As you know, clutter can often make or break a sale! Let’s work together to educate your clients on the best ways to de-clutter a home. You’re the real estate expert and we’re the storage expert – so this e-mail, part of our e-mail series on working with movers, offers some “home de-cluttering” tips that you can modify or update, and then share with your clients.

3 Quick Ways to De-Clutter Your Home

1. Have a Garage Sale: Before putting your home on the market, think about having a garage sale. There are more advantages than just getting rid of items that are cluttering your home, you’ll pocket some extra cash to off-set your moving costs and it will lighten your load on moving day, which could save you even more money!
2. Ask an Expert: Your real estate agent will help you by doing a walk-through of your home to identify any problem rooms or areas that need to be de-cluttered.
3. Use Storage Services: Want a surefire way to make a small room look larger? Storage could be your answer. Working with your real estate agent, you should determine which rooms would benefit from furniture storage. By eliminating large pieces, you will be able to open up your floor plan and make your house look noticeably larger!

Selecting a San Diego Mover

Before relocating to California, you have to find a mover who is familiar with the area to get your belongings to your desired destination. Not to worry, finding a moving company in San Diego isn’t as hard as it seems. Get free moving quotes from San Diego moving companies.

When you are searching for a San Diego moving company, here are some tips to keep in mind:

Only speak with movers who are certified and have moving permits on hand.
Make sure each moving company you select makes a personal visit to your home and provides a written estimate. Never receive quotes over the phone.
Have a backup moving company in mind just in case.
Select a moving company that offers valid insurance. Just in case something breaks, you need to make sure you are covered.
If you are moving from another state, use a San Diego moving company with GPS trucks so that you can easily track their progress.
Contact the Better Business Bureau (BBB) of San Diego or (AMSA) American Moving and Storage Association (AMSA) to make sure the San Diego moving company is reliable
During your moving process, if you feel like you have been a victim of moving fraud, please contact the County of San Diego Department of Consumer Affairs. Moving companies in San Diego can receive a fine up to $30,000 or revocation of their license for theft or fraud. For more information, click here or call (800) 593-8222

Switching Your License

Once you are finally moved in, you will need to change your license with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) of California. Just in case you were concerned about cost, it is absolutely free to change your address but there are a fees associated with getting a new license. Here is a list of fees.

How To Notify The DMV
There are three ways to notify the DMV of your new address:

By Mail: Fill out a short Notice of Change of Address form and mail it to the address at the top.

In Person: If you don’t feel like paying for a stamp, drop in to your local DMV office and complete a Notice of Change of Address form there.

Online: Under certain circumstances you can access the online CA DMV change of address system.

For more information you can contact the DMV of California by calling (800) 777-0133.

Commuting in San Diego

Everyone that moves to California has a major concern for commuting, especially the metropolitan area of San Diego. Depending on where your home is located, your commute to and from home, work, or school can either be extremely excellent or dreadful.

San Diego traffic is something you may not want to go head-to-head with. Get a plan together on how you plan to handle your daily commute throughout the city of San Diego.

Finding the Right Neighborhood

Finding a neighborhood can be hard if you don’t know what you are looking for. No matter if you are looking for a house or an apartment, you have to know exactly what neighborhood is fitting for your lifestyle. Here are a few questions to keep in mind:

How long am I willing to commute to work?
How close are schools, grocery stores, and gas stations?
How are there any good schools in the area?
How far am I from the nightlife scene?
How far am I from public transportation?
What is the crime rate in the area and surrounding neighborhoods?

Even if you have the answer to all the questions above, still make it a point to do as much research as possible and visit each community to see which San Diego community interest you.

Searching for a Home

As the second largest populated city in the United States, finding an apartment or home in San Diego can be quite the challenge if this is your first time. Finding an apartment can seem like an overwhelming process, but it doesn’t have to be. Here are some other great ways to find a home in San Diego:

Apartment Guides – You can always rely on apartment search resources like ForRent.com. These general references are great for apartment hunting right from your computer.

Brokers – One of the most common methods of finding an apartment in San Diego is using a real estate broker. If you know what neighborhood you want to live in, it’s usually best to find a broker based there. Many brokers also have Web sites where you can view available apartments, sometimes even with photos and detailed descriptions. If you have decided to use a broker, keep in mind that you will probably have to pay a brokers fee which is usually one month’s rent.

Word-of-Mouth – If you know someone who currently lives in San Diego, getting references from them could help out substantially. Finding an apartment through word of mouth is a lot cheaper than using a broker. Ask your friends and family if they can provide any help with your search.

Local Guides and Reviews – Area guides will certainly point you in the right direction to finding the right place. Make sure to check out the web sites of local papers and online message boards like sandiego.craigslist.org. For a better overview of the city, look for a Thomas Guide, a grid-by-grid map of the vast landscape that is Southern California.

Apartment Referral Service – For the savvy hunters who are comfortable searching the Internet, there is an apartment referral service. For a monthly fee, referral services will provide you with a list of no-fee apartment rentals as they become available.

For other housing options, check out these great resources:
San Diego Housing Department – Affordable Housing Program
Housing Authority of the City of San Diego – Public Housing
Housing Authority of the County of San Diego – Housing Programs

Apartments are in high demand, making the search for openings a time-consuming task. Give yourself enough time so you won’t feel rushed to make a haste decision. After you find the right apartment, contact licensed moving companies in San Diego.

From terrible customer service, unprofessional movers, and the biggest; the actual price quoted prior to moving day. We will discuss the different type of estimates you may encounter during the moving process.

There are three types of estimates that you should be aware of before moving:

Non-binding estimates – are based on the actual weight of your items rather than a speculation of your weight. If you are provided a non-binding estimate, you are not required to pay more than the cost provided by the mover at the time of delivery. By law, movers are required to deliver your goods for no more than 10 percent above the price of an estimate. In most cases, non-binding estimates are preferred over binding estimates because the price usually tends to be lower. However, there is no guarantee that the non-binding estimate you received will be the final cost.

Binding estimates – are estimates that you are obligated to pay set forth in the initial agreement regardless if your move weighs less or more. A mover has the right to change a binding estimate if additional services are needed or if items are added to the existing shipment.

Not-To-Exceed Estimates – are estimates that include guaranteed pricing. This option does offer price protection but still has similar options like binding estimates. This estimate also needs to be provided to you in writing and binded by the carrier. Not-to exceed estimates differs when you are quoted on the maximum amount. At the time of move, if your actual weight is less, you will pay the lesser of the two amounts.

In conclusion, movers will offer estimates based on the weight of your shipment, the distance of your move, and any other additional services, such as storage, that you may need. To avoid miscommunication between the different types of estimates that you are receiving, ask each moving company to provide clear estimates. Never forget to ask if they are part of the Better Business Bureau to ensure the legitimacy of the moving company that you have selected.

We made it to Phoenix! Well, Gilbert, Arizona actually.  I apologize in advance if this is not my best post but I am pretty exhausted, surrounded by boxes and lucky to have an Internet connection!

The movers showed up on Friday to load all our stuff on a huge moving truck!  We thoroughly cleaned the house and were Arizona bound by 11:00am Saturday.  The movers showed up bright and early this morning to do the move-in.  They moved most of our stuff into the house and put the rest in a storage unit.

I really have to take the time to let you know about Oakley Relocation out of Poway, California.  They handled both of our moves (CA-NV and NV-AZ).  They did such a great job, both times!  There were no surprises and everything went as promised.  Jim was our Relocation Consultant who helped arrange all of the details and Johnny was our driver.  He doesn’t just drive…….he organizes, manages, moves your stuff and drives the truck.  He handles the move and the laborers on both ends.  He is there when your stuff goes on the truck and when it comes off.  He is pleasant to work with and flexible if there are any hiccups (like you forgot to pull your wedding picture of the wall and safely pack it in a box).  This may seem like I am promoting them, well, I am.  Not because I’m getting any kind of kick back (because I’m not)  but because they deserve it for being a reputable company that delivers as promised!  I have to admit it, service like this doesn’t come cheap.  But if you want cheap, you should read some of the horror stories about moving companies.

So that’s it, we made it.  Here is where it all begins.  First step, register Madison for school and then we will go from there……slowly unpacking as we reinvent ourselves!

- Shar

Family-owned companies form the bedrock of the U.S. business community — especially the moving industry. Yet, leading a family-owned business, and managing the leadership transition from one generation to the next, can be challenging.

If you don’t think family businesses play a huge role in the U.S. economy, think again. According to Gaebler Ventures, a Chicago- based venture capital fund, despite the rising influence of big corporations, family operations continue to be a powerful economic force in the U.S. In fact, many big corporations themselves are family-owned.

Indeed, family businesses account for a staggering 50 percent of U.S. gross domestic product (GDP), Gaebler said. And while it’s tempting to believe that the majority of family business GDP is attributable to thousands of small operations, it’s important to recognize that 35 percent of Fortune 500 companies are family-owned.

That means family-based operations are represented across the spectrum of American companies, from small businesses to large corporations, the firm noted.

That’s goes double — if not triple — for the moving and storage industry, notes Linda Oakley, VP-sales for San Diego moving company Atlas Transfer & Storage Co., an agent for Allied Van Lines.

“Growing up in a familyowned business, we learned what it takes to be a leader and an entrepreneur in the moving industry,” she said. “Every night at the dinner table, we discussed the day’s business challenges, with topics ranging from the current price of fuel, health care costs and where interest rates were at. We watched our parents and their friends with family-owned businesses discuss customer and employee issues and listen to their solutions. Learning about the challenges at work came directly from watching and observing our parents and their owner friends.”

Oakley said that in a family-owned business environment there tends to be more resilience and ambition to continuously keep improving.

“A family business tends to want to keep their customers for life and we generate new business from networking around the family’s community,” she said. “We tend to have open innovation sessions to brainstorm new business ideas, solutions to ongoing challenges, while continuously adjusting to the current market conditions. In a family business, we trust and respect each other and work to understand each other’s strengths and weaknesses.”

And those traits provide a huge economic payoff for the country as a whole, according to Gaebler’s research. He said family companies are responsible for 60 percent of the nation’s employment and 78 percent of new jobs created.

The gap between employment and job creation figures may indicate that family businesses are one of the fastest growing sectors of the economy because their new job requirements outpace their current employment rates when compared to other businesses.

TACKLING TRANSITION

Often the biggest challenge for family-owned companies, both inside and outside the moving industry, deals with the tricky issue of transition — the movement of control and ownership from one generation to the next.

Gaebler’s research notes that only a third of all family businesses successfully make the transition from first- to second-generation largely because succeeding generations either aren’t interested in running the business or make drastic changes when they take the helm.

The significant failure rate of family transitions highlights a number of concerns about family businesses in general, including the ability of these organizations to maintain a consistent value system and business philosophy. This issue will come into even sharper focus in the coming years as baby boomers prepare to hand off their companies to their children, the firm says.

Linda Bauer Darr, president and CEO of the American Moving & Storage Association (AMSA), addressed this very issue at the group’s annual meeting earlier this year in Jacksonville, Fla.

“Perhaps the most important challenge we face is that of the potential leadership void we face as an industry,” she said. “President John F. Kennedy put words to this challenge expressing what I am sure many of you feel after years of hard work building your companies and coming to a time in your life when you want to pass the torch but suffer over leadership void. He said, ‘It is time for a new generation of leadership, to cope with new problems and new opportunities … for there is a new world to be won.’”

Darr said that for many family-owned moving and storage businesses, the time is drawing near for someone else to take the helm.

“Yet you can’t do that without being confident of their success,” she said. “Outside of the family succession model, we have done little to prepare our young workers for the leadership roles they will soon be asked to take. And, as an industry we have done little to recruit new workers. In the years ahead, we should look at this and start to craft a plan of how we can focus attention on our industry as a positive and promising field of work.”

It’s a challenge Atlas’ Oakley recognizes, too. “It is imperative that any family business implement a succession strategy. Without an effective succession strategy in place, an environment of confusion and complacency may result, thereby making it difficult for the business to develop, grow and be profitable,” she said.

“It is vital for the family members to talk amongst one another to set monthly and annual benchmarks to help foster both business, as well as personal goals,” Oakley said. “An effective succession strategy requires a clearly communicated and agreed upon vision for the business. Vision is essential as it provides the direction and guidance necessary to properly identify where the company is headed. A well-communicated vision addresses the company’s strengths and weaknesses, and it is a central component in any and all family businesses, not just our business.”

John W. Crane, of First Financial Group, a planning firm based in Reston, Va. And affiliated with Guardian Life Insurance Company of America, said the importance of a succession strategy for a family-owned business cannot be overstated. The value of the business, he said, can often represent the majority of that family’s wealth.

“For these families, it is even more vital for the family-owned business to have a succession plan in place, as compared to others,” he said. “If the value of the business goes down or even disappears, the majority of the family wealth will follow right along with it. Depending on the event, this adverse hit to the value of the business can happen quickly, without leaving much time to react or maneuver to protect the value.”

Crane also notes that Guardian, its subsidiaries, representatives or employees do not provide legal or tax advice, so consult with your attorney, accountant or advisor for advice concerning your particular circumstance.

TRANSITION TIPS

Oakley said one critical component in crafting a succession strategy is trust amongst the entire team.

“Most employees lack trust in their employer’s business, yet if a team trusts not only their employer, but their product and each other, they have a competitive advantage over their peers in the marketplace,” she said. “But a lack of trust may destroy a successful succession strategy. Family members work together for the business to succeed for the entire family, not just for the individual family members who are working there.”

A succession plan will fail, according to Oakley, if the leaders and family members do not make a concerted effort to discuss changes and obstacles arising from everyday life.

“As demonstrated by the last three years in the moving and storage business, the economy is a force that we have no control over,” she said. “But we can proactively make internal changes to our business plan that will have a positive outcome.”

Crane offers two important points family-owned moving and storage companies should consider:

First, make sure you establish what he calls a “fully funded” buy/sell agreement. “A buy/sell agreement is a legal contract drafted by an attorney that obligates surviving owners, or the company itself, to buy-out the interest of an owner who dies or becomes disabled,” he said.

“The buy-/sell agreement typically dictates an obligation for the estate of the deceased owner or departing owner to sell and sometimes, more importantly, to whom they must sell their ownership interest,” Crane said.

The agreement may also spell out other triggers, such as the retirement of an owner, the criminal conviction of an owner, and more, he said. “This agreement ensures that there will be a ready market for your business interest should you die, become disabled or otherwise leave the business,” Crane said. “The agreement also spells out methods to determine a fair price for your ownership interest.”

Second, make sure the business invests in insurance or massive cash reserves to fund the buy/sell agreement.

“Life insurance provides one way for a business owner to protect the current value of their business for its heirs and for the surviving owners/employees,” Crane said. “A family-owned business that is worth $10 million and has the value of that business fully insured through life insurance will be in the best position to meet the needs of the business and the needs of the family heirs in the event of the death of the owner.”

While no one likes to discuss their own mortality, such life insurance policies mean if the owner dies, the business receives a near immediate infusion of cash that can keep it running and deliver on obligations to the heirs.

“Without that near immediate infusion of cash, the business can struggle and the value of the business could drop to zero,” Crane said.

LOOKING FOR OUTSIDE ADVICE

Many family-owned firms are used to keeping things “in the family,” yet Oakley contends that it’s often advisable to seek outside advisors for tax and legal counsel, depending on the situation.

“They are another critical component to protecting both the family and the business,” she said. “Tax laws for estate-planning purposes are continuously being modified and it is impossible to know all of the changes without outside counsel. We recognize when there is something we don’t know, and we have to go out in the marketplace and seek professional help.”

If the intention is to eventually sell the business, then long-term planning gives the family an exit strategy, Oakley said. Furthermore, outside counsel may also be utilized to reinforce a family’s communication with one another.

At the end of the day, “Communication is the most important ingredient in a healthy, family-owned business,” she said.

“Making the time and make it happen is a significant component to the growth and profit of the family business.”

DAUGHTER TRANSITIONS

A recent trend worth noting is the increasing number of family-owned businesses that are being passed down to daughters.

According to research by Chicago-based Gaebler Ventures, over the past five years, woman-owned family businesses have increased by 37 percent.

There is also evidence to indicate that women-owned family businesses are better prepared for transition scenarios and have higher success rates than businesses controlled by their male counterparts.

SUCCESSION SUGGESTIONS

John W. Crane (www.cranefinancial.com), of First Financial Group, suggests several tactical steps family-owned moving and storage companies should adopt to help create a successful succession strategy:

Protect the value of the business. Imagine a family-owned business, built over 25 years, with Jim Smith, the family patriarch, at the helm. He has done all the right things. Well-known in the community, he knows all the local realtors and multi-tenant building owners by first name and is a very successful local area business. They seem to get business without even trying. Cash flow and profit for the business has never been higher, and as such, the business receives its highest valuation ever from a professional appraiser. Suddenly, the family patriarch and primary owner dies. The relationships built over 25 years … were these relationships with the logo on their business card, or were these relationships with Jim Smith? What is likely to happen over time if the business was really all Jim Smith?

Establish the true value of the business. For families whose total wealth is near the current $5 million Estate Tax Exemption threshold, it is important to establish the value of the business for Estate Tax Planning and to meet with a qualified Estate Tax Attorney. The business should be valued by an accredited and certified business valuation expert. The valuation document provided by an expert will provide documentation and rationale that defends the stated value of the enterprise. This valuation document could become a key component of an Estate Tax calculation, and if challenged by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), could become a key component of the family’s case as to why they owe — or why they don’t owe — a stated amount of Estate Tax upon the death of the owner.

Keep cash resources available. Unplanned transitions are typically stressful because something unplanned has happened that is now forcing the transition, such as death, disability or lawsuit. If the family wants to keep the business running, large cash reserves may be needed to keep it afloat while they transition to life without the long-term owner at the helm.

Cash resources may be needed to deal with a sudden drop in sales, hiring a replacement for the owner or cash payments for heirs.

Equitable treatment of heirs. Let’s say the primary family owners have four children, with two involved in the business and two not involved.

How will the two not involved in the business be treated fairly? Ongoing cash payments? A lump sum payment up front? Will the business be able to make those payments?

It’s reasonable to expect the surviving heirs to have trouble getting along if they feel they were cheated out of their share of the inheritance.

It is far better to have those issues planned and stress tested by a team of experts before the event occurs.

• It allows you to expand your business without expanding your premises.
• By using self storage, you will avail yourself the flexibility of space: allowing you to increase or decrease the amount of space to suit your specific requirements.
• You will find that access is easy and convenient.
• Appointments are not needed for access.
• You are in possession and control of the key to your space.
• Likewise, you are in control over who is allowed to access the space.
• All businesses (small or large, young or old, and any type) may benefit by using self storage facilities.
• Rapidly growing businesses may find that they are limited by lack of appropriate in-house storage space.
• Self storage creates a solution for many of your needs.

Self storage allows you to

• Choose the right amount of space to suit your needs.
• Select the right length of time you will need to store your items.
• Pay only for the space you need.

Business Storage Uses

You can store and organize most anything for use in self storage. For example, you might choose to store mobile equipment, office files, business records, manufacturer’s samples, seasonal decorations, theatrical scenery and any additional supplies. Furthermore, self storage can help your traveling sales staff by allowing them to have stock on hand.

Selecting A Storage Space

Inquire with a storage consultant to help you select a space that will best suit your specific needs. You will find that a small space that is efficiently packed will be less expensive than a larger space. However, if your needs are such that you will be using the space quite often, you may find that a larger space (well organized with file boxes and racks) makes more sense for you. Most self storage facilities are willing and able to make modifications to meet your specific needs. Additionally, you may find that many self storage facilities are eager to offer additional services to help their business clients. For specific details, contact the self storage consultant of your choice.

The Storage Agreement

Keep in mind that (like any other agreement) you should always read through you self storage agreement carefully and thoroughly. As this is an important document, be sure to keep it in a safe place. Contact the staff at the self storage facility if you have any questions.

Insure Your Goods In Storage

Remember, the items you choose to store in a self storage space belong to you, and they remain your sole responsibility. For this reason, you should always have them insured. The self storage facility will not be responsible for insuring your items. Don’t forget to contact your company’s insurance provider to see if your coverage may already have a provision for items which are stored offsite (you may already be covered). If not, your self storage consultant may be able to assist you with the provision of insurance cover.

What Not To Store

You may not store any items that are illegal, stolen, hazardous, flammable, explosive, perishable, environmentally harmful, or that may be a risk to the property of any person (for example: acid, gasoline, chlorine, paint, etc.)

Files, Records And Other Documents Storage Tips

• Books should be packed flat to protect their spines.
• Suitable archive boxes or packing cartons should be used. Not only will you save space and offer the best protection for your goods or records, but your goods will also be easier to retrieve.
• Fill empty pockets in the boxes with packing materials.
• Make sure that all boxes are clearly labeled to easily identify contents.
• Lighter boxes should always be placed on top to prevent collapse of those underneath.

Fabric Items

• Be certain that all items to be stored are clean and free from anything that may attract pests.
• Self storage facilities frequently sell boxes, packing materials, etc. to help protect your goods.

Electrical Equipment

• It’s important to remember that all electrical equipment must be thoroughly cleaned and dry before it is stored.

Metal Items

• Metal items also need to be clean and dry before they are stored. For items that are prone to rust, wipe them with a rag containing a few drops of machine oil to retard rust.

Get your own packing materials including cardboard boxes, wardrobes boxes, bubble wrap, Styrofoam “popcorn”, newspaper, acid free tissue paper, rope, packing tape, and permanent ink markers. Most of these supplies are readily available (at affordable prices) at a self storage facility or your local office supply stores. Fill all of the boxes you pack to capacity but be careful not to overfill in such a way where the box can rupture and break open. Make sure to fill empty space in boxes with loose material like crunched up newspaper or Styrofoam pieces. Heavy items likes books and appliances should be packed in their own boxes so that they will be easier to handle. Items like computers, electronic equipment, camera equipment, etc., should also be carefully packed in their own cartons. Pack items and label them by room for easy identification. Plan out your storage space for easy access.

Major Appliances

Refrigerators, freezers, washers, driers, stoves, etc., should be clean and dry before you pack and store them. When storing these items, the doors should be secured in a closed position. (You may leave a door slightly open for aeration; however make sure to child proof the door so that it cannot be fully opened. Don’t allow a child to get into the appliance, and then close the door. Suffocation resulting in death is possible. If you choose to discard any of these items, make sure to remove doors completely so that a child cannot enter and close the door, resulting in suffocation and death.)

Home Furnishings

Empty all dressers of clothing, and pack into appropriate wardrobe boxes. Use mothballs or other similar products to protect your clothing from insects and other pests. Make sure that doors and drawers of your furniture are securely shut (use tape or rope or strong ribbon). When possible, remove the legs from items of furniture to avoid damage and save space. Vacuum your furniture and remember to collect all of that loose change in the sofa.

Kitchen China, Glassware, Crystal, Etc.

Put packing material (bubble wrap or Styrofoam) in the bottom of the box. Wrap each piece individually in tissue paper. Pack all of these items in such a way so that they won’t bang against each other. Place plenty of loose Styrofoam or crunched up newspaper in the voids and cavities in the box as you pack. Put packing material (bubble wrap or Styrofoam) in the bottom of the box and seal it with tape. Mark the boxes “fragile” and identify which room they go into. Make sure not to place heavy boxes on these items to avoid crushing.

Other Glass and Fragile Items (mirrors, windows, paintings, glass framed pictures)

These items should be packed in the same way as described in packing “Kitchen China, Glassware, Crystal, Etc.”.

Silver, Gold, Brass, And Other Metal Objects

Put packing material (bubble wrap or Styrofoam) in the bottom of the box. Wrap each piece individually in tissue paper. Wipe all surfaces clean. Wrap these items in materials that will not mar the finish, such as bubble wrap. Make sure that any wrapping or packing material used with these items is chemical free (don’t use old cleaning rags, etc.) Put packing material (bubble wrap or Styrofoam) in the bottom of the box and seal it with tape. Mark the boxes “fragile” and identify which room they go into. Make sure not to place heavy boxes on these items to avoid crushing.

Electronic Equipment (computers, home entertainment equipment, cameras, etc.)

In all cases, if you have the original box and packing material it came in, use it! The original packing is designed to protect the equipment during shipment and storage. Put packing material (bubble wrap or Styrofoam) in the bottom of the box. Wrap each piece individually in bubble wrap. Place plenty of loose Styrofoam or crunched up newspaper in the voids and cavities in the box as you pack. Put packing material (bubble wrap or Styrofoam) in the bottom of the box and seal it with tape. Mark the boxes “fragile” and identify which room they go into. Make sure not to place heavy boxes on these items to avoid crushing.

Personal Computers and Computer Peripheral Devices (printers, external drives, etc)

Pack these items in the same way you would pack other household electronic equipment. In all cases, if you have the original box and packing material it came in, use it! The original packing is designed to protect the equipment during shipment and storage. Put packing material (bubble wrap or Styrofoam) in the bottom of the box. Wrap each piece individually in bubble wrap. Place plenty of loose Styrofoam or crunched up newspaper in the voids and cavities in the box as you pack. Put packing material (bubble wrap or Styrofoam) in the bottom of the box and seal it with tape. Mark the boxes “fragile” and identify which room they go into. Make sure not to place heavy boxes on these items to avoid crushing. For additional tips… See our section on ” Moving Your Computer Tips” at www.123 movers.com.

Gardening and Other Mechanical Devices (things in your garage or shed: snow blowers, lawn mowers etc.)

Follow the tips in your owner’s manual or contact the original manufacturer if you no longer have the manual for advice. Generally, remove all fuel, check lubricant levels or remove lubricant to avoid spillage. Do not put these items in boxes; however wrap them in plastic or cloth tarps and secure with rope or heavy tape. Label each item after covering. Do not put boxes or other heavy items on top of your mechanical items.

Carefully Plan The Use and Layout of Your Storage Space.

You can easily get the most out of a small storage area if you plan carefully. Do not place heavy items on top of fragile items. Separate the storage area by type of item. Make sure you have easy access to the items you need to get to often by placing them near the opening of your storage space.

Using Rental Self Storage Facilities

Carefully read the agreement and make sure to abide by the rules and regulations of the Self Storage Facility. Ask the facility managers for advice as needed. They are there to help you. Do not store hazardous chemicals, fuel, or illegal items.

Aerosol cans.
These can usually be recycled with other cans, as long as you pull off the plastic cap and empty the canister completely.

Backpacks.
The American Birding Association accepts donated backpacks, which its scientists use while tracking neotropical birds (www.americanbirding.org).

Batteries.
Recycling batteries keeps hazardous metals out of landfills. Many stores, like RadioShack and Office Depot, accept reusableones, as does the Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation (www.rbrc.org/call2recycle). Car batteries contain lead and can’t go in landfills, because toxic metals can leach into groundwater, but almost any retailer selling them will also collect and recycle them.

Books.
“Hard covers are too rigid to recycle, so we ask people to remove them and recycle just the pages,” says Sarah Kite, recycling manager of the Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation, in Johnston. In many areas, paperbacks can be tossed in with other paper.

Cars, jet skis, boats, trailers, RVs, and motorcycles. If these are unusable — totaled, rusted — they still have metal and other components that can be recycled. Call junkyards in your area, or go to www.junkmycar.com, which will pick up and remove cars, trailers, motorcycles, and other heavy equipment for free.

Cell phones.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, fewer than 20 percent of cell phones are recycled each year, and most people don’t know where to recycle them. The Wireless Foundation refurbishes old phones to give to domestic-violence survivors (www.calltoprotect.org); for information on other cell-phone charities, log on to www.recyclewirelessphones.com. In some states, like California and New York, retailers must accept and recycle old cell phones at no charge.

Computers.
You can return used computers to their manufacturers for recycling (check www.mygreenelectronics.com for a list of vendors) or donate them to a charitable organization (log on to www.sharetechnology.org or www.cristina.org). Nextsteprecycling.org repairs your broken computers and gives them to underfunded schools, needy families, and nonprofits.

DVDs, CDs, and jewel cases.
If you want to get rid of that Lionel Richie CD because “Dancing on the Ceiling” doesn’t do it for you anymore, you can swap it for a disc from another music lover at www.zunafish.com. But if you just want to let it go and not worry about it ending up in a landfill, send it (along with DVDs and jewel cases) to www.greendisk.com for recycling.

Fire Extinguishers.
There are two types of extinguishers. For a dry-chemical extinguisher, safely relieve the remaining pressure, remove the head from the container, and place it with your bulk-metal items (check with your local recycler first). Alternatively, call fire-equipment companies (listed in the phone book) and request that they dispose of your extinguisher. Carbon dioxide extinguishers are refillable after each use.

Hangers (wire).
Some dry cleaners and laundromats will reuse them. Otherwise, they can be recycled with other household metals. But be sure to remove any attached paper or cardboard first. 

Holiday cards.
After they’ve lined your mantel for two months, you could throw them into the recycling bin…or you could give them a whole new life. St. Jude’s Ranch for Children (www.stjudesranch.org), a nonprofit home for abused and neglected youths, runs a holiday-card reuse program in which the kids cut off the front covers, glue them onto new cards, and sell the result — earning them money and confidence.

Makeup.
Makeup can expire and is none too pretty for the earth when you throw it in the trash (chemicals abound in most makeup). Some manufacturers are making progress on this front. People who turn in six or more empty MAC containers, for example, will receive a free lipstick from the company in return; SpaRitual nail polishes come in re-usable, recyclable glass; and Josie Maran Cosmetics sells biodegradable plastic compacts made with a corn-based resin — just remove the mirror and put the case in your compost heap.

Mattresses and box springs.
Mattresses are made of recyclable materials, such as wire, paper, and cloth, but not all cities accept them for recycling. (Go to www.earth911.org to find out if yours does.)

Packing materials.
Styrofoam peanuts cannot be recycled in most areas, but many packaging stores (like UPS and Mail Boxes Etc.) accept them. To find a peanut reuser near you, go to www.loosefillpackaging.com. Some towns recycle Styrofoam packing blocks; if yours doesn’t, visit www.epspackaging.org/info.html to find a drop-off location, or mail them in according to the instructions on the site. Packing pillows marked “Fill-Air” can be deflated (poke a hole in them), then mailed to Ameri-Pak, Sealed Air Recycle Center, 477 South Woods Drive, Fountain Inn SC 29644. They will be recycled into things like trash bags and automotive parts.

Paint.
Some cities have paint-recycling programs, in which your old paint is taken to a company that turns it into new paint. Go to www.earth911.org to see if a program exists in your area.

Phone books.
Many cities offer collection services. Also check www.yellowpages.com/recycle, or call AT&T’s phone book–recycling line at 800-953-4400.

Recreational equipment.
Don’t send tennis rackets to your local recycling center. “People may think we’re going to give them to Goodwill,” says Sadonna Cody, director of government affairs for the Northbay Corporation and Redwood Empire Disposal, in Santa Rosa, California, “but they’ll just be trashed.” Trade sports gear in at Play It Again Sports (www.playitagainsports.com), or donate it to www.sportsgift.org, which gives gently used equipment to needy kids around the world. Mail to Sports Gift, 32545 B Golden Lantern #478, Dana Point CA 92629. As for skis, send them to Skichair.com, 4 Abbott Place, Millbury MA 01527; they’ll be turned into Adirondack-style beach chairs.

Rugs (cotton or wool).
If your town’s recycling center accepts rugs, great. If not, you’re out of luck, because you can’t ship rugs directly to a fabric recycler; they need to be sent in bulk. Your best bet is to donate them to the thrift store of a charity, like the Salvation Army.

Shopping bags (paper).
Even those with metal grommets and ribbon handles can usually be recycled with other paper.

Shopping bags (plastic).
“Americans recycled 812 million pounds of bags in 2006, up 24 percent from 2005,” says Keith Christman, senior director of packaging at the American Chemistry Council Plastics Division, which represents plastic manufacturers. If your town doesn’t recycle plastic, you may be able to drop them off at your local grocery store. Safeway, for example, accepts grocery and dry-cleaning bags and turns them into plastic lumber. (To find other stores, go to www.plasticbagrecycling.org.) What’s more, a range of retailers, like City Hardware, have begun to use biodegradable bags made of corn. (BioBags break down in compost heaps in 10 to 45 days.)

Stereos and VCRs.
Visit www.earth911.org for a list of recyclers, retail stores, and manufacturers near you that accept electronics. Small companies are popping up to handle electronic waste (or e-waste) as well: Greencitizen.com in San Francisco will pull apart your electronics and recycle them at a cost ranging from nothing to 50 cents a pound. And the 10 nationwide locations of Freegeek.org offer a similar service.

Tires.
You can often leave old tires with the dealer when you buy new ones (just check that they’ll be recycled). Worn-out tires can be reused as highway paving, doormats, hoses, shoe soles, and more.

TVs.
Best Buy will remove and recycle a set when it delivers a new one. Or bring old ones to Office Depot to be recycled. Got a Sony TV? Take it to a drop-off center listed at www.sony.com/recycle.

Used clothing.
Some towns recycle clothing into seat stuffing, upholstery, or insulation. Also consider donating clothing to animal boarders and shelters, where it can be turned into pet bedding.

Videotapes, cassettes, and floppy disks.
These aren’t accepted. “Videotapes are a nightmare,” says Outerbridge. “They get tangled and caught on everything.” Instead, send tapes to ACT (www.actrecycling.org), a facility in Columbia, Missouri, that employs disabled people to clean, erase, and resell videotapes. You can also send videotapes, cassettes, and floppy disks to www.greendisk.com; recycling 20 pounds or less costs $6.95, plus shipping.

Xmas lights.
Ship your old lights to HolidayLEDs.com, Attention: Recycling Program, 120 W. Michigan Avenue, Suite 1403, Jackson MI 49201. The company will send you a coupon for 10 percent off its LED lights, which use 80 percent less energy and last 10 years or more. And they’re safer, too. LEDs don’t generate much heat, whereas incandescents give off heat, which can cause a dry Christmas tree to catch fire.

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