How to Avoid Fraud in the Moving Industry

Moving is one of the most stressful life events that people experience. It's not simple to consider moving all of your household goods across town, much less across state or national borders. The beginning of the move process can be just as stressful for many people as they start to consider the number of companies offering moving services, all with varying levels of service and reputation.

Here are some things to consider as you begin searching companies:

1. Check the company's reputation with the Better Business Bureau.

2. Check your city's Chamber of Commerce and see if the moving company has a rating from the local chamber.

3. When you contact a company for a firm estimate, they should schedule an appointment to come to your home for a survey or estimate. Although they may provide an over the phone ball-park quote, when you are seriously considering your move, be sure to have an in-home estimate completed. When the estimate has been completed, you should always receive a written estimate. Do not accept a firm estimate if it is not in writing.

If you live in the Tulsa area and are ready to schedule an estimate for your upcoming move, please call Accent Moving & Storage at 918-251-5594. If you need information about scheduling estimates outside of Oklahoma, please go to www.mayflower.com where you can fill out the bright green box entitled "planning a move?"

Back to School

It’s hard to believe it’s nearly time for school to start again. Whether you have recently moved to a new home or you have lived in the same home for years, back to school can be hectic and stressful both for parents and students. Here are a few tips to help everyone get off on the right foot:


Plan Ahead

*Encourage students, even young students, to set out clothes and accessories the night before. You can avoid the last-minute scramble for that missing shoe by looking ahead of time.

*Make sandwiches the night before and leave them in the refrigerator. In the morning you can slip them into lunchboxes and get out the door a few minutes faster.

*Will your student purchase a lunch at school? Many schools now have a place on their website or the district website where parents and guardians can deposit more money into lunch accounts, taking away the worries that your student may lose money before it makes it to the cafeteria. Call the school’s main office or check the website.

*Designate a place for backpacks and other items that need to go to school each day. Whether it’s on a special hook, cubby, or chair in the bedroom or by the backdoor, set a routine at the beginning of the year.

*Help out the teacher with three identical Transformers or Tinkerbelle backpacks hanging in the cubbies. Make sure your child’s name is clearly marked on his or her backpack, jacket, lunchbox, pencil case, etc.

*If your student has individual folders for each subject, encourage him or her to choose different colors for each subject. If your student needs to use book covers, consider coordinating book cover and folder colors for each subject.

*While you’re out grabbing school supplies, why not stock up on some printer ink and paper? And as those dozens of papers come home from school, consider recycling by using the back of old papers as recycled printing paper.

*Look for a store in your area that offers ink refills. Often they will give you a discount or free refill after you purchase several refills.

*Students starting middle school or high school may worry about remembering their daily schedule. Make sure they have a copy of their schedule in their backpack or in a student planner for quick access.

Shred your risk of identity theft

While preparing to a move, many people begin to get rid of items they no longer need or use. Often this can include old financial information. Don't let your move be an open door to identity theft. Be sure to shred all papers that contain any personal information, particularly papers containing your social security card, bank account or credit account numbers, or reference numbers for stocks, bonds, or savings.

On Saturday April 16th in the Tulsa area, you can bring any confidential papers that need to be shredded to Western Sun Federal Credit Union at 4620 West Kenosha, just east of Garnett on 71st street. There is a 4 box limit, and this event is for individuals only, not businesses. All papers should be removed from any binders or folders. GreenRecycle will be performing the shredding services, and all shredding will be done on site.

For more information call Western Sun Federal Credit Union at 918-362-1400.

If you are not yet ready to shred documents, why not consider document storage at Accent Moving & Storage? We provide secure storage for your important documents. Or, if you're gearing up for that big move, don't forget that that we can provide a free estimate. Simply contact our office at Accent Moving & Storage, an agent for Mayflower transit, at 918-251-5594.

Undercover Boss features United Van Lines

On Sunday March 13th, CBS's show "Undercover Boss" will feature the CEO of United Van lines. United is a sister company of Mayflower Van lines. Have you ever wondered exactly what drivers and warehousemen are responsible for? Be sure to tune in at 8/9PM central on Sunday night to find out!

You can find a sneak preview of this episode here at CBS's website

Peak Season: preparing for a late spring or summer move

At Accent Mayflower Moving & Storage, our busiest season is late May through August. Many people, particularly families, want to move during the summer months. Weekends fill up quickly, especially holiday weekends.

If you are expecting to move this summer, it's a good idea to get started early. Accent Mayflower would be glad to arrange an estimate for you. Our local number is 918-251-5594, or call us toll free at 1-800-331-3378.

We will arrange for a salesperson to do a visual survey of your home and calculate an estimated cost for moving. Surveys can include full packing costs, the costs of a partial pack, as well as the costs for hauling an automobile.

Once you have reviewed your estimate, let your salesperson know your planned move dates as soon as possible. Remember that there are a lot of details that go into making your move happen, and by informing your agency of your planned move dates it will help your move go just a little smoother. You might be surprised how fast your moving date will arrive! By starting early with everything from an estimate to getting a head start on your packing, you will be surprised at how much a little advance planning will help you in your transition from residence to another.

(Pre?) Spring Cleaning

As Tulsa continues its great thaw, it seems like everyone who avoided cleaning during the snow is suddenly getting hit with urge to start spring cleaning. Who says you can’t spring clean in February? Maybe your New Year’s Resolution was to finally get more organized, but things got out of hand in the last few weeks? It’s never too late to get organized.

Start with some boxes to sort items into. Best Price Boxes in Broken Arrow has a variety of new and used boxes. Call us at 918-251-6037 for more information. Once you have a few boxes (or more!), consider the following categories for your boxes:

*Donate/sell
*Storage
*Keep
*Trash

Remember that gently used items can be donated to non-profit groups like Goodwill, Salvation Army, thrift stores, or schools. Go through your child’s clothes, books, and indoor and outdoor toys to pull items that have been outgrown and can also be donated. Schools and daycares would probably welcome book and toy donations. Anything that you wish to keep can be boxed up and stored in a crawl space or attic.

Sometimes it can be hard to let go of items. Try boxing up things that you are holding onto and store them for 4-6 months. At the end of that time, if you haven’t used or missed the items, consider selling or donating them. Also, as birthdays and other celebrations roll around and children are anticipating new toys, encourage the child to pick out a handful of toys that he or she no longer uses to donate to someone who can use them.

Think of it this way... the more items you can move out during a pre-spring cleaning, the fewer items you have to face once spring hits! If you are anticipating a move in the months to follow, you've also just saved yourself a little bit of packing, too!

Moving Tip #514: Stage Your House to Sell it!

Everyone knows the saying, “You never have a second chance to make a first impression.” Well, in this economy, this saying includes selling your house!


Recently, I have talked about ridding yourself of old, unwanted paperwork so you are ready for your big move day and that will also help when staging your home. People need to see that you have plenty of room for storage. Once all your trash is gone, your home and storage spaces will appear larger.

Of course, you could make your space seem even larger by selling or donating anything you haven’t touched in 3 moths or more. And you should get jump on your move by “de-personalizing” your home. This means taking down all the family pictures so that prospective buyers can picture themselves living in your home.

A big step in staging your home is removing some unneeded furniture and other big items. I’m not suggesting you get rid of them completely. These are things that you may like and make your life comfortable but they just make your house appear smaller to a future buyer making a sale harder. Get suggestions on how to stage furniture here: http://www.hgtv.com/decorating/13-home-staging-secrets/pictures/index.html

For clean, dry, storage of those personal and overflow furniture items, contact Accent Moving & Storage, Inc. at 918-251-5594 or 800-331-3378. Then, when your house sells, we will have a majority of things ready so you can move fast!

Help Your Neighbors While Cutting Moving Costs!

It's Spring. School will be out for Summer break in approximately three weeks. It's time to move. But you (along with everyone else) need to watch your moving costs. What do you do?

Well, everything you move will weigh something and, if your house is anything like mine, there are things you can donate to make your move cost less. Did you ever think about all those canned goods you've been stock piling in the pantry? Those are going to add up fast!

Here's the answer: Saturday, May 8th the United States Post Office is sponsoring the "Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive." All you have to do is place non-perishable food items in a bag. Place the bag of food at your mailbox. And your letter carrier will pick it up when they deliver your mail. How awesome is that?! You are helping your local food bank and you don't have to leave your home! All along, you are reducing your potential moving expenses!

Of course, you don't have to be moving to help out. Unfortunately, our food banks are in greater need than ever and most people donate during the holidays. This is a great opportunity to purge your pantry and help others at the same time. Go to www.helpstampouthunger.com to get more information.

As always, for all your moving needs (such as: boxes, storage, estimates, labor, etc.) contact Accent Moving & Storage at 918-251-5594.

De-Clutter: Shred-Fest Saturday!!!!

Paper is such a HUGE factor in adding weight and, therefore, expense to a move. This weekend you can rid yourself of much of that expense by taking advantage Shred Fest in Tulsa. Grab your old statements, bills, and other documents and run down to 635 West 41st Street in Tulsa between 1pm and 3pm this Saturday to get them shredded in less time and with less effort. Now, your records that aren't old enough to be shredded can be securely stored at Accent Moving & Storage. Please call 918-251-5594 for a storage quote

De-Clutter: Shred-Fest Saturday!!!!

Paper is such a HUGE factor in adding weight and, therefore, expense to a move. This weekend you can rid yourself of much of that expense and old paperwork by taking advantage of Shred Fest in Tulsa. Grab your old statements, bills, and other documents and run down to 635 West 41st St in Tulsa between 1pm and 3pm this Saturday to get them shredded in less time and with less effort. Now, your records that are not old enough to be shredded can be stored at Accent Moving & Storage. Please call 918-251-5594 for a storage quote.

MOVING TIP #224: MAKING YOUR BED

So...HERE'S THE THING: When you move professionally (at least with Accent Moving & Storage or Mayflower Transit) , you are allowed to leave soft goods like linens and clothing in your dressers during transit.
Therefore... TODAY'S HELPFUL HINT: Designate a drawer or two of your dresser to hold clean sheets and towels for you to use immediately upon arriving in your new home. This way you won't have to frantically dig through boxes searching for something to sleep on when you are dead tired! Move-in day is crazy enough...you have worked hard and have earned a good night's rest in your new home. Ahhh... clean sheets!

CAREFULLY PLAN YOUR MOVE

CREATE A TIMELINE:
Give yourself plenty of time to prepare for your move. Map a timeline so details aren't lost in the shuffle. One of the biggest mistakes we see is that people try to do too much in too short a time frame. You should never put unnecessary stress on you or your movers. For instance: if you must be completely out of your home by 5pm on Friday, then your last day to schedule your move should be Thursday. This will give you ample time to get your old house clean before turning it over to the new buyers.

HAVE A FAMILY DISCUSSION:
A new start can be terrifying. As a matter of fact, professionals will tell you it is tops on the stress scale with death and divorce. Take some time to address the emotional stresses a move may have on each family member, and try to foster positive feelings.

BUDGET YOUR MOVE:
A move carries a lot of hidden expenses. Try to account for every detail before you begin. Be sure to include cleaning, decluttering, packing, storage and transportation. Most professional moves will be COD and you will be expected to pay your mover when he arrives at your new home. Although credit cards are often accepted, most home buyers choose not to use them as they want to stop all activity on accounts through out the closing process on their new home.

GET YOUR PAPERS IN ORDER:
Transfer medical, dental and school records. (don't forget Fido) If you have special needs, you may want to find a new doctor before you move. Be sure you take copies of important financial and legal documents with you.

ANNOUNCE YOUR MOVE:
Give your family and friends notice. Alert colleagues so your professional network stays intact when everything else is disassembled. Remember to allow extra time for "good bye luncheons" or the time you intended to run those final errands will be eaten up. Literally!

ALLOW A FEW HOURS EACH DAY TO DEAL WITH THE UNEXPECTED.

Finally, give Accent Moving & Storage a call. With more than 70 years moving families around the nation and across the street, we have the tools to make this move a good one! 918-258-5594 or 800-331-3378

Mayflower Adds Maid Services!

Did you see the latest press release? How awesome is it that, when you are under so much time pressure, you can actually work with your mover to arrange cleaning services both at your old house as well as at your new house!

As if packing up everything from your toothbrush to your baby memorabilia, bedroom set and big-screen TV weren't enough work, moving also requires a massive housecleaning effort at the old house as well as the new. Now Mayflower Transit is lightening the load with new move-out and move-in cleaning options available with the company's residential moving services.

See the entire press release to find out about all the services that are now offered. Needless to say, we are pretty excited about this alliance with The Maids and Mayflower Transit. If you want to know more about how this service works, you can contact Accent Moving & Storage, an agent for Mayflower Transit since 1939.

Winter Proof Your Car

Who wants to deal with a car that looks like a Popsicle when your running late for work?

Keep your headlights clear with car wax: wipe ordinary car wax on your headlights to keep them clear of that wintry mix of salt, slush and snow. The special water repellents in the car wax will prevent such things from sticking. Thus, helping improve your visibility and safety!

Ice proof your windows with vinegar: fill a spray bottle with 3 parts vinegar to 1 part water and spritz it on your car windows at night. The vinegar will raise the melting point of water - preventing it from freezing. If you wake up to a frozen car, just spray the mixture on the windows and watch it melt!

Prevent car doors from freezing shut: spritz cooking spray on the rubber seals around car doors and rub it in with a paper towel. The oils in the cooking spray keep the water from seeping into the rubber when the snow melts and then freezing again!

Fog-Proof Your Windshield:spray some shaving cream on the inside of your windshield and wipe it off with paper towels. Shaving cream has many of the same ingredients found in commercial defoggers and it creates a protective film on the glass that prevents fogging.

Squeak-Proof Your Wipers: saturate a cloth with rubbing alcohol or amonia and wipe down your blades. The solvent will cut through the dirt and grime and make your wipers work like new!

De-Ice Your Lock: put some hand sanitizer gel on your key and the lock... problem solved! The alcohol (found in most de-icers) does the job. Just be sure your hand sanitizer is at least 60% alcohol (or it won't work for your locks or sanitizing!).

Get Un-Stuck: turn off your car, stick the rubber side of one of your floor mats under the spinning tire, turn on your car, and give it some gas. The rubber will give you the grip you need to get out of a sticky situation!

FINALLY.... don't deal with all of these issues AND a move too. DIY moves are overrated! Call Accent Moving & Storage / Mayflower Transit for all your moving needs.... WE KNOW ALL THE TRICKS! 918-251-5594 or 800-331-3378

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Prepare to Move (Even if You're Not Planning to Move)

I have a bag that is always packed with the basic toiletries just in case I get a chance to go on a weekend get-away. I am ready to go at a moment's notice. It's that much easier to say, "yes!" when I get an offer to go with friends to their lake house or maybe I will win that dream vacation to Greece!


The same idea holds true with your household goods. As we near the holidays, you will receive many cards and gifts. You will pull out all your old Christmas decorations. Some decorations you will use. Other decorations will stay in the box and go back into storage. When was the last time you used those items? Chances are, if you aren't using them this year, you probably won't use them in the future. DON'T PUT THEM BACK IN THE ATTIC!!! Donate those old decorations.


There is always a retirement facility or a children's home that could use the holiday cheer and you will be that much closer to being "move ready."


I know... you probably aren't planning a move right now. But don't you want to be ready to move at a moment's notice if someone shows up with an offer you can't refuse!?!

Baby-Boomers:Planning Your Move

More than 12 percent of the American population is over the age of 65 and an estimated 1.5 million of these Americans will move into new residences this year. Whether you are moving to a retirement community or assisted living facility, or down-sizing to a space that is more appropriate for your new lifestyle, moving can be stressful and emotionally draining. The following suggestions can help you execute a smooth move:

1. Take Inventory: as soon as you know you are going to be moving begin going through your home room by room and making an inventory of EVERYTHING.
2. Will It Fit?: visualize and compare the size of your current space with your new space then decide what you will do with items that willnot fit in your new home.
3. Rid Yourself of Possessions You Don't Need: check with family to see who wants the more sentimental items and then decide if you will sell or donate the remaining items.
4. Round Two: take a week off after deciding what you "absolutely must keep" and then go back to see if there is anything else you can part with. This will be easier the second and third time around.

For more moving tips, go to www.accentmoving.com.

Clean Out That Old Paperwork!

Paper is such a HUGE factor in adding weight and, therefore, expense to a move. This weekend you can rid yourself of much of that expense by taking advantage of ShredFest in Tulsa. Grab your old statements, bills, and other documents and run down to 635 West 41st Street in Tulsa between 1pm and 3pm this Saturday to get them shredded in less time and with less effort. Now, your records that are not old enough to be shredded can be stored at Accent Moving & Sotrage. Please call 918-251-5594 for a storage quote.

Shipment Tracking Made Easy!

Did you know that when you choose to move with Mayflower, you can track your shipment online? It's really awesome! This is just one of the many conveniences that make moving with Mayflower Transit your best choice when relocating your family or transporting high value equipment across the street, across the nation or around the world. For more information and a free, no obligation estimate contact Accent Moving & Storage, a Mayflower Agent since 1939.

TV's: Plasma vs. LCD

I am by no means an expert on electronics. However, if you are considering a new TV and have been debating between a Plasma and an LCD TV, I suggest LCD. Why? Because they are easier to move. They don't have as many issues as a result of being move from one location to another.

Obviously, as with any purchase, you should get what pleases you most and fits with your family's lifestyle. However, if your lifestyle is to move every 3-5 years, then you should consider my choice.

In the moving industry, all flat screen TV's are to be boxed either in their original box or in a specialty box for flat screen TV's or, in some cases, even crated.

Of course, everyone is encouraged to live the lifestyle they choose. Just remember that your choices (and mine) come with special needs when being moved from one home to the next.

Thank You KVOO!

How cool was it to hear KVOO talk about Mayflower Moving on the radio, yesterday morning! I know they were just kidding about the Mayflower truck delivering Taylor Swift tickets to the station but that's just one more situation to confirm that Mayflower is THE MOST RECOGNIZED van line in the world.

Of course, you can always get a FREE estimate on your move by contacting Accent Moving & Storage, an agent for Mayflower Transit since 1939. Simply call 918-251-5594 or request an estimate online at www.accentmoving.com.