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What Is Junk Removal?

Junk removal services can be a great help when it comes to clearing out unwanted items from your home or office. Junk removal professionals specialize in removing and disposing of large amounts of junk in an efficient manner. Junk can include furniture, appliances, yard debris, construction waste, mixed materials and anything else that needs to be taken to the dump or recycling center. Junk removal not only eliminates the hassle of having to transport large items yourself; it also helps keep our planet cleaner by properly disposing them in their respective facilities. Plus, it eliminates the risk of someone getting injured trying to handle heavy items on their own. With a reputable junk removal company on your side, you can rest assured that your junk will be dealt with safely and properly – making it a great option for taking care of your mess without any stress.   Furniture Removal,…

A Quick Guide To Packing Supplies

Are you getting ready to move, whether it be across town or halfway around the world? If so, packing supplies are a must! Packing your belongings can be intimidating and time-consuming, but having the right supplies on hand will make it easier. To help make preparing for your upcoming move simpler, we’ve put together a helpful guide that contains all of the packing essentials – from boxes and tape to bubble wrap and markers. So, if you’re in need of advice about what you should have stocked up before engaging in battle with cardboard and crumpled newsprint, read on for practical tips about which packing materials should top your list.   How To Choose The Right Packing Material And Moving Supplies Throughout the length of the relocation, packing materials and moving goods will become your closest companions. Even the most delicate goods may be safely transported with the help of…

Do You Need Moving Insurance?

Are you preparing for a move and looking for ways to protect your belongings? Moving can be a stressful process, but there is one measure that any homeowner should consider – moving insurance. Moving insurance will help provide protection against loss or damage to personal property during the relocation process, relieving some of the worry associated with leaving your home. Read on to learn more about why this form of coverage could benefit you when making a move – whether it’s down the road in town or across the country.   Types of Moving Insurance If You Hire Movers In most cases, if you hire movers, they will be responsible for the safety of your belongings throughout transit. However, federal law mandates that movers provide two distinct forms of protection for interstate moves. If any of your belongings are lost or stolen, you will be compensated according to the type you choose.…

A Quick Guide: Understanding Logistics

What Is Logistics? The process of planning and carrying out actions that will result in the effective transportation and storage of commodities from their place of origin to their point of consumption is referred to as logistics. The purpose of logistics is to fulfill the needs of customers in a timely and cost-efficient way. Manufacturers, merchants, and other businesses with a high volume of shipments require the services of logistics companies. While some businesses have every piece of infrastructure imaginable—from jets to trucks to warehouses to computer programs—others have just one or two. Logistics companies like FedEx, UPS, and DHL are household names. Logistics vs. Supply Chain Management Supply chain management and logistics are two different but related concepts that are frequently used interchangeably. Within a single business, logistics include the acquisition and distribution of raw materials, the packing, shipping, and transportation of products to distributors, among other activities. Supply…

What Makes A Good Moving Company?

What makes a good moving company is not just the company having the trucks and manpower to complete your move successfully. There are some other key considerations to make when choosing the right moving company for you. Your chosen moving company should have reasonable prices. You don’t want your full-service relocation to be costly. It should be reasonably expensive enough to ensure that your movers do not omit tasks that might result in late delivery or damaged belongings. The company should have estimates that are binding. Pay careful attention to firms who provide binding quotations. The guarantee implies that your pricing will not change after you sign on the dotted line—as long as you don’t add any more goods to the house inventory you and the movers agreed on during the estimate process. Affordably priced down-payment are another factor. Most movers want a deposit of up to 50%. Do your research to…

The Ultimate Moving Checklist and To-Do Timeline

It’s not always possible to have the luxury of remaining in the same area for an indefinite amount of time. If you’re a frequent relocator, you should expect to find yourself surrounded by cardboard boxes and packing tape at some point in the not-too-distant future. Look no further than this moving to-do list if you want things to go more smoothly this time around. Not only does it describe what needs to be done, but it also specifies the best time to accomplish particular activities in order to reduce the amount of stress involved. If you print it out, go through each thing on the list week by week, and cross each one off as you do it, maybe the two words that conclude your next move will be “This was easier than I thought.” 8 Weeks Before Research Moving Services The first step is probably the most important, hence…

Need Moving Services on a Budget? It’s Not as Hard as You Think.

The Star International Difference Over the course of a year, Star relocates more than 3500 families with its 100+ staff, 25 moving teams, and 60,000+ square feet of storage space. When Star Moving Solutions first opened its doors in 1998, it did so with a commitment to good ol’ fashioned customer care and a deep understanding of the moving business. Jimmy Re, our company’s founder, had a vision to provide each client with individualized attention and innovative solutions based on his extensive experience. The plan was to use each relocation as an opportunity to show customers how things should be done. Our ultimate objective is to have satisfied customers who tell their friends and family that they can’t go wrong with STAR since we are a reliable and trustworthy organization. We provide the expertise, insight, and motivation to make your next relocation the greatest one of your life. Which moving…

How to Pick a Moving Company

10 Questions You Should Ask Before Booking a Moving Company Did you know that there are over 430 different moving companies in Northern Virginia ALONE! The reason why the moving industry is so oversaturated is because there are a lot of misconceptions about moving in general. On one hand, the process appears to be simple but, for most people, they only move a handful of times in their entire lives. You only get so many chances to do it the right way the first time. The question is, with so many options available (some of which are good and some of which are…not so good), how can you be sure that you’ve made the right choice when picking a moving company? Here are ten tips, tricks and things to consider: Is your mover licensed, bonded and insured? Did your moving company offer a free, in home consultation? Is your moving…

The Effects of Clutter

In 2018, Doctors Joseph Ferrari and Catherine Roster of DePaul University of Chicago published a study that examined the effects of clutter on emotional wellbeing. In the process of collecting their data, their team questioned three separate groups of adults: college students, young adults between the ages of twenty and forty, and adults over the age of 50. Their results were quite telling. Doctor Ferrari defines clutter as an “overabundance of possessions that collectively create chaotic and disorderly living spaces”. Their study found that, regardless of age group, a cluttered home resulted in feelings of frustration, stress and, among the older group of adults, overall life dissatisfaction. It’s not uncommon to find yourself with too much stuff in your home. Especially if you’ve occupied that home for a long time. As the years roll by, it’s easy to buy as you need but its hard to let go of what…

When To Book A Moving Company

A question that we get asked a lot is “how far in advance do I need to book by” Of course, our usual advice is always to book as early in advance as you can! Our booking process is simple, our deposits are refundable and it always feels good to get an item on your to-do list crossed off of your list; especially when you consider how many other variables factor into moving. The general rule of thumb is that you should look into finalizing your move date at least 2-3 weeks before the day that you have in mind. During the summer months, which are the busiest time of year in the moving industry, we would recommend that you schedule your move date at least one month in advance. The truth of the matter is that life is unpredictable. You can make a plan one day and have those…

4 Tips for Moving a Valuable Collection

When you are in the process of moving, whether it be an international move, an interstate move, or a local move in northern VA, you want to be sure that your moving process goes as smoothly as possible. For some people, that stress is more prominent when you have a collection of valuable belongings to consider. For any move, but especially for international moves, you need professional, experienced local northern Virginia movers, interstate movers, or international movers who can safely and efficiently transport your belongings without causing damage to them. When moving day comes, the big transport between packing and unpacking your valuable belongings can leave you feeling anxious, especially when you are making a long-distance move. Interstate moving companies, like the long-distance movers at Star International, have the skill and experience needed to get your valuable belongings where they need to go safely and undamaged. The professionals at Star…

Our Interview with Redfin

“The cost of moving is a total of a variety of services,” says Jimmy Re of Star International Movers. “Packing makes up a large portion of the cost. Self-packing your own boxes will result in significant savings. Timing your move, packing, and delivery to avoid storage is another way to save. Avoid moving in June and July when moving companies face the greatest demand and price adjustments. Ask your move for free packing material https://starint.com/– some will provide small quantities of new materials at no charge or quantities of used materials.”

What Makes A Moving Company Great

There is no shortage of moving companies in business throughout the state, the nation, and the world. With so many options in existence, how can you be sure you are making the right choice when it comes to selecting a moving company? When you hire a moving company to transport your boxes, you are entrusting complete strangers with the things that are most precious to you. Every mover’s worst nightmare is trusting a moving company with their belongings, only to have their boxes arrive at their new place of residence, spend hours unpacking, and realize that some of their beloved possessions have been destroyed beyond repair. Other companies may not necessarily be unreliable when it comes to keeping your belongings safe, but they may be slow to respond or lack the attentive customer service necessary for helping customers who are going through a potentially stressful life event. So, when it…

Interstate Moving Tips

When moving from one state to another, it is important to consider certain factors that either do not typically apply to moving within the state you already reside in or do apply, but in a different capacity than if you are moving out of state. There are many factors to consider when moving that extend beyond simply packing boxes and getting in the car to make the drive to your new place of residence. In addition to the packing and the road trip, there are also a number of tedious yet necessary legal factors to consider when making an out of state move. You will need to do research ahead of time to be sure that you do not overlook anything when making an interstate move such as updating your driver’s license, setting up mail forwarding, and informing the proper institutes of your move, such as the IRS, for example.…

Storage Solutions

At Star International, we do not just handle moving-related services; we also offer short- and long-term storage solutions for the DC, northern Virginia, Maryland, and Wet Virginia areas. You may need our storage services to keep some of your belongings in a temporary, short-term storage unit, perhaps during a short-term life event such as a move where you would prefer not to have to worry about moving all of your possessions all at once. Or perhaps you simply need more room in your home for new belongings, but you are not quite ready to get rid of the things you already have. Or you might even want a storage space to keep seasonal items such as holiday decorations or beach gear that you only use for a brief time once a year, to avoid cluttering up your closet space with things you will not be using on a regular basis.…

Corporate Relocation

Moving is a big task, even when you are only moving yourself or your family. Now, imagine the task size of moving your entire company from one location to another. Moving your corporate office or business location involves a great deal more than a typical private residential move usually requires. You may need to move substantial amounts of inventory with as little loss as possible. You may have a large amount of expensive office equipment that needs transportation. Your business may have employees that need to move as a result of your corporate relocation. Whatever the case may be, Star International has the experience required to tackle everything from small business relocation to large corporate moves. We take care of everything, and our expertly trained moving crews are guaranteed to coordinate your move seamlessly and with minimal downtime or disruption to your workplace. We are even capable of breaking down,…

Important International Moving Prep

When you make a move as big as moving internationally, there will be quite a few things you will need to consider that you never have to worry about when moving locally, or even between states. There will be differences in how you ship your things from your current residence to your new international residence. There will also be some differences in the paperwork that you need to provide to establish residency. Moving internationally may have different requirements depending on what country you are moving to, but most of the things that you will need to have squared away will fall under the same categories with only slight variations in specifics. This is your quick guide to some of the major things you will need to do when you make the big move to an entirely new country.   Important Legal Documents – Before moving internationally, you should research exactly what documents…

Searching for a New Home on a Budget

Moving is an exciting event in anyone’s life, but with it come many stressful factors, the most obvious of which being cost. Home and apartment prices are through the roof right now, and sometimes you do not have the luxury of waiting for the housing market to shift in your favor to make a move. You may need to relocate for a new job, family reasons, or perhaps you have been priced out of the location you are currently in due to recent increases in rent. Whatever the case may be, it is understandable that sometimes moving cannot wait for ideal market conditions. With that in mind, if you are looking to move from your current place of residence to a new one, but are not sure if you can afford to, here are four helpful tips for finding a new home or apartment within your price range.  Figure out…

Items You Should Always Have With You When Moving

When moving, most of your belongings will be packed in boxes and loaded into the moving truck for the journey to your new place of residence. There are some things, however, that are important enough that you should always keep them with you to avoid them getting lost or damaged. A general rule to follow is to always pack as if you might have to stay in a hotel for a couple of days, but when moving, you will need bring some extra items that you would not normally have to think about if you were not in the process of moving house. This easy guide will help you keep track of what things are better brought with you in the car rather than stored in the moving vehicle.   The most obvious things to always have with you are your phone and wallet with your ID in it. Needing these…

Who to Tell About Your Move and How

Moving is exciting, but it can be difficult to break the news to those close to you if you are moving far enough away that it will make seeing your friends and family on a regular basis difficult. You want the people around you to be excited, but deep down you also recognize that saying goodbye to your loved ones will be hard for everyone involved. In addition to the people in your life you care about, there are also services and agencies that you will need to inform of your move as well. Friends and Family – Your closest will be both the easiest and the hardest people to tell about your move. There are two ways to approach breaking the news: you can tell them all individually or as a group. If you would rather tell people one on one, invite each person out to dinner somewhere significant…

Long Distance Moving Checklist for Kids

Moving with kids can be challenging, especially if you are moving a substantial distance away from your previous residence. Kids can get hungry, bored, fussy, etc., and the last thing you need when going through an already stressful event such as a move is for your child to throw a tantrum that demands every remaining ounce of your sanity. You can do your best to avoid this, though, by following this helpful checklist to make the trip manageable for your little ones who would rather be running around outside than sitting in a stuffy car for hours on end. Snacks – Kids get hungry, and when they do, they are sure to let you know about it. Rather than being stuck listening to “Mom, I’m hungry…” repeatedly, stock up on a variety of your kids’ favorite snacks to keep them occupied and comfortable. Some great road trip snacks that are…

Top Five Places to Shop for Furniture on a Budget

If you have just made the big switch to a new living space, you might have gotten rid of a lot of old furniture, or now have more rooms to furnish than you previously had. New furniture is a common expense associated with moving, but it does not have to break the bank. If you are concerned about spending a fortune on new furniture, but you are wary of resorting to cheap furniture that may break not long after purchasing it, then you are not alone. Luckily, there are several furniture stores that have the inventory needed to match your style and the price tags to keep your spending levels in the green.   Ikea – Everyone has heard the name, and hopefully had a chance to try the Swedish meatballs from their food court. Ikea is popular for many reasons: their furniture is some of the most affordable there is,…

Downsizing for a Move

If you are moving into a smaller place, somewhere with less storage, or if you are moving a long distance, you may need to thin out your inventory of belongings to make everything fit in the moving truck and in your new living space. Cutting down on your belongings is a challenging task with many tough decisions to be made. This helpful guide will assist you in prioritizing what to keep and what to get rid of when you need to make space during a move.   The first and most important category of belongings to cut down on if you need to make room in the moving truck is furniture. Furniture is big and bulky, taking up a huge amount of space in both the moving vehicles and in your new place. Not all rooms are designed the same, either. That giant China cabinet that fit perfectly in your old,…

Take the Stress Out of Moving with Your Pet

Wherever you go, your furry friends will surely be along for the ride. For many people, their pets are like their children. And just like children, sometimes our lovable companions can be a handful, especially during a stressful event that shakes up their routine such as a move. Moving is difficult enough when you do not have to worry about how your pets will handle it, but when you have their needs to consider, it is worth remembering that as stressful as moving is for us as human beings who understand what is going on, things are even more confusing for our animals. So, what can you do to help your pets feel calm and at ease during the moving experience?   If you live within a reasonable distance of where you are moving to, and your pet handles car rides well, try packing them up in the car and taking…

Five Tips for Saving Time and Money While Moving

Moving is expensive and time-consuming, no doubt about it. Your rent or mortgage may be the biggest expense on your mind, but the cost of the move itself can catch anyone off guard, especially first-time movers. And whether it is your first time moving or your tenth, the amount of time you need to carve out for packing can quickly become overwhelming and lead to unnecessary stress. Follow these five helpful tips to make your moving experience a breeze.   Reuse Old Boxes – This may seem like an obvious moving tip, but it can cut down on your expenses a lot more than you might think. If you know you have a move coming up, start saving the boxes your online purchases come in, or in-store purchases if they come in a box sturdy enough to reliable hold your belongings. For example, Amazon offers a set of 30 moving boxes…

7 Easy Moving Tips to Make Your Move Less Stressful

There is a reason why they say that moving to a new house is one of the most exhausting and stress-inducing things you can do in life. Yet with a few clever tricks up your sleeve, you can turn a stressful event into a seamless operation. From simple tips to genius hacks, we’ve sought out solutions to some of the common mistakes people make when moving home.  Here are some tips for packing and moving everything while not breaking the bank, your fragile lamp, or your back.    1. Make a moving checklist         A moving checklist will make sure you stay on track. Before you tackle any of your essential items & pack your 1st box, write a transparent plan of action for every room. This won’t solely help you get a thought of the packing materials you’ll need, but it shows you precisely what proportion of work is required.   This…

Global Shipping News 2021 – February Newsletter

Global Shipping News 2021 Star International Global Relocation Port Arial view There have been quite a few developments since our last newsletter and things do continue to change rapidly. Shipping continues to be challenging globally, with the West Coast ports impacted by heavy congestion due to the incredible number of imports. This is causing major transit time delays, as well as chassis availability to handle the containers and causing additional port demurrage and chassis charges.   This congestion is closely tied to the increased global demand for Asian exports, coupled with reduced sailing frequencies and the large number of empty containers being held back in EU and US ports, which has created a significant container shortage in Asia. This is leading to shipments being rolled over for weeks, thereby lengthening transit time. Due to limited space, shipping lines are now charging rates that are 200% higher compared with this time…

Things People Tend to Forget to Pack When Moving

Moving takes a lot of work and planning. In the midst of all the chaos, it’s common for people to forget to pack things, only to remember them when they’re en route to their new home. Sometimes it’s something that can be easily replaced, like an old USB cable. Other times, it could be something important, like a case that contains identification cards. Adding these things to your inventory can help prevent leaving these items behind.     In today’s post, the local and international movers at Star Moving Solutions share the things that people tend to forget when packing for a move.    Important Documents   An average homeowner has just enough important documents to fill a single briefcase or binder. If you have more, prepare a document box and clearly label it as such. The following are the types of documents that fall in this category:   Personal Documents — These…

What Makes Moving So Hard?

Moving sounds easy to people who haven’t moved before, but to those who have had to relocate at least once know that moving is more than just hiring movers, putting your things in a truck and hauling it off to a new place. The residential and commercial movers at Star Moving Solutions share the reasons that make moving difficult and some pieces of advice that can ease the experience.

Should You Tip Your Movers?

Giving tips is generally a way of life in certain industries. You probably wouldn’t give it a second thought when dining out or when checking out of your hotel room. However, it’s less clear cut about whether or not you should give tips to local movers after they help you relocate.

How to Keep Your Home Clean While You’re Packing

When you’re packing to move to or from northern Virginia, you may be surprised at how overwhelmingly messy your home can become in a relatively short amount of time. Whether you’re making an international move to northern VA or if you’ve lived right down the street your entire life, if your home is messy and cluttered, it can make things difficult to find or impede your ability to move around while packing for your move. With everything else involved in an interstate move to northern VA, for example, taking the time to plan out how you will pack seems trivial in comparison to all the larger priorities that need to be taken care of during this stressful time. Packing for a move, whether it be to or from another state or country, or a local move in northern Virginia, the moving experts at Star International have several helpful suggestions for…

6 Ways You Can Reduce Your Move’s Environmental Impact

Moving is a daunting and hectic task that almost everyone has to face at some point in their lives. When you move to a different place, you have a lot of things to think about, such as the packing, your finances and the movers who’ll help you relocate. With so many things to handle, it’s understandable if your move’s environmental impact is the last thing on your mind. In fact, most don’t even realize that moving to a different home can impact the environment to begin with. Unfortunately, a move can indeed affect the environment. Luckily, there is a way to get around the environmental impacts caused by a move. Here are the six different ways homeowners can reduce their environmental impact when moving to a new home.

How to Make Sure Your Property Has Coverage When You Move

Whether you’re planning on moving locally or out of state, you need to think about insurance, not just for protecting your belongings, but also for your peace of mind. The local movers at Star Moving Solutions discuss how to make sure you’re covered when you move.

4 Tips on Moving House on a Tight Deadline

Moving house has always been a very challenging task, but things get even more hectic if you have to move on a tight deadline. As one of the best long-distance moving companies in the area, we’re here to share a few tips on how to manage your move ASAP.

A Beginner’s Guide to Making a Moving Inventory

Relocating is always a daunting task whether we’re talking about small-scale relocation to full-on commercial moving. However, both local and long-distance moving companies agree that things get a lot easier if you have a good moving inventory. What exactly is a moving inventory, and how do you make one for your next move? Read on to find out.

Summer Moving: The Do’s and Don’ts to Keep in Mind

Moving on a normal day is already hard enough for any homeowner. After all, you’ll have to think about the different logistics of relocating, such as your finances, the packing and even the movers who’ll help you do so. However, if moving on a normal day is hard, moving during the summer can be even more challenging and as such, there are a few things that you need to remember before you do so. Here are the do’s and don’ts of summer moving that every homeowner should keep in mind.

Do You Need Extra Coverage for Your Moving Insurance?

Moving to a new home may not always be easy, but there are ways you can make it as hassle-free as possible. For instance, you can hire professional movers to help you out. Your preparation shouldn’t stop here, though. Whether you opt to move on your own or enlist the services of a moving company, make sure that you have insurance coverage to protect your personal property.

How to Cope With Different Emotions When Moving

Moving to a new home can be an emotional ride for adults and kids. You may feel one big emotion after another or feel various kinds of emotions all at the same time, and this can be overwhelming. Thankfully, these emotions don’t have to be in your way of being productive and alert during a crucial time.

Moving Company Red Flags to Look Out for

Once you have found a new place to call home, the next step is to prepare for the big move. At this stage, one of the most important decisions that you need to make is the moving company that will help you out.

What to Factor Into Your Moving Budget

Whenever you are planning a move, one of the first things you should do is create a budget for it. Failing to do so can result in unexpected expenses and the sticker shock that happens once everything is accounted for. To flawlessly navigate the entire process, you should first know what you can expect to spend money on before you work with one of the top long-distance moving companies in your area.

Common Moving Fears and Ways to Overcome Them

Whether it is your first time doing it or not, the preparations leading up to your move can feel a bit overwhelming. Fear and anxiety can be felt, which is a perfectly normal response. The key to a successful move is to confront these emotions and address them beforehand. Today, Star Moving Solutions, your local moving services provider, shares the common fears and anxieties related to moving and ways we can help you overcome them.

Dealing With Important Paperwork While Preparing Your Move

Moving to a new location requires effective planning and organization. Considering the magnitude of the entire process, you may find yourself dealing with key issues such as sorting and packing your belongings and finding the best moving services for your needs. Aside from these, you also have to collect and organize all records, documents and other necessary paperwork.

How to Prepare for a WINTER MOVE!

There are some nice advantages to winter moving—like lower rates and readily available moving dates—however, there’s a reason why some people prefer summer moving. Some difficulties to expect include freezing temperatures, less daylight, slippery walkways and muddy floors. If you find yourself having to move during the winter, you may take comfort in knowing that there are experts (Star Moving Solutions) out there with the know-how to get the job done painlessly!  Winter moving is less than ideal, but with the right attitude—and the right resources—you might even enjoy the experience!  Most moving challenges are the same across the board, no matter when you choose to move. You must pack, load, deliver, and unload your valuables while staying on a tight schedule and budget. Challenges unique to the winter season mostly surround unpredictable or uncomfortable weather conditions, and you can prepare for most of these problems rather simply. Here’s how: FLOOR PROTECTION You…

Should I purchase replacement value transit insurance?

Yes, this is a wise decision. Even the best movers in the world have moves that experience loss or damage. We do so with much less frequency than less experienced movers, but no mover is 100 % claim free. Moving has risks and insurance coverage minimizes those risks. Moving heavy odd shaped furniture around tight corners, up & down narrow stairways, in and out of trucks/containers, down rough roads, on & off ocean vessels comes with inherent dangers. Humans are also performing the bulk of this work and all humans are fallible & prone to error on occasion. Assumptions that are often made are that movers have insurance coverage built into the move cost or that movers already have an insurance policy that covers any damages that occur. Movers only have a limited liability coverage of $0.60 per pound per article that comes with each move free of charge. However,…