Moving–Are You Really Ready?

Moving out can be a tremendously liberating event. The promise of a new beginning in a better home is definitely something to look forward to. However, there is a lot of work involved in ensuring that your move is successful. There are dozens of details to take care of and missing out on any one of them can have an impact on your move. Here are some tips that will help ensure your readiness come moving day.

Plan ahead

It goes without saying, but you should prepare for your move as well in advance as possible. This goes for packing up your stuff and getting your affairs in order. The sooner you take care of the big tasks, the more time you will have for the details…and there will definitely be details!

Get your packing materials ready

You will need plenty of materials for packing up your stuff, and you definitely want them handy right when you need them. You will need to purchase plenty of boxes (more than you think you will need), packaging tape, some twine, bubble wrap, Styrofoam pellets, markers, box cutters, and more. You might want to spend a day or two just making boxes, or you could have someone make the boxes while you fill them up.

Keep track of your stuff while packing

The best way to go about filling up your boxes is to arrange the items that should go together in groups. You can have a pile of books for instance, or you could stack all your plates on top of each other. This will help you visualize how much box space you will actually need. This will also make it easier for you to keep track of what each box contains.

Make a catalog of your boxes and their contents

Unpacking your stuff at the new home can be a nightmare if you don’t know where anything is. This is why you should take note of the contents of each box as you seal them. Each box should also be numbered and cataloged in a list along with a breakdown of the contents. This will save you the trouble of having to remember whether the coffeemaker is in box number 12 or box number 22.

Arrange for the movers well in advance

Don’t wait until the day before your move to arrange for a moving service. Some firms may be fully booked at certain times of the year, and you may find yourself having to scramble for a last-minute replacement. This can end up costing you a lot more money.

Make sure that someone is at the new home to meet the movers

You will need someone to open the door for the movers and to keep an eye on the unloading. Keep in mind that movers won’t have nearly as much concern as you over your stuff, so a little on-site monitoring might be in order. Being present during the unloading will also allow you to direct the movers to certain rooms as the truck is unloaded.

Moving Out–A Checklist Of Essential Steps

Moving to another home or office can be a period of tremendous upheaval, with countless details to take care of. However, there are ways by which you can make the process go a lot easier. With the help of these tips, you will be able to look forward to less hassle and a welcoming home waiting for you when you are done.

Designate a center of operations

The first thing you have to do is set aside a space in your home as a sort of “command center” for doing your packing. Things can quickly get out of hand once you begin packing in earnest, and a central location will help you keep organized. This is where you will place all your packing supplies, and will serve as your base of operations until it is time to move out. You might also want to pull your phone to this area to make it easier to stay in contact with friends and family or the moving company until the last minute.

List items you need to pack

One of the best ways to ensure a smooth and efficient move is to make a list of all the things you need to pack. By making a list, you will not only ensure that nothing important gets left behind, but also make it easier to unpack and reorganize your stuff in the new home or office. Be as thorough as possible as you can with this process. Make sure that everything you need to bring with you when you move is accounted for in the list. Also make sure that the contents of the boxes are listed down the same way they are labeled on the outside of the boxes.

Prepare your packing supplies

Getting your packing materials together may take a few hours in itself. Make sure that you have enough boxes on hand and that they are of the proper size. You should also stock up on packing tape, labels, markers, and plenty of bubble wrap and/or Styrofoam pellets. Don’t forget to get a couple of good quality box cutters as well.

Box up your items

In general, it would be best to have more boxes than you think you will need. Most grocery stores will give them away for free (or for pennies) and some moving companies will even give you a refund for boxes that you haven’t used. A good way to ensure that you have enough boxes for all your stuff is to get as many as you think you need and have about ten more boxes in varying sizes.

Get the house ready

If you haven’t gone over your new house thoroughly yet, you should probably do so a few days before the movers come to pick up your stuff. This will give you enough time to do some general cleaning and final preparations for moving day. You should also arrange to have any utility services activated and get copies of the keys for the entire house made. This last step is crucial to ensuring that you are ready to move in when the day comes.

Packing For Moving–Keeping Your Items Safe

Packing your items for moving is an art unto itself, and there are many things to consider that can affect the safety and efficiency of your move. In the flurry of activity that goes on in the days leading up to the move, it is way too tempting to simply stuff everything into boxes and garbage bags. However, there are many reasons why you should take the time to pack up everything properly. For one thing, you will have everything that you need when you get to your new home. Packing everything up securely when you move will also save you the cost of having to replace everything later on. Here are a few tips on keeping your items safe when you move.

Use your drawers as secure storage containers

Your drawers can actually serve as safe and effective storage containers. While you probably wouldn’t want to store fragile or breakable items in there, blankets, linen, and even pillows and stuffed toys can be stored safely in drawers. However, you should make sure not to pack too many heavy items in there. If the contents add too much to the weight of the entire bureau, it might be better to pack them up separately in their own boxes.

Have plenty of bubble wrap and other packing materials handy

You simply can’t have too much bubble wrap, so make sure that you get more than you think you need. Stock up on Styrofoam pellets and old newspapers too while you are at it. Crumpled up newspaper can be good padding material to fill up the spaces between larger items, but don’t rely on them as your sole padding material. For maximum safety, make sure to wrap larger and bulkier items in plenty of bubble wrap.

Box everything up

Garbage boxes are very useful…for garbage. For packing up your stuff for moving, they are simply too flimsy and there is a good chance that a bag could tear and spill your things out on the pavement. If you are serious about keeping all your stuff safe during a move, forget about the garbage bags and pack everything up properly in boxes.

Use twist ties

Twist ties and sandwich bags can be amazingly useful for moving. If you have a bunch of wires for your home entertainment system or computer, bundling them up with twist ties is a great way to keep everything together. Don’t tape up your wires as an alternative. It might seem easier to just tape them up while you are packing but the hassle of trying to remove the tape and the adhesive gunk that it leaves makes them a less than ideal solution.

Pack up small items in sandwich bags

During a move, there are countless small items that can easily be lost or misplaced, including drawer keys, nuts and bolts, spare batteries, and the like. You should have a few heavy-duty sandwich bags handy for such items, and they can be used to hold perishable food items on the day of the move as well.

Moving Into Your New Home–Essential Issues You May Have Neglected

Packing up your items, wrapping them up in bubble wrap, boxing them up–that’s the easy part. Well, maybe not entirely easy, but those are the first things that people think of come moving day, and they are pretty straightforward and easy to remember. However, there are other equally important tasks that are crucial to ensuring comfort and safety in your new home.

Change all the locks. Think of all the people that have had access to your home before you moved in. There is simply no way for you to tell whether or not copies of your keys are still out there. Don’t take the risk of finding out the hard way. The first priority is to get new locks for every door leading to the outside. After you have settled in, you can begin changing all the locks in the interior rooms as well.

Consider installing a closet system. If you have been struggling with your cramped closet for years, now is the time to get it right. Getting your closet organized right after you move in will help ease your transition in your new home. There is simply no substitute for knowing everything is exactly where you want it and a well designed closet system provides just that.

It would be best to have such a system installed before you move in. This way, you can simply unpack your boxes and organize your closet as you go. The alternative is living out of your luggage for a few days while the system is installed, which you definitely don’t want to have to deal with after a big move.

Get your electricity and plumbing in order. A lot of first-time movers mistakenly assume that things will be set up pretty much the same way in the new home as it was back at the previous one. However, chances are that you may have to make some modifications to the electrical system and/or to the plumbing in order to accommodate your needs and preferences. You may be running a lot of power tools frequently for instance, so you may need electrical system that can handle a bigger load.

You may also need additional outlets or faucets at specific areas around your home. This is especially helpful if you plan on doing a lot of gardening or simply want to wash your car more conveniently. All these tasks are better dealt with before you move in; they will simply be much easier to do without all the movers and furniture getting in the way. Think of it as “customizing” your home. The end result should be a home that is designed around your needs and comfort.

Finally, look into the suitability of the garage for your needs. Does it have enough space for one or both of your cars, or are you better off using it as a storage space or additional room? Your decision will affect your day to day life after you have moved in so take the time to plan out your garage space carefully.

Making Arrangements For The Day Of The Move

If you are planning to move to a new home or office, the bulk of the heavy lifting will probably take place on the day of the move itself. You can also expect several days of packing ahead of you in the days leading up to the move. You had better benefit in halfway decent shape too. Unless you pay other people to do all the work for you, you will be in for a workout come moving day.

That being said, a lot of the work that goes into moving to a new location will probably take place “behind-the-scenes” and require a different set of muscles. Although not nearly as physically demanding as lugging heavy boxes down a flight of stairs, these tasks are just as important as the more physical aspects of the move. We’re talking about making the arrangements to make your move go much more smoothly and more efficiently.

About two weeks before you have to move, you should inform the bank, your place of work, and your children’s schools of your new address. This will save you the trouble of having to do it later anyway. This will make it easier for you and your family to get back into a regular routine in the new home. You should have also arranged to have your mail sent to your new address.

If you have been renting your previous home, you will have to get the house in order so that you can get your security deposit back. After the owner has inspected the house for any damage, you will probably have up to a week tops to vacate the premises. You can then use this security deposit toward your new home if necessary.

Go through your kitchen and see what items you can take with you when you move. You don’t have to throw away everything, and barring the old can of beets from last year, you might just have enough to get a good start on your pantry in the new home. You will find that the expenses don’t end when you move out (on the contrary), and every little bit of money that you can save will come in handy as you ease into the new home.

Don’t forget to get your utilities services disconnected at the last convenient date for you. You should arrange to get the power and gas shut off on the day after you move. Cable, Internet, and satellite services may be scheduled for disconnection on the same day or even a few weeks before you have to move. The important thing is to make sure that you aren’t running a bill on utilities that you won’t use.

You will ideally want to be present as the movers unload the truck at your new home. If this isn’t possible, you should definitely arrange to be there for the movers. This will help ensure that each box is handled carefully, and can be placed in the appropriate area of your house right from the truck.

Settling Into Your New Home–The Hidden Costs

After you have moved into your new home, you might be thinking that it you can finally take it easy and give the checkbook a break. While it is true that most of your expenses are over and done with, there are certain expenses you will have to deal with. In fact, you may find that the cost of getting settled may be more than you had bargained for.

That being said, there are ways to lessen the financial burden of moving and getting settled. These tips should make your move a bit less stressful–and less costly.

Look for packaged deals on certain utilities. Although you may have previously paid for separate services, it might be a better to go with a company that offers bundled communications/entertainment services. In addition to making it simpler to pay your bills–you only have to pay a single company every month–this will also save you the cost of having to pay three different installation fees and security deposits.

Figure out what you should keep and what you can get rid of. When moving to a new home, it might seem like a good idea to replace certain pieces of furniture, appliances, or household accessories with new ones. However, you don’t have to replace everything. Some items–such as a chest of drawers or end tables, for example–can be repainted or refinished to work better in your new home. Think about it this way: you will have to replace almost everything you get rid of anyway. If the cost of replacing certain items is cheaper than transporting them, it might be better to hold on to them.

Having to purchase groceries to fill up your pantry and fridge can add unnecessary expense to your first week or so in your new home. When packing up your kitchen items from your previous home, figure out what you can keep safely for the move. There is little reason to throw away canned goods (unless they are expired), and you will still have use for them in your new home. Spices and dried herbs will also be useful even after you move, so you don’t necessarily have to throw everything away.

It might be best to pack up your kitchen stuff on the day of the move itself. A couple of boxes should be sufficient for any perishables. If you take them with you as you leave your old house, it should make it to the new one and still be safe for consumption.

Be creative with certain furniture and accessories. Even if certain items seem as if they wouldn’t belong in the new home, there might be some way to modify them to work better. A carpet can be cut up to make several smaller floor mats, for instance, and a lamp table can be repainted and refinished for use in another room.

The most basic step to reducing the costs of moving is to bring with you stuff that can be costly to replace and which don’t have to be thrown out. By doing so, you can cut your expenses down to a minimum.

5 Little Known Moving Tips

No matter how experienced you are at moving–and not most people are–there are always things that you may not be aware of that can make the process more efficient. We’ll leave the actual packing and moving tips for other articles. There are certainly enough of those floating around on the Web. Instead, this article will focus on five little tips that can make your move easier.

Maximize your box space

Don’t just dump everything into boxes indiscriminately. It would be a good idea to have a plan for filling up your boxes. This will prevent confusion when it comes time to unpack your things in there new home, and reduce the risk of damage as well. In general, it would be best to pack heavy items into smaller boxes. You can fill the spaces in between with smaller non-fragile items.

Make use of closets and drawers

Closets and drawers can actually be pressed into service as safe and effective storage containers. If you have clothes, towels, and linen already in there, you might not even have to pack them up into boxes. Of course, you will want to lighten the load a bit so that the furniture can still be easily carried by two people. Keeping certain items in the drawers will provide them with adequate protection and save you the time and effort in packing them up only to have to unpack them when you get to your new home.

Have sandwich bags handy

Sandwich bags are amazingly useful items to have around. You can use them for anything from the nuts and bolts for the crib, wires and connectors for your home entertainment system, herbs and spices, and all other small items that you want to keep together. You can even tape them into the box which contains the items that they are used for. For instance, the nuts and bolts for the crib can be taped to a leg, and the connectors to your home music system can be taped in the inside flap of the box where the unit is stored. This will make it easier to find those crucial items when you have to reassemble everything in the new home.

Bundle up small items

Smaller items that tend to go missing are best kept in a compartmentalized container. A tool box, sewing kit, or even a cigar box can be useful for these purposes. Spare batteries, electrical adaptors, hooks, and fixtures can all be packed away together so you only have to look through a couple of boxes at most in order to find what you need.

Label everything and make a numbered list

You have probably already planned to label each box with the contents using a marker. However, it might be worthwhile to go the extra step and make a numbered list of each box and what they contain. This way, you can simply refer to the list if you are looking for a specific item. This will save you the trouble of having to open up several different boxes to find what you need.

Moving Into Your New Kitchen

When moving to a new home, one of the most important tasks to consider is moving into your kitchen. After the bedroom, the kitchen is arguably the most important room in your home. It can serve as your base of operations or a reprieve from the rest of the house, which is probably still in disarray. Getting your kitchen organized brings you one step closer to settling in, and you get to make meals out of it besides! Here are some crucial steps in moving into your kitchen.

The first step is to take stock of the kitchen space. There is a good chance that your new kitchen is laid out differently from your previous one, so get familiar with it as soon as possible. This will help you maximize space and efficiency.

Go through each area of the kitchen and figure out what items you will need most often. Dishwashing solution and hand washing soap should go near the sink for instance, and spices and herbs should go near the stove. Don’t think about being too fancy just yet. You really need only a few of the basics to knock out simple meals, which should be enough to keep you going for the first couple of weeks.

Prior to moving out, you should already have boxed up your kitchen stuff, with all the items grouped according to their use in the kitchen. Dishwashing supplies should go together for example, while condiments should go together, plates and cutlery should go together, and so on. When you get to the new house, it should be much easier to unpack everything and place them where they need to go. This should help you divide up the entire move into more manageable tasks, and prevent you from being overwhelmed by a mountain of boxes in the middle of your kitchen.

You will also need to sort through your food items and figure out what you can keep and what you could–or should–throw away. Perishables should be thrown out of course, but you don’t necessarily have to throw out everything in your fridge. If you hold off loading up your fridge on the day of the move, you should be able to keep using it until then. Any consumables that you want to take you with you can then simply be packed into a box for easy unpacking later on. This will save you the hassle and cost of having to head out to the store whilst in the midst of packing, and you are assured of something to eat when you get to your new home.

Consider taking most of your canned foods and spices with you when you move. Anything that you don’t plan on using can be given away to a food drive in your community, but you can easily take the rest with you. Keep in mind that you will probably have to buy some more of the same items when you get to your new home, so anything that you can salvage will be put to good use.

Getting Your Utilities Up-And-Running Before You Move

Most people who are planning to move to a new home or office spend the bulk of their time and energy into packing and actually moving the items. As important as these tasks are, there is one that is just as important, but sometimes neglected in the last minute flurry of moving: arranging for utility services.

Don’t simply assume that the same utilities companies you use in your previous home will service your new home. If you move to another state, there may be totally different utility providers available, or they may have different policies. Find out the requirements for getting your service connected well before moving day. This will help ensure that all the basic services are set up when you get there.

Most companies will be able to get your utilities up-and-running after three to five days. However, some companies may take up to a week to get everything up online. It would be best to make your arrangements about two weeks before you have to move. You should also arrange to have your utilities turned on a day or so before you actually move in. Trying to get your new home in order is enough of a chore in itself, and you don’t want to have to deal with the added hassle of not having your basic services available.

In most cases, the electricity will already be on several days before you have to move in. However, you might not have the outlets that you need where you need them, or the power in the new house may not be adequate for your needs. It would be a good idea to go over the house a week or so before you move in. This will give you a chance to find out whether or not you have enough outlets for that woodshop you are planning on or if you have adequate illumination outside.

If you will be staying with the same provider after you move, you might be able to arrange to have your account transferred to the new address. This might be possible if your new home is located in the same city as your previous one. If you are able to get a change of address, you could avoid having to pay a security deposit, since the previous deposit will simply be applied to your continuing service contract.

If you have to move over to another utilities provider, you will likely have to pay a security deposit. What you should do is arrange to have your services disconnected the day after you move out. After your previous utilities company has ascertained that everything is in order, you should be able to get your security deposit back. You can then use this as the security deposit for your new utilities company. It’s a bit of a juggling act to be sure, but the money that you pay upfront will be returned to you anyway after you get your previous security deposit back. Best of all, you can us your lights and everything else up until you move, and have them on at the new house as well.

5 Essential Things You Need to Know Before You Move

With moving day only days away, you are probably eager to get settled into your new home. Before you can do that however, there are a few things to keep in mind, all of which will determine how comfortable you will be once you actually move in. Here’s a list of essential tasks you will have to do just before and right after the movers have unloaded your stuff.

Do some housecleaning

In general, a thorough housecleaning should be done before the movers bring your stuff over. This will allow you to clean areas that would be difficult or impossible to get to once your furniture is arranged. After you have set up everything the way you want it, you can then do finishing cleanup job.

Arrange your furniture

Arranging your furniture is an art in itself, and you should take various factors into consideration, including comfort, aesthetics, function, convenience, and safety. One of the best things about moving is that you get the chance to arrange your furniture in a totally new–and hopefully, more satisfactory–manner. Take some time to plan out the positioning of each piece of furniture in every room. There are even free furniture layout tools online that can help you map out as many alternate arrangements as you wish. With the aid of these tools, you will be better able to determine how much space you will have as well as hot to best position each piece of furniture..

Check on your utilities

It is easy enough to remember to arrange to have your electricity turned on, but many people forget to check on their other utility services as well. Don’t forget to make arrangements for your gas, water, phone, and cable services connected. In general, it would be best to have these services operational before the movers get there. This will save you the trouble of having to rip up carpeting and cutting into the walls with large furniture and heavy appliances blocking the way. Also make sure that all utilities companies know exactly when you need their services connected. Sometimes they may schedule connection for the day of your move itself, although you may have wanted the service connected one or two days before.

Get the important rooms organized

There is probably no way that you can get every room in livable condition all in one day. Instead of trying to get the entire house in order, it might be best to focus on getting the bedroom, kitchen, and bathrooms ready before any other rooms else. Between these three rooms, you will be able to live a bit more comfortably while you get the rest of the house in order.

Do a last-minute check

After you have gotten everything in order, take some time to give the entire house a once over. This will ensure that everything is ready for the movers to arrive, and give you the opportunity to figure out any last minute preparations and ensure that the move goes as smoothly as possible.