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Attaining accurate moving Estimates:
To help you anticipate the cost of your move, movers
will give you quotes according to a list of items that
you'll provide. Help the movers calculate the cost of
your move by listing every single item to be moved.
Don't forget to go into the attic, basement, garage,
closets and under beds. Reach a clear understanding
about the amount of packing and
other services needed. Anything omitted from the
estimate but later included in the shipment will add to
the cost of your move. And remember when you are looking
for movers and moving companies Long Distance Moving we
will get you there.
Introduction to Moving
When you make a decision to move to a new home, there
must be thousands of questions you want to have answers
for. Whether this will be your first of fifth time
moving, most of the tips in this guide will make it
easier for you to have a stress-free moving experience.
The information in this guide has been gathered from
moving industry veterans and many other important
sources. Please, read it carefully, and have an easy
move!
1. When to move
2. What to move
3. How to move
4. Preparing for the move
5. Moving day
6. What to do after the move
When to move
Question number one would be: “when is the best time for
me to move?”
You should plan your move to take place at a time
convenient for you and your family. However, due to a
seasonal nature of the moving industry you should
remember that during certain periods it will be harder
to find a good mover, and the prices tend to be
generally higher.
Those periods include:
1) The summer months – for many families with children
summer is the most convenient time to move because the
school term is up. In addition, summer weather is
usually more suitable for moving.
2) Beginning and end of each month - first and last days
of each month, regardless of season, are very busy days
for the moving industry.
3) End of the year holiday season – during end of
December things tend to be especially hectic.
During the “peak” periods the demand for moving services
is higher, and so are the prices. In addition, it is
more difficult for the moving companies to ensure the
quality of service that you would expect, making your
move even more stressful.
To learn more about different factors influencing the
cost of your move read Moving Guide->Moving
Cost-Financial Tips
What to move
Question number two would be “what should I move to a
new place, and what to leave behind?”
General rule of thumb: an item that hasn’t been used in
over year should be considered for selling, donating,
recycling, or just thrown away. Consult your family
members – maybe someone needs it.
Make sure you inspect your house from top to bottom and
decide what is going and what is staying. If you plan to
have a visit from a visual estimator make sure you know
exactly what you want the moving company to move for
you. Show all those items to the estimator.
You might have things that you don’t want to part with,
but which will inevitably be stored in a storage, shed,
or garage after the move. Those items should be packed
very well in containers that are rodent, moisture and
dust proof. To learn more about preparing your items for
storing read Moving Guide->Moving Storage Tips.
Some items can’t be moved at all, or should be moved
with a special care. Those items include hazardous
materials, perishables, and personal and valuable items.
To learn more about do-not-move items read Moving
Guide->Do-not-move Items.
How to move
Next question will be “how am I going to move? Should I
do it myself, or should I hire a moving company?”
There a three general ways to move:
1) Hire a full service moving company that will do
everything for you;
2) Rent a truck and move yourself;
3) Hire a self moving company that will provide you with
a truck and a driver, but you will have to load and
unload by yourself.
Regardless of the option you choose, remember to reserve
your moving services or truck well ahead to secure your
moving date and time. Read more to learn how to:
Choose the right moving company: Moving Guide->How to
Choose a Moving Company
Renting a truck: Moving Guide->Truck Rental Basics
Use the self moving services: Moving Guide->Self Moving
Tips
Also, when exploring your moving options consider the
following tips:
Hiring helpers – if you decide to move yourself you
might want to use extra help to load or unload. There
are companies that offer moving labor only. You can find
such company in our Moving Labor section.
Small moves – if your shipment is really small and can
fit in a small van your move is considered small move.
Some companies (often called as “Man-with-a-Van”) offer
inexpensive services for small moves. You can find such
company in our Small Move section.
Insurance - If you are hiring a professional, it's a
good idea to insure your belongings. Replacement of
damaged belongings is bothersome, but possible with
proper coverage. Find out if your homeowner's or
renter's insurance policy covers your belongings in
transit. To learn more about moving insurance read our
Moving Guide->Moving Insurance Guide
New premises – It’s important to pay attention to the
doorways and hallways in your new house. Some of your
old furniture might not fit, and will have to be
abandoned. Check the space for your laundry and kitchen
appliances, such as refrigerator. And finally, check out
where TV, phone and internet connections are located.
Auto moving – If you decide to use an auto transporting
service to move your car, consult our Moving Guide->Auto
Moving Tips.
Preparing for the move
Good planning and organization is a key for successful
move. You should keep a special notebook with all the
planning, tasks, and important move-related information.
Prepare your items for move. Packing all your belongings
and preparing your furniture for the move is one of the
most laborious parts of the moving process. To make it
easier consult the following tips:
Get rid of the items you don’t want to move by having a
garage sale. Allow yourself enough time to organize it.
If you don’t want to deal with garage sales consider
donating your unwanted items.
Keep a floor plan of the new house with you for
reference while you pack and for moving day.
Keep tools for assembling beds and other furniture in
easily accessible place, or tape them to the furniture
itself.
Clean your belongings before moving them.
To learn more about packing techniques, consult Moving
Guide->All Packing Tips
Arrange your finances. It’s important to organize your
finances to be ready for all kinds of surprises and
unexpected emergencies. Consult the following tips:
Make sure that direct debit and billing links to your
bank accounts are organized to handle any changes
resulting from your move
Budget wisely and conservatively for any items that will
be needed once you are in your new home.
Open new bank account. Try to open a new account before
closing your old one, and transfer your funds.
Keep a detailed log of moving expenses in your notebook.
Some may be tax-deductible, so make sure you keep all
the receipts.
To learn more read Moving Guide->Moving Cost-Financial
Tips
Changing your address. Remember to notify the post
office that you will be moving, and provide them with a
new address. It can be done online – click here.
It is important to supply companies with a forwarding
address where they can send final invoices. Don’t get
yourself surprised with late fees and credit
circumstances.
Also, it is important to teach your children the new
address and phone number. Ask them to write it on every
packed box for practice.
Don’t forget small things.
Check the dry cleaners for anything you still need to
collect.
Set aside and label keys to give to the new homeowners.
Return any library books, rental videos, or items you
may have borrowed from friends or neighbors. Make sure
to get back the items once borrowed from you as well.
Utilities. A very important part of your move is
disconnection and reconnection of all the utilities.
Consult the following tips:
Learn about disconnection rules by calling a utility
companies or visiting their websites.
For disconnection or transfer of your utilities contact
the companies at least two weeks before the move. It
will give them enough time to take final readings of
water, gas, and electrical meters. It also will save you
from being subjected to any late notification charges.
Settle all the bills that are unsettled before the
moving day, and recover all the refunds and deposits.
If you are moving across town, you may be able to
transfer your services to your new home. However, if you
are moving long distances, you will likely be dealing
with a new company that may or may not charge a setup
fee. At the same time you could save few bucks by
getting a “bundled” television, phone and Internet
service from one company.
Water and sewer service can be arranged directly through
the appropriate town or city department. The same holds
true for garbage pickup and recycling, the cost of which
is usually rolled into the property tax bill.
Make sure your utilities are working until a day after
your moving day. You don’t want to get your phone
disconnected before the movers come, because they will
not show up without confirmation.
Prepare for your journey. If you are planning to drive
to your new home, remember to tune up the car to avoid a
breakdown on the way. Also, pack a first aid box that
will contain bandages, bug spray, sunburn spray,
tissues, and medications you or your family will need
along the way
If you are flying to your new home, check the flight
schedule closely and be sure to factor in the time
required to retrieve luggage and travel from the
airport. Also make backup plans in case the flight is
delayed or you get stuck in traffic.
Moving day
Finally, the moving day arrives. Be ready to have a very
hectic day, with plenty of activities, and lots of
details to remember and take care of. That’s why it is
crucial to prepare yourself well.
Be present during the move. It is important to be
present at the location from the time the moving team
arrives to the very last moment when the truck leaves
your home.
If you cannot be present during the move, or you have a
problem to be home to greet the movers arrange for
someone to do it for you. You might be facing extra
charges for the time in case the team will arrive at
your home before you do.
You should supervise the movers’ work. Accompany the
moving crew foreman as he fills out the inventory sheet
and supervise the loading process into the moving van.
Be available to answer any questions your movers may
have, which means staying around until they're finished
Finally, keep your pets away from all the activity on
moving day. If your dog is frenzied because of the
moving day activity, confine it somewhere away from the
action.
Be considerate to your neighbors.
Remember, it’s you who are moving, and not your
neighbors. Try to move during the daytime, but not too
early or too late.
Make sure the sidewalk and neighbor's driveway are not
blocked with moving truck or furniture waiting to be
loaded. Keep movers away from walking over your
neighbor's lawn or through their flowerbeds.
Finally, don't leave trash, unwanted furniture or other
debris on the sidewalk. Place it in proper containers,
and if it begins to overflow, go to the local dump.
Signing the papers. It’s a very important part of the
moving process. The foreman will ask you to sign a bill
of lading and check an inventory sheet when they are
done loading the truck. More about the different
documents related to the move read here: Moving
Guide->How to Choose a Moving Company->Important
documents.
Make sure you inspect all of your belongings closely and
read the paperwork closely before you sign anything.
Read the inventory sheet carefully, and ask the foreman
to explain anything you don't understand. Take a second
walk throughout the house to make sure all items are
accounted for. Make a note of your shipment's
registration number, and keep your Bill of Lading handy.
Finalizing the pick-up. If you're moving long distance,
be aware that your property might share a truck with
that of several other households. For this reason, your
mover might have to place your belongings in his transit
storage for several days. Therefore, ask your mover
whether your goods will remain on the truck until
delivered. If they have to be stored, ask whether you
can check the warehouse for security, organization and
cleanliness.
And finally, give the foreman your phone numbers and
email addresses so you can stay in contact. For long
distance moves it is important to be in touch with the
company’s long distance department to make sure your
shipment is scheduled for delivery and they have all the
contact information and addresses.
Take good care of the movers. Movers work hard for you,
and you should take good care of them. Remember to set
out water and snacks for the movers. On cold days, offer
them hot tea and coffee. Also, if the move will take
long time get them lunch.
If you're satisfied with the way the movers handled your
possessions, it's customary to tip the movers. Read more
about tipping here: Moving Guide->Moving Cost-Financial
Tips->Tipping the movers
Leaving your house. You should leave your old house as
clean as you would like to find your new house. Clean as
much as you can before moving day, and then make a final
check after everything is out.
Also, always shut and lock all windows and doors as you
leave your old home on moving day.
What to do after the move
When you finally arrive at your new home you probably
can’t wait to settle your house. However, don’t rush and
take your time. Don't spend too much time unpacking
right away. It is important to unload the essentials, of
course. But wait on the less important stuff.
In the first few days, take time to enjoy your new home
with your family. Don't despair if you are not totally
happy with it on the day you move in. Keep in mind that
most homes can be adapted over time to suit your
lifestyle and tastes.
Take walks in the new neighborhood. Introduce yourselves
to your new neighbors. Plan to order take-out food or
eat out, since you will be too tired to cook, and most
of your appliances will still be packed. So, take a walk
to check out local restaurants and take-out spots.
When unpacking keep in mind the following tips:
After you've moved, it's a good idea to let all of your
electrical appliances return to room temperature before
plugging them in.
Flatten all your moving boxes for recycling. Many moving
companies will pick them up after your move.
To learn more about unpacking read Moving Guide->All
Packing tips-> Unpacking tips.
And remember – always expect the unexpected. Few moves
go smoothly, anticipate and predict trouble, and most
important – always keep a positive attitude!
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