In challenging times, creativity makes a great donation.
Monday, June 15th, 2009
In the past couple of weeks my colleagues at Barrett have shown some incredible creativity when it comes to helping out in our communities. It’s a tough time for charitable organizations, and for the companies and individuals that support them. I’m proud that we’ve found ways to help two important organizations in our community.
PROP Food Relocates with Barrett Help
When Minneapolis Barrett Account Executive Terry Black heard that PROP (People Reaching Out to Other People) was moving from its long-time basement location at the Eden Prairie, MN City Hall to a new building a short distance away, he contacted Janet Palmer, Operations Manager for PROP, and offered to help.
Terry worked with Bill Johnson, Vice President & General Manger for Barrett’s Minneapolis-St. Paul agencies, and John Orme, Minneapolis-St. Paul Vice President of Sales, to get two trucks and drivers, and volunteer labor from his fellow salespeople. With skill, efficiency and a lot of good nature, Barrett helped PROP move into their new building on Martin Drive in Eden Prairie on Friday, June 5th. Janet Palmer said, “Barrett has just been fantastic.”
PROP’s mission is to compassionately provide our neighbors in need with food and financial assistance and to provide support toward self sufficiency. You can find more information about their organization at www.propfood.org. Barrett volunteers included John Orme, Brian Denning, Brigitt Berlin, Terry Black, Ed Fitzgerald, Bill Johnson, Chad Helgemo, and Mike Effler.
Walking Like MADD
Barrett formed a Walk Like MADD team this spring and raised over $1,000 for Mothers Against Drunk Driving (http://www.maddmn.org). Eleven Barrett employees and family members walked, raised money, and made our company team among the five top fund raisers for the event, which was held at Hyland Lake Park Reserve on Saturday, May 30th. April Rupert, our top virtual walker, raised money from friends and family and is among the top five virtual walkers! Barrett rounded out our contribution, helping us to get past the $1,000 mark with an additional contribution. Barrett walkers included John Orme, Cyndi and Carter Priest, Linda Olson, Laura Langer, Eliza Freiday, Larry Swanson, and Debra Ham.
I’m proud that individuals in our organization got together to raise money and awareness for these two Minnesota organizations. It shows what we can do when we are challenged beyond the usual, personally and on a corporate level.
Senior Moving
Tuesday, June 2nd, 2009by Eliza Freiday
Being a senior and moving is a stressful step in your life, but there are ways to make it a little less stressful for you! If you live in assisted living or a senior residence, it’s always a good idea to tell your building manager that you’re moving. If they are aware of your move date and involved in helping you make arrangements for parking, elevators, stairs, or other access, it will all go more easily.
Many times building management can be a key contact for you and for your movers. The movers may ask you if a tractor-trailer will be able to access your building. They may need to know what the hours are for the elevator. Maybe your building has set times for moving in or out. The building management will know all the answers.
Make it easier on you, your family and friends, and your neighbors by involving your building manager in your move. Your Barrett move coordinator can help you anticipate what you’ll need to know, so don’t hesitate to ask for help!
Leaving Home, A Family Story
Tuesday, May 12th, 2009by Laura Langer
My parents moved out of their home of 30 years this winter. We’ve been a family of movers since the 1940s, so you might think this would be a cut-and-dried process for us. We’d know just how to do this. I’ve even written copy for our website on downsizing, and edited blog entries on how to do it. As it turned out, there was nothing cut-and-dried about it, and for all of us the move seemed endless.
While they were looking for the perfect new residence each of my parents urged the other to start getting rid of things and make decisions about what to move. The discussion over storage was brief: “No more storage. It moves or we get rid of it.” Good advice, but more about that later.
When the new home was chosen piles began to appear — piles for donation, for the dumpster, for sale, and for moving. Just like those HG-TV shows. My father filled the trunk, the backseat and the passenger seat of his car time and time again, and I think he got to know the folks at the donation site pretty well.
Every weekend as my parents prepared for the move and we all helped, I went home and cleaned out something – books I wasn’t going to read again for the Library book sale, old photographs that I never look at and shoes I shouldn’t wear anymore, clothes that are “perfectly good” but that I don’t wear, and so on. The throw-away pile, the donation pile, the bags marked “Check on eBay.” My good intentions were endless. As I write this, the trunk still contains four bags of books, the clothes are hanging on the closet door, and I haven’t looked at eBay. I did throw away the shoes.
There was no pile of “everything else” because you aren’t supposed to have a pile of “everything else,” according to those organizing shows. But, “everything else” at my parents’ house was stuffed into crawl spaces, the laundry room, metal shelving, cabinets, closets, drawers, and the garage. And it never seemed to diminish. According to my father, it was multiplying and dividing. When the movers came, they took everything marked for the new house, and when they left, there was still what looked like half a houseful of belongings. Some days I came into my office to find a grocery bag or a box on my chair – filled with something that my father just couldn’t decide about. I realized that my role was to say, “Sure, I’ll take care of that.”
Before the realtor listed the house, there was the fix-up period, which left the garage looking its best ever but still filled with “stuff,” and the interior spiffed up — and still full of more “stuff.” And, so it came to pass that a truck arrived one day and took away what couldn’t be used for staging and put all of it into, yes, storage. Oops.
So, now finally we’re down to a little furniture that the realtor is using, and a pile of 20-year-old firewood that my brother-in-law is coming to pick up this week. It ought to burn nicely. The new place seems like home, it’s true – because that’s where the people we love are living. And, the memories went with them – along with 10 cartons of photographs I promised I would help my mother organize. Will we ever learn?
Keeping your memories
Monday, April 6th, 2009by Eliza Freiday
Recently, I moved a customer, who as an 82-year-old woman, was extremely worried about packing up all her memories and leaving the home that she had lived in for the past 55 years. I told her that I would be there to make the process as easy as possible for her. She and I talked on the phone for over 45 minutes discussing how to declutter the items that she hasn’t seen or touched in the past ten years. This helped her downsize by almost ten cartons, two old couches and a closet full of old cleaning supplies! She told me that is also helped her feel like she was starting over and it was a good feeling to her! Moving as a senior is difficult in itself, but there is help out there and people who want to make the process easier for you. For questions or advice, feel free to call a Barrett Moving & Storage coordinator — we love to listen!
Moving with a pet
Tuesday, March 17th, 2009by Eliza Freiday
Moving involves a lot of change for everyone, and your pet is no exception. My customers report to me that pets understand there’s change in the air, and can become nervous as you pack, and as strangers come into the house to pack and load. It’s often helpful to give pets like dogs or cats some relief from all the unusual activity by finding them a place to stay during the busy move days – a neighbor’s house, or even a “pet spa day” at the kennel. I did a quick check on the Internet and got over 500,000 results from a Google search for “pet spa”! Who knew?
If you’re traveling to your new destination with your pet, here are some tips to keep in mind:
-Check out the state and local laws in your destination area. Keep in mind that some states have border inspection.
-Make sure you have all the proper health documents on your pet, and the proper identification.
-If you’re traveling by motor vehicle, check out hotels and motels that offer pet stay.
-Pack a travel kit for your pet: food, water, favorite toy, blanket-whatever makes them comfortable and at ease.
The website of the Humane Society of the United States has information your may find useful on moving with pets and traveling with pets.
There are lots of commercial sites that list pet friendly hotels and resorts. A quick Google search for “pet friendly lodging” will get you started.
Pets are important parts of our lives, so making sure that their move is as stress-less as possible is important. Be sure to ask your move coordinator for more information as you plan your move – we’re here to help.
When is the best time to move?
Tuesday, February 3rd, 2009by Erica Beiser
Well this is a matter of opinion! Here in the Northern Midwest, you would assume the summer is the best time: no snow and sunny days. Wrong! The summer months, which we call Peak Season, are about May to August. Seventy percent of all moving is done during these months. The rates tend to be higher, the lead time on a move is much much longer, and moving van space is prime real estate!!
Moving in the winter might seem harder, but we’re experienced at all kinds of weather. It does not stop us, we just take extra precautions. Floor protection and rug runners become our movers’ best friends!!!
Spring and fall tend to be more preferrable for moving due to the weather, but if you need to move January 10th we will be there! Don’t let the time of year deter your moving venture because you are concerned about the movers. They are professionals, and have seen far worse weather than what any Midwest winter or humid summer can provide.
In most cases we ask for a minimun of four weeks notice on a move. This will allow enough time to provide you an estimate, schedule dates, and assign a driver and moving van to your move. If you do not have four weeks, don’t worry — Barrett Moving and Storage will not turn you away. In fact, we will do what ever we possiblly can to meet your moving needs.
To inquire further about moving during a specific time of year, please contact a move coordinator for further assistance. Smile and Happy Moving!!
Do I really have to go to a new school??
Tuesday, January 20th, 2009by Erica Beiser
Something that becomes a very quick reality when moving is School. Once children start going to school, it becomes a very big part of their lives. The thought of having to leave behind their teacher and friends can be devastating. I have some suggestions for making the transition easier.
Before leaving the child’s old school behind throw a “going away party,” with the okay of school staff members. Have your child make up a small bag with a picture of him or herself, a note telling friends how much they mean to him or her, and a index card with your new address. Everyone loves a pen pal!!
Contact the new school your child will be attending. Find out what activities are available before or after school, including clubs and gatherings with other students. These kinds of activites help all children interact and make new friends. Once you have established yourself in your new home, invite a couple of your child’s new-found friends and parents over on the weekend for coffee. This will let you also make new acquaintances, as your children make new friends.
Remember that a playmate for a younger child is a very important part of the transition to a new city. Your Barrett Moving and Storage move coordinator may be able to provide other ideas as well, depending on the location you are moving to. Smile & Happy Moving.
Preventing Claims
Tuesday, January 6th, 2009by Eliza Freiday
Your belongings mean a lot to you and your family. The meaning can be in family history – photos, antiques, heirlooms; monetary investment; or just plain enjoyment. When the time comes to move your possessions, we want to be able to help you reduce your risk of damage.
Choosing your mover wisely is the first step in protecting your belongings. Check out each mover’s record of loss prevention and claims. It’s one of those things we don’t like to think about when moving, but it’s important to know that your mover has policies, procedures, and processes in place to prevent damage or loss, and to take care of you if damage or loss happens.
How does the company train its drivers, movers and packers?
Do they have a formal loss prevention philosophy and process?
What is their track record? How many claims for each 100 moves? What’s the average dollar amount?
How quickly do they settle claims?
What options for valuation protection do they offer?
Gathering and evaluating this information is the first step in protecting your belongings.
Letting your kids participate in the pre-planning activities
Wednesday, December 17th, 2008by Erica Beiser
Keep in mind, that the moving process for small children rates right up there with green beans!! You have to make it fun, a new experience, an adventure!! Fortunately, there are lots and lots of things that need tending to when moving.
Let your children sort through their toys and pick the ones that they can donate. When you make the trip to the donation site, let the kids lead the way – it makes them feel important.
Let your kids pick the color of their new room, it’s only paint!! Or better yet a theme, like baseball, dinosaurs, or princesses.
Try to get your kids hyped up about all the “new” stuff in their new town. And best of all, their new school! All chilren love to play with new kids. Try to get as much information about activites in your new area. You may be able to get further information from your move coordinator at Barrett Moving and Storage.
Children adjust rather well to moving, as long as they are reassured that with change will get for the better, and that soon enough everything will go back to normal. Smile and Happy moving.
Preparing your children for a move
Wednesday, December 3rd, 2008by Erica Beiser
Let’s be honest, who would want to leave behind their school and friends? Not many children would, but this is a tough reality of moving when small children are involved. In a larger than life world, everything they know and rely on as normal, will change drastically during the moving process.
Parents should try to explain the reason behind moving, i.e. job, family, etc. Be prepared for you child to “vent.” They may do naughty things, be irritable and act out. This is a normal process that all children go through. Try to redirect their attention. Make them part of the “adventure.” Have fun with the normal tasks of the move process.
Give children a moving box and packing paper and have them pack up their “special toys.” Let them pick where there favorite stuffed animals will go, for example. Let them write their namew on their boxes for their rooms. Let them know that they can help decorate their new room. To help improve the outlook for children, make it a family activity to get information about the new home town they will be moving to – parks, playgrounds, school activities, fairs, etc. This information can be located a variety of ways, such as the internet, local Chamber of Commerce, local news papers, and possibly your move coordinator.
Everyone at Barrett Moving and Storage will do what they can to make a move as easy and fun for all, not the dreaded chore!! Children as well as parents should try to have a very positive outlook, and the process will not be as tough of a transition for anyone. Smile and Happy Moving!!