Happy Holidays!

Happy Holidays from Jackson Moving & Storage, your Naperville movers of choice.

Naperville Drivers Lost Control Yesterday

Odd week for Naperville commuters. On Wednesday afternoon, an elderly woman lost control of her vehicle and sent it smashing through the front windows of Naperville's Cardinal Fitness center. Also on Wednesday, an apparently disoriented woman drove her car off Washington Street and into a pond located at Weigand Riverfront Park. Yes, both of these mishaps occurred on the same day. Both drivers survived the ordeal, fortunately. Unfortunately, those who frequent the Cardinal Fitness will have to wait a day or two to workout again while repairs are made. Is Naperville moving to ensure these poor drivers are off the road for good? Time will tell. Though a call to Naperville movers probably won't get you away from less than stellar drivers.

Naperville Parking Fines Rise

Hey Naperville parking offenders, those ticket prices are going up. This past Tuesday, Naperville City Council members voted 5 to 4 to increase parking fines from $30 to $50 and to increase the minimum compromise payment from $15 to $25. In case you did not know, compromise payments are offered within 15 days of the violation, unless the offender has three or more tickets in a 12 month period. Got it? Good. The council members hope this increase results in $150,000 of new revenue. Thanks a lot, lazy people who can't be bothered to find a spot. With Naperville moving to raise these rates and you find  yourself having to park in areas where you're constantly getting a ticket, maybe you should contact a Naperville moving company.

Naperville Man is 'Super Drunk'

A Naperville man has the honor of being one of the first to be declared 'Super Drunk' in Michigan. Unfortunately, there is no prize for this title, unless you consider time in jail a prize.  New legislation in Michigan, referred to as the 'Super Drunk' law, took effect in October with imposes harsher penalties on motorists driving with blood alcohol levels of 0.17 or greater. The Naperville resident was arrested after he drove his car off a roadway and onto a house's lawn in Silver Creek Township. His blood alcohol level was  0.23 at the time of the accident. Following a quick trial, the man was sentenced to seven days in jail and a year of supervision. I could see Naperville moving to enforce this law as well someday. If you've ever been to downtown Naperville, you'd understand why. And if you love this law so much that you wish you lived in Michigan, call a Naperville moving company today!

Happy Thanksgiving from Jackson Moving & Storage!

As your Naperville moving company of choice, Jackson Moving & Storage just wanted to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving! Make sure to enjoy plenty of turkey and football with your friends and family!

Moving closer to the action

River's casino in Des Plaines is the hottest casino in the entire state of Illinois.  For the month of October Rivers drew in 30.7 million.  This figure is almost half the figure posted by Grand Victoria Casino in Elgin and exceeds revenues of the Hollywood Casino Aurora by two fold!
River Casino drew the greatest number of foot traffic during their opening month of August with 414,000 patrons.  September and October both saw declines in attendance but still post the highest visitor counts of all Illinois casinos with 318,000 people for October.
If you enjoy the thrill of the table games or clanks of the slot machines and want to move closer to the action then get a hold of the Oak Brook movers.  These professional movers are certified to handle whatever job you throw at them.  The Oak Brook moving company has the tools to customize your next move to your satisfaction.

Holiday Liquor Sales Now Allowed in Naperville

Good news for Naperville bars and those who desperately need a drink during the holidays. Previously, class B liquor license holders were required to serve food during hours of operation. So, in order for these establishments to open their bar on Thanksgiving or Christmas, they had to have their kitchen open. That's why it's so hard to find an open watering hole on these holidays. This past Tuesday, Naperville city council members voted 8-1 to allow class B liquor license holders to be able to serve liquor only on Christmas and Thanksgiving. So, once you have your full of turkey (and your family, and you need a Naperville moving company to get you off the couch), you will now be able to make your way to a fine Naperville establishment such as Jimmy's. It's nice to see Naperville moving to support small businesses.

Naperville Removing Red Light Cameras

Red light cameras are quite controversial. Some feel that the cameras prevent accidents while others feel that they actually can cause accidents. For instance, instead of going through a yellow light, a motorist may slam on their brakes in fear of getting a ticket from a red light camera. If you are a resident of Naperville or moving to Naperville and you don't care about red light cameras, here's some good news for you: Naperville Council Members have voted to end their red light camera program at three intersections. In a 4-4 vote, the council deadlocked, thus a majority was not achieved to renew the red light camera contract for another 6 months. The cameras will officially be taken offline on January 3. Now this doesn't mean that you can just start flying through intersections in Naperville. Let's still drive safe out there. But, if you are looking for a city without red light cameras, maybe you should get in touch with a Naperville moving company today.

Friday Night LIghts: Naperville Football Teams in Playoffs

As a Naperville mover we really enjoy the crisp cool falls here in Naperville. It's a time of change, with students going away to school or going back to start a new year. It's a time of celebration with the holidays and we all gather close with family or friends. There's just something about enjoying a hot cup of coffee with the leaves crunching beneath your feet that brings out the best in a walk around downtown Naperville.

Fall also brings football season with it, and this year is a big year for the local high school teams. While Naperville North sadly fell to Downers Grove South, they fought hard and after a rough season have a lot to be proud of. Another hometown team, Naperville Central, has made it to the second round and will be facing Belleville East (who upset the top ranked team in the first round).

We wish the Redhawks the best of luck and hope the team's success might inspire other families to start hiring Naperville Moving Companies.

Naperville Leaf Collection

Hey Naperville residents, is your leaf collection beginning to pile up? If so, you're in luck as the city will be collecting leaves on October 31 and November 17. According to the city, those dates mark the beginning of the collection cycle, and it may take two week for all of the leaves to be collected. Residents are told to rake their leaves to their curbs where city crews will pick them up for free. Just make sure that the leaves are placed 10 feet away from mailboxes and storm drains as to avoid any flooding or clogging. It's nice to see Naperville moving to support homeowners who may have a bit too many leaves in their yard. I'm just not looking forward to the eventual snow removal announcements.

Naperville Pet Adopt-a-thon This Weekend

Here's a great cause that Naperville residents should check out. The Naperville Area Humane Society will be hosting their annual adopt-a-thon on Saturday and Sunday (October 22 and 23) at the Naperville Humane Society (160 W. Diehl Rd.). The hours are as follows: 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. All of the animals available for the adopt-a-thon have been spayed or neutered, are microchipped and up to date on core vaccinations. For more information, please call 630-420-8989. It's always nice to see Naperville moving to support these great causes.

Naperville Halloween Hours

Hey Naperville residents, did you know that Naperville does not setup specific hours for trick or treating on Halloween? It's true! Unlike suburban cities nearby which designate hours that kids can go around and try to get as much candy as possible, Naperville is a bit more lenient. Is Naperville moving to change this anytime soon? Not quite sure. Of course, this does not mean that children should abuse this by ringing someone's doorbell at 10 p.m. at night. Although, I would hate to witness the repercussions when some of these people don't answer the door or refuse to give out candy. Uh oh. So, candy lovers should get in charge with a Naperville moving company as this is the place for some primo candy!

Beach Boys to Play Naperville

The Beach Boys are making their way to Naperville the weekend of October 15 and 16. The shows will be taking place at Pfeiffer Hall at Naperville's North Central College. Saturday's show is at 8 p.m., while Sunday's starts at 6 p.m. Tickets are $95, $85 and $75. Certainly not cheap, but a cool opportunity to see the Beach Boys in person. Alas, Brian Wilson is not playing with them and they will probably stick to their hokier material (see: "Kokomo), but this could still be a fun night out on the town for Naperville movers and shakers. Believe it or not, the Beach Boys are celebrating their 50th anniversary this year and are finally releasing the very long awaited Smile album in the form of the Smile Sessions in November. To purchase tickets, click here.

Oktoberfest in Naperville this Weekend

This weekend, Naper Settlement will be hosting Oktoberfest, their annual fundraiser for the Naperville Heritage Society. From September 30 to October 1, Naper Settlement will be the site of German beer (Hof Brau, Spaten, and Shiner (not German)), food and activities. Live music and fun family events for families will be featured. The event times are 4 pm to 10 pm on Friday and 11 am to 10 pm on Saturday. Tickets are $8 per person in advance (available until 4 pm September 29) and $10 per person at the gate and $5 per child (5-12 years old). Kids under 4 are free. Important question, how do you say Naperville moving company in German? For more information, check out the Naper Settlement website here.

Man Arrested by Naperville Police for DUI After Blowing 0.0

Well here's a goofy story. Any Naperville resident who has visited the downtown area knows firsthand that the police are watching. Come stumbling out of Features or Jimmy's and jump in a car, you better believe that the cops are going to get you. In fact, Naperville is ranked second in DUI arrests among Illinois cities other than Chicago. This past Memorial Day, a west suburban man was arrested for DUI, even though he blew a 0.0. The man was later released, but he was still fingerprinted, had a mug shot taken and information about his arrest was provided to a local newspaper, where it was published. Fortunately, the accused has since settled a lawsuit against Naperville. This is an interesting case as police said he failed a sobriety test before he took a breathalyzer. The man said that he passed the field-sobriety test, which makes more sense. How can someone fail a field sobriety test but blow a 0.0? General clumsiness? Maybe he needs to hire a Naperville moving company as this may not be the last time he is targeted by police.

Groundbreaking for Trail Expansion Later this Month

Naperville trailwalkers, rejoice! The groundbreaking of the West Branch Riverway Trail will be happening September 27th at 1:30 p.m. at the Wil-O-Way Commons, 1071 W. Jefferson Ave. in Naperville. The West Branch Riverway trail is set to connect McDowell Grove to downtown Naperville. This new portion of the trail will extend the West Branch Riverway north from Wil-O-Way Commons to just north of Ogden Avenue, where it will join an already existing trail system at McDowell Grove Forest Preserve. The expansion is just under a mile and will proceed through a new railroad underpass north of Wil-O-Way Common and through a new underpass at Ogden Ave. The trail construction is slated for completion in 2012. Envious trailwalkers should probably get in touch with some Naperville movers now!

Last Fling - How was yours?

How was everyone's Last Fling this past weekend in Naperville? Did you check out any of the bands/activities? Would love to hear about your experience. Now, keep in mind, while it may be Naperville's Last Fling, there are still plenty of fun times to be had before those cold winter months hit! Looking to schedule a last minute relocation before the winter? Get in touch with Jackson Moving & Storage, your Naperville moving company of choice!

Naperville Last Fling This Weekend

Naperville's annual Last Fling will be held this weekend from September 2-5. The Labor Day weekend event, featuring plenty of Naperville movers and shakers, features food, carnival rides, games, music and various other family friendly attractions. This year's music bill includes Gin Blossoms, Poi Dog Pondering, Sister Hazel, American English, Neverly Brothers and more. The Last Fling also have many different special events throughout the day, including bingo, a rib cook-off, an ice cream eating contest, a pie eating contest and a whole lot more. For further information, visit http://lastfling.org

New Bridge to Connect 95th St. and Boughton Rd.

After 10 years of planning, the Will County Highway Department is moving forward with their plan to extend 95th St. in Naperville over the DuPage River to Boughton Rd. in Bolingbrook. This project will reduce travel time by 1.1 miles from the intersection of Bougthon and Kings Roads in Bolingbrook to 95th St. and Plainfield-Naperville Rd. in Naperville. In addition to the plans for the bridge, a tunnel will be built underneath 95th St. for the DuPage River Trail and will include a bikeway. This $22 million project will begin the summer of 2012 and continue into 2013. This is a shortcut that we can get behind. Losing over 2 miles during a roundtrip will help us be an even more efficient Naperville moving company.

New Superman Movie Casting Call in Naperville

Hey Naperville residents, here's your chance to become a big movie star, or at least be an extra in a major motion picture! The new Superman movie, tentatively titled Man of Steel, directed by Zach Snyder (300, Watchmen, Dawn of the Dead) is holding an open casting call in Naperville on Saturday, June 18th at the DePaul University Naperville Campus (150 West Warrenville Rd.) from 11 p.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, check out the official casting call page for Autumn Frost aka Man of Steel here. The movie is going to be shot this summer in locations around Plano and Chicago during the summer and will be released in theaters around December 2012. Who knows, if everything goes well enough, maybe you'll have to hire some Naperville movers to handle your relocation to Hollywood. Sure, this is just a casting call for extras, but you never know what could happen!

Centennial Beach Celebrates Grand Reopening

A well known staple of downtown Naperville, Centennial Beach, just celebrated their grand reopening this past weekend. With a $5 million facelift, the historical public swimming pool, which was once a quarry, retains its charms but manages to throw in some much celebrated modern improvements. A new restaurant, the Centennial Grill, was built near the concession stand which opens out onto the Riverwalk, the bathhouse was modernized to meet needs of people with disabilities, a new restroom was added to the bathhouse and changing rooms for young families were constructed. The bathhouse was built in 1934, but the construction has breathed new life into Centennial Beach and Naperville residents are thrilled to check out the updated facility in Naperville. Moving to the area or already a resident and you are looking for further details? For more information about the renovation, or Centennial Beach itself, please check out the Naperville Park District website.

Naperville Farmers Market Open For Business

Need to stock up on so many fruits and vegetables that you may just need a Naperville moving company to haul your items home? You're in luck as the Naperville Farmers Market is back! This year they will have one new vendor who will be selling fresh coffee and tea.  The vendors have informed Kathy Mortensen, the market manger that folks might have to wait a little bit longer for some of the crops this year as opposed to last year.  This is due to the slow start to the planting season because of cool and wet weather.  The delay is not too bad, only about a week or so for some items. 

This year, the farmers market are going be doing what they are calling “third Thursdays,” which is going to hold a special event to add to the market experience.  Some of these events include hayrack rides on June 16, a petting zoo July 21, a threshing demonstration on Aug 18, and every Thursday will have performers from Naper Settlement who will be demonstrating farm tasks from the old days.  For those of you who are new to this farmers market, a handful of the vendors actually donate their proceeds to a variety of charities.  The Naperville farmers market can be found in the parking lot of the Fifth Avenue Station every Saturday at 7 a. m. till the end of October.   

New Electricity Source for Naperville

Looking forward to Naperville moving on to a new power source? Beginning June 1 of this year, Naperville will start receiving their power from the Illinois Municipal Electric Agency (IMEA). By choosing the IMEA as the city's power source, residents and businesses will have the convenience of stabilized electric rates. Traditional flat and fixed rates will remain, and time of usage rates will also be introduced with other brand new programs as part of the Naperville Smart Grid Initiative (NSGI). With these options, people can choose the rate option that will best fit their unique needs. As a municipally owned utility, instead of investor-owned, the electric rates are generally lower. This new plan is aimed at optimizing the distribution and use of electricity, by doing so, this will help ensure that energy costs remain low for years to come. For more information about this cost saving effort, visit Naperville's website.

Ebsco Research 2011 Best Pick - Jackson Moving & Storage

Lately we've been talking about moving scams, rising gas prices and various moving tips. Today we'd like to take a moment to remind everyone of the core services Jackson Moving & Storage offers.

You may know us as Naperville movers, but we're much more than that. We carry out moves all over the Chicago area. From Aurora and Joliet to Deerfield and Skokie. On a daily basis, we drive around many of the Chicago suburbs as well as the city itself. Between household and commercial moves, we also do all kinds of storage, document management and document shredding. Any kind of relocation, storage or document management needs you may have, we can take care of them. Our capabilities are limitless - and we're not just saying that - as part of Allied Van Lines, we have access to a vast network of movers, equipment, partners and experienced professionals.


Our high quality and professionalism has earned us a new award - the 2011 Best Pick from Ebsco Research. We're proud to have been chosen and we'll continue to provide the highest level of service to all of our customers!

Don't Move With Bed Bugs

It's no secret that bed  bugs are on the rise in most large cities in the country, including the Chicago area. If you think you have bed bugs, don't think you'll get rid of them by moving to a new home. They are notorious for hiding in your possessions and hitching a ride with you everywhere you go. So before you move, always make sure that you hire a professional to get rid of your bed bugs so that you minimize your chances of bringing live bugs with you. The last thing you want to do is to bring your bugs to your new home.

Worker's Torch Sparks Easton Warehouse Fire

A moving company's storage warehouse recently burned down in Easton. Workers were using torches to cut a beam and apparently a spark caused the building to ignite, according to an article in the Taunton Daily Gazette. This was the same warehouse that had a roof collapse earlier this year. Sounds like this warehouse was just destined to go down one way or another. Still, it's important to always make sure that all safety precautions are being taken. When it comes to something like a storage warehouse, the value of the items being stored can be very high. Losing all of those items in a fire would not only cause problems for the company but for the customers who would also be likely to lose trust in that company for future jobs.

"Undercover Boss" Runs into Problems

Recently the CEO of United Van Lines went on the show Undercover Boss. He became an "undercover" employee of his own company and learned first-hand that being part of a moving crew is a tough job. In his administrative role, he forgot how hard people actually work to fulfill all the demands of this job.
However, as TV Squad points out in today's article, it appears that Rich McClure, the CEO, started giving special treatment to the men in the company while a female employee raised concerns about the company being a "boy's club."

This obviously raises ethical concerns, but there is another issue at hand. United is the parent company for hundreds of independently owned and operated agents, much like a franchise. Each moving company under the United name is actually an independent company. So while Rich McClure is the CEO of the van line, is he really these employees' boss? Not really. He doesn't have the authority to hire or fire them because they work for an independently owned company.

An interesting twist to the whole "undercover boss" concept.

North Carolina Loses Moving Companies Due to New Regulation

A recent article in the News Observer tells an interesting story. Apparently, in 2008, a new state rule was adopted which required movers to perform criminal background checks on all employees. At the time, the state had 270 certified moving companies for residential moves. Moving companies were also required to carry insurance.

Since that time, 30 moving companies have allowed their certificates to expire, many of them apparently claiming that the new rules are an invasion of privacy. Another 30 movers had their certificates suspended for compliance reasons. This includes fees in order to get the certificates reinstated.

It's interesting that something like criminal background checks can cause so many companies to lose their certificates. Although correlation is not the same as causation, this may be an indication that many movers are hiring crews with criminal backgrounds. And that may be something to worry about if you're hiring a mover.

Utah Couple Sues Moving Company for Hiring Felons

The examples of dishonest or unprofessional moving companies are easy to come by. It seems like almost every week there's a new story of someone getting tipped off by a low quality mover. This time, a couple in Utah hired the moving company, Two Men and A Truck, for their household move. As it turned out, a couple of the crew members were former felons and the company had not done background checks. The crew members stole a very valuable book, valued at $35,000, as well as some pain medication. More on this story can be found at the Deseret News website.

We've said it before and we'll say it again - always do your best to make sure that the movers you hire are licensed, insured and reputable. Look up their reputation online, read the reviews and talk to them. Ask about background checks, references from previous customers, etc. Most of the time, you'll be able to tell if you're talking to someone who values their reputation or someone who's just looking to make a quick buck.

Soaring Price of Gas is Bad News for Movers

Lately the price of gas has been increasing very quickly. Just in the past week the national average went up about 20 cents! Currently the average is at about $3.47 but it's still rising. Gas prices are always highest in the summer, but it's only March, so it wouldn't be unlikely for the prices to go up to around $4 in the summer. It will all depend on the political situation in the Middle East, and right now things aren't looking that good.

The high cost of has prices affects transportation and moving companies in a big way. It's common for fuel to account for 20-30% of our costs. And considering how much driving we do, and the fuel economy of our vehicles, you can imagine how large of an impact an extra 20 cents per gallon really is!

Another Moving-Related Scam

Yesterday, Fox News in Phoenix reported a new type of moving-related scam. This one isn't an actual moving company trying to scam its customers, though. In this case, two men hired a couple day laborers and posed as a moving company themselves. They went to a house that was up for sale, meaning the residents were not present, and they just started moving out all the furniture and belongings. Apparently they had broken into the house in advance in order to unlock the door so that they could just walk right in. The day laborers were not aware of the scheme and thought they were just helping to move a house.

To their credit, this was a fairly clever plan. However, they did not count on the neighbors to call the cops, which is exactly what happened. One of the neighbors realized something wasn't right and called the police. When the police arrived on the scene, the burglars fled. The day laborers, having no idea about the scheme in the first place, did not flee. Instead, they helped the cops put all the furniture back into the house.

So the moral of the story? Get to know your neighbors, especially if you're going to be away from your house for an extended period. Most people wouldn't think twice if they saw a moving truck at a neighbor's house. So if you're going away, make sure your neighbors know to be aware of suspicious activity around your house.

Moving Companies Giving to Charities

It seems like the new big thing in publicity efforts at moving companies is giving to charities. Just today alone, I saw 2 press releases from different moving companies advertising their recent charity contributions. I certainly don't think there's anything wrong with that - helping charities is a good thing. But are they giving for the right reasons?

The articles here and here describe moving companies that have committed themselves to helping with cancer and Alzheimer's research. Worthy causes, no doubt about that. But are they only doing it for the publicity? Just so they could publish press releases and accumulate more links to their websites? And if that is their main motivation, does it matter? A good deed is a good deed regardless of the underlying motivation, right? What do you think?

How to Choose a Good Moving Company

If you've ever looked for a moving company, you have probably noticed that there are different kinds of movers. There are those that you see on Craigslist, offering 2 guys and an unmarked white truck to help you move. And there are those who have an established brand name, appropriate licensed, their own fleet and a phone number you could call at any time.

When it comes time for you to move, you have to make a decision about what kind of people you want to be moving your belongings. It may even come down to how much you really value your belongings in the first place. If you're fairly young and only have a 1 or 2 bedroom apartment's worth of IKEA furniture and other junk you've accumulated over the years, you may not care if something gets lost or broken along the way. In that case, it might make more sense for you to go with the guy with a truck from Craigslist. It'll probably be cheaper. And you'll probably get your stuff back from his truck without him holding it hostage and asking for more money. Probably.

But if you have a larger home and a family, you probably care enough about your belongings to take the necessary precautions to make sure you'll see them again after you get them loaded into the moving truck. And that means you should go with a more reputable mover - not someone you just saw advertising on Craigslist without so much as a photo or a phone number.

Real, reputable movers have real company names - brand names - that they stand behind, that have history  in your community. They have branded moving trucks, usually several of them, and they're experienced enough to answer all your questions confidently without beating around the bush. Don't be afraid to ask questions. When you call their office you should reach a receptionist or a salesperson - not the cell phone of a guy who's in the middle of loading a piano onto a truck.

You'll see very many moving tips all over the internet telling you about what to look for in a good mover. The reality is that it's usually not hard to tell if you're dealing with a legitimate company or a hack. Use your better judgment and your intuition and you'll be just fine.

Santa Monica Was 2010's Top Moving Destination

The Associated Press reported today that Santa Monica, CA had a 20% inbound rate in 2010, making it the top moving destination in the country. At a distant second, with a 11% inbound rate, was Boise, ID. These conclusions are taken from an annual migration report by U-Haul International Inc. The study included cities with a population of at least 5,000 and is based on data from more than 1.4 million U-Haul one-way truck transactions.

The Importance of Keeping Vehicles Well-Maintaned

Earlier today, traffic at a local intersection in Naperville was significantly stalled when a loaded semi-tractor trailer broke down at Diehl Road and Route 59. There were no injuries, but the truck blocked the entire intersection. Being a fairly busy intersection, this caused delays for a considerable amount of people going in both directions of the road. The truck couldn't be moved without a heavy-duty tow truck, which likely had a hard time getting to the scene due to the backed up traffic all the way down the road. All this according to the article from the Naperville Sun.

This wasn't one of our vehicles, but the incident speaks to the importance of keeping all vehicles, not just trucks and fleet vehicles, in a good state of repair at all times. A breakdown can not only inconvenience others but end up being costly for the truck's owners. In this case, the shipment was delayed. So due to the negligence of whoever was responsible for maintaining the vehicle, some company or multiple companies didn't receive their shipments on time, which could have affected very many people who were relying on that shipment. Meanwhile, this hurts the reputation of the trucking company responsible for the shipment since now it's likely that their customers will seek another carrier.

Of course, breakdowns happen once in a while, especially with the extreme weather we've been experiencing lately. But at Jackson Moving, we're aware of the effects of a breakdown on everyone involved and we do our best to keep our vehicles and equipment in good repair.

BEWARE of Internet Moving Company Scammers

A recent Mercury News article tells of a situation that is far too common all over the country. A moving company was advertising very low rates on their website and then charging much higher rates after the relocation was complete. This type of bait and switch pricing scam is common with a lot of shady movers all over the country. In this case, the dozens of complaints received by the District Attorney's Office contributed to the arrest of 5 people involved in this scam.

In some case, the movers held people's belongings hostage until the exorbitant bills were paid. This company was caught and punished, but there are many more out there who still haven't been caught. If you're looking for a moving company, there's nothing wrong with doing your research online. In fact, it's the best way to find movers. But be wary of movers with prices that are too good to be true, or moving companies without a trusted name behind them. For example, if you are looking at a mover who is an agent of a nationally trusted name like Allied Van Lines, you can be confident that this company is licensed, insured and legitimate. And don't be afraid to give the company a call - just from talking to them you should be able to tell if they sound like they know what they're doing or if they sound shady and dodge giving you direct answers. Finally, a good moving company will usually come to your home to do an estimate before giving you a price for your move. If you're getting a price online, it's usually going to be a non-binding quote.

IL Tax Cuts Bad for Business, Good for Moving Companies

The state of Illinois has been facing some tough times and a whopping #13 billion budget deficit. This week it was announced that our state tax rate for companies will increase from 4.8% to 7% as the corporate tax. As a result many businesses are going to have an even more difficult time staying afloat. Although this is supposed to be a temporary tax increase for the next 4 years, there's no way to know if it will at some point be voted into permanency. And in any case, 4 years is a long time for a struggling business. Today's CNN Money article on the Illinois corporate tax hike describes this situation best.

This new tax hike, along with the increase in the personal income tax rate, is causing many Illinois businesses to consider packing up and moving across the border to neighboring Indiana, Wisconsin or Iowa. In the words of John Tillman, CEO of the Illinois Policy Institute, "It means the best growth business in the state of Illinois will be moving companies."

Moving companies have had their own struggles in the past couple years due to the slow housing market, so a little more business from companies moving out of IL is always welcome. On the other hand, when companies move out of the state, that may mean less business for movers in the long term.