How to Move Your Refrigerator:

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When you are moving your home, surely the excitement of it all may get you baffled as to where to start and how to prepare. Luckily, you have TheMovingBlog.com where you can find plenty of tips and advice on all sorts of issues related to your move. This time we’d like to say a few words on how to move a refrigerator by yourself. Since moving appliances and equipment is often the case with most people who relocate, moving a fridge is also a matter lots of people are interested in. So, how to move a big refrigerator and what do you need to know when moving a small refrigerator?

How to Move a Fridge By Yourself

Moving a fridge by yourself could be a tough job, especially if the fridge is a big one. When considering the best way to move a refrigerator it is important to have in mind the safety for the people doing the work – whether that be yourself or someone else, and the protection of the item being prepared for a move and transported as well.

Prepare For the Move


Remove the food, cosmetics and medicine from the fridge before relocating it.
That is why the first thing to do is to get the fridge ready for what’s about to come next. Unplug the fridge and pack the cord in a plastic bag. Disconnect the water if you have an ice-maker. Surely you understand that all the content of your refrigerator must be taken out before you proceed with the move. There should be nothing in it since during the move it will surely shift while inside and may damage the fridge. Take out the food, ice, cosmetics, medicines and whatever else you may be keeping in the fridge. You can give away the food or make a plan how to consume all of it, plus the frozen items, before the move itself. Do you need to defrost your fridge? That could take some time as well, so plan it ahead. You can do it the night before the move and just clean it in the morning.

After you’re done with those things, remove the other items that belong to the fridge like trays and shelves. Do it even if you are moving a refrigerator short distance like in order to clean behind it. In this way there will be no risk of spilling drinks inside or breaking bottles or jars because of the move. If you will be moving long distance, wrap the removable items from your fridge with bubble wrap or towels to protect them, label them and put them together in one or two boxes, if possible, along with the power cord. In this way the process of unwrapping and setting up the refrigerator in your new home will be easier for you. You may not want to keep movable items within the refrigerator as there is still a risk for them to shift, even if you tape them – for example, the vibrations that come out as a result when the fridge is being transported could also cause glass to crack and you don’t want that. If you have time, clean the fridge and its removable parts before packing them. If not, you can do this after the move is over and before plugging in your fridge again.

Once you’re ready, it is time to secure the fridge doors. If there are handles, tie them together. Make sure the doors are well closed and use rope to secure them. Don’t over tighten the ropes or they could shift the doors. Tape is not a good idea – it is neither that strong, nor that a clean option as it could leave stains and residue on the finish of the fridge or even damage it. If the fridge will be out of use for a while or you want to store it, the doors should be left slightly ajar in order to prevent any mold from growing there.


Always use helpers for moving your fridge - even if it is a small one!
Always Move a Refrigerator Upright!

Get people to help you with the move – at least one person, besides yourself. In order to move a fridge short distance, use rollers, and for long distance – a dolly with straps. The right equipment may be tempting for you to try and do it yourself, but you risk your health and the safety of your fridge as well in this way. But once you have to maneuver around the hallway, stairs, through the door, etc. it is easier if you have a friend with you or you hire moving labor. It is not a good idea to move a fridge on its side or back because the coolant in it or the oil in the compressor could leak. Lift the fridge carefully from one of its sides and slowly slide it onto the dolly. If you really must place the fridge on its side, try to do it under an angle to prevent leakages because if they occur, the oil may not fully return to the compressor once the fridge is in upright position again and it may not be able to function normally any longer. If you have to go up or down the stairs, go one step at a time and definitely get a helper to assist you. Be very, very careful. When moving the fridge inside the truck or trailer, best thing would be if there is a ramp that you could use. If there is no ramp, there should be one person on the vehicle to pull up and two people down by the fridge to lift it simultaneously. You should secure the fridge once it is inside the truck with ropes so it won’t be able to move once the truck is on its way.

When you’ve shipped your fridge to your new home, use the same steps to bring it inside, unpack it and start using it again. Just wait for a few hours for the liquids in the fridge to go back to their place before plugging it. Allow for a couple of days for the refrigerator to return to its normal cooling abilities.

Get Moving Help

If you have for moving a large refrigerator, if you haven’t moved such an item before or you are moving to a high rise, it is advisable that you get movers to help you. Get quotes and compare moving companies. Especially if your fridge was quite an investment for you there is no point in risking your health and safety and risking causing damages to your fridge. That is why considering to use a moving company is a good option. But whichever you prefer to do, we wish you good luck!

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7 Simple Tips For Hiring Movers:

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So you finally decided to pull the trigger and move to the city of your dreams, one that offers everything you could ever ask for: good homes, great jobs, lots of culture, and tons of awesome entertainment options.  Well congratulations on reaching for your dreams… Oh wait!  I forgot in order to end up in your own nirvana you first have to pass through the depths of moving hell.  One of the most treacherous can be selecting the right movers to handle your personal belongings.  I thought it would be helpful to provide you with just 7 simple tips for hiring movers:

1. Make sure that the driver and relocation crew sent by the moving company has good instructions before you leave them with your belongings and/or they leave you.  I don’t know how many horror stories I have heard about movers getting lost and people having to spend days or even longer without their stuff… don’t let that happen to you!
2. There are so many fraudulent/scammers in the moving industry that it can be difficult to make sure you pick a reputable company but definitely before hiring them make sure they have all the needed documentation and permits to be able to legally operate as a moving company (two guys and a truck can get you in trouble if you aren’t careful).
3. If at all possible make sure that your moving truck has a GPS onboard that you can access at least while they are transporting your belongings.  That way, if the mover ever gets lost or even if you just think they are taking too long you can at least see how close they are to your new home.
4. Try if at all possible to use movers that have been referred by friends and family and/or companies that have been reviewed on this site.  Sometimes these reviews can really save you from a rough experience so definitely take advantage of the mistakes of others whenever possible (at least when it come to moving).
5. Another great idea is to have a backup plan in the event that the mover blows you off or no-shows the move.  Believe me, it happens all the time as the workers tend to be more transient.  Make sure you know enough about how the company gets there help and whenever possible know who you will call at the last minute if you have to.
6. Always, always, always check the insurance that the mover carries.  You want to be certain that they can and will cover anything that is broken in the move and/or you already decided that you just don’t care.
7. Find out if the people moving speak multiple languages (especially Spanish as well as English).  In several areas of the country right now people can really only comfortably communicate using Spanish.  Especially if you are in the SouthWest or West Coast, the ability to communicate with your moving crew needs to be known in advance.

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Moving Into a High Rise Apartment Guide:

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Moving into a high rise apartment or condo is a great opportunity for you to start your life all over again. This could be an exciting adventure that will take you to a new place with new neighbors, new and interesting places to visit in the neighborhood, and possibly a new job as well, if the relocation is related to a move to a different city. But there are a few things to have in mind when making such a change. Moving into a high rise condo or apartment is very different from moving into a house which is why we’d like to give you some useful information that could make your move easier, simpler and more efficient. Such and other useful tips are waiting for you here below.

How to Move Into a High Rise Apartment

Do you want to be able to plan your move well? Check out the tips we have for you below – they will help you arrange it better!

Making the Change & Safety Tips

Choose a region that you want to move to. Are you looking for fun? Or perhaps for a better job opportunity in your field? Do you want your kids to go to a different, better school? Moving to a high rise may just be the right thing for you to make those changes that you wish were a reality come true. Have in mind also that lots of people live in those high-rises and taking safety precautions should be your priority. Always lock the front door, even when you’re just leaving to take out the trash, if you go back and you feel like the lock’s been tampered with or the door is slightly open, don’t enter without security or call the police. Once the elevator comes, if it opens and you see inside somebody who looks suspicious and your intuition tells you to not enter, just wait for another elevator. Better wait for a couple of minutes more than risk your health and possibly – your life. In such big buildings there’s lots of different people living in. All these things do not mean high-rise condos are something to be afraid of, on the contrary – these are just a few precautions to take into consideration.


If you want this to be the view from your home, take a look at the tips we give you for your move and for your new life in a high-rise building.
Choose Your New Home Well

Once you’ve decided to move to a high rise, it is time to consider what it would be like to live in such a place. Bigger cities could be not so easy to find a place that matches your needs, requirements and finances, so take time to find one. Begin searching for a new home as soon as you you’ve set your mind to making this change. Explore the price ranges and what you can get for a particular amount of money in order to find the best deal. It will help you decide what you can actually afford. You may have set a certain budget for purchasing/ renting your new home but if it is insufficient you my have to readjust and look for a more affordable place or a smaller one that is cheaper. Where do you want your high rise to be? See what neighborhoods offer such properties and what does each neighborhood offer as well. If you want to move to a safe place, then looking up the crime rates in the region and statistics by neighborhood would be a good idea. If you have kids that have to go to school, then that could be another criterion worth considering. Make a list with your requirements regarding the type of apartment you are looking for, the money you are willing to spend on it and then begin searching. Since less people move in winter, it could be that you may be able to find properties at lower prices in the off peak season, but there could be less to choose from. It is up to you to decide which time for moving suits you better.

Consider the Space You Have

High rise apartments are usually smaller than houses which means you have less space. Since you will have less room at your disposal for all the things that you already have, perhaps it is time to do some cleaning up. Review old items and consider the things you don’t want or don’t plan to use any more. You have plenty of options for items that could be used like giving them away to charity, giving them to friends, selling them online or on a garage sale, etc. So, you don’t have to throw everything away, think about those in need that could be very happy with the things you don’t want! Cheaper items that are bulky and/ or heavy could also be given away. Try to estimate how much it would cost you to move your home because some things that you have may cost you more if you want to move them rather than if you get rid of them and buy them for your new home after you arrive. Go through each premise in your home to make a decision about the items that you have. Since after moving into high rise you most probably won’t have as much space as you’re used to, you’ll have to think of efficiency, meaning what it is that you really have to move or that you really want to move. Separate the belongings you’ve put away from the moving process depending on their purpose – sale, donation, etc. and arrange for the next things to be done with them. Once you’ve made up your mind and the choice for a new condo is made, request that the locks be changed and have it in writing. You don’t know if the previous owner still keeps copies of the keys and you surely want to protect yourself, especially if you are a woman and/ or have kids.


If you wish to move to one of those high rises, schedule the elevator in advance and call in to confirm a few days before the move. Lots of people live in such buildings and such organization will tremendously ease your move.
Prepare a Floor Plan

Getting rid of some things is not enough. You should have a clear idea as to how the furniture in your new apartment or condo will be positioned because you will have a limited space there. Besides, you should be aware which pieces of furniture from your home will fit into the condo. Will your furniture go through the doors and hallways of your new home? Will it fit in the room it was designed for? Is there a way to get it up into your new place? There are some pieces of furniture that could be directly brought in with an elevator and others that may have to be dismantled. If you’re not sure what to do with each of them, consult movers – they have the experience that you need for such decisions to be taken. There is no point in paying lots of money to get your wardrobe through the country just to find out it won’t get it. This could cause much trouble like extra work for dismantling it or searching for a storage facility nearby. In both cases you lose time and money so when moving be prepared in advance with the decision how to move a furniture into a high rise apartment.

Take Precautions

Schedule an elevator and a parking lot with the building manager. Since you will need a place for the van or truck to park, you should take care of this issue in advance before moving day. Make the reservations a couple of weeks before the moving day and a few days before the move call again to confirm the reservation. Lots of people live in a high-rise building and in the rush hour morning and evening you may have to wait for the elevator up to 5 minutes yourself. Imagine if you need to transport boxes, furniture or other things. That is why such organization is obligatory. Consider that it may also cost you a move in fee which could be up to a few hundred dollars, like for example in NYC. You don’t want to end up having to carry boxes to the 25th floor because of a simple misunderstanding. The movers will need a place to load off your belongings which is near the entrance of the building. In this way the moving day will go faster. If the street leading to the building is narrow or the building entrance is far, inform the movers because they may need an extra smaller vehicle or a cart to transport things from the truck to the entrance of the building. If the building has loading docks – even better. But the moving company has to know about such a necessity, if it exists, and you should be prepared, too, because the movers will most probably charge you extra in this case and you should consider this detail in your moving budget. The further the truck is from the entrance of the building, the more time the move will take and the higher will be its cost. These are small details but very important and they could influence the price and timing of the move – two very important factors.


If you need help to move to your high-rise condo and have a comfortable home, get movers who can arrange the whole move from packing to placing the paintings on the walls in your new apartment!
Hire Movers to Help

Of course, it is possible to do the whole move yourself. But just think about all the hassle of having to pack everything, renting a truck, driving it, unloading, unpacking… It is quite time consuming for people who are not professionals when it comes to moving to do it all themselves. This is because moving labor has a way to pack and move thing efficiently, they have been trained particularly for this task and if they also have been doing it for some time, you can be sure that they will be able to organize your move better than you. The movers have the needed equipment for a move and can support you with advice and tips. If you ask friends to help around, they may be busy and may not be able to be of much help since they’re not experienced either. So, in terms of efficiency, it may be better to hire a moving company when moving into a high rise apartment. Get advantage of the opportunity that hiring a mover gives you. Of course, if you are not sure if you want to use a moving company, you can just request a quote to get an idea of the possible cost for your relocation. Once you compare a few moving companies, you can take a decision as to whether what they offer is affordable to you and if you’re willing to prepare such a budget. When moving into high rise compare the movers well – it is important because moving companies offer different prices of their services and they also offer different services. Ask them questions if you don’t understand an aspect of the quote or if you want more information. A reliable mover will be ready to respond to your needs and answer your questions to help you.

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How to Update Your Voter Registration After Your Move:

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With the myriad of chores facing those who move, registering to vote in a new community often gets lost in the shuffle.
Fortunately, the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) has made the task much easier. The EAC is an independent, bipartisan commission created in 2002 by the Help America Vote Act.
Among its responsibilities is maintaining the national mail voter registration form.
At the EAC website, you’ll be able to access the national mail voter registration form. You can print, complete, and mail the form to the voter registration office to the state of your new home. The form also lists pertinent information for each state, including the mailing address to which to send the completed form.
It is available in Spanish, as well.
Every state accepts the national voter registration form, except North Dakota (which doesn’t register voters), Wyoming (against state law) and New Hampshire (only accepted as a request for its own mail-in form).
The EAC also has contact information for your state election office, where you can find local voter information in your new community. Many local agencies now have social media accounts with updates on things like election dates and registration deadlines.
You can also register to vote if you apply for a new driver’s license—or at any local government agency that offers public assistance, thanks to the National Voter Registration Act of 1993. Be aware, however, that six states are exempt, according to the NVRA site: Idaho, Minnesota, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

Mortgage Advice - 10 Minutes with a Mortgage Expert:

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For first time homebuyers, the process of shopping for a home mortgage can seem intimidating. But according to Steve Doran, mortgage department vice president at Fleet Mortgage, borrowers have nothing to fear.

Q: At what point should a borrower approach a loan officer for mortgage advice?

A: It's never too early. In fact, contact should be made with a loan officer when discussion first turns to buying a home-- certainly it should be before any properties are actually visited.

Q: Why make contact with a loan officer so soon?

A: Two very practical reasons-- to become pre-qualified or pre-approved for a loan before house hunting. You will find many sellers or mortgage brokers need one or the other.

Q: What is the difference between the two?

A: Pre-qualification is simply based on a conversation between the lender and the borrower about income, employment, credit and savings. There is no validation, no underwriting of the data supplied-- it's a process than can be done over the phone in fifteen minutes. This gives the customer an idea of their loan worthiness and how much they might expect to qualify to borrow. Pre-approval is based on actual submission of income, assets, credit and employment information. Assuming the information is accurate, the loan officer can give the borrower a written loan commitment, subject to a property appraisal. We strongly recommend first time buyers consider taking this step to make them more credible buyers in the marketplace. Pre-approval will give them leverage when competing for a property and tells the seller that the buyer can close the mortgage. I would encourage going through this process if the borrower intends to buy a home within six months, otherwise the information goes stale. Pre-approvals are generally good for ninety days. Get Pre-Qualified in our Mortgage Center.

Q: Is the relationship between borrower and lender one that extends beyond the initial meeting?

A: Most definitely. We encourage loan originators to stay in touch with pre-qualified buyers, keeping them updated on new products, trends and rates in the mortgage world. In fact, we have loan officers who work with people for a year or more before they finally find a home. It's an ongoing relationship and a very intimate one in many ways because buying a home is a huge financial experience and can be very emotional.

Q: How does one find a loan officer?

A: I'd say the best way is word of mouth. It's a lot like moving into a new town and you want to know the best place to get a haircut, or who is the best butcher or best lawyer. Ask people who have already bought a home because they'll tell you the good, the bad and the ugly about their borrowing experience. If the buyer feels uncomfortable talking to people, check the yellow pages-- just make sure to speak with two or three different loan officers-- don't jump on the first one. It might be a good idea to visit a big bank, a little bank and a mortgage broker. Whoever you choose, it's important to work with someone who is honorable and [trustworthy].

Q: Okay, you've found a lender or broker you trust. What kind of mortgage advice questions should one ask?

A: Whatever's on your mind. A good loan officer wants to encourage the homebuyer not to be intimidated. The borrower is in charge, not the lender. Don't allow yourself to become uncomfortable, to feel pressured or pushed to accept a loan program you don't want or a rate you consider too high. Again, take control. Take control of the process by becoming educated. Moving.com Mortgage Glossary.

Q: And how does one become educated about the mortgage process?

A: I recommend a first time homebuyer education course. These courses are free, or very low cost, and are given through community development groups most everywhere in the nation. They usually last four or five evenings, maybe an hour each time-- but for that amount of time the homebuyer will learn, not only about mortgages, but about the appraisal process, the closing process, managing credit, working with Realtors-- a whole bunch of valuable information about probably the most important financial transaction any of us will ever go through. Every lending institution maintains data on these programs or you can check with state or local housing agencies.

Q: Many first time buyers are reluctant to go for a mortgage because of sub-standard credit, checkered employment history or because they lack a substantial down payment. What mortgage advice do you give to them?

A: I say there is a mortgage program for nearly everyone. One thing the first time homebuyer will find is flexibility. The perception that one needs a large down payment or must have angelic credit or needs to be in the same job for two straight years is part of an earlier mortgage era. The first time buyer can expect to see programs that offer low down payment options, programs that work around credit problems, blank credit or bankruptcies and others that deal with employment issues. There are even some no income, no asset programs but, in return for no verification, the borrower can expect rates that are generally much higher. You'll also need a great credit history and a larger down payment for those types of programs. Bottom line is, don't let a blemished credit history prevent a conversation with a loan officer. Visit our Credit Center.

Q: The thirty year fixed rate mortgage seems to be the traditional route for most first time home buyers. Are there other options available?

A: The array of mortgage products is mind-boggling. As I've said before, there is virtually a mortgage for everyone. Take a look at all of your options and don't make a rush decision. It's true that most people immediately think of the thirty year fixed but the fact is very few home owners keep the same mortgage for that length of time-- a lot of people are simply overbuying.

Q: By overbuying you mean?

A: The average mortgage length is about seven and a half years. Many couples moving into a starter home will have children in the next three to five years and will look to move up to a larger home. Rather than overbuying with a thirty year mortgage, there's always the option of applying for an adjustable loan that stays fixed the first three, five or seven years. These loans generally offer a lower interest rate and, for those who can't sleep at night worrying that the rate will eventually go up, the loan can always be refinanced.

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