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PLANNING FOR A SMOOTH MOVE Begin by obtaining change of address forms from your post office and filling them out in advance so you are ready to mail them when appropriate. Friends, relatives, utilities, and anyone you do business with should be sent a change of address form. Plan ahead for bills. Post office forwarding takes up to two weeks; you may receive a bill too late to pay it on time and incur fees or worse yet a negative credit rating. Pay your bills ahead one month before you change your address just in case or utilize a PO box and change your address to it a couple months before your planned sale/move. After you move, change it back to the new address. By the way, this is a great way to get rid of junk mail lists. In addition, you will want to make arrangements for shutting off or transferring utilities in your old place, while making the proper arrangements for utilities in your new place. Your real estate agent can assist you with coordinating the transfer or connection of electricity, telephones and the like. Next, set a game plan. Talk to your family and get everyone involved in the move. The first decision that you need to make is whether you will be using a professional moving company, or if you will do the move on your own using a rental truck. Several factors will effect your decision including the distance of the move, the quantity of the items you are moving, the amount of money you can afford to spend and the other resources you have in terms of manpower and time. The "no-fuss; no muss" approach is to have the moving company do it all -- pack it, move it, unpack. But you have alternatives. You may choose to use a moving company, but opt to pack the items yourself to save money. Keep in mind that many companies will not insure items that they have not packed themselves. Also, they have the material and the experience to pack things properly. Contact several moving services and get cost estimates for a wide range of services. Check with your Better Business Bureau to make sure the companies you are considering have clean records. If you do decide to use a moving company, remember that packing materials and overtime are extra. Make sure you find out how insurance works and what the procedure is for compensation for damaged articles. Get formal estimates in writing. Once you have determined how to move, decide what to move. The more you can bear to throw out, the less you will have to move. Be selective about what you really need to keep. If you will be packing your belongings yourself, you will need to be sure you have proper packing materials. Sturdy boxes, packing tape, twine, bubble wrap and plain packing paper. If you are using a company that will not be packing for you, they will typically sell you these supplies. However, they are usually less expensive when purchased at a hardware store. You should be aware that there are different types of boxes for different items. You can purchase smaller, sturdier boxes for packing books; large square boxes for clothes; art boxes for wall hangings, etc. Do not over-pack boxes, keep the weight of each box below 50 lbs. Even if you have planned to pack yourself, you may want to consider having the movers prepare items like televisions, large furniture, glass table tops, and breakable art for transport. Pack first the items you need the least . Be sure to label each box and include an indication of the room in which it should be placed. You may want to develop a color code for the movers to follow. Each room in the new house can be clearly marked with a colored piece of paper, then the boxes that belong there can be color marked as well. This will save you the task of moving boxes from room to room. You should decide well in advance where you want heavy furnishings placed in the new home. It will be easier on you to have the movers place them in the desired spot. Boxes that should be unpacked immediately, like medical supplies, perishables, linens, files, financials, etc., should be clearly marked as "OPEN FIRST" and put in an accessible area together. Don't forget to pack a cooler with cold drinks and some snacks, it will be a long day and this will be a lifesaver. Valuables like jewelry and important documents should be kept in a safe spot while packing and then carried with you on the move, or given to a trusted relative or friend for safe keeping until you are settled. Better yet, if you are moving locally, put these valuables in a safety deposit box. Appliances like washers, dryers, refrigerators and yard equipment will require specific preparation for a move. Water or gasoline should be drained and moveable parts secured. Find your care manuals, or contact the manufacturers or dealers for instructions. You will also need to make special moving arrangements for your pets. Moving companies will not move animals, so you should consider whether you will move them by car or plane, depending on the distance you are moving. If you are planning to move your pet long distance by car, reserve overnight accommodations which will accept animals. If this is a long distance move, houseplants should be given away to neighbors and friends, and new ones purchased for the new house. In general, they do not travel well. You may not have time to care for them during the move, and if you are moving to a new climate, they may not adapt well. In addition, you cannot transport plants over some state lines. All of your belongings are on the truck and ready to go. Now, do a final walk through of the house, checking all closets and cabinets one last time. If possible, have someone else walk through too. Turn off all lights and faucets, secure doors and windows, turn down the water heater and set the furnace to 50 degrees. Leave a list of emergency numbers by the phone for the new owner, as well as your new address in case they need to forward your mail, messages, etc. If the home has not yet sold, or you don't wish to leave your information with the new owner, leave it with the a trusted neighbor. If your household goods are going on a moving van, be sure that all drivers have accurate directions to your new home and the correct address before they embark. Someone who can direct the movers should be waiting for them at the new house when they arrive. Check off your written inventory list as boxes are unloaded. Moving from one home to another is a sizable task, but it doesn't have to be an unpleasant one. You may hit a few bumps here and there, but proper planning can keep them to a minimum. RE/MAX professionals have been relocating homeowners for decades. |
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