Certificates of Insurance

Some buildings requires certificates of insurance (COI) for outside vendors (handymen, painters, movers, etc) to come into the building. A COI from a vendor is proof of insurance from the insurance company that says we have the proper liability to cover the work that we'll be doing.

If your building requires this from us please provide us with their contact info so we can get in touch with them about it. Usually, we need to talk to a building manager, property manager or super to get the information we need. Even if you're not sure whether or not your building requires insurance please provide us with a contact phone number or e-mail address so we can get in touch with them about it. A good rule of thumb on this is that newer buildings and elevator buildings usually requires COIs while smaller, older buildings do not. This is not always the case, but its a good starting point.

If you have any questions about COIs just let us know!

New England Museum Association

We've just applied for membership with the New England Museum Association (NEMA). We're really excited to (hopefully) become a part of their organization.

NEMA has member museums of all sizes and subject matter. Their webpage is a great resource for museum goers within New England and those coming to the region as visitors. You can find lists of current exhibitions, group discounts and a list of cultural organizations, among other things.

We've worked with some museums in the past (Isabella Stewart Garder Museum, New Bed Whaling Museum) and loved the experience. Delivering cabinets to the New Bedford Whaling Museum was one of the most fun jobs we've ever done and the people who worked there were incredibly nice. We hope to be more involved with small museums like this in the future by joining NEMA.

Bruins Win! (And What that Means for Moving)

photo courtesy of www.boston.com

Everything has to relate to moving, right?

First, lets address the fact that the Bruins were awesome (especially Thomas) last night and it was thrilling to see them win. Watching how happy they were to be hoisting the Stanley Cup was so wonderful.

Of course, no championship would be complete without a parade through Boston. The Globe just announced that the Bruins parade will be this Saturday, June 25th starting at 11 AM. The route will start at the TD Garden and snake through Boston and end in a rally at Copley Square. Of course, this means that if you're moving on Saturday things could be tricky. Those moving in the downtown area will have the most to deal with but traffic into and out of the city could also snarl things up for those outside its limits.

If you are moving in the downtown area this Saturday and you have moving van permits please call the parking office to see if those permits are still valid. You may also want to check the Boston Police Department website as the day goes on to check if they have any information about security and access to areas affected by the parade. And, if you're using a moving company, give them a call to see what the plan is.

With all that said, take some time to enjoy the fact that the Bruins won, too. Go Bruins!

photo courtesy of www.boston.com

Payments

Every moving company deals with payments differently. We only accept cash or check at the end of the job. We do not accept credit cards. The movers will present you with a bill at the end of the job. We do not send you a bill later. The movers will also give you a receipt of payment for your records.

We are happy to accept personal checks so you don't have to go out and get a certified check or money order. Oddly enough, we get more questions about why we accept personal checks than we do about why we won't take credit cards. Accepting credit cards requires fees on our part and we just don't get that many people who say they can only pay for their move that way, so we haven't moved forward with that service. If we end up the size of Gentle Giant then we'd probably change our tune, though! For now, we're happy at the size the company has grown to and we have no plans to start accepting credit cards. If that changes we'll let you know!

image courtesy of http://bpconcepts.org/blog/?attachment_id=132

Moving Tip #7: Moving With Plants

photo courtesy of http://www.life123.com/home-garden/plant-guides/houseplants/houseplant-care-a-guide-to-healthy-houseplants.shtml

Often when I ask customers if they have any plants they say they'll take the plants themselves. I tend to think that's a good idea (unless they're fake of course!). Plants, like pets, are a very personal thing and you've invested a lot of time and effort to grow them and keep them healthy. A moving truck just isn't the ideal enviroment for them.

If you would like us to take your plants we are happy to do so. Please make sure that the pots are as clean as you can get them so they don't soil any of your other goods in transit. Tie off any delicate stalks to stakes or lattice work so that they are protected during the move. If you require overnight storage we would strongly suggest you do not have us leave your plants on our trucks overnight. The trucks aren't climate controlled so in the summer they get very stuffy and humid and in the winter they go below freezing.

If you are planning a long distance move across state lines its possible you'll need state of origin certifications for your plants. Trucks are inspected on highways and any plants on the truck can be inspected for pests. Whatever state you're moving to may have requirements and rules about what plants can come into their state due to pests or invasive species. Its a good idea to check the federal and state regulations on the plants you are planning to move. Checking federal and state regulations and arranging for any inspections or paperwork is the customer's responsibility, not the moving company's. Considering all that's involved with transporting plants across state lines you may want to consider donating or selling your plants and buying new, local species wherever your new home is.

If you choose to take your plants yourself you can treat them as you normally do since they'll just be making a trip in a car and you can regulate everything about their move. There are many, many website that offer expert advice on how to transplant plants or cuttings. Better Homes and Gardens is a favorite, but a quick Google search will reveal thousands more.

Lane Closings on 93 This Weekend

logo courtesy of http://smart-traveler.info/ma_.html

Lanes going both North and Southbond on 93 will be closed this weekend for bridge construction. This is not the whole highway, just certain lanes will be closed. The work is to repair bridge super structures near Medford.

This work will be going on during the day, not just during the middle of the night as it usually happens. So be aware, plan your travel times for your move accordingly and put some good music on your iPod because you might be sitting in traffic awhile this weekend.