Oct 20, 2020

How to interview moving companies - the ultimate guide

Getting ready for relocation? If disassembling furniture, packing household items, and lifting heavy boxes up and down the stairs sounds challenging, you might want to consider hiring professional help. Not only will this save you from all the stress that comes with relocation, but it will also free up a lot of your time, which you can spend on more important things. However, with so many moving companies out there,how does one find an affordable and reliable one? By interviewing all the potential candidates, of course. There are things you must do even before you start that interview, though. Namely, you must do your homework first if you want to ensure that you have found the company that meets your needs and budget. If you want to know how to interview moving companies, keep on reading.

Do Comprehensive Research

Before you schedule a meeting with a particular moving company, you might want to do some research first. After all, what is the point of having that meeting, only to later find out that that company does not have a license or that you could easily get away with a cheaper one?
Thus, start by asking your trusted friends and family members about moving companies they used before. Ask them about their experience with them. If, however, none of the people you trusted have moved recently, go online. The Internet is the place where you can find almost anything. Don’t just google various moving companies in your city, do comprehensive research on them too. Begin with their sites. If they have a comment section, make sure you read everything people have written, both the good and the bad. Then, move on to their social media. Don't be lazy when it comes to 'digging out' information  - by doing that, you will save yourself time, energy, and money later on.  

A woman typing
Be your own private investigator when trying to find the best moving company
Watch Out for the Red Flags

Before you begin to interview moving companies and during the meetings, pay attention to red flags. Naturally, the first thing you think of will be the price, as of course, you must be ready financially for this move. However, if you think that frauds and scams are not possible when moving, you are wrong. They are very common. Luckily, if you know what to look for, spotting a fraudulent moving company will be easy. The very first thing you must do is ask about the license and insurance. If they have none -get out of there.

When it comes to moving costs and prices, we recommend following the golden rule - if something seems too good to be true, it probably is. So, if a company offers you a low price without even looking at the things you want to relocate, be sure that you will either get an outrageous bill later or, even worse, your items will be stolen. Always think about the red flags when interviewing moving companies. Use your common sense! If you think something is rotten, you better run.  

Make Sure You Know Your Moving Rights And Your Responsibilities

Before the interview starts, we strongly recommend researching your moving rights and responsibilities. Then, if you have any questions, you should ask them during the interview. Many people don't do this and get shocked during the interview when they find out they have to file certain paperwork, pay some money, or be home on pick-up and delivery day, etc. Thus, do your research beforehand!

Moreover, during the interview, ask your mover to provide you with a “Ready to Move” brochure or “Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move” booklet too! All good movers like those at Best Cross Country Movers will have that by their side at all times. These two should explain everything moving-related that you are supposed to know. So, if the movers you are considering hiring do not have them, or if they are not sure about your rights and responsibilities, avoid them.  
A man writing 'Know the rules' on the paper.
Make an effort to learn all the rules, regulations, and rights before you talk to your mover.
Prepare the Interview Questions

Finally, when you interview moving companies, make sure you come prepared! That is, have your interview questions ready before the actual interview. For example, if you have any specialty items like pianos, hot tubs, pools, artwork, and such, make sure you ask your movers whether they have experience handling those kinds of things. Or, if you live in a building with no elevator and narrow stairs, ask them how they plan on dealing with that kind of a challenge. These are just some crude examples, so it is your job to think about your move and prepare a list of questions to ask your movers during the interview. However, if this is your first time moving and you are not sure what to ask your movers, here are some other interview questions you should ask:
•    Is your company properly licensed?
•    How long have you been in business?
•    What kind of liability coverage do you provide?
•    Do you offer packing and unpacking services?
•    Do you offer packing supplies?
•    Do you have all the necessary equipment?
•    Are storage facilities available?
•    Do you have an experienced and trained crew or do you hire seasonal workers on demand?
•    Are there additional fees?
•    Do you offer insurance?
•    How do you handle complaints and claims?
•    Can you provide referrals and recommendations?

As previously mentioned, these are just some of the questions you should ask your mover. But, as every move is different, so should be the questions. Thus, before you interview moving companies, think about your move. Write down everything you feel is necessary! Moving companies can make your move easy, so do not hesitate to ask your mover for useful tips and tricks and make sure they explain anything you find confusing.

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Oct 19, 2020

Recruit the best available talent utilising web-based recruitment software

 The job market is at a competitive high. The recruitment landscape is evolving at a rapid rate and the task of attracting, engaging with and winning the best talent is proving an increasing challenge. Time intensive processes, weighty paper trails and cumbersome systems can prove inconsistent, providing no guarantees of contacting the best available person for the job and often resulting in an unattractive candidate experience.

image:pixabay.com/illustrations/hiring-recruitment-job-interview-3531130

How can web-based recruitment software help?

Web-based recruitment software is changing the face of hiring by using automated systems that consolidate systems and technologies, streamlining processes used by HR departments and recruitment agencies, saving time, improving efficiency, maximising reach and optimising results.

The online system is as agile as your business, so as operations scale it can be easily updated to reflect the latest direction. In this way recruitment experts keep ahead of their competition, while always delivering an offering aligned to the tone and vision of your brand.

Web-based recruitment campaigns can be diversified and scheduled to reach new talent at the time most appropriate to your business needs, cultivating an approach to hiring that is proactive, catching the attention of candidates at the most opportune moment.

A strong on-brand message from the outset of your talent search creates a positive recruitment experience which will entice applications from candidates who share your company values. Running a candidate-centred campaign will increase engagement and a well organised system will ensure that attractive applications are nurtured into a rich pool of potential employees to meet the current and future needs of the business.

Online applicant tracking systems (ATS) provide a robust automated network which improve internal communications, enhances collaborations between managers and recruiting teams, and ensures candidate contact is informed, relevant and well timed. At the click of a button qualified and experienced recruits can be tracked, individual relationships can be grown with each interaction, candidates remain engaged for future appointments and the overall quality of new personnel ultimately hired will be significantly higher.

Recruitment data extracted from web-based recruitment software provides invaluable metrics enabling your business to identify spheres of opportunity areas in which improved methods can be implemented. This information will become a high value asset for filtering analytics and evaluating processes, particularly when measuring fair employment practice, as well as being utilised for first rate training of your hiring team.

In summary

A single platform operation creates a knowledge hub that is easily accessed on a need-to-know basis, while sensitive data is protected in a central secure system. Online recruitment software gives your business the competitive edge in the increasingly challenging sector of attracting the best talent. Liberating your recruit teams from repetitive administrative tasks means that precious time can be invested in building meaningful relationships with potential employees, speeding up the process and increasing the success of onboarding new recruits.


Oct 7, 2020

Hacks to make room for the baby in your tiny home

A baby basket with some baby clothes hanging on the side

Living in a tiny home can be great for your budget and the environment. However, when a new family member is on the way, finding enough space to fit in all the necessary items can be rather challenging. Instead of looking for a bigger place to move to, you can always test some hacks to make room for the baby in your tiny home. Here are some you should definitely try and share with other people facing the same issues.

Declutter your home

The first and maybe the most important piece of advice is to get rid of all those items that you do not really need. Tiny homes get cluttered pretty quickly, so if you do not declutter regularly, you'll end up living in a mess. Now with the baby coming, you have an extra reason to ditch what is useless or broken and make room for your favorite new creature and their stuff.

Is it time to change some furniture? If your living space is that tiny that you need to choose between a double bed and a crib, you know what you have to do. The pull-out couch can be just as comfortable and leave room for you to move around. But changing furniture is a bit more than a hack, so let's go back to our list.

Be minimalistic

Babies do not take much space, but their stuff can crowd even the largest of homes. If you do not learn how to be a minimalist, you will have to start looking for a bigger place to move to. No worries, our friends from usantini.com can help if you decide to go that way, but if you prefer staying where you are, you will have to be very careful when shopping. Don't have too many supplies and get only what you will use.

Use the space underneath your furniture

Living in a tiny house, you learn to appreciate any space you get. Well, guess what - you can have even more if you use it cleverly. For instance, why would you buy a bed with no storage room underneath it or at least access to the space below? The same goes for wardrobes, dressers, closets, and any sorts of shelves. Quite often, that is the space that gets ignored for no reason.

Also, lose the TV stand in favor of a dresser. The latter can serve the purpose of holding your TV and still accommodate a bunch of baby stuff.

Don't forget that space underneath the crib can be a great place to store extra diapers and other baby supplies. Get a crib with the drawer under the mattress, and you will double your storage options.

Try various layouts

Rearranging the furniture in your tiny home can make it appear bigger and more practical, aside from helping you make room for the baby. It is one of the ways to redecorate your home on a budget too! Now that you will be adding at least one more piece of furniture to it, the baby crib, the task can become even more challenging. Take your time to try various arrangements before the baby arrives; it is less stressful that way. If you have some money to spare, you can even consult an expert to help you with this.

One of the advantages of a tiny home is that everything is at hand's reach. Wherever you place the crib, you will reach it in just a few seconds, which is a plus when the time comes for night feeds.

Store the seasonal items

Seasonal items that you do not use right now do not deserve the precious space they occupy in your tiny home. You can remove extra stuff without breaking the bank, and still rest assured that they are safe in a storage unit. How cool is that?

Be practical when buying the baby gear

When you go shopping for baby furniture and gear, you have to be well-informed and determined to get only the practical stuff. Try to resist those cute baby crib bumpers, soft teddy bears, and the equipment you will be using no longer than a month or two. Also, getting all the stuff at once doesn't make sense since they will only make unnecessary clutter in your home before your baby can use them.

Shop for all-in-one solutions. They not only save space but are also budget-friendly. Convertible furniture is also recommended for small spaces. For instance, get a collapsable stroller or a high chair that can be strapped to a regular chair you have at your dining table.

Remember, babies don't really need all the equipment that is being sold out there. Invest in basics that fit your living space and skip the swings, walkers, and similar stuff (or sell them right after your baby is through with them).

Use the vertical space wisely

Vertical shelves are great for maximal use of space in tiny homes. You can place one next to your crib and stock it with items you need for changing your baby. If you don't like having everything displayed, you can get some decorative bins, baskets, and pretty much any container that can serve for storing baby stuff. You can even get some nice hooks and install them on the wall near your baby's crib so that you can hang your baby's clothes. Such a decoration can even help cozy up your home a little bit.

Customize your closet

There are many additional storage solutions you can add to your closet. After you get rid of everything you won't be wearing in the next few months (either by storing it somewhere else or by throwing it away), you will probably have some space left for the items belonging to your little one. An additional rod in your closet can be a great space-saver. Baby clothes are short, so they will not take too much vertical space. Not having to worry about folding and wrinkles on your baby's clothes is a bonus.

Shoe pockets are great for storing toys, cosmetics, burp cloths, wipes, diapers, etc. The great thing about this organizer is that you can hang it over the door or inside your closet. You will be able to store a bunch of stuff in there without using too much space.

Now that you know how you can make room for the baby in your tiny home, we recommend that you paint your home and clean it thoroughly before getting any of the baby stuff. Enjoy welcoming your little creature in your tiny home!

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