Last week our Boston moving company had the great pleasure of moving Kennedy from the Boston hit radio program Karson and Kennedy on Mix 104.1 (follow K&K on Twitter). Listen to Karson and Kennedy talk to Humboldt Stress ReMover Bill Fury and tell the story about the one Kennedy roomie that had to literally be dragged to her new apartment.

Kennedy from Mix 104 Has Trouble Moving her Roommate

At Humboldt, we are always finding ways to reduce the stress of our customers and even others. That can be through our day-to-day operation and the normal course of business or it can be new ways such as new and exciting partnerships. We are proud to announce that we do have a new partnership and it will serve to achieve a number of goals for both organizations.

As a Boston moving company, we know that when moving day comes, there are items that many people could do without. Some of the most popular items that we see people struggle with when moving out of their home are books. We have a solution. Donate them to More Than Words, an organization that helps youth and others develop valuable skills to help propel them into the workforce. They run a retail book store and café in Waltham and are always looking for good books to sell. They also sell these books on the internet so all involved are running a few aspects of this business while gaining great business skills.

Just tell Humboldt when you’re moving that you have these items and we’ll pick them up and transport them to More Than Words.

More Than Words has a very interesting concept that is called a social enterprise. These youth are actually running a business and by doing so, they are learning skills that will help get them out of a difficult situation.  I want you to hear about the great work first hand from its founder Jodi Rosenbaum so please take a look at my interview with her below.

For the third year in a row, our Boston moving company is participating in March of Dime’s annual event March for Babies.  It is a 3-mile walk being held in downtown Boston on May 8^th  to raise money for March of Dimes. 

 Premature babies are born everyday and March of Dimes needs our support to ensure that they have access to the health care that they need. Funds raised will go to newborn intensive care units and also research and programs that help moms have full-term pregnancies.

 Humboldt is also helping out by reducing the stress of March of Dimes Massachusetts.  We are providing storage and delivery of items necessary for the event. 

 Today we had our March for Babies kick-off event at Humboldt.  We were incredibly fortunate to have the opportunity to hear from one of the Ambassador Families.  The family told us the story of their daughter who was born premature.  Thanks to March of Dimes, they now have a beautiful healthy 3 year-old daughter.  I was touched by the story, and am eager to participate in the event.  I noticed that a few eyes were no longer dry by the end of the family’s personal and moving story. 

 Here are a couple pictures from today’s event.  Thank you to the family for sharing your story!

For more information check out March for Babies, March of Dimes, or click here if you would like to check out our team page!

 As an employee at a Boston moving company, the relocation process is always on my mind. Here is a topic I found to be significant to the moving business.. paint.  During the process of moving into a new home, most likely there will be some wall painting involved.  Paint plays a significant role inside your home, more important than you may realize.  Read the information below to find out how you can protect you and your family from dangerous toxic chemicals. In an effort to reduce the stress of those who are reading this and relocating to a new home, I did some of the research for you.

 So here’s the deal: Traditional household paints contain a harmful compound called volatile organic compounds or “VOC’s”.  Purchasing an eco-friendly, no or low-VOC is pertinent to avoid the harmful ingredients that can pollute the air inside your home. For a paint to be labeled as a low-VOC paint, it must contain less than 250 grams per liter.

 And here is why you should avoid VOC’s: Volatile organic compounds are airborne chemicals that are released during the painting process and also when it is removed.  Even after the paint dries, VOC’s will emit harmful fumes for years into the air. These potentially carcinogenic carbon-based chemicals evaporate and pollute the air you breathe everyday in your home.  VOC’s consist of harmful ingredients including formaldehyde, benzene, pesticides, and ammonia.  If you notice your paint having that familiar “bad paint smell” it is probably filled with toxic VOC’s.  This is because the more VOC’s a paint contains, the stronger the odor.  So don’t use it! Exposure to VOC’s can cause unwanted symptoms such as irritation of the skin, nose, and eyes. They can also cause headaches, nausea, dizziness, respiratory problems, increase symptoms of asthma, and nerve damage. In some cases VOC’s can lead to kidney or liver disease.  They also harm our environment by contributing to the formation of smog and ground level ozone.  Purchasing an eco-friendly paint is not only good for the health of you and your family, but also the environment!  It is a win-win situation!

 Here are some tips to keep in mind while searching for paint:

 If you are looking for a synthetic paint, water-based latex paints are a good paint to consider.  They have a lower level of VOC’s.  Water-based latex paints are usually free of formaldehyde. Avoid oil-based paints; they contain a much higher level of VOC’s.

 Milk paints contain no solvents, preservatives, or biocides.  Some do have synthetic ingredients, which make them more suitable for rooms where there may be moisture in the air. They are odorless and are made by combining milk protein, casein, and lime.

 Natural paints are an excellent example of a non-synthetic paint.  They are usually made from plants, milk, soy oils, minerals, chalk, lime, and clay and other natural ingredients.  They are free of preservatives and biocides. I do not recommend these for a bathroom or a room where moisture is present in the air, because they are less resistant to mildew and molds.

 As the green trend continues to increase the prices for green products are decreasing, so they will not empty your wallet.  Some familiar brands have developed no or lo-VOC paint lines including Sherwin Williams, Benjamin Moore, True Value, and Home Depot. Both Yolo Colorhouse and Mythic Paint can color match any Benjamin Moore paint swab with their no or low VOC paint.

 To get a full list of no or low VOC paints, check out Green Seal. They are a nonprofit organization that certifies products as eco-friendly.  Greenseal.org

Relax. And Get Moving.

Exciting news from our Boston moving company: Humboldt has signed on as a sponsor for 98.5 The Sports Hub’s broadcast of the Boston Bruins for the remainder of the 2010 season. As part of the sponsorship Humboldt will recieve daily mentions from 2-7pm during the Sports Hub Headlines. We will also be sponsoring the “Move Around the NHL” segment prior to the game and between the 1st and 2nd periods, when annoncers Bob Beers and Dave Goucher update scores from around the league.

In addion to this exposure, Humboldt will also have spots running during the games. We were luck enough to have them voiced by 98.5’s very own Scott Zolak. Click below to have a listen to the variations:

985 Big Gig spot          985 Movers and Shakers spot                    

Our Boston moving company could not be more happy to be associated with 98.5 The Sports Hub and their broadcast of the Bruins. Make sure you listen and catch us live on the radio. Also, STAY TUNED FOR UPCOMING NEWS ON SOME PROMOTION GIVEAWAYS WE’LL BE PARTNERING WITH THE SPORTS HUB ON!

We live in a different world that’s for sure. Every day we are reminded of that and many industries across our nation and the world have been affected in one way or another in the past nine years. While moving locally with this Boston moving company, you can rest assured we’ll do our best to reduce any stress during that period but moving internationally can be a bit more challenging. For the record, you get the exact same stress reducing service you would on an international relocation that you would moving to the next town.  There are just different pieces of the puzzle we need to put together for you. 

Take the new regulations from the Customs and Border Patrol that are now in effect. What is known around the industry as the 10 Plus 2 form, or the Importer Security Filing which is now required to be filed at least 48 hours before a shipment of household goods leave a port heading to the United States. This is in part to keep unlawful activity from encroaching on general household shipments including items being smuggled into these containers. 

This was implemented one year ago but now as of January 26 of this year, it is being enforced. If the form is not filed in the proper time period, it could cost you thousands of dollars in fines when your shipment finally arrives in the US. It could also be seized for an indefinite period of time.

I recently had the chance to speak a Boston international moving company veteran, Steve Dozois, managing director of our Boston international moving company to understand just what this new ruling means. See my talk with him below:

Our boston moving company is going to be moving local radio celebrity Kennedy from the popular Mix 104.1 morning radio show Karson and Kennedy. Listen as Karson has our man Steve dish the dirt on Kennedy’s pad.

Steve Turnblom on Karson and Kennedy

This January marks a change in the way people move overseas. Actually there are two major changes to international relocations that take effect this January and this Boston international moving company wants you to know about these changes. The first is that anyone relocating out of the United States must now apply for an Employer Identification Number or what may know as an EIN Number. Before now, a person would use their social security number to move out of the country. Because of our heightened awareness around terrorism and indentify theft, the new government regulation will now replace the old way of doing things.

This can affect companies relocating employees if not done in a timely manner or correctly.

 See our interview with Steve Dozois, our managing director of international relocations. There are several Boston international moving companies that handle international relocations but Steve is the best in the business.

I’m not sure if there is any time that is better for moving over another. Of course, if we had to choose, it would be sunny and 75 degrees out. But as you know, moving is not always the best of times and this is never more evident than in the cold winter months. As any Boston moving company will tell you, there are far more things that can go wrong with a move in the winter with ice, snow and other cold weather elements.

If I had to give my top tips they would be, plan ahead for inclement weather, preparing for the unexpected. Make sure you stay tuned to the weather and have a backup plan if your move gets delayed. Prepare your children for the move as you would at anytime during the year and as you might imagine I would say, hire the right moving company. Humboldt Storage and Moving trains all our crews in how to handle any weather situation and keep your household goods safe.

In my video below, we go over some of the not so typical pieces of advice; things you might not have thought of.

The holidays are a stressful time for most everyone. They are even more stressful for those who are facing difficult challenges in their lives while trying to balance these seasonal expectations.

Every year here at our Boston moving company we conduct a gift drive to insure that families in a local battered women’s shelter get to experience Christmas as the rest of us. This year, we provided clothes, cash and presents for 18 families (18 mothers and 34 children). We secured these items with the help of Humboldt employees, business partners and friends of the company.

It goes without saying that as a company and as people we have an obligation to help those who are less fortunate than ourselves. On top of that, the feeling you get knowing that you have made a positive difference in another person’s life is priceless.

Although the holidays can be full of stress, they are also full of kindness and understanding. And, at the end of the day, that’s what they are really all about.

Humboldt employees Jamie Vayo (l) and Chandra Myers (r) organized and lead the gift drive, putting in much personal time and effort. THANKS Chan and Jamie!

You’ve seen us write about it, talk about it and most of all, portray this in our brand; moving can be stressful.  Many occasions cause us stress and one major cause of stress is the holidays for many. Our entire team works all year long to help people feel at ease during the moving process and we do a number of things to help the less fortunate feel just a little better about their current situation. This year we have once again taken on the task of supplying gifts for several local families that have a difficult time providing for their families.

This Boston moving company wishes you happy holidays in whatever you celebrate and best wishes for a great 2010. And please keep families in mind this holiday season like the ones we have provided for here at Humboldt Storage and Moving. Please see my video greeting to you below.

Does your company live up to your customers’ expectations?  Does your company truly want to know how you are doing in meeting your goals? 

 These are questions we recently asked ourselves.  As a Boston moving company, we are committed to being the best in the industry.  So, we decided to take action and we have put a Mystery Shopper Program into place.  We want to make sure that we are living up to our motto “relax, and get moving” so we can assure to our clients that our employees truly will reduce the amount of stress during their move as promised. 

 So, what is a Mystery Shopper Program?  Let me explain.  Mystery Shopping is a tool used to assess quality of service and to obtain specific information about a company’s products and services that they offer.  A Mystery Shopper poses as a customer and goes through the sales process at your company.   Then the Mystery Shopper provides you with detailed reports, a score, and comments about the experience they had with your company.

 Humboldt looks at this program as an opportunity for our employees to see themselves from the customer’s point of view, which is a valuable learning experience and can help individuals improve.  Our goal is for employees to be able to discuss the results, and come up with ways to develop and continue our superior service and goal of relieving our customers’ stress.  We want this to be a positive experience for those involved, so we have implemented a reward program for employees who are evaluated by the Mystery Shopper.  Employees are evaluated based on criteria we believe they should meet in order to satisfy the needs of our clients and to reduce the stress of their move. 

 We are looking forward to getting the results and using them as a tool to improve our client services.  Here at Humboldt we are committed to customer satisfaction, and strive to live by our motto.  I believe we have a strong team here at our Boston moving company, and envision us going beyond the expectations of our clients.

I recently had a chance to catch up with Barry our quality control specialist. While on a job site for a senior relocation, we stopped to talk about the importance of quality control during the moving process and how vital the procedures both internal and external are to a stress-free move. There are many moving companies in Boston but I believe what sets Humboldt apart from most if not all of these is our painstaking attention to quality control in an effort to make a move less stressful.

Barry talked about everything from his internal training program for our team which includes training on packing procedures, handling household goods of all sizes, shapes and weight as well as how to load and unload our moving vans. He also talks about the importance of problem solving on the job site. Every now and then, we encounter a situation that involves quick thinking on our feet and Barry trains our crews to do just that and keep the customer at ease.

See my conversation with Barry below in our video blog.

Dan Komm recently had a chance to talk with our president Jim Sullivan on how homeowners can prepare financially for a move. As the president of a Boston moving company and one that has over 15 years of experience in this business, he has some great insight into how to watch your money when you’re getting ready to move. There are many considerations including when to bring in the moving company, who will pack and what will get packed and how to read an estimate. Moving companies offer a couple different ways of writing estimates so you need to be careful.

 In Dan’s video Blog, Jim spells out a couple critical points to consider when getting ready to embark on your moving journey.

 As the Quality Control Supervisor for Humboldt Storage and Moving, I am faced with a very important mission. That mission is to visit as many of Humboldt’s jobs that I can every day to assure that we are providing the stress-free, quality moves that we promise all of our customers. During these random visits, I look around and ask myself many questions concerning the move. Are all crew members in full uniform? Is the home protected to best of our abilities? Is the crew working diligently? Is everyone moving our customer’s goods in a safe manner? And, most importantly, is our customer relaxed and comfortable with all that is going on in this potentially stressful transition?

 I am happy and proud to state that the answers to all these important questions is YES! Fortunately for me, the crews here at Humboldt Storage and Moving make my job as Quality Control Supervisor relatively simple. Of course, I can find something in almost every move that can be changed or improved to better serve our customers. My viewing of these jobs and the important feedback from our clients shows me that you can always be better and that quality is the most important part of any service. At Humboldt, we take every step we can to ensure our service is above and beyond our competition.

 The position of Quality Control is not seen at every moving company. It is my belief that having someone performing Quality checks is an important tool for success. I’m proud to say that I’m in a position to improve and maintain the already great reputation of the best moving company in the Boston area.