Moving your Home
One of the most stressful endeavors is moving your home from one location to another. However, if you prepare in advance and plan properly, you can dramatically reduce the stress. Packing all your belongings is just one of the things that you will need to think about, but with these tips you can make your move easier.
Who is doing the Move?
First decide if you will be hiring a moving company or if you are going to the move the items yourself. This decision often comes down to budget.
If you think that you are able to do the job, you then you need to look at packing the items, hiring a van and unpacking all your items. It is a good idea to get friends and family to help. You can also hire temporary workers with lots of moving experience. They can handle the heavy items if you feel too weak to lift them.
You could also pack everything yourself and label it. You could then hire a moving company to move the items.
The easiest option of course, is to hire a mover to do everything—packing, moving and the unpacking.
Choose the mover
Find a reputable moving company to handle your items. Get a few written quotes and also read reviews about the company. You can check the BBB status and if they are registered at the USDOT website. Movers are required to be registered.
Organize
Once you have settled on a mover, find out if they provide the boxes and when they are able to bring the boxes to you. If you are doing the move yourself then you will need to find boxes and packing materials a few weeks before.
Parking
This is something that is often overlooked but it’s best to look at the parking area at your old and new home before the moving day. See if there is enough room for a large truck if needed, if you need a permit, and if you need to talk to neighbors to make more roomfor you. If you are in an apartment, make sure to let property manager know about the move and see where the truck can be parked.
Tell them you’re moving
You will need to notify certain people that you are moving. You should make a list of these people and should include:
Your Bank
Credit card and store card companies
Phone and internet providers
Cable TV
Children’s schools and employers
Gas and electricity suppliers
Medical practitioners
Friends and family
Early packing
De-clutter before you start packing so that you have everything that you need, in a manageable amount. The breakables and valuable items need to be well wrapped. You can label the boxes with the room destination so that it is easier when unpacking.
Survival Box
A good idea is to create a survival box that will be the last to go on and also the first to come off. This box should have items that you will need for that day, your necessities. It should also include your passport, insurance papers, medical documents, etc… Never put all of that in the truck.
On Moving Day
You need to ensure that everyone knows what they are doing on the moving day. Younger children and pets could be taken to a friends or family’s home so that they are not in the way. In the old house make sure that you have left all the fixtures and fittings that were agreed upon, and at the new house check that what you have requested is there.
Once you’re in
Once you have moved into your new house, check the meters. Ensure that you will not be paying for any gas or electricity that the previous owner has used. You can also change the locks so that you know you are the only one with keys. Also contact your insurer to check that your home insurance policy is effective for your new home immediately.
The last thing to do is celebrate your new home—Enjoy!
If you are in California, check out the San Francisco bay area movers.
