Simple Steps to Help Plan for Your Next Move

There’s a lot that goes into moving into a new home. However, moving doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. Like most tasks in life, having a plan will help you succeed. Here are a few simple steps to help plan for your next move.

Step 1: Think about the logistics. Visualizing how the move will go, and where your items should go, will make your move less stressful. Make an appointment with your moving company and go over the details of moving day with your moving professionals. You can also make a simple floor plan of your new home to help visualize where furniture and other items should go when they are unloaded, and how to make the best use of space.   

Step 2: Get rid of the clutter (so it doesn’t follow you to the new home). Reducing the amount of stuff you have to move will make the process more manageable. Since you’ll be going through your things anyway, use the move as an opportunity to go room-by-room and clear out unused items. Try starting in the kitchen, where you can throw away older items that have been crammed in the backs of the drawers and cabinets. Older clothing and toys, etc. can be donated. You may even find some items around the house you can sell, if you have the time to do so before your move (online or garage sale). No matter how you do it, you’ll thank yourself for setting aside time to clear out what you don’t need before your move.

Step 3: Prepare the right equipment. Your move will go more smoothly if you have what you need when the time comes. Assess your belongings to determine how many boxes you will need, as well as packing tape, bubble wrap, etc. Gather these items early to maintain peace-of-mind! (Or we can always just do it for you.)

Step 4: Organize and pack. It’s extremely important to stay organized when you begin packing. Don’t just throw stuff in boxes—plan what items can be safely packed together to save space. Items that you don’t use often can be packed first, and when moving day gets closer, you can begin packing the items you use every day. For instance, you might want to save essential items such as bedding, shower curtains, soap, and a few dishes and silverware for last so they are easier to access when you arrive at your new home. Finally, don’t forget to label each box clearly so you won’t waste time guessing what to unpack first!

Realtor Spotlight: Jenn Cook

Moving can be a complicated process and we take pride in making the task easy for our customers. But we're only one part of the moving process... finding a good realtor is just as important. We have decided to highlight our favorite realtors in the area, starting with Jenn Cook. An agent at The Charlotte John Company, she helps clients in Central Arkansas and the Greers Ferry area. We reached out to Jenn Cook and asked her a little bit about herself...

What do you love most about your area?

"The growth that Little Rock has had over the last few years -- it has all the amenities of a big town with the small town feel."

Why is your area a great place to raise a family?

"Arkansas has so much access to beautiful vacation spots -- there's something for everyone."

What is your favorite restaurant in the area?

"Graffiti's and The Pantry."

What is your favorite pastime in the area?

"Weekends at the lake!"

What do you love most about being a realtor?

"Cultivating relationships with people I wouldn't have otherwise met."

What's your biggest professional challenge?

"I want to please everyone."

If you had to pick one, what tip would you give to someone shopping for a new home?

"It is a fun process, but also a hard process. Don't get discouraged -- it's a big commitment. But it's worth it in the end."

The Best Places to See Fall Leaves in Arkansas

Autumn is a beautiful time in Arkansas. Thankfully, the Natural State offers many, many excellent places to view breathtaking landscapes covered in fall colors. Whether you're moving, traveling, or just ready for that Fall feeling, we'll point you to a few of the best spots in Arkansas to see the stunning leaves of Fall!

The Ozark Mountains. Arkansas’ Northwest region is characterized by its wooded mountains. The Ozark Region, extending into Missouri, Kansas, and Oklahoma, is made up of three different mountain regions. In northwest Arkansas, you can enjoy a ride on the “Pig Trail” through the Boston Mountains that will give you some amazing views. The foliage in the Boston Mountains region is plush, creating a brilliant spectrum of colors in the Fall. The Pig Trail runs up Highway 23 through the Ozark Highlands, and features steep, winding mountain turns. There is also a beautiful Scenic Route nearby, running through U.S. Hwy. 71 and Interstate 49, which features many locations to stop and take in a scenic bird’s-eye view.

Crowley’s Ridge. In the northeast corner of the state, you can discover another scenic drive opportunity. Crowley’s Ridge National Scenic Byway begins in St. Francis and winds south along the Ridge, ending in Helena. A trip down the Byway will provide excellent scenes of Autumn on the endless rolling hills. This area sits above the Mississippi alluvial plain and boasts some of the richest soil in the State, supporting flourishing foliage. Though it part of the Delta Region, Crowley’s Ridge is technically within the Ozark-St. Francis National Forest.

Mount Magazine. This Mountain is actually Arkansas’ tallest at 2,753 feet! Mount Magazine State Park is a great place to do some Fall leaf-viewing because there is so much to do. You can find epic views of the region’s trees from the top of the mountain, or you can take the Scenic Byway from the Lodge down state highway 309. The mountain and park provide a swath of nature trails and overlooks, not to mention the camping areas and cabins—all excellent places to enjoy Arkansas’ natural beauty in the Fall.

Ouachita National Forest. Visible from the peak of Mount Magazine, the Ouachita National Forest is “the oldest National Forest in the Southern United State.” The Ouachita Mountains are covered by endless woodland featuring several different varieties of Oak trees. The Talimena Scenic Byway on Arkansas Hwy. 1 is an excellent choice for discovering the natural beauty of this region during Fall. This scenic drive extends 54 miles between Mena, Arkansas and Talihina, Oklahoma, taking you over Rich Mountain and Winding Stair Mountain.

Brandon Moving & Storage Named June Mover of the Month by Move For Hunger

All of us here at Brandon Moving & Storage are honored to have been named June Mover of the Month by Move For Hunger! Supporting the community and helping our friends and neighbors is important to us, and our partnership with Move For Hunger helps us give back on an extraordinary level.

"CONGRATS Brandon Moving & Storage Team!
You are Move For Hunger's Mover of the Month for June 2017! Thank you for all you have done to fight hunger in your community."

Move For Hunger is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization working with relocation companies to collect non-perishable food items, and deliver it to food banks all across North America. Currently, they are working with over 700 relocation companies across 50 states and Canada. Move For Hunger has delivered over 8,000,000 pounds of food to food banks across North America.

Nearly 570,000 people in Arkansas are food insecure, and Brandon Moving & Storage, partnered with Move For Hunger, is dedicated to helping combat the hunger in our state and nation. 

A Newcomer's Guide to Central Arkansas

Have you recently moved to Central Arkansas? As a newcomer, you’ll be excited when you learn how many possibilities the area has to offer. Miles of breathtaking natural beauty surround Arkansas’ unique historical and modern landmarks and provide a backdrop for a growing hub of business and commerce. You’ll find plenty of opportunities in the center of the Natural State!

SOURCE: ClintonFoundation.org

In Little Rock, the state’s capitol, a must-see is the William J. Clinton Presidential Library. The Clinton Presidential Center opened in 2004 and features a museum boasting an extensive archive and items from the Clinton years and beyond. World-renowned art and cultural exhibits are regularly displayed here, and documentary films are often screened in the library’s event hall. The museum even has a direct replica of the Oval Office! Find out more about visiting the Clinton Presidential Center at https://www.clintonlibrary.gov/. 

SOURCE: MuseumOfDiscovery.org

The Museum of Discovery in Little Rock is also a great destination. The MOD is Arkansas’ premier science center and is considered to be one of the best science museums in the country. The Museum’s scientist Kevin Delaney has even appeared on the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon! MOD always has exciting events and exhibits such as the Tesla Theater, Tornado Alley, and Tinkerfest. Science After Dark provides fun exhibits—along with food and adult beverages—for the older crowd. https://museumofdiscovery.org/

SOURCE: arkansasstateparks.com

Central Arkansas has an impressive assortment of natural landmarks to experience and enjoy. West of Little Rock, Pinnacle Mountain is a defining characteristic of Central Arkansas, standing over 1,000 feet above the Arkansas River Valley. Pinnacle Mountain State Park features a huge variety of hiking and biking trials, some of which end up at the summit! Beyond the mountain terrain, you should consider visiting Arkansas’ many beautiful lakes. About an hour west of Little Rock, outside of Hot Springs, sits Lake Ouachita, along with the man-made Lakes Hamilton and Catherine. Greers Ferry Lake, another popular boating and water recreation destination, is about 60 miles north of Little Rock. These are just a few of the many indoor and outdoor attractions that Central Arkansas has to offer. As a newcomer, you will not be left with limited options for entertainment!

SOURCE: Hendrix.edu

Central Arkansas is also the hub of the state’s economy. The Little Rock area has enjoyed significant economic and population growth in recent history and continues to grow. According to the City’s website, Little Rock and the Central Arkansas area have seen over $2.5 billion in economic development since 1994. This growth has been both characterized and facilitated by an increasingly active private sector and a highly dedicated Regional Chamber of Commerce.

SOURCE: rivermarket.info

Central Arkansas is a great place to start a business—Arkansas offers tax incentives for industrial and economic development. Major industry has also been increasingly active in Central Arkansas. Aviation, for instance, has been and continues to be a dynamic industry in the Little Rock area. Little Rock is home to the facilities of companies such as Dassault Falcon Jet, Raytheon, and Central Flying Service who contribute greatly to the economy and provide tons of jobs.

So, welcome to Central Arkansas! Now what are you going to do first?

Moving During the Summer

Moving is such an exciting feeling. The prospect of a new life and new environment, whether you’re moving one town over or a couple states away! Newton’s third law says that every action has an equal and opposite reaction. So just as you’re excited about the move, you can also feel nervous or even scared. Have you given yourself enough time to prepare? Do you have a “plan B” if something goes wrong? If you’re moving in the summer are you ready for the heat? It’s hot, it’s humid, and it’s muggy (especially in Arkansas). And to remind you just in case you didn’t see it, it’s hot! This can be quite overwhelming when you think about all the factors that go into relocating your life, but we’re here to help! Here are some tips to get you through your Summer move:

Plan ahead. If you think you have time before you need to focus your attention to the details, you’re wrong! Give yourself 4 to 6 weeks to contact your moving company and get a quote. Summer is a very popular time to move and you don’t want to be left in the dust. Try to avoid weekends and holidays, especially Memorial Day. Do plan on moving during the middle of the month as these are a little less busy and aim for the morning time while it’s still cool.

Pack it up, pack it in. Are you sure you want to pack your stuff by yourself, or do you think you’re going to need help? The mindset of packing a little at a time weeks in advance can turn to packing everything the night before. Some items shouldn’t go in the moving van or even be in a hot car for very long. We’re not just talking about candles and electronics, we’re talking about items that you need easy access to. Medications, dog food if applicable, and school records should be packed separately. Consider downsizing such as cleaning out closets, furniture, and having garage sales to lighten the packing and make a few extra dollars (there’s that silver lining)!

Play it cool. The day of your big move let’s start things the right way and crank up that air conditioning. We know it’s going to be a rough day but that little bit of cool breeze can make it a little more bearable, especially if you have pets or children. Have ample amount of water and sports drinks available. Dehydration and heat stroke are problems that you don’t want so it’s okay for you or the movers to take a break! Once at your new home start off the way you started leaving your old one, by turning on that A/C again! Try to unpack one room at a time and if you’re not completely exhausted yet, introduce yourself to your neighbors.

Finally don’t forget to enjoy the beginning of your next step in your life!

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Ready to plan your move? Contact Brandon Moving & Storage of Central Arkansas for your FREE quote, and start preparing now. We’re here to get you where you need to go, hassle-free!

The Story of a Truly Satisfied Customer

We always strive for customer satisfaction. As cliche as it may sound, we want nothing more than for our customers to be happy, especially when they've gone through an exhausting move. For us, the best compliment is one of our customers telling everyone about the great experience they had with us! Here's one of our amazing customers talking about working with us during their recent move...

It reads:

"I just want to take the moment to brag on Kyle Pryor and his moving team for a moment.

Many of you know I spent some time living in Dallas, Texas for a while and didn't expect to pick up and start travel nursing across the country, but one thing lead to another and I did. It was when my Dallas apartment lease was up and I was living in Denver, Colorado I found myself looking for a company willing to package, load, ship and unload my fully furnished one bedroom apartment. His name popped up and one thing lead to another and his team was the one to do it.

While it wasn't cheap, but extremely competitive pricing for what I was asking them to do, I could not be happier! As I've been going through boxes I haven't seen in almost a year and half, I'm amazed at the great and detailed job they did. I mean, they even carefully package my sugar 😂

No, but really.. If you're looking for a moving company or know someone who is, PLEASE know I HIGHLY recommend him and will most definitely use them again if needed!! Thanks Kyle!"

-Lauren Gattis

Move for Hunger: Fill-A-Truck Food Drive | March 25, 2017

Brandon Moving & Storage Fill-A-Truck Food Drive

On March 25 from 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM, Brandon Moving & Storage will have one of its moving trucks parked outside of the local Walmart Supercenter and is challenging its community to fill the entire truck with non-perishable food to help provide meals for their neighbors in need.