Tips & Tools : moving companies

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 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.

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.

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.

Avoiding moving scams

RE.com Tips & Tools — Tue, 30 Jan 2007 20:25:00 GMT

Moving company scams can cost you a lot of money and spoil the excitement of getting a new home, so know what you can do to protect yourself.

Moving can be one of the most stressful times in your life. There are usually a great deal of memories and a considerable amount of money at stake, so the last thing you want to deal with is getting scammed. Here are some tips to follow so you can avoid getting ripped off when you move from one home to the next.

Check references
If you heard of a moving company from your real estate agent, chances are his or her other clients have used the same service and have been pleased. You may also want to ask for references directly from the company so you can see how satisfied other customers have been with the movers. If you are unsure about a certain moving company, it may be a good idea to check into your local chamber of commerce, as well as a community organization that specializes in relocation to see if there have been any complaints or reports of moving company scams. Another good resource is your local police department. An officer should be able tell you about any recent scams or what to look out for when contracting a mover to transport your belongings.

Be cautious
If you have found a moving company that you are interested in contracting for your move, here are a few things to consider: Do they give a local address? Did they give you an estimate for moving over the phone? Does the company require a large deposit? Are there company vehicles or generic rented trucks? All of these things can be red flags! Reputable moving companies should be able to give a local address and phone number, and your estimate should be given once a representative of the company has seen the size and the amount of furniture you have. You should also try to avoid paying movers until the move has been completed and the company should have their own vehicles with company logos, rather than trucks rented from another company. Another good idea is to look into licensure and insurance information, as well as consumer advocacy groups before you contract a company for your move.

Know your rights
If you feel you have been scammed, ripped off or treated unfairly by a moving company it is your right to react appropriately. A good place to start is with your local police department and chamber of commerce. It is also a good idea to report any scams or unsatisfactory activity to the Department of Transportation by calling 1-888-DOT-SAFT. Doing so can help recover your money or your belongings, as well as help protect other consumers from moving scams.

Checklist: Picking the right moving company

RE.com Tips & Tools — Tue, 16 Jan 2007 20:39:00 GMT

Decided to hire professionals to move you? Recommendations from friends, relatives and neighbors are a good way to find the right moving company. Here are a few items to keep in mind when you interview prospective movers:

Only deal with licensed companies. Ask the representative to demonstrate that it carries worker’s compensation insurance to protect the company and its customers.

Ask about the firm’s experience and client list. Call a few clients to verify references.

Ask the movers if they are members of any local or national moving trade associations. If so, contact the associations for further information.

Check the companies out with the Better Business Bureau and the American Moving and Storage Association to see if they have information on them.

Get a written estimate, and determine whether it’s binding or non-binding. The most accurate way to estimate your moving costs is to get an in-home, visual assessment from the mover. Decide whether you want full service (they pack, unpack and move everything) or self-service (you pack and unpack everything and they move it).

When you’re ready to sign the contract, insist on a guaranteed price in writing that includes guaranteed pick-up and delivery dates. The contract should include a guarantee of how many hours the job will take, allowing an overrun of no more than 10 percent.

The Perfect 8 Week Move

RE.com Tips & Tools — Thu, 11 Jan 2007 20:31:00 GMT

WEEK 8

Create a 3-ring binder to organize all the details.
Decide whether to move with the help of friends or professionals. Price the many costs (truck, gas, food, hotels, strained muscles, strained friendships, etc.) of doing it yourself before deciding that professionals are too expensive.
Hire your truck or moving company immediately. Depending on the time of year and direction you’re traveling, procrastinators can be wait-listed several months or forced to pay a premium.
Research if your moving expenses are tax-deductible.

WEEK 7

Clean out storage areas in and around your home and donate or sell everything you don’t need.
Decide whether to leave, sell, donate or ship large appliances.
Start planning your meals around the contents of your freezer.
Get rid of anything flammable or corrosive (paint, cleaning products, antifreeze, oil, gasoline, etc.). If your grill has a gas tank, empty it completely. If you’re unsure where to get rid of these materials, ask your moving company for a local HAZMAT disposal site.

WEEK 6

Start collecting used grocery boxes for your packing needs.
Have all valuables you are moving or shipping re-appraised for insurance purposes.

WEEK 5

Send a change of address kit to your post office.
If moving out of state, research the driver’s license and auto registration requirements.
Register children in their new school and transfer their records
Alert your homeowner’s/renter’s and auto insurance companies.

WEEK 4

Contact all organizations you belong to and transfer your membership to the new location.
Ask for health care referrals in your new location then transfer all your medical records, including x-rays, to them.
Make a home inventory of all your possessions. Record the serial numbers of any electronic equipment.
Start packing items you won’t need between now and the move.

WEEK 3

Get a two-month supply of medications and have your prescriptions transferred to a pharmacy in the new location
Ask your veterinarian about travel plans for your pets.
If you’re packing your own stuff, start buying packing materials. I need tips for packing up my home.
Double check your insurance policy for what is covered in a move. Make sure your homeowner’s or renter’s liability insurance covers both the new and old locations during the move.

WEEK 2

Check with all of your local vendors (such as dry cleaners or film developers) to pick up items and settle accounts.
Tell the utility companies when to turn off the old services and turn on the new (two days before your arrival).
Pack all valuable items you will be taking with you.

WEEK 1

Unplug, defrost and dry the freezer and refrigerator
Pack suitcases with all items you will need until the moving truck arrives in your new location.
Prepare a special "last-on/first-off" box with any items you will need immediately upon your arrival.