Planning on moving? There are a lot of factors to consider that may be unique to your situation. Some of us have children, pets, valuable art and lots of plants. Others have a suitcase and a job acceptance letter. Whether it is cross town or cross country a little bit of planning can go a long way.
One of the initial decisions you will need to make is how you will be moving. Would it make more sense to rent a truck and move yourself or find a company to do it for you? Moving companies are well known for taking advantage of consumers, so do a lot of research before employing one. Be very careful, this is one of the most crucial steps of your move and one of the easiest ways to be taken advantage of. Beware of moving companies that you have never heard of that contact you through the Internet. Instead talk to your friends and colleagues about whom they have had a good move with on a previous move. For additional info on what you need to know about moving companies and common scams go to www.movingscam.com.
If you are doing the move on your own shop around for truck rental specials. You may want to purchase your own moving supplies instead of buying them from the truck rental company. It is common to see low rental rates and very high packing and equipment rates. You will need at least one dolly or hand truck, blankets for furniture and valuables, and an assortment of straps and twine. Inspect the vehicle thoroughly including the tires, wipers, and lights. Organize everything by labeling all of your boxes beforehand.
One of the best times to consolidate your belongings is during a move. You may find you have one vacuum cleaner too many or an extra Betamax machine. Contact a charity to arrange for a pick up or a drop off of these items. Make sure to file the receipts of the donations for tax time. The other fun family alternative is to have a garage sale.
Keep the list of addresses and phone numbers you will need for your move close by and not packed away. It is a good idea to get in touch with your utility companies to transfer or turn off services, your home insurance provider, and the post office to forward old mail at this time.
It’s time to leave! Moving day is usually spent at home. You will need to oversee the work of the moving company, so don’t leave while they’re present. When they have done their job they are required to present you with a bill of lading. The drivers should have a means of contacting you, so leave them a phone number. Before you leave for the last time, make sure all of the widows are closed and doors are locked. Wave to all of your neighbors and give them any unwanted unpacked items as a parting gift. Relax and think about the end of the journey.
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