.

Q: How can I stage my home without spending a lot?

A: There are many ways to stage a home on a small budget. Some low-cost ideas include floating sofas and coffee tables away from the walls, grouping decorative items together for emphasis instead of spreading them throughout the house, clearing shelves and countertops and bringing in fresh flowers.

Now it's time to get to work! Remember, we are here to help you. If you need to rearrange large or heavy furniture during the staging process, we can come out and assist with lifting these items with our in-home moving services. We do not want anyone injured trying to stage their home!

Wow! We have a lot to celebrate this month!

Birthdays

Dennis Jones - September 1st

Chad Fielding - September 7th

Jonathan McDaniel - September 14th

Jamison Cutaia - September 16th

Michael Guerrero - September 27th

Edward Guevel - September 27th

Robert Guerrero - September 28th

Happy Birthday to you all!

Anniversaries

Duane Robertson - 3 years!

Jason Runnels - 2 years

Desmond White - 1 year

Happy Anniversary, guys!

Students heading off to college have a lot on their minds! A new semester packed with homework, papers and exams in addition to the stress of roommates, jobs and life in general. The last thing they need is a stressful move from home to college!

Here are some easy-to-follow tips to simplify the move to college:

Use the right supplies – it’s worth the small investment. Don’t make the mistake of using grocery store boxes, garbage bags or laundry baskets. Boxes that once stored food items often carry bugs, and garbage bags and laundry baskets are not dependable. Instead, buy moving boxes and use packing tape. Sturdy boxes can easily fold up and be stored for the entire school year.

Pack like items together – moving back to school can be a little overwhelming so the more organized the better. Label boxes clearly – there’s not a lot of room in campus housing, so organizing boxes can prioritize unpacking without the huge mess.

Pack smart – don’t make the mistake of overstuffing boxes. Too many items can cause the box to collapse and it may be impossible to lift. Just remember: the heavier the object, the smaller the box.

Try to use original packaging for large electronics – a new computer, TV, mini-fridge and microwave all come with packaging to keep them secure and protected. It’s much more likely that these items will arrive unharmed if they remain in the manufacturers packaging.

Recycle – Buying reusable supplies like high-quality containers is good for your pocketbook and the environment. Most corrugated cardboard boxes can easily fold up and be stashed away – or used for storage for the entire school year. Plastic storage bins with lids might also be a good option. The containers you buy this year can be reused and recycled throughout a college career and beyond.

Transitioning to college should be an exciting time in a student’s life, but it can be overwhelming. A successful and stress-free move starts with proper planning. Through simple preparation, students can make life easier as they head to school.

Moving to or from a high-rise apartment or office is actually very different than other types of moving. For starters, elevators can add a lot of restrictions as well as complication. You may also encounter property manager’s policies that can limit times for the move or other factors that can affect the logistics. If you're moving in or out of a Dallas high-rise building, it's important to consider a few extra factors as you plan your move. After performing hundreds of high-rise moves in the Dallas area, we have created these tips for making your high-rise move a smooth transition:

• Speak with your facility manager in advance so you know what move-in or move-out rules will apply to your move.
• Make sure any moving company you consider can comply with the rules and insurance requirements of your building.
• Many customers benefit by adding a third mover to their high-rise move because it allows a mover to always be with their belongings and creates a better workflow. Ask companies you're considering how they charge for additional movers and how it would affect the estimated time and cost of your move.
• Schedule your moving company 2-3 weeks before your actual move date. Make sure the company you hire has a flexible rescheduling and cancellation policy in case there is a conflict with your building's move schedule.
• If possible, schedule the building elevator on move day for your exclusive use. This will save your movers time - and save you money.
• Most Dallas high-rise facilities require you to reserve the elevator during specific time slots. Make your elevator reservation with as much anticipation as possible and communicate any time restrictions with your moving company.
• If your building requires a certificate of insurance from your moving company, notify the company 3-5 business days in advance so your certificate is prepared in time for your move.
• Find out where the truck will park ahead of time, and make sure that area is blocked off on move day. Be sure your moving company knows the parking situation at the pick-up and drop-off locations.
• Determine the shortest route from your apartment to where the truck will be loaded/unloaded. Look for alternate loading areas that might be closer, if possible. Shortening the number of steps that the moving crew will have to take will save your movers time – and save you money.

Join us in celebrating our July birthdays and anniversaries!

Birthdays

Dan Slocum – July 1^st

Christopher Hook – July 3^rd

Lorenzo Ontiveros – July 4^th

Jennifer Grun – July 10^th

Shaun Moorhead – July 12^th

Duane Robertson – July 17^th

Ashley Mancuso – July 27^th

Maruicio Ortiz – July 31^st

Anniversaries

Lorenzo Ontiveros – 1 year

First-time brides and grooms are older than ever before, according to recent U.S. Census Bureau figures. The median age for men marrying for the first time is now 28 and it's 26 for women - that's 30 percent older than in 1960.

Because today's first marriages are occurring later in life - not to mention second or third marriages - more often the modern dilemma is whose couch stays and tallying how many flat-screen TVs the couple has between them.

When couples married 40 years ago they were barely into their 20s and often still living at home. The traditional wedding shower carried great value as it supplied newlyweds with all the necessities married life required, including dishes, cookware and bedding. 

Proper planning is the key to starting off on the right foot in the early years of marriage. We suggest the following tips for combining households for first-time marriages:

• Go through each house together and identify which items are duplicates. Talk about each item honestly. If you can legitimately use two of something in your new life, such as televisions or stereos, go ahead and keep both.
• Do the same evaluation for small items, such as silverware, as you do for the larger items. These smaller items can add up quickly, and often produce the most basement or attic clutter.
• Organize with boxes and colored markers. Contact your local moving company or packing supply store to purchase a variety of box sizes before you begin so you can appropriately tag and box both items that stay and those that go along the way.
• Think about donating to those in need. If a garage sale isn't of interest, consider donating to local churches or synagogues, homeless shelters or the Salvation Army.
• Experts agree that couples can successfully blend two households if they take time on the front end to address the move. The key, as with all organizing projects, is proper planning.

It's tough because you both have things that you want to keep, but to keep it all is certainly not the most efficient thing to do. The successful couples I see in this business are those who take inventory of what they have and sort it out before they combine homes. I know it's a lot to think about, particularly with wedding plans in the works, but ultimately you avoid moving things two or three times, and you save money in the long run.

We have a lot to celebrate this month! I want to take a moment to acknowledge all of our birthday’s and employment anniversaries for June.

Birthdays

Dexter Graise – June 2^nd

Jose Garza – June 9^th

Andrea Bailey – June 11^th

Prince Franco – June 11^th

Zachary Pruitt – June 12^th

Brian Smith – June 20^th

Gayfus Jackson – June 27^th  

Joseph Bowman – June 29^th    

Happy Birthday to you all!!! I hope you all have fantastic birthdays!

Anniversaries

Angel Salazar – 2 years

Happy Anniversary, Angel! Thank you for your years of hard work.

It’s that time of year again! You want to clean up and organize the house but really don’t know where to begin. Fortunately there are some easy techniques that will help you get a jumpstart on your spring-cleaning. The following steps will help get your house organized and in no time you’ll be enjoying the new season, clutter-free.

First thing you need to do is collect supplies. Get sturdy cardboard boxes or plastic bins before you start sorting your belongings and avoid using produce boxes from your grocery store because they may contain bugs and larvae. For extra convenience, just visit our Box Store to order supplies online. We can offer free delivery - just ask one of our Customer Service Reps for details.

We also recommend the following tips to get organized this spring:

• Start by with closets. You want to go through and sort and organize everything. If you have limited closet space, consider storing winter clothing in the attic or garage. Wardrobe boxes offer excellent space for hanging coats, sweaters and snow pants. Use the bottom of the boxes to store your winter boots and shoes.
• Sort out items you no longer use or wear. If its been over a year since you have worn it, get rid of it. Set aside a couple of empty boxes for donations or items to sell.
• Use sturdy boxes with dividers for packing breakables. If you use cardboard boxes, make sure they are structurally sound, with cardboard fluting to provide extra support. Dish-pack boxes with adjustable inserts that form individual cells are a great option.
• Once the closets have been organized, move on to other storage areas like the attic and garage. Go through the same process to get rid of what is no longer needed and then organize what you are keeping.
• Think green. Survey your local recycling options to find the most convenient solution for your recyclables. Many cities and towns offer curbside pick-up or “sort and drop” depots. Visit www.earth911.org for a list of local sites where you can dispose of all types of recyclable materials. Prepare your recyclables by organizing them into respective categories: plastic, glass, aluminum, paper, cardboard, etc.
• Care for hazardous material. Be conscientious about the materials you are disposing. Toxic items such as paint, batteries, house cleaning products, automobile oils, pesticides, and fertilizers are dangerous to transport and should not be thrown away with nontoxic garbage. These items should be taken to specialized depots. See www.earth911.org for the depot closest to you.
• Concentrate on disinfecting the space. Now that you have all the clutter out of the way, you can get the cleaning. Change air filters, rotate your mattresses and vacuum under your furniture. Dust bunnies have been collecting behind and under furniture. Don’t push yourself to move items you cannot handle. You can recruit a friend or family member to help with the larger items or you can hire movers. Some companies, like our Dallas TWO MEN AND A TRUCK®, offer in-home moving services. You can hire movers to come out for a short time to help you rearrange furniture!

Now you can sit back and enjoy your clean, organized home!

Our Dallas TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® proudly collected Mother's Day donations for the Genesis Women’s Shelter this month as part of the Movers for Moms program. This was the second year we participated in the program and we were grateful to have the support of our generous community.

The goal of the Movers for Moms campaign was to make Mother's Day a bit brighter for local women staying in shelters. The Genesis Women’s Shelter provides refuge for women who are in need. During the month-long campaign, we collected Mother's Day gifts ranging from simple toiletries to special items like perfume, slippers and robes. We delivered these donations to Genesis Women’s Shelter on Friday so they could be distributed to moms on Mother’s Day.

Thanks to everyone in our community who helped us make this program a success!