Tips & Tools : moving

Tips for First Time Movers

RE.com Tips & Tools — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 14:48:00 GMT

Your first move is going to be a big deal. It will be the defining moment of your adulthood and the ultimate declaration of your independence to the world. Although it is an exciting occasion, it is probably going to be one of the most stressful, insane, and chaotic days of your life. Fear not! Here are some tips to point you in the right direction and help you keep your cool during your first moving experience:

Don’t be stubborn!
There is absolutely nothing wrong with asking for assistance. Family and great friends want to help you any way they can, so don’t be too proud to ask them for it. They will be flattered and more than willing to assist you for your first move and many more. No family or friends around to help? Schedule your move with a moving company and they can help you ever step of the way from planning to packing and reassembling furniture.

Don’t stress!
It is completely normal (and easy) to lose your mind during your move with everybody running around with your belongings. Take a step back from the situation and sit somewhere alone for a few minutes to gain some perspective on the situation. Remember that this is just one day of your life. Once it is over, you probably will not have to move for a good amount of time. Close your eyes, breathe deeply, and remind yourself that you can and will get through this.

Don’t starve!
With the chaos of moving day and anxious feelings about your new home, it is easy to forget to eat. Make sure to start off the day with a healthy (but not heavy) breakfast to get you energized for your move. Try to schedule at least a half hour lunch for yourself and your movers to ensure you are all running on a full tank of fuel instead of adrenaline and caffeine. Also, don’t forget to stay hydrated. Keep numerous bottles of water handy and be sure to drink plenty of them while you sweat and pack away.

Asking for help, staying calm, and keeping your body energized with healthy foods and water will definitely help make your first move the very best one. Good luck!

3 Moving Secrets

RE.com Tips & Tools — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 15:41:00 GMT

By Gina Cappiello www.123Movers.com

Pssst! Want to get in on some clever tips to help make your move a little easier? Read on to get the 411:

Pack an Overnight Bag
Treat your move as if you are spending the night at your friend’s house. Pack the essentials for a night away along with a set of moving clothes. This will save you tons of time and effort on moving day. Instead of searching through your boxes for a change of clothes during or after your move, just take a look through your backpack to find everything you need. You can also pack a couple of bottles of water and dry snacks to have on hand in case you get dehydrated or a little hungry while moving.

Bring Entertainment
On the first night in a new home, things can be pretty quiet and boring without cable, video games, and the Internet hooked up. Bring a small AM/FM radio, boombox, or MP3 player docking station (with your fully charged MP3 player) so you can listen to news, music, or talk radio while you relax in your new home. You can even play board games, cards, read, or do a few puzzles during your first night to pass the time. Chances are you will be way too exhausted to even want to do anything, but it is great to have some entertainment handy just in case you can’t sleep.

Cheat!
Who says moving has to be done in one day?! Save time by “cheating” a little! If you can, start bringing items to your new home as soon as it is available and empty. This is a great way to start getting set up with your new home, get an idea of where everything can go, and figure out what else you may need for your new home. It is also a nice way to help your moving company out a little bit on the actual day of your move.

Got all that? Good! Now go share these moving secrets with everyone so they can have an easier move.

Moving in the Winter

RE.com Tips & Tools — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 13:08:00 GMT

By Gina Cappiello www.123Movers.com

Don’t let the ice and snow of winter sabotage your next move! Stay warm, safe, and smiling during your winter move simply by following these helpful tips:

Bundle up!
It’s always great to have a few warm pieces of clothing on hand during your winter move. Have sweatshirts, socks, sweaters, blankets, coats, and boots remain in your home until you are ready to leave permanently. You never know if your heater will break the day of your move or if the wet weather will soak you to the bone.

Don’t slip
Shovel and salt walkways, steps, driveways, and anywhere movers will be walking. A slip and fall while moving is not only embarrassing, but extremely dangerous. Even with freshly shoveled walkways to guide you, walk slowly and carefully throughout your move in case you missed scraping up a slippery spot.

Stay warm
Be sure your heat will be on for moving day at your current and new home. If the heat is not yet on in your new home, bring along some space heaters to hook up before you begin moving your belongings inside. This way, you will have a toasty home to relax in after the move and won’t freeze during your first night in your new home.

Drink (and eat) up
Keep a kettle of warm water for tea or a pot of hot coffee on hand to warm your movers up with. If you want to go above and beyond for your movers, have some soups (Ramen noodles will suffice) and a loaf of crusty bakery bread ready for them to eat during a lunchtime break. They will thank you for the warm gesture during the chilly move!

EDITOR'S NOTE: Don't forget about our other seasonal moving story, Moving in the Summer.

Moving 2.0: How to Pack and Move Electronics

RE.com Tips & Tools — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 12:03:00 GMT

By Gina Cappiello www.123Movers.com

MP3 players, flat-screen televisions, surround sound speakers, and video game systems are pretty tough, but can get destroyed easily if they are not packed safely for a move. Follow these simple guidelines below to protect your prized (and pricy!) gadgets during your next move:

Packing
The best way to pack your pieces is back into their original boxes with their own pieces of packing foam. This guarantees that the item will safely fit into the box while being protected. If you no longer have the original box or packing foam, get creative. Cushioned packing blankets and durable tape are perfect tools to use to wrap large fragile items like flat-screen TVs and computer monitors up tight. If you do not feel that your items are protected enough by blankets, place them into a box filled with packing peanuts for extra protection.

Moving
If you can afford the extra expense, hire a separate moving company that specializes in moving fragile items. Be sure to choose the company you feel the most comfortable with and that has the most experience with moving high tech items. Do not choose a mover solely based on their estimate. You may be getting the best price on a mover, but you may end up with damaged goods because of it. If hiring a separate company is out of the question, do it yourself! Pack your items into the car in size order (big to small) and use extra blankets or pillows in between empty spaces to reduce wiggle room. If you are using a car that does not have collapsible backseats, don’t worry. Bigger items can be put onto the backseat and strapped in accordingly while smaller items can be placed on the floor or front seat of your car.

Unpacking
It is very important to be patient and work slowly when unpacking everything from your vehicle. Just like packing, unpacking gadgets can be extremely tedious. Before moving your sensitive items into your new home, make sure there are designated spots for them to be placed. Keep all of your items wrapped up until everything is moved into your home. To avoid accidents during the rest of your move, keep your electronics in an area of the house where there is the least amount of moving traffic. If setting up places for your gadgets is impossible to do during your move, keep your fragile items packed (and locked) away until everything else is safely moved in.

Moving is a high-stress activity. Don’t let your high-tech items get damaged during it. Follow the tips provided to guarantee a problem-free move for you and your electronics.

Top 5 Reasons to Love Your Next Move

RE.com Tips & Tools — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 12:15:00 GMT

By Gina Cappiello www.123Movers.com

Moving does not have to be a negative experience. In fact, a move may be most exciting and important step you take in your life. Take a look at 5 fantastic things to look forward to during your next move below:

New neighborhood
Moving to a new town, state, or city means new surroundings. Think about all of the amazing new restaurants, shops, and places to hang out at that you will soon be discovering. You will also have new neighbors to meet and a brand new living space to make your very own.

New friends
Finding a new group of friends can be daunting and scary, but it is also a very liberating experience. You will now have absolute freedom to choose who you want to be close to without any pressure from your existing core of friends. New friends also mean new perspectives and stories to learn from, which will help you flourish in your new town.

New opportunities
There may be a bevy of different businesses in your new town depending on where you move to. Your move could mean a brand new job in the future with a fascinating company. There will also be new organizations to volunteer for which may unlock a new found love for a cause you never knew was there before.

New you
You’re reinventing your life by moving, so why not reinvent yourself? With a move, you are free to adjust your personality, style, and beliefs to become a whole new person without worrying about your current friends and neighbors judging you.

New culture
New accents, languages, ideals, and traditions will most likely be found in your new surroundings. Embrace your new town’s unique culture and learn as much as you can from it. You will probably become part of it eventually, too!

Moving does not have to be the worst thing to ever happen to you. Focus on the positive aspects of your upcoming move and get excited for the future instead of thinking your move is the end of the world.

Unique Ways to Announce a Move

RE.com Tips & Tools — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 12:03:00 GMT

By Gina Cappiello www.123Movers.com

What is the first thing to do when you find out you are moving? Tell everyone! Regardless of it is a local or a long-distance move, announce it in a novel way with one of these ideas:

Throw a “Surprise Party”: Send out invites for a surprise party but don’t tell anyone who it is for or why it is being thrown. Ask everyone to bring a food or drink that is easy to “move,” like appetizers, pastries, or cookies. When it is time for the big “surprise,” tell everyone to hide. Say you are going to escort the guests of honor in. When you have been gone for a minute or two, come back into the house and surprise everyone with the news. It’s a fun twist to put on the party and a great way to share the exciting news with everyone.

Send eCards or Personalized Greeting Cards: There are numerous free eCard websites to use to create a fun moving announcement. Some moving companies even provide an eCard template for their clients to customize and send out. If you are feeling ambitious, pick up a pack of cards and personalize each one with a fun message about your move along with your new contact information.

Drop Hints on Social Networks: Everybody is connected through social networking sites online, so why not announce the news creatively there? Start tweaking your online profiles to see if anyone catches on. After revamping your profiles, start dropping little hints in your news feeds, like the name of your new street or referencing the town you are moving to. This will get everyone involved and curious. When you feel like everyone is at the edges of their virtual seats and cannot take the suspense any longer, give them the great news!

No Time Before Your Move?: You can always throw a “moved in” party at your new home. Invite friends, new neighbors, and family members over to mingle. Have a notebook out for your party goers to write well wishes and their contact information in. Be sure to take photos of everyone at the party and post them on a free photo sharing website for all to see. Send out thank you notes shortly after with a favorite photo of the party and your new contact information. A moved in party will not only help you feel more at home, but it will also help bridge the gap between your old and new friends.

Do not forget that the most important part about telling everyone you are moving is keeping in touch after the big move. The Internet and cell phones make it easy to say hello to anyone around the world, so be sure to stay connected and involved with all of your loved ones. No excuses!

Green Movin' Without Losin'

RE.com Tips & Tools — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 13:19:00 GMT

By Gina Cappiello www.123Movers.com

One task most of us face every few years can create loads of garbage and pollution. That task? Moving! Everyone is hopping on the hybrid green bandwagon lately, here are some ways to keep your move a little greener:

Don’t Trash Everything: Before packing up your belongings, take a few hours every day before you move to sort through it all. Pack away everything you want to keep and put aside everything you do not want. Take everything you do not want and get rid of it in a green way. Set up a moving day garage sale, sell your items online, or donate them to a charitable organization. Not only will you be greening up your life, but your “trash” could be someone’s favorite find.

Rent Reusable Boxes: Sturdier, stackable, and more reliable than their cardboard cousins, reusable boxes are a great way to green up your move. Not only are they delivered to you, but they are also picked up when you are all done unpacking them at your new home. This means no boxes cluttering up your new home or extra waste being thrown into our already overflowing landfills. Along with renting reusable boxes, utilize your suitcases and bags for packing. You’ll be surprised how many things a purse can hold!

Avoid using Non-Biodegradable Packing Materials: Styrofoam packing peanuts, bubble wrap, and foam are useful during a move, but not for the environment. If you’re looking to go green on your next move, try utilizing old newspapers to wrap fragile items, and then recycle the paper when you unpack. Wrap pieces of furniture and art with blankets to ensure they do not get damaged during your move instead of packing them in foam. If you must use non-biodegradable packing materials, ask around to see if anyone has any from a past move to give you. Reusing is always better than buying new for the environment and you wallet.

Use Eco-Friendly Movers: With the green movement in full swing, movers are getting in on the ground floor. New specialized green moving companies are springing up all over the USA to help end useless pollution from moving. Some provide eco-friendly packing services while others only use trucks fueled by BioDiesel that only drive where they must. Less air pollution and waste, here we come!

Offset Your Carbon Footprint: If you are unable to be green during your move or just want to contribute more to the cause, you can donate money to an environmental group to “offset” your carbon footprint. There are calculators you can use online to figure out what your footprint is and how much it would be to “cover” it up. Your donation goes towards protecting land, animals, or planting trees. It is an easy way to contribute even more to the green cause without moving.

Being green during a move does not have to be pricy or difficult. Follow the tips above to keep waste and toxins from polluting your moving day and the Earth.

Moving in the Summer

RE.com Tips & Tools — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 18:02:00 GMT

By Gina Cappiello, 123Movers.com

Summertime is all about the blazing hot sun, road trips, beaches, and ice cream. It is also a popular time for moving. According to the US Census Bureau, about 12% of Americans moved in 2008, and most chose to do this during the summer. If you are one of these summer movers, follow the following tips to make your summer move more enjoyable and safe:

Stay hydrated
Dehydration occurs when the body loses more water than it is taking in. Moving boxes all day in hot weather can make you more susceptible to dehydration. In order to beat the heat and stay energized throughout your move, keep a case of cold water in a cooler in a central location of your house. This way, the fridge will stay clean and you will stay refreshed.

Dress appropriately
Even though it is hot outside, moving day is not the best day for wearing many summer accessories. Forgo the flip flops for one day in favor of sneakers to protect your feet. Don’t wear accessories like long necklaces, bangles, and large rings during your move, either. These can get stuck on items in between boxes, causing injuries. Simple attire that you do not mind getting a little dirty or sweaty is best to wear during a move, like an old pair of shorts and a light cotton top.

Protect perishable foods
It is smart to clean out the fridge the night before or the morning of the move, but what do you do with these perishable items now? Pack a cooler or two with ice and your perishables so nothing goes bad. If your new home is not too far away, you can always bring your cold food items to the house early to ensure nothing goes bad.

Pack fans and A/C units last
Keep your current home cool throughout your move with fans and air conditioning. You do not want anyone to get overheated. Once you are all done packing up your truck, remove the fans and A/C units in your home and pack them into the truck. When you arrive at your new home, bring the fans and A/C units into the home, put them on, and cool the house down before moving everything inside.

Take your time
Accidents and injuries can happen if you rush. There is no need to run in and out of your home with a number of boxes in each trip to make things “quicker.” It may just end up slowing you down if you get injured or drop your boxes. Walk slowly up and down stairs with your items, watching where you place your foot upon each step to lower the risk of slips and falls. Also, take breaks in between lifting and packing to sit down, have water, and a snack. Moving takes time, so make sure to take yours to prevent injuries or sickness.

Along with all of these moving tips, it’s important to stay positive and calm. It can be frustrating moving your entire life from one location to another in the summer heat, but an upbeat attitude paired with a Zen-like calm throughout a summer move will definitely help make things go smoothly.

Moving on a Budget

RE.com Tips & Tools — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 02:16:00 GMT

By Gina Cappiello, 123Movers.com

Let’s be honest: money is tight right now for everyone. We are all thinking twice before making purchases, putting every expense under a microscope, and saving like never before. But what if you have to move? It can often be a huge expense with the cost of trucks, packing, and planning. Here are some smart and clever ways to save (and make) some money during a move:

Use free materials
Think you need to buy special boxes and packing peanuts to get your beloved items from point A to point B? No way! You can pick up a variety of boxes at local supermarkets, shops, and wholesale outlets for free. Be sure to ask before taking them, though. Use that old stack of newspapers to wrap fragile dishes, glasses, and knick-knacks with. You can also utilize your suitcases, backpacks, and reusable bags to pack items. The bags are coming with you regardless, so why not put them to good use?

PYO (Pack Your Own)
Packing services can get up to the thousands depending on how many things you have to pack. Spend a few weekends before your move sifting through all of your possessions to decide what’s staying and what can go. Once you decide what is coming with you, pack it up and put the boxes aside.

Purge and profit
Now that you have decided what is necessary and unnecessary, it’s time to make some money. Sell everything you cannot take or do not want by having a moving sale or post everything with prices on free online marketplaces. Anything left over you can give away to a charity. Not only is your donation tax-deductible, but some charitable organizations will even arrange for a truck to pick up all of your unwanted items for free.

Eat up
Remember those canned goods, boxes of pasta, and non-perishables you stacked your pantry with thanks to recession-busting sales at the grocery store? It’s time to reap what you have sown! Create some delicious dishes with your pantry staples instead of buying tons of groceries that may go to waste. Not only will you save money by saving on food, but you may discover some creative meals to make on a budget.

Shop around
You don’t have to choose the first moving company you come across to take care of everything. Speak with multiple moving companies to get an idea of how they operate and how they charge. Choose a company that you feel the most comfortable and confident about. Also, be sure to ask plenty of questions so you won’t be surprised about the bill after the move.

Saving on a move doesn’t have to be hard. Just a few adjustments to your moving plan can help you save hundreds of dollars without compromising anything.

Moving to College

RE.com Tips & Tools — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 12:26:00 GMT

By Aldo Singer, 123Movers.com

Beginning college and moving into a dorm room can often be an exciting experience for a teenager entering adulthood, so exciting that they may forget that they’ll need everyday necessities to survive everyday life now that they’re living on their own.

Make sure you prepare for moving into college by stopping by your local pharmacy or department store mall and pick some of those important bathroom items like toiletries and towels. Most dorm rooms have communal bathrooms and kitchens so you will need your own things.

Chances are you won’t need to enlist the help of a moving company for this move because you probably don’t have that many things to begin with. Your car or parents’ car is probably going to be sufficient enough to get you started and able to function in your new dorm room.

College often comes along with a lot of textbooks and large amounts of hours devoted to studying; you’re not going to have time to cook which is why you’ll need a solid microwave. Don’t forget a couple pieces of silverware to go along with those ‘radio-active’ meals. Plastic forks and knives will not do you any good because you’ll have to constantly be spending money on them and are only bad for the environment in the end.

An item that many people probably wouldn’t even think about to bring with them on their journey to their dorm room is enough extension cords. You may want to relax on your bed with your laptop but don’t want to burn the laptop battery out, this is where an extension cord would be perfect.

Moving away from your parents may blind you into thinking your free to do and act however you please, but that isn’t the case in dorm rooms. You’re most likely going to have to pay a whole lot of extra money if you’re planning on living on your own. You’re probably going to have a roommate, whose feelings you’re going to have to consider while you try and do your own thing during your college life. Living in harmony with another being isn’t easy which is why you should set the ground rules early that either of you may have.

Treat your moving day in to college like a college exam that you’ll be facing and make sure you prepare for it ahead of time.

Credit and Forget It

RE.com Tips & Tools — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 13:03:00 GMT

By Aldo Singer, 123Movers.com

The process of moving into your new home or apartment actually begins years before that event has taken placed. You can’t rent an apartment or find yourself a home if you don’t have good credit. Establishing good credit is one of the cornerstones to a happier life because if you can afford a nice home, chances are you’ve got good credit. Getting to the good credit point of your life starts off slow but there are ways to know that you’re going in to the right direction.

When you’re starting, probably while you’re in college its best to get any credit card you can. I say that because it’s going to be hard to get any kind of credit card when you do not have any credit to go on. Some credit cards you may be able to get are a secured credit card or a prepaid credit card. These cards will help you build on your credit report slowly.

You should also have a savings and checking account in place so the creditors can keep an eye on your funds. There is no point in giving someone a credit card if they don’t have money to spend.

If you’re still having trouble getting a credit card and you’ve been constantly turned down, you should look into being added on to someone else’s credit card account. This can help you build credit as well but it also makes you liable for the other person and vice versa. If the other person on the card or the ‘account holder’ is making charges that neither of you are going to be able to pay, your both going to be held responsible for those charges. You can’t run away from those charges.

When you receive your bill with those large charges you must make a payment to keep building on your credit.

Two of the most important factors of building good credit are paying your bills on time and how much of your actual credit that you’re using. Even if you can’t pay your bill in full (which is the #1 way to build fast credit) you should pay the minimum payment at least. It shows your making an effort.

It is recommended that you use at least 1/3 of your credit availability. Spending $50 a month isn’t going to make your credit score jump very high within a short period of time.

Before you realize it, it’ll be time to move out of your parent’s house and into your new home you should have a solid credit score if you’ve followed the aforementioned tips.

One more thing, probably the most solid tip to live by as much as you can is to never spend more than you make. If you do you’ll find yourself in loads of debt, the exact opposite record of building credit.

Reducing Waste on Moving Day

RE.com Tips & Tools — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 20:40:00 GMT

By Aldo Singer, 123Movers.com

Protecting the environment is something that can never go out of style. At moments it’s trendy and other times people don’t think anything of it.

Moving day is an event that can contribute gigantic amounts of waste to the Earth. People are normally stressed out during this event and throw environmental concerns by the waste side (pun intended). You don’t have to. There are plenty of ways to move to a new home without contributing to the pollution of the world.

Most of the waste products that come as result of moving day are paper products or cardboard materials. This doesn’t have to be the case though. There are many options lying around your soon-to-be old home.

It all starts with the packing process and dealing with moving boxes. Whether or not you’re moving yourself or using a moving company, do not let movers push tons of moving boxes on you. Chances are you probably won’t need to use all of them to begin with. Do your best to find old boxes. You will have a good chance to find several boxes that will just be disposed of at your local grocery store. If you can’t find enough old boxes to use during moving day, try and locate boxes composed of recycled materials. Don’t forget that you can recycle the boxes as well once you’ve completed your move entirely.

Another alternative to boxes that you might like to consider during your move are your own suitcases and bags. Why not load some of your clothes and other fabric materials in accessories meant to hold them? Makes sense right.

If you’re worried about the old boxes not being strong enough, try contacting your local movers and see if they have any storage crates available. These items are durable and last a very long time and can be recycled once you’ve completed your use of them.

If you’re an avid newspaper reader, then you’ve got plenty of wrapping paper for fragile items, like your glass cups. Some other packing materials that can help prevent more waste from your move is bubble wrap. You can place the bubble wrap around a lot of sensitive equipment like your TV or computer.

You’ll probably notice while you’re going through all your belongings that you don’t need all your clothes that you have or all those DVD’s you’ve compiled. A nice friendly affair that will make you some money and meet some new people would be a garage sale. You can sell your possessions at a low price and reduce your overall stash that you’ll be moving.

These ‘green’ moving tips will also help you save some greenbacks. It’s a win-win for everyone involved, you and the world.

Painless Moving

RE.com Tips & Tools — Fri, 20 Jul 2007 19:19:00 GMT

Don't let moving be a headache – plan ahead to make your move painless.

Moving is a pain. Between packing the boxes, taking care of all the details, saying your good-byes, there’s not much that makes moving fun. But, by getting a head start and tackling the problem head-on, painless moving can be a possibility for your next relocation.

1. Declutter
Still have clothes that fit three sizes ago hanging in your closet? Or, is there a drawer in your house that is so full of junk that it frightens you to even contemplate opening it? Why move stuff you don’t want or need? Go through your house and throw away or donate whatever you can. Not only can this help make your move painless, but it also saves you money. Less to move means less you have to pay the movers, or if you are moving yourself, less boxes to buy. And, less to move also means less of your valuable time wasted.

2. Cancel services
Don’t make the mistake of paying for the electric bill of your old residence after you’ve left. An easy way to make moving painless is to make a checklist of all the services that you need to cancel or transfer. Also, be sure to get confirmation numbers. If someone at the electric company forgets to turn off your account, it’s your word against theirs and guess who would lose that battle.

3. Set up new services
While you are canceling your old services, go ahead and set up all the services at your new residence. Keep in mind that you’ll probably have to be there for some services to be set up – cable, Internet, etc. Schedule these when you’ll actually be moved into your new home and able to take some time off work.

4. Pack
Unless you are lucky enough to hire movers who are going to pack for you, this is a task that you’ll want to get a head start on to ensure a painless moving day. Start packing with the rooms in your house that you use the least – guest room, formal living room, formal dining room, etc. Get a room packed as much as possible before moving to the next room. For rooms that you’ll use right up to the end, go ahead and pack as much as you can. Be sure to label very well. Clearly note if the contents are fragile as well as where the box should go in the new house.

5. Prepare children
If you have young children, it might be difficult for a move to be painless for them. They may not understand why you are boxing up all of their toys. Keep a dialogue going to ease any apprehensions they may have. If possible, show them pictures of the new home. Try to get them excited. Let them pick out the color of their new room. Also, reassure your kids that all of their toys and furniture will meet them in the new house.

6. Lock up pets on moving day
The last thing that you want when you move is to lose a beloved pet in the process. Be sure to lock up any pets so that they can’t get loose while loading the moving truck. If you’ve hired movers, keep the pets in an empty room that is clearly labeled “Do not enter: pets inside.”

7. Pack a bag
Keep an overnight bag with you that holds a few essentials to keep you going for a couple of days. Move out and move in dates don’t necessarily sync up – you’ll be glad you have a couple of days of clothes and even an air mattress if you get stuck in your new house waiting for the movers to bring your furniture.

8. Keep valuables with you
Pack one box with your valuables – jewelry, wills, important papers, passports, birth certificates, sentimental items, coin collections, etc. If something happens to your belongings in transit, you’ll feel better having these with you.

9. Put boxes in appropriate rooms
A trick to keeping your move painless once you arrive at your new home is to put boxes where they go. Don’t just unload as fast as you can, piling boxes into the family room or garage. Instead, take them straight to their final destination. That makes unpacking so much easier.

10. Set up beds first
Also, while you are unloading, set up the beds as soon as you can, complete with sheets, pillows, etc. You’ll be very glad that night when you’re completely exhausted and can crash in a ready-made bed.

11. Keep a close record of damage and follow up
If you have hired professional movers, document any damage to your belongings. This part continues as you unpack your boxes. Most moving companies give you a timeframe in which to file damage reports. Make sure all boxes are unpacked to give you enough time to evaluate any damage and report it.

12. Focus on finishing one room first
One last trick to painless moving is set up one room completely as soon as you can. Make one room box free, pictures on the wall, furniture placed just right. That way, in the weeks ahead of unpacking, you have one room where you can relax with a cup of coffee and just get away from all the cardboard boxes and chaos.

Customizing Your Move with Professional Movers

RE.com Tips & Tools — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 18:00:00 GMT

Have the movers do it all, or tackle some of the chores yourself to save some cash.

Amid all the excitement of buying a new home lays a decidedly less glamorous chore: moving there. It’s kind of like getting ready for a stroll down the red carpet at a Hollywood premiere and having to drive yourself there in a 15-year-old sedan. You can make it easier on yourself by hiring professional movers. But you’ll still have some details to work out, including what level of moving services you want. To some extent, that will be determined by how much you want to pay. When you hire professional movers, the base price usually includes just loading, transportation and unloading. You’ll have to pay extra to have the movers pack your possessions. The charge for the full packing and unpacking service generally is based on the weight of the load, according to the industry’s professional organization, the American Moving and Storage Association, and includes the cost of all but specialty cartons for things like mirrors and marble tabletops.

You can get custom packing services from professional movers if you pack some of the items yourself and unpack yourself, according to the industry group. In that case, the charge is based on the number of boxes or cartons used. Even if you pack yourself, you’ll have to pay for boxes if you aren’t able to scrounge enough from the office and the grocery store. Consider at least buying wardrobe boxes – mini-closets with a metal bar where you can hang clothes on hangers – and dishpacks for breakable kitchen items like plates and glasses. You’ll also need to decide whether to buy additional protection in the event your goods are damaged by the professional movers. Under the basic protection included in the cost of your move, the movers are liable for only 60 cents per pound if something is damaged. In other words, you could end up with only $60 for your broken, 100-pound couch. Full replacement-value coverage costs more, but could be a good investment.

One advantage to hiring professional movers is they can store your goods if you need to move out of one house without moving immediately into another. The charge for storage is based on the weight of the load and how long your goods are in storage. Another option to consider is something called self-service moving. You pack all your goods, load and unload the truck, but a professional driver transports it. The price is based on the number of miles traveled and how much space your load takes up on the truck. (Long-distance full-service moves are based on weight.) As you might guess, the price is less than for a full-service move.

You can hire professional movers for long-distance or local moves, but remember that pricing is different for short-haul local moves. In that case, you might be charged by the hour rather than by weight. Either way, hiring professional movers can at least make you feel like you’re arriving at the fancy Hollywood premier in a limo instead of an old sedan.

Move or Remodel: How to Get the Home of Your Dreams

RE.com Tips & Tools — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 19:44:00 GMT

Whether to move or remodel is a question of cost and convenience.

If you and your family have outgrown or tired of your current home, you’re probably ready either to sell your home and trade up or to jump into a major home remodeling project. But the question is which option makes the most financial sense for you – moving or remodeling?

Calculate the costs of moving
The chief advantage of moving is that you’ll be able to see your fully finished new home, rather than only drawings, before you make a commitment. Yet moving can be disruptive and it’s not without a myriad of costs. In addition to the purchase price of your new home, transaction costs involved with moving could include real estate agent commissions, mortgage origination fees and home inspections. In addition, your monthly mortgage payments, homeowner’s insurance and property taxes could be more expensive after you move. If you sell your current home first, you may also need to obtain temporary housing until you’ve purchased your new home. Depending on where you live and how long before you can move into your new home, temporary housing could get expensive. Or, if you buy your new home first, you may have to make two mortgage payments each month until your current home is sold. You might also need to hire contractors to make necessary repairs to ready your current home for sale or your new home for occupancy. Other costs include hiring a moving company or renting a moving van, and making deposits to set up new accounts with local utility companies.

Consider inconvenience of remodeling
The chief advantage of remodeling, on the other hand, is the opportunity to design your own home and choose the features and amenities you want as your home is being transformed. Yet remodeling can be costly and disruptive in its own way. In addition to the costs of the remodeling project and the potential cost overruns, you’ll also need to pay for architect or design services, building permits, and new fixtures, appliances or furnishings for your remodeled home. You may also be facing a second home loan payment each month and potentially higher property taxes. If you move out of your home during construction, you may need to pay for temporary housing. Or, if you decide to remain at home, you’ll probably incur some additional living expenses such as takeout meals or professional cleaning services.

Personal preferences are important too
Whether to move or remodel depends not only on the costs, but also on how much inconvenience you’re willing to tolerate and how you feel about the two options. If you’re enthusiastic about finding, buying and moving into a new home, moving may be the right choice for you. But if you’re emotionally attached to your home, you may prefer to remain in place and remodel. Either way, you’ll be that much closer to the home of your dreams.