How to prepare for a seamless transition
If you're moving this summer,
the busiest season for moving, you know how daunting it can be. But if
you create a blueprint for your move, the transition from house to house
will go more smoothly.
Here are 10 things you can do to prepare for a seamless transition.
1. Full serve, partial serve
or a do-it-yourself move. Can you do it alone or should you hire a
licensed moving company for a full-service or partial-service move?
This is one of the first and often most difficult questions soon-to-be
moving households face. The answer depends on your lifestyle, household
size, budget and amount of time you have to get everything accomplished.
Get written quotes from at least three licensed moving companies so you
know you’re getting the best deal based on your specific moving needs.
Moving yourself or doing a partial-service move? Packing calculators
can make it easier to estimate the amount of boxes and packing materials
needed.
2. Plan to unpack BEFORE you
pack. Take photos of each room in the new home before you arrive with
furniture, plants, appliances and family in tow. Write down on a clip
board where each item should go in your next home before packing, and
carry it with you on moving day. List out the major items that need to
be assembled first. As you place each item in its new room, cross it off
the list and you will be one step closer to enjoying your new home.
3. Be strategic about
packing. If you have more than a month to ‘pick up and move’, start
early. Complete a free change of address and schedule utilities ahead
of time at Moving.com. Start packing early. Whether it’s one room, one
cabinet or a drawer at a time, weed through what may be years of
accumulation. As you’re going through your belongings, divide
everything into these helpful categories: donate to charity, give to a
friend, recycle, trash, pack now, or keep handy until moving day.
You’ll be surprised at how much you can donate, recycle or give to
friends. And, you’ll not be overwhelmed with the task at hand three
days before you move.
4. Moving is NOT child’s play.
Plan ahead. Consider daycare on moving day, or get help from a friend
or family member. Provide lunch or some other appropriate thank you
gesture if you do call in a favor. If that’s not an option, prioritize
setting up safe places for your children to play in the new home on
moving day so they’re not underfoot. This will help everyone remain
happy and calm on moving day.
5. Don’t fight with Fido.
Sometimes we forget that all the packing and constant in-and-out of
visitors is stressful for animals. Consider checking your pet into a
daycare facility, or setting up a time for a friend to take them or
check them into petday care. Don’t let your four-legged best friends get
lost in the shuffle and remember to make day-of moving arrangements.
6. Keep track of small parts.
Some items need to be broken down into pieces when moving, but do you
know what to do with the small screws and washers that you end up with?
Rather than tape them to the furniture, which can result in losing them,
put everything in a baggie that is clearly marked and sealed. Keep all
of the separate baggies together in one box on moving day and personally
take it with you to your new home.
7. Take pictures of electronic
hook-ups. Hooking up TVs, DVRs, home theater systems and computers can
be challenging. Before unplugging any wires for the move, take a photo
of the connections, print them out and label them in detail. This will
create fewer headaches when setting up technology in the new home. Keep
track of all loose wires using baggies or boxes that are clearly
labeled, and personally carry these easy-to-lose items on moving day.
8. Packing cleaning products
and toxins. Products such as detergents, pesticides and paint are heavy
and unwieldy to pack. Dispose of as many as possible before the move in
an eco-friendly way. Call your city’s waste disposal department for
guidance on proper disposal. For items that must be transported, pack
them in a small box within a larger box for protection against leaks.
Don’t overstuff boxes with these items! Consider marking these boxes in a
different color, and seal them extra tight. Keep them separate from the
rest of the boxes, particularly if you have kids and pets.
9. Consider getting full value
insurance protection. If using a professional mover, it may cost a few
dollars extra, but it provides peace of mind and eliminates later
annoyances. Investing in full value protection means any lost or damaged
articles will be repaired or replaced, or a cash settlement will be
made at current market value, regardless of age. It's important to note
that the required minimum coverage of 60 cents per pound would not cover
the replacement cost of more expensive items such as a flat screen TV
if damaged in transit.
10. Know your rights. If using
a professional mover, research your rights as a consumer with either
the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) for interstate
moves or contact the state agency within the state in which you reside
for moves within state. Also, enlist the help of the Better Business
Bureau (BBB) or local law enforcement if the moving company fails to
live up to its promises or threatens to hold your belongings hostage.
FMCSA requires interstate movers to offer arbitration to help settle
disputed claims.
