Do You Need to Obtain a Parking Permit? 

When packing up your home and decades worth of belongings for a move, your brain may feel a little scattered. There are so many details that may not cross your mind… like have you thought about getting a parking permit at your new destination?

Whether you’re driving the truck yourself, or having some of our talented staff at Liberty Moving & Storage do the driving, you may need to obtain a parking permit.

Parking rules and regulations vary from city to city, so it’s vital to check the requirements as far in advance as you can (and definitely before moving day). Some cities, towns, and even some suburban residential areas require parking permits or signage for moving trucks. Local governments will not issue permits directly to a business, so it is the resident’s responsibility to apply for the permit.

If you fail to do so, it may result in being charged fees. Even worse, the equipment could be towed, leaving you responsible for the charges — who needs that added stress on moving day?

How to Obtain a Parking Permit:

• Not all homes will require a parking permit, so the first step would be to contact your landlord, homeowner’s association, or building management to stay in the clear and be free of tickets/additional fees.
• Contact your city offices. This could range from the street department, licensing and permitting department, department of temporary signs, or the police. Do a quick online search to see if you can find the right contact information, otherwise call your city’s main contact number to be directed to the right department that handles parking permits.
• If you’re unable to find anything via the internet, contact your city’s non-emergency police department to find out more information regarding parking permits.

Major Cities that CURRENTLY Require Parking Permits:

• Phoenix, AZ
• Tucson, AZ
• Laguna Beach, CA
• Los Angeles, CA
• San Francisco, CA
• Oakland, CA
• Denver, CO
• Washington, D.C.
• Chicago, IL
• Boston, MA
• Baltimore, MD
• Annapolis, MD
• Portland, ME
• Grand Rapids, MI
• Minneapolis, MN
• St. Louis, MO
• Hoboken, NJ
• Portland, OR
• Philadelphia, PA
• Dallas, TX
• Houston, TX
• San Antonio, TX
• Salt Lake City, UT
• Alexandria, VA
• Arlington, VA
• Richmond, VA
• Seattle, WA
• Madison, WI

** Keep in mind that this list includes many major cities, but it does not include all possible cities out there! Be sure to do your research before your moving date to ensure you’ve taken care of everything regarding parking permits.

Ready to Move?

Securing parking permits is only one part of preparing to move. If you need more information about moving locally or long distance with Liberty Moving & Storage, we’re here to help! You can get an instant quote online or by calling 1-800-640-4487.  

The Big Question: Should I Drive or Ship My Vehicle?

Moving to a new home is bound to come with moving an automobile, as well. Whether you live in the suburbs, small city, or large metropolitan area — chances are you’re considering bringing your car with you cross-country. One of the most commonly asked questions our moving experts at Liberty Moving & Storage receive is “Should I drive or ship my vehicle?”

This is your car and you know it better than anyone else, so who would you rather have transport it? You or someone who does this for a living? Here are the details on both alternatives:

Driving Yourself: You may feel more comfortable transporting yourself and your own automobile cross country — and that’s totally okay! If you choose to drive your car yourself, factor in the amount of time it will take to get from point A to point B. Keep in mind that the wear and tear on you and your car need to be calculated into the expense for your move. Also, factor in additional travel costs you may need to account for such as hotels and road food.

Shipping Your Vehicle: If you do not want to pile on extra responsibilities to your move, hiring a professional shipping company may be your best bet. Professional car shippers are trained to handle the equipment, have appropriate licensing, have proper certifications, and they make sure your car and belongings are secure and safe. They also know the best routes to ship a car and are familiar dealing with every possible contingency, including weather conditions and unplanned mishaps.

Ready to Move?

As an agent of United Van Lines, Liberty Moving & Storage is part of the leading national moving company offering auto transportation.  With the moving industry’s largest company-operated fleet of auto transporters, our open-sided and enclosed car carriers provide safe, professional car shipping service anywhere our network of agents deliver.

To learn more about transporting your automobile through United Van Lines, visit Auto Transport Services and check out these other helpful resources:

Auto Transport FAQ

Auto Transport Check List

Spring Cleaning Tips from Liberty Moving will Make Your Move Easier

1. Doormats
Shake, wash, and swat them with a broom. Give the toughest cleaning they can take so they are welcoming as ever.

2. Carpets
Fabrics that have absorbed the dirt and germs of the winter season will need a deep cleaning to be prepared for another year of wear. Instead of hiring a pro, create a white vinegar and baking soda mixture to clear stains for a bright, fresh carpet ready to last all spring long.

3. Floors
Wax or apply a sealer to your floors to protect them from damage. The simplest method would be to use a combination wash-and-wax floor cleaner to get the job done more efficiently.

4. Refrigerator
The best combination is a soda water & salt mixture that will make your fridge look squeaky clean.

5. Sinks
If there is a lime build up around your faucet, soak paper towels in vinegar and set over the fixtures for one hour. The deposits will become softer and easy to remove. (This tip also works on bathroom showerheads and drains)

6. Windows
Use a rag and some soapy water to get rid of any marks or residue, and then dry them with another clean rag. Hint: windshield suqeegees work wonders, as well!

7. Comforters, Blankets, Pillows
They may not need a deep clean, but it is always good to air them out after being closed up for long months in your home. Hang them outside on a clothesline for the day and they’ll look and feel good as new.

Moving during the Spring?
If you trust us here at Liberty Moving & Storage, we promise you won’t be disappointed. Our professional moving staff has been trained to make sure your moving experience is nothing less than exceptional. Learn more about our move solutions or for a free in-home estimate, be sure to give us a call at 1.800.640.4487.

Do you Qualify for Tax Exemption?

If you moved sometime during 2016, we have some good news for you! You may qualify for a tax reduction if you work as an employee or are self-employed in your new location. Not all relocation-related expenses will qualify, so before you start filling out your tax return, be sure to check out the following tips below to see if and how you may qualify to deduct certain moving expenses.

Your relocation must pass three tests:

1. The Time Test: you must work as a full-time employee in your new area for at least 39 weeks (for one or more employers) during the first 12 months after your move. If you are self-employed, you must also work a total of at least 78 weeks during the first 24 months after arrival.
2. The Distance Test: the distance between your old home and your new workplace must be at least 50 miles further than the distance from your old home to your old work place.
3. Move Related to Start of Work – your move must closely relate both in time and in place to the start of work at your new location. You can consider moving expenses incurred within one year from the date you first reported to work at the new location as closely related in time to the start of work. A move generally relates closely in place if the distance from your new home to the new job location isn’t more than the distance from your former home to the new job location. For exceptions to these requirements, see Publication 521, Moving Expenses.

If you pass these three tests – congratulations! You can now begin looking at which types of expenses may qualify:

1. Travel: If you drive to your new location in a personal vehicle, you can include the cost of oil, gasoline, parking fees and highway tolls, or by using the standard mileage rate of 19 cents per mile. For long-distance moves, you may deduct the cost of airline and train tickets.
2. Storage: You may include the cost of renting a storage unit for up to 30 days if you are unable to immediately move into your new home.
3. Relocation Services: You can deduct the cost of packing, crating, and transporting your household goods and personal effects from your former home to your new home.
4. International Moves: To deduct expenses for a move outside of the United States, there are specific rules that apply which can be found in IRS Publication 54.

For a more detailed account of which expenses may or may not be deductible, the IRS Publication 521 explains how deductions work. Always be sure to keep copies of bills, receipts, credit card statements, and mileage logs on record related to your relocation for accuracy. The IRS provides more information on their website as to how to go about deducting these expenses from your tax return. Since we cannot legally offer tax advice, be sure to always consult your accountant for the most current information about your particular situation. 

Ready to move?

For help with your big move you should be sure to give Liberty Moving and Storage a call at 1-800-640-4487. With over 75 years of experience, our knowledgeable staff will be able to make sure you actually enjoy the moving experience. To learn more about what we can do for you, visit our website here.

At the beginning of each new year, many people have the opportunity to “start over” and reinvent themselves for the better by setting New Year’s Resolutions.

The most common resolutions are about getting in shape, staying fit, and living life to the fullest. But the one resolution we should all be following is getting organized! Living an organized and decluttered life can also help you accomplish the rest of the resolutions you set on January 1st.

While the idea of New Year’s Resolutions may seem cliche and many people feel they can never keep them, we have some ways of getting organized that can surely help rejuvenate you, your home, and your family.

Tips on decluttering:

1. DON’T WAIT: stop putting things off! If you remember you need to take care of something, just dive in & get started.
2. THINK BEFORE BUYING: if you don’t love it, put it down. If you’re going to spend your money on something, make sure you know you’ll get good use out of it. Another tip: for every new item you buy, toss or donate three old things.
3. FOLD & ROLL: instead of stacking your clothes, fold & roll them so you can see everything more clearly. This will make things like getting ready for the day or packing for a move a much simpler process.
4. LABEL: invest in a labeler and we promise, it will become your new best friend. Neatly typed labels make all the difference when trying to keep a clean & tidy home, and when it comes time to move, it’ll make the packing process a breeze.
5. COMPRESS: If you’re going to invest in anything, items like ottomans, behind-the-door hangers, and boxes are perfect for storing and hiding your belongings and keeping the house clutter-free.

Ready to Move? 

For help with your big move you should be sure to give Liberty Moving and Storage a call at 1-800-640-4487. With over 75 years of experience our knowledgeable staff will be able to make sure you actually enjoy the moving experience. To learn more about what we can do for you, visit our website here.

Ten years into America’s recovery from the
Great Depression, the elder Michael Federico
started a small local moving company on Liberty
Avenue in Jamaica, Queens in 1939. Fast
forward to October 19, 2016 (just ten days short
of the 87th anniversary of the Great Crash of
1929) when Hauppauge Industrial Association
of Long Island members toured that company’s
modern 100,000-square-foot facility in Commack.
Anthony Federico and Mike Federico Jr.,
third-generation co-presidents of Liberty Moving
& Storage, discussed parallels between then
and now in explaining the company’s ability to
double in size over the last decade – a decade
which included the Great Recession.

Read the Full Story from The HIA-LI Reporter

The holidays are the perfect time to finally show off your new place and host a gathering for all of your closest family and friends. While this may seem like a stressful task, we’ve put together a checklist to help make the planning easier on you.

How to Host a Successful Christmas Gathering:

• Decorate: make your home feel festive but keep it simple at the same time. Integrate fresh flowers with traditional Christmas decorations like wreaths, iridescent lights, and lots of greens, reds, and golds. Make sure your tree is in tip-top shape, don’t forget the red tablecloth, and queue up a Christmas Spotify playlist.
• Stock Up: having guests over means budgeting for more supplies than usual. Think about doubling up on items like trash bags, toiletries, paper towels, toilet paper, and dining necessities.
• The Meal: be in charge of the main course and assign guests to bring smaller dishes like appetizers and desserts. Also make sure you check with your guests at least a week before the actual party if anyone requires vegetarian, vegan, or gluten-free food, or if anyone has any serious food allergies.
• Must Haves: invest in cooking essentials such as crock pots, blenders, mixers, and slow cookers. These are all great purchases for a new home that you will also use for future years and holidays to come.
• Prioritize: declutter guest rooms and public areas – foyer, kitchen, bathroom, living room, den, and dining room – where family and friends will be congregating. Remove and store away any unnecessary items.

Moving out before the holidays?

If you trust us here at Liberty, we promise you won’t be disappointed. Our professional moving staff has been trained to make sure your moving experience is nothing less than exceptional. For a free in home estimate be sure to give us a call at 1.800.640.4487.

As the holiday season quickly approaches, it is important to remember what Thanksgiving is really all about – showing thanks and love for others.

There is no better way to show your appreciation than to donate your time and volunteer where you can to help out those in need. Whether it is serving a meal at a local soup kitchen, donating clothing and supplies to those in shelters, or volunteering in a Turkey Trot, a small act of kindness goes a long way.

Check out all the ways you can give back in your community this Thanksgiving season:

New York City

The Race To Deliver – the 23rd annual race takes place in Central Park on November 20th as a symbol of our daily race to ensure that no person ever has to face the unthinkable combination of illness and hunger.

God’s Love We Deliver – the leading provider of nutritious, individually-tailored meals to people who are too sick to shop or cook for themselves. 

West Side Campaign Against Hunger – help provide turkeys and other holiday food for low-income families this holiday season by participating in the Thousand Turkey Challenge.

Feeding NYC – Each year, FeedingNYC hand delivers nearly 3,000 Thanksgiving dinners. Take action & volunteer to contribute to the cause! 

New York Cares Coat Drive – donate a coat to ensure every New Yorker has the opportunity to stay warm, healthy, and safe over the winter.

Westchester County

Food Bank for Westchester – help serve over 300 community partners throughout Westchester, including food pantries, soup kitchens, child and adult day-care centers, and shelters.

The Ossining Food Pantry – helping over 400 people per week including men, women or children, young or old. 

Food Bank of the Hudson Valley – dedicated to alleviating hunger, while preventing the waste of wholesome food.

Volunteer New York – provides a list of DIY Projects, ongoing drives, and activities happening all around Westchester County in November & December.

Long Island

Turkey Trots all over the Island – a great way to spend your Thanksgiving morning before being trapped in the kitchen waiting for the bird to cook!

Long Island Harvest – providing food and services for people who are hungry, and a voice for people who are in need.

Long Island Cares – brings together all available resources for the benefit of the hungry and food insecure on Long Island and provides for the humanitarian needs of our community.

The Brian M. Gill Thanksgiving Food Drive – Consider extending your drive into December by calling it a “Holiday Food Drive.” Anything that comes in after Thanksgiving goes to immediate use in December!

Southern Connecticut

Connecticut Food Bank – help make Thanksgiving special for neighbors who might otherwise face another day without the food they need by donating. 

The Food Bank of Lower Fairfield County – every donation helps to meet our mission to provide food to our local residents.

Helping Hands – for over 30 years now, supporters such have helped those experiencing homelessness find safety, shelter, compassion, support and hope.

No matter how you choose to give back this holiday season, your efforts will not go unnoticed.

Liberty Moving & Storage, United Van Lines believes in giving back to our local communities as proud participants of Move for Hunger. Move for Hunger is a non-profit organization that works with relocation companies to collect non-perishable food items from their moving customers, and deliver it to food banks all across North America. Currently Move for Hunger works with 650 relocation companies across the US and Canada and has delivered more than 7Million pounds of food to food banks across North America.

Selling your home and keeping it “show-ready” is not an easy task for anyone, but when you throw a teenager, some toddlers, and a baby into the mix – your stress level is bound to go through the roof. But have no fear, Liberty Moving & Storage has the tools to help you keep the kid clutter under control and ease the process for the whole family.

• Clean Before Bed: It’ll make your life easier if the house is tidied up before the kids head to their bedrooms. When you wake up the morning of the showing, you will have less to do and feel much more stress-free.
• Eat In One Place: If your kids are used to snacking and dining in places other than just the kitchen, it only leads to more messes to clean up. It may not seem like a big deal, but if you limit your children to eat only at the kitchen island for example, you’ll have less to sweep, mop, and vacuum!
• Meal Prep: Sunday’s are a great day to go grocery shopping and cook a few meals for the week. This means less mess in the kitchen and more time for you to relax and focus on other things.
• Contain It: Keep an extra tote, bag, or laundry bin handy at all times. Right before the showing, grab it and toss in any extra clutter from the counters or floors. A pretty basket is definitely more appealing than a pile of mess!
• Extra Supplies: Having a small bin of cleaning supplies in the bathroom and kitchen makes cleanup before someone comes over a much smoother process.
• Get Out: Once your home looks great and your kids are ready for the day, get out! Bring the kids to a park, play outside, and plan activities that minimize their time inside the home so they’re not as inclined to pull out toys.

Looking for a moving company you can trust?

Be sure to get a move on your move and call us here at Liberty Moving to help! Our expert moving staff will make sure you’re not stuck going through this alone. Call 1-800-640-4487 now!

5 Simple Tips for After the Big Move

So you’ve just decided to move to a galaxy far far away…or to the next town over. Whether you’re facing extreme culture shock or just struggling to make friends with the new neighbors, here are a few tips to get yourself acquainted to your new city or town after the move.

Reach out to Those Closest to You
That’s right- it’s time to get to know the neighbors. You don’t have to go door to door, but make sure they know that you’re looking for friendly relations. Maybe spark up some conversations when you see them outside, and get to know who has kids if you yourself have children. It’ll make life a lot easier-trust us.

Scope out the Best Places to Eat and Have Fun
This one will be a lot easier if you make friends with the neighbors. After all, you need to find out where you’re going to unwind Friday night after a long week at work!

Befriending Local Coworkers
Speaking of work, if you moved for any vocational reason it might be a good idea to make friends with co-workers that live near you. Driving to work together can help save some gas, and who doesn’t love some company on a boring drive?

Add Some Staples to your Wardrobe
If you’ve made the move to a place drastically different than your old area, chances are the weather’s not going to be the same there either. To make sure you’re not in the struggle when the seasons change, it’s important to stock up on clothing and accessories appropriate for the climate in your new town. (I.e. If you moved to Chicago, you might want to invest in a new Windbreaker.)

Continue with the Same Hobbies and Activities
If you were a regular at hot yoga back in your old area, try to get involved in a class where you move if possible. Keeping up with your old hobbies in a new area not only makes it easier to feel like that new place is your home, but it’s also a great way to get involved with the community, and make friends with similar interests.

Ready to move?
For help with your big move you should be sure to give Liberty Moving and Storage a call at 1-800-640-4487. With over 75 years of experience our knowledgeable staff will be able to make sure you actually enjoy the moving experience. To learn more about what we can do for you, visit our website here.