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Michigan franchisee stays motivated 25 years into TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® journey

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With just one 20-foot, 1987 GMC manual transmission truck and a small office space that was being rented out for $100 dollars a month, Ashley Anderson began her franchising experience with TWO MEN AND A TRUCK. She had been working as a digital copy architect for the Lansing State Journal in Michigan when she decided to make the purchase of the Bay City, Mich., franchise. Twenty-five years later and with two secondary locations in Midland and Saginaw, Anderson is one of the longest tenured franchisees in the entire TWO MEN AND A TRUCK system, with a great deal of success to match. Picking one aspect to identify as her favorite part of this quarter century-long journey was tough, but she points to the people she has the privilege to work with as one of her favorites. “[I’ve really enjoyed] watching the fleet of trucks grow,” Anderson said. “[Over the years], the most challenging thing has been finding the right fit for employees, but we have a culture that we are proud of.” A ...

Tips for Moving with Children

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Moving is a challenge all on its own, and it gets far more complicated when you have children. To make sure the transition goes smoothly for them (and for you!), try the following tips. Teach Kids What to Expect Small children may not have a clear idea of what it actually means to move. It’s best to explain to them exactly what will happen before you start packing. That way, it won’t come as a shock to them when they figure out they aren’t going to see your old home anymore. Prepare Well in Advance Having children in the home means everything takes longer—including moving. Begin packing months in advance to give yourself plenty of time to get everything together. Also, if you can control the circumstances of your move, try to plan on a time that will be least disruptive to your children’s lives. Pack “Must-Have” Bags Consider having each child pack a few of their favorite toys into a backpack prior to the move. This will give them a sense of security of having something ...

Moving to California? The 10 Best Places to Live in The Golden State

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Is West Coast sunshine calling your name? From the rolling hills of Northern California’s wine country to the sandy beaches of Southern California’s oceanfront, the Golden State’s natural beauty and range of outdoor activities are simply unmatched. So if you’re California dreamin’, here’s a look at the 10 best cities to call home in this exceptionally large and diverse state. Fremont Fremont is one of the most popular places to call home in the San Francisco Bay Area – and we can certainly see why. With its friendly, healthy and affluent residents, this highly sought after community was recently named the number one happiest place to live in America by  WalletHub , and the 11th best city in America for job seekers by  NerdWallet . Due to its low crime rate, stable housing market and sunny weather, Fremont is also “exceptionally livable,” according to  AreaVibes . Population:  According to  Fremont’s town website , the city has an estimate...

Top Silicon Valley Schools: When Your Dream Home Depends on Your Dream School

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In the article,  “Does your kid's Silicon Valley school measure up?”    Silicon Valley Business Journal outlines a major concern for many homebuyers: finding the right local school.  According to the National Association of REALTORS® Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, schools were listed as the number one deciding factor for over 20% of home buyers. In Silicon Valley (Santa Clara and San Mateo counties) there are many nationally recognized and top rated schools. But how does a homebuyer go about locating the right school for their family? Online research helps, but teaming up with a real estate agent who is a specialist in the area can cut out much of the guess work. Check out this  Public School Districts Slideshow for district-by-district API test rankings and see how your child’s current or future school measures up.  Better yet, find a community expert who has done the research for you and can give you the guidance and representation you deserv...

Four DIY Valentine’s Day crafts in four steps or less!

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We’re always up for a good DIY day, especially when it comes to holiday crafts. This Valentine’s Day, we’re sharing the love with four super-easy, low-budget projects! When we say inexpensive, we really mean it. Each of these four DIY’s were made from one small, TWO MEN AND A TRUCK moving box! Here’s a detailed video to use as a reference point when making the DIY crafts! Be Mine Tags Supplies: 1 small TWO MEN AND A TRUCK moving box Scissors or box cutter Ruler Ribbon Stickers or marker Step 1: Cut the two all-white box flaps using scissors or a box cutter. Step 2: Use your ruler to mark triangle shapes on the top left and right of each panel, cut them off. Step 3: Place alphabet stickers or use a marker to say “Be” on one tag and “Mine” on the other. Step 4: Carefully use your scissors to poke a hole in the top of your tags. Tie the ribbon in a bow at the top!  TIP!  We decided to keep the tags in place by hot gluing them to one another. However, this isn’t...

7 Most Dog-Friendly Cities in America

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If you’re planning to move sometime soon with your four-legged friend, you, of course, want to be sure your pooch will be just as pleased with the move as you are. Not all cities are equal in terms of how warmly they welcome Fido, so take a look at our list of the most dog-friendly cities in America to help you choose your next hometown. What are the criteria? Here are the aspects of each city that were examined to help determine their dog friendliness. Pet-friendly rental market  – When scouring the home and apartment listings, how many of them permit dogs? This criteria seems to be a cultural thing, with some city’s inhabitants — dog lovers, perhaps — recognizing that the market is better when the landlords allow pets. Are dog-friendly homes affordable? Average home size  – Let’s face it: dogs need space. If a city tends towards minimalist, small housing, and apartments, it makes life a more challenging place to navigate for dog owners. Cities that provide a higher...

What Moving & Packing Supplies do We Need for Moving?

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Choosing the right packing supplies is essential step for a successful move.  You need to make sure you have enough moving boxes and moving supplies in order to pack your belongings properly. Your household items should arrive at your new home without a scratch, so do not underestimate the packing process.  It is a quite time consuming and annoying job, but you have to do it precisely. Starting with your packing supplies moving list you need to make sure you have all your belonging secured, especially if you are moving long distance. First of all, you have to decide if you are packing yourself, or you are using a moving company to do it for you. Every option has its pros and cons. You can start your  search for professional movers here . Where to Buy Moving Supplies There are many options. Start by checking Craigslist for used moving supplies. There are many people that give away their moving boxes for free. This way you will save money and keep the environment c...