Avoid These Home Moving Mistakes for a Smoother Move!

Home moving day can be exciting, but it can also be stressful if things start to go wrong.

The goal for a successful relocation is to find the best home moving company to work with, then plan effectively.

Find some tips below provided by home moving services that can […]

Home moving day can be exciting, but it can also be stressful if things start to go wrong.

The goal for a successful relocation is to find the best home moving company to work with, then plan effectively.

Find some tips below provided by home moving services that can make a person’s move smoother by avoiding some common and frustrating mistakes.

  • Finalize Closings or Lease Signings - Whether moving into a newly purchased home or renting a new space, be sure to arrange a lease signing or closing a minimum of one day before the move to avoid unexpected problems. Once the keys are in hand, check in with the home moving company to report that everything is ready to move forward the next day. 
  • Plan Well - From getting an in-person home moving estimate and choosing the best moving day to working with a home moving company to anticipate challenges and streamline the process, good planning will reduce any potential moving-day issues that can slow the process down and cause frustration. 
  • Organized Packing and Efficient Unpacking - Start packing early and pack well, making sure to label boxes according to what room they need to go in. A box-by-box inventory list or labeling each box with contents can make unpacking easier and more efficient. 
  • Measuring All Doorways - Before the move, measure all entryways into the new dwelling to be sure that large items like furniture and appliances will fit through. If they won’t, consider selling them and replacing them after the move with new ones that will. 
  • Computer Backups - As safely as they are handled, it is not uncommon for computers to suffer damage during a home move. Protect all that data by doing external backups just in case. 
  • Clean the New Home First - Before bringing in even the first box, it is wise to go in the day before and do a thorough cleaning at the new home. There will be no need to do it afterward and once the home moving services leave, the unpacking can begin. 
  • Hire An Experienced Mover - Most importantly, anyone doing home moving should research home moving companies carefully to find a dependable local service within their budget, then involve them in the planning for the big move.

Planning is everything when a home move is coming up.

To make the event easier from start to finish, hire an experienced local home moving service that can provide helpful advice, then plan out the details together.

By heeding these seemingly simple tips, residents can avoid common mistakes that will frustrate them, instead opting for a smooth move into that new home!

Why Hire Local Movers for Your Move?

When planning a short distance move across town or even into the next one, it is a great idea to hire local moving services to facilitate the event.

Local movers provide many important services that can make a tiresome move easier to get through.

Rather than attempting a DIY […]

When planning a short distance move across town or even into the next one, it is a great idea to hire local moving services to facilitate the event.

Local movers provide many important services that can make a tiresome move easier to get through.

Rather than attempting a DIY move, consider these reasons why hiring local moving services can be the best choice for a trouble-free move!

  • Experienced, Equipped Movers - Hiring local movers provides customers with trained, experienced workers who know packing, furniture disassembly and reassembly, and how to get all those items out of one house and into another. They also bring all their own equipment, so there is never an issue doing it.  
  • Great Service - Local moving services promote their businesses by building and preserving a great reputation within the community. It practically guarantees their customers will receive top-notch service every time, as local movers strive to provide their customers with the outstanding service they will want to tell others about. 
  • Affordable and Cost-Effective - In comparison to the overall costs of renting the equipment for a DIY move including packing materials, dollies, moving blankets, and more, hiring local movers can be more cost-effective. Many times, DIY moving ends up requiring a bigger effort than people anticipate, with unexpected extra costs involved and the frustration of dealing with broken equipment. 
  • No Lifting Involved - The best part about hiring a community service to handle local moves is they do all the lifting, loading, and unloading. If desired, they can do the packing, too! 
  • Fast Convenient Moving - DIY moving takes a long time, from going to pick up the truck to gathering enough people to help load it, then driving to the new location and unloading it. A local move can end up being a multiple-day affair, especially if it involves more than one trip or a rushed stressful event when trying to return a truck on time. Using the right size equipment to make a move in a single trip, experienced professional local movers make moving faster and less stressful with customers needing only to direct and oversee the process while their possessions are carefully relocated.

So before thinking that a DIY move with rented equipment is the best or most inexpensive solution for a local move, contact a local moving service for an estimate first.

When it comes to moving, saving time, avoiding frustration, and staying safe are all valuable things that local movers can provide at an affordable cost!

Making A Short-Term Move? These Tips Can Help!

Local moves are ones that are temporary, meaning there will be a return to the original space or another permanent space.

It could mean moving out while home renovations are being done, moving into a rented space between the sale of one home and occupying another, or any other […]

Local moves are ones that are temporary, meaning there will be a return to the original space or another permanent space.

It could mean moving out while home renovations are being done, moving into a rented space between the sale of one home and occupying another, or any other situation that involves staying in one place only temporarily for a short time.

Whatever the circumstances are, local movers can help in numerous ways when the question becomes what to do with all of a person’s belongings when they won’t actually be staying in a new space for long.

  1. Make A Moving Plan - Short-term local moves require careful planning since they are basically two moves wrapped into one. If it involves hiring local moving services, find a reliable company and include them in the process to create a plan of action around leases and other important dates and needs.
  2. Pack What Is Needed First - Before having local movers pack and/or take away anything from the first residence, pack up separately all the items that will go to the temporary residence. Label those boxes and set them aside by themselves so they can be loaded by a local moving service onto the moving truck last, as those will need to be taken off first.
  3. Put Other Things In Storage - Everything else that is being removed from the first residence can be stored in the interim. Some local moving services even offer storage in their own warehouses for short-term situations. The rest of the belongings can be packed up and loaded first onto the moving truck, with the short-term needs going on last. Movers can then bring the first set of boxes to the temporary residence, unload them, and then continue on with the rest to either put them in storage at their own facility or take them to a storage unit of the customer’s choosing.
  4. Repeat the Process In Reverse - When the end of the temporary relocation arrives and it is time to move once again into a permanent residence, the local movers will load stored boxes back onto their truck, then pick up the remainder of a customer’s possessions at the temporary residence, then deliver it all to the final destination.

Short-term local moves can be a little confusing, especially when it leaves someone dealing with all of their personal belongings in multiple places.

The good news is that local movers are used to this kind of thing and have great solutions to help people get from one residence to another, even when that includes a stopover in-between!

What Details Factor Into Moving Cost Calculations?

The first thing that anyone hiring movers to relocate their belongings from one place to another typically wants to know is how much it will cost them.

After all, moving services can be expensive and customers must budget accordingly. 

Typically, the cost of both local and long-distance moves is […]

The first thing that anyone hiring movers to relocate their belongings from one place to another typically wants to know is how much it will cost them.

After all, moving services can be expensive and customers must budget accordingly. 

Typically, the cost of both local and long-distance moves is calculated based on a number of details about the move and the services being contracted:

  • Moving Dates - For most movers, weekday services can usually be booked less expensively than weekend services. Off-season moves in the winter and other slow times also tend to be less expensive than moves made during the busiest times of summer and other busy periods. 
  • Distance - How far will the move be? One of the calculations that factor into moving fees are the distance the load must be shipped. 
  • Services - Will the move be a full-service move with the movers doing the packing or will the customer self-pack? Are there any extra-large or fragile items that must be maneuvered? Is there furniture that must be disassembled? All of these factors can affect the cost of moving services. Basic moving services typically include two or three workers, loading and unloading the truck, and delivery to the new location with anything else added on at additional cost. 
  • Labor - How many movers will be required to pack, load, move, and unload the truck? Moving estimates typically include an hourly rate for each of the movers required to do the move. 
  • Insurance - Most moves include a minimal amount of insurance to protect personal property while it is being handled and moved. Additional insurance must be purchased at an extra cost. 
  • Amount of Belongings - How much personal property will the movers be loading and moving? The size, weight, and number of items in the load will affect the size and type of vehicle the moving service must use to perform the move.  

Since every mover has its own rates and specifications for these services, customers must always start out by requesting an in-person, fully documented moving estimate.

From there, they can discuss their budget with their moving representative who should be able to suggest a few ways to get the bill a little bit lower if necessary.

That might involve delaying a move for a slower week or waiting for a chance to fill up a partial load to cut the mover’s expenses or some other compromise; however, many services will at least offer these opportunities if they are available.

To get the most accurate moving estimate and cost-effective services, plan out moves well in advance whenever possible and discuss budget options with the moving company!

What Are Payroll Schedules and How Do They Work?

A decision that every business owner setting up their employee payroll with a payroll company must make is one that pertains to payroll scheduling or how often everyone will get paid.

Payroll scheduling is an important part of every payroll system and a decision that can affect everything from […]

A decision that every business owner setting up their employee payroll with a payroll company must make is one that pertains to payroll scheduling or how often everyone will get paid.

Payroll scheduling is an important part of every payroll system and a decision that can affect everything from talent recruitment to employee satisfaction.

It is a business detail that must also comply with state and local payroll laws and can affect income tax decisions as well.

Before randomly assuming once-weekly or twice-monthly employee payroll is sufficient for any company, business owners should understand the different payroll schedules and how they affect employees, and their companies.

What Is The Difference Between A Pay Date and a Pay Period?

Primarily, it is essential for employers and employees both to understand the difference between a payroll system pay period and a pay date, two terms that frequently get confused.

The pay period is the span of days that the payroll amount includes, which is cut off by a certain date to leave time for the payroll company to configure and issue payroll.

The payroll date is the date on which the payment is issued and available to employees.

What Are The Different Payroll Schedules?

There are four schedules that payroll systems customarily use for configuring pay and deductions, then issuing payments to employees:

  • Weekly Pay - Employee payroll is issued every week on the same day.
  • Bi-Weekly Pay - Payroll is issued every two weeks on the same day bi-weekly day.
  • Monthly Pay - Payroll is issued once monthly on the same day of the month.
  • Semi-Monthly Pay - Payroll is issued twice monthly on the same two days of the month.

How Do You Decide Which Payroll System Is Best?

Deciding which of these options is the best for any business owner’s employee payroll requires consideration of factors such as state laws, as some states require weekly pay and overtime pay calculation, as federal law requires overtime to be calculated weekly.

Payroll system scheduling must also incorporate a system for tracking and paying benefits such as PTO, healthcare payments, and more.

Additionally, more or fewer tasks managed by a payroll company can affect the cost to the business owner.

Adding It All Up – Pardon the Pun!

Between the four schedules, monthly employee payroll is usually preferred for the employer since it reduces payroll company costs and it might be a common way to pay independent contractors; however, it is not a favorite of employees and can make hiring new people a challenge.

Conversely, while employees prefer weekly pay, this involves companies paying more to their payroll system for more frequent services.

Depending on the size of the company, company culture, type of employees, and other accounting details, company owners must find the payroll schedule that works best for everyone.

What Are Some Benefits A Foot Massage Can Bring?

Practically anyone who has ever had a foot massage will agree that they are one of the best massages out there.

Foot massages are so relaxing that they can even put a person to sleep!

They are also an important type of massage therapy that offer many other great […]

Practically anyone who has ever had a foot massage will agree that they are one of the best massages out there.

Foot massages are so relaxing that they can even put a person to sleep!

They are also an important type of massage therapy that offer many other great benefits beyond relaxation.

Learn just how great a foot massage can be and why it is so worth visiting a spa to have one done by a professional massage therapist.

  • Improved Circulation – Massage generally helps to improve blood circulation throughout the body. Foot massage can greatly improve circulation through the legs as there are many blood vessels that end in the feet.
  • Lowered Blood Pressure - Foot massage has a great relaxing effect that has been directly correlated to lower blood pressure and a greater feeling of overall wellbeing.
  • Reduced Anxiety and Depression - It can also reduce feelings of anxiety and depression, in part due to how massage therapy improves circulation but also because of that relaxed state that comes so easily with a massage of the feet.
  • Reduced Pain from Migraines - Reflexology suggests that treating certain areas of the body can reduce pain in others. Based on this understanding, a foot massage is known to alleviate the pain of migraine headaches.
  • Reduced Pain from Foot Problems - Massaging the muscles and tendons of the feet can reduce pain from cramping and plantar fasciitis as well as promote faster injury healing due to improved blood circulation.
  • Reduced Foot Edema - Whether due to medical conditions like diabetes, secondary to an injury, or simply from inactivity, a foot massage two to three times a week can control edema in the feet. It is also a non-medicinal favorite of women experiencing uncomfortable foot swelling during pregnancy.
  • Relief from Symptoms of Menopause - Based on the above benefits, a good foot massage can work wonders for some of the symptoms of menopause, creating better moods, increased feelings of relaxation, and reduced discomfort due to circulatory issues, high blood pressure, and muscle and body tension.

A foot massage by a trained massage therapist is much more than just a foot massage; it is a great improver of overall health and wellbeing when done routinely.

Massage therapy that includes foot massages can reduce or eliminate a multitude of problems by improving body circulation, reducing feelings of stress, and activating the immune system to promote faster healing.

It’s Almost Tax Day! Are Yours Filed Yet?

The 2022 tax deadline is almost here and if you are like many people, that rush last-minute into the various local tax places, you have yet to even look at yours.

You might be quite surprised at the wait when visiting one of the chain quick stop tax help […]

The 2022 tax deadline is almost here and if you are like many people, that rush last-minute into the various local tax places, you have yet to even look at yours.

You might be quite surprised at the wait when visiting one of the chain quick stop tax help places since they are not always so quick at this time of the year.

Not only that, but for those with more than just simple personal returns to get done, these are not always the best tax services to run to as the clock continues to tick away.

A private tax help service with experience in all types of tax returns is your best option for fast, knowledgeable service.

What Are The Reasons For Choosing a Professional Tax Pro?

Why choose a professional tax preparation firm over some of those temporary tax help shops that close up after tax season?

  • Availability - While everyone is waiting in the lobbies of those quick tax places to meet with a preparer, you can schedule an appointment with a tax professional, meet with them at that time, discuss everything, and then leave your paperwork, no waiting involved.
  • Experience - Professional tax preparers have years of experience dealing with not just basic individual tax returns, but also more complex returns for families, those with dependents, people running sole-proprietorship businesses, and general business taxes as well.
  • Licensed CPAs - The professional preparers employed by the best tax services are actual licensed CPAs, not just people trained to do taxes as a part-time job to earn extra money. A large portion of many CPAs' education and careers are devoted to learning taxes, tax preparation, and tax changes every year.
  • Vast knowledge - Special tax circumstances require a vast knowledge of tax laws and how they must be applied. Mistakes made by less knowledgeable, less experienced preparers create a greater potential for the filer to be audited or even end up with penalties.

With tax day only a few weeks away, the best option for anyone looking to have their taxes done quickly and correctly while saving them the most money and hassle is to avoid the quick tax places and choose an accountant tax professional instead.

The best tax services are those that are staffed with CPAs who can provide the best and most experienced service to all clients.

Get Tax Help Now!

The clock is ticking and April 15th will be here sooner than you think.

Make an appointment with a CPA for the skilled tax help you need!

How Full Body Scanners Are So Much Safer to Use in Prisons!

One of the biggest challenges that correctional facilities face is finding the safest and most efficient ways to prevent contraband like drugs and weapons from finding their way through the facility’s doors.

Body scanners have become a huge part of this control technique, as it makes screening faster, easier, […]

One of the biggest challenges that correctional facilities face is finding the safest and most efficient ways to prevent contraband like drugs and weapons from finding their way through the facility’s doors.

Body scanners have become a huge part of this control technique, as it makes screening faster, easier, and with a much lower need for physical contact with inmates.

Still, as full body scanners for corrections has become a standard, questions about its safety have arisen.

Fortunately, as full body scanning technology has advanced, safety levels have gone up.

Concern With Cumulative Levels of Radiation

The main concern that is brought up pertaining to frequent full body scanning is cumulative radiation levels and how much is too much radiation or enough to cause harm.

The National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements (NCRP, USA) provides recommendations and guidance on maximum dose limits for the general public, of which inmates, visitors, and staff at correctional facilities all classify, and how to prevent harmful overdosing.

NCRP guidelines state that doses of up to 1 mSv per year in non-medical settings are considered safe; anything beyond is not.

This can become a problem in instances where facilities are still using older, outdated scanning technology, as this forces the continued use of pat-downs and other physical screenings to keep exposure levels below the recommended maximum.

Goal Is Higher Definition With Lower Radiation Doses

Based on these considerations, one of the critical goals in the development of more advanced body scanners is to generate scans that have higher definition using lower doses of radiation.

Today, there are full body scanners for corrections that do just that.

This lower dose scanning technology that has entered the market over the past few years is not just safer for inmates and staff as far as radiation dosing is concerned, but it is also safer in how well it works.

Full body scanning using technology that can differentiate between body tissue and any other material, and do it quickly, reduce the need for physical searches and other contacts between staff and inmates.

Making Body Scanning for Contraband Detection Better

Overall, the newer generation of full body scanners for corrections is making the job of contraband detection in facilities a more efficient, humane, and respectful process.

With minuscule radiation doses that equate to as little as 1/1000th of the NCRP recommended annual dose and exceptional imaging capabilities, keeping correctional facilities safe from a variety of contraband has never been easier.

As more facilities reach the point of upgrading to these new, advanced body scanners, the industry as a whole will begin to appreciate greater safety for all persons and safer facilities as more contraband is stopped at the doors.

How is Detection Technology Changing Correctional Facility Design?

As security issues remain a significant concern in correctional facilities throughout the country, newer detection technology of various types has opened the doors for safer and more secure facility design.

Until recently, detection technology for corrections constituted little more than the original x-ray full-body scanning technology, yet today it […]

As security issues remain a significant concern in correctional facilities throughout the country, newer detection technology of various types has opened the doors for safer and more secure facility design.

Until recently, detection technology for corrections constituted little more than the original x-ray full-body scanning technology, yet today it encompasses advanced, high-definition body scanning and beyond.

By implementing some of this new and effective detection technology, correctional facilities can be improved in ways that create a safer, healthier, and more efficient environment for everyone.

AI-Based Video Surveillance

Among the many ways that facilities are upgrading to be safer and more efficient, AI-based video surveillance is at the top of the list.

Used to detect behavior patterns and not just record video footage, AI surveillance be programmed to interpret aggression between inmates, irregular activities, and other behaviors that require further investigation.

With the help of smart surveillance, security staff can make better decisions about intervention and better protect inmates while reducing risks to themselves as well.

Video-Based Health Consultations

Another video solution that can aid more advanced detection technology is video-based health consultations.

Video health consults not only reduce the cost of in-person medical care, but it makes healthcare more easily available to inmates via telehealth conferencing.

This can greatly reduce the transmission of illness within a facility and ensure all inmates are receiving the healthcare they need.

Biometric Access Technology

One more way that inmate safety and proper security can be upheld in correctional facilities is with biometric access technology.

Using this type of detection technology, inmates can be tracked as required and then restricted access to specific areas based on their behavior without the need for security staff to step in.

Advanced Detection Technology

Using more advanced detection technology for corrections like the latest high-definition full-body security scanning, RFID identification devices, thermal technology, and other technology connected through the IoT, facilities can maintain a more detailed look at what is happening within the walls much more easily.

In addition, data collected from these and other devices are currently being used to find ways to improve the actual floorplan design of different facilities so the space is used more efficiently.

The Value of Smart Technology

Overall, there are many ways in which detection technology for corrections facilities can step into the future by utilizing AI, video, and other advanced digital devices and technology to improve security and safety for all inmates and staff.

As more smart technology finds its way into these facilities, facility managers, designers, and building architects can continue to learn ways to improve them.

Accurate Touchless Security Screening Is A Desirable Necessity

Touchless security screening with detection technology like advanced full body scanners is becoming a critical necessity for institutions such as correctional facilities.

Body scanning detection technology for corrections makes contraband detection not only more accurate, but also safer on numerous fronts.

As scanning technology continues to improve over the […]

Touchless security screening with detection technology like advanced full body scanners is becoming a critical necessity for institutions such as correctional facilities.

Body scanning detection technology for corrections makes contraband detection not only more accurate, but also safer on numerous fronts.

As scanning technology continues to improve over the years, it is essential that corrections facilities keep up by replacing outdated security screening methods and machines with up-to-date scanning units.

Touchless Detection Technology Avoids Spread of Disease

An important, yet understated advantage to using touchless detection technology like body scanning, especially in today’s age of COVID, is how more accurate scanning can help to prevent the spread of disease.

Using full body scanners equipped with the newest detection technology for corrections, accuracy against even the smallest and most challenging contraband is possible, further reducing the need for face-to-face or physical contact.

As an example, scanners that can differentiate between body tissue and packets of illicit substances make physical searches almost completely unnecessary.

Touchless Detection Technology Boasts Higher Hygiene Levels

While this degree of accuracy is already praised for the speed and ease at which security scanning via detection technology can be done, it also helps to maintain higher hygiene levels between those doing, and those passing through the scanners.

Used in the public, touchless security screening that requires no physical contact or searches is more highly preferred today over any other type of screening, with concerns about COVID a prime factor.

Within institutions, the cleanliness of touchless screening merely adds to the important benefits of using the most up-to-date detection technology.

Touchless Detection Technology Makes Corrections Facilities Safer

Considering that COVID is now a concern everywhere and for every facility, it stands to reason that all legacy detection technology for corrections should be updated to the most recent available.

Scanners that are advanced enough to differentiate between the human body and everything else make corrections facilities safer, both in their ability to prevent the entry of contraband, and also in their ability to reduce or eliminate direct contact screening.

Urgency for Better Touchless Detection Technology Is Very Important

With the current threat of pandemic today and potentially into the future, finding new ways to accomplish important tasks is more critical than ever.

Advanced full body scanning detection technology provides incredible accuracy, with the added bonus of being touchless, too.

The latest detection technology for corrections is safe on multiple levels, offering highest accuracy at lowest radiation levels, plus touchless safety for slowing the spread.

Safety, as well as the ability to ease the minds of staff and inmates alike, make this type of detection technology for security screening a must-have for prisons and all other institutions requiring security screening.