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Moving and Packing Guide
Although moving can be a stressful step
for a family, it can be less of a hassle when you get a head
start. Preparation is the key to a smoother move - whether
you do it yourself or hire a moving company. Look over this
moving and packing guide to find out how to time your move,
choose a mover, rent a truck, get organized, pack your possessions
and get settled in your new home.
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Moving
With Kids |
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Almost all children resist
the idea of moving. The older the child, the more
difficulty he or she will have with the family's
move. The thought of leaving friends, facing new
kids in a new school and adjusting to a new community
can be overwhelming. But there are ways to help
your kids feel more comfortable before, during
and after the move.
- Tell your kids about
the move as soon as possible. Much of the stress
associated with moving relates to dealing with
the unknown. Share the details, encourage their
questions and listen to what they have to say.
- Involve your children
in all aspects of your relocation. Try to bring
them along with you on house hunting trips.
If this isn't possible, photograph or videotape
the house, as well as the neighborhood and new
school.
- Take your children to
see the new location before you move and walk
in the new neighborhood together.
- Encourage kids to help
with packing. Allow them to perform small moving
chores that are age appropriate. For example,
let them pack a box or two of their toys, games,
books, blankets and other personal belongings.
- Help your child pack
a carton or daypack with most prized possessions
to carry with them on moving day.
- Ask your kids to exchange
addresses and telephone numbers with friends.
A letter or phone call to or from an old friend
can boost the spirits of a child in a strange,
new community.
- If your children participated
in activities like scouts, little league, school
band or choir, enroll them in the same or similar
activities in the new community as soon as possible.
- Spend time with your
kids after the move to help them get acquainted
with their new home, neighborhood and school.
Children are far more likely to cope with a
move if Mom and Dad are positive and enthusiastic
about the relocation.
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Do-It-Yourself Moving
The most economical way to move is to
do-it-yourself. Sounds simple enough, just rent a truck, load
up your stuff and go. This can be a good choice if you're
not going far, don't have a lot of things to haul and have
a strong back.
But think twice about a long distance
do-it-yourself move. When you factor in all the costs, gasoline,
motels, meals, insurance, packing materials, truck and equipment
rental, you may not save as much as you planned.
Consider a few questions before you
decide to handle your own move. Do I have time to pack, load,
unload and drive? How many heavy items, like furniture and
appliances, do I have to move? Am I physically capable to
do this hard work? Do I have friends and family that can help
me through relocation? Can I handle a big truck over a long
distance?
Shop around for truck rates, and don't
rent more truck than you need. Rental companies have charts
that help you calculate what's needed to haul your belongings.
Companies like U-Haul and Ryder make it easier with step-by-step
moving and packing guidance.
Choosing a Mover
Finding the right mover will take from
6 to 8 weeks, but is time well spent. There are a number of
different sources such as the yellow pages, local newspapers,
the Internet, flyers, and recommendations from friends and
family. You will need to request bids, check references, and
decide which moving company is the best value for your money.
Here are a few tips to help you make
the selection:
- Get at least three written estimates.
Be sure to get them in person, rather than on the phone
or Internet.
- Check with your local Better Business
Bureau and the state attorney general's office to see if
there are any complaints against the mover.
- Ask to see a certificate of insurance
showing all required insurance liabilities and verify that
their license and certificate number is valid.
- Help the movers calculate the cost
by showing them every single item to be moved. Reach a clear
understanding of the estimate and all costs.
Planning Ahead
Timing your move is one of the first
things to consider. Try not to move during summer months,
May through September. The moving industry defines this as
the peak and most expensive season for a move. Don't schedule
your move on a weekend or holiday when packers and loaders
have to be paid overtime. The best time to move is in the
middle of the week in any month outside the peak season.
Early in the moving process you should
decide what items will be going to your new home and what
things you want to dispose of. Gather up those things you
don't want and either donate them to a charity or consider
having a garage sale. Arrange for the charity pickup and garage
sale at least two weeks before your moving date.
Start collecting suitable moving and
packing supplies if you plan to do your own packing or partial
packing. You can purchase these materials from any moving
supply company. Getting boxes from other sources may create
difficulties either with size or strength.
Set aside a "packing room"
and box up a few things each day. Pack seldom used items first.
Collections and other small things take more time to organize
and pack, so start working on them early in the moving process.
Remember to dispose of all flammable, corrosive or explosive
items well before the move.
Packing Do's and Don'ts
Chances are you will start packing weeks
before your move. You'll need boxes, bubble wrap for packing
fragile items, tissue and ink-free packing paper, scissors,
a knife for opening boxes and rolls of packing tape. You'll
also need to know how to do the job in an efficient and organized
way. Here are a few tips from the experts that can help save
your household goods from damage:
- Get more strong packing boxes than
you think you will need.
- Reinforce the bottom of each box
with at least one strip of packing tape.
- Pack boxes firmly to prevent the
contents from shifting during your move.
- Use clean, white crumpled up paper
for padding.
- Separate all items with paper to
prevent scratches.
- Place heavier items in the bottom
of the box and lighter items on top.
- Use towels, linens, curtains, etc.
to pad boxes of fragile items.
- Remove lids from ceramics and wrap
each separately.
- Seal open bottles with tape before
packing to avoid spills.
- Use an extra large box for lampshades
and cushion them well.
- Remove bulbs before packing lamps.
- Put hardware from disassembled furniture
together in plastic bag.
- Leave clothes in dresser drawers
and hang clothes in wardrobe boxes.
- Wrap very small items in bright colored
tissue so they won't get lost.
- Place pictures in boxes between
sheets and blankets for added protection.
- Plates and record albums should
be packed on end vertically - not stacked.
- Remove bulbs before packing lamps.
- Make a master list of all household
items and personal belongings.
- Number boxes when they are packed
and sealed.
- Label each box and its room destination.
- Write the contents of numbered boxes
on your master list.
- Pack room-by-room, keeping similar
items together.
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Moving
Pets and Plants |
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Pets get "stressed-out"
during relocation just like people. To make the
move easier on you and your pet, plan ahead and
take a few precautions.
Schedule a visit to the veterinarian to obtain
copies of your pet's health and rabies vaccination
records and to update identification tags. Ask
if your pet should be tranquilized during the
move. If so, get enough medication to try out
ahead of time.
Keep your cat or dog's routine
as regular as possible before the move. The day
of the move, it's best to let your pet stay at
a friend's house or a kennel. Be sure to have
identification on your pet at all times.
Avoid temperature extremes.
Never leave a pet in a hot car or moving van in
summer time or a cold car in the winter.
When you arrive at your
new home, don't let your dog or cat out alone
right away. Walk your pet on a leash for short
trips around the neighborhood for the first 3
or 4 days.
Plants are another special
moving item. There are rules in some states prohibiting
the transport of plants across state lines, and
most moving companies will not move them. One
solution is to give your plants away to friends
or relatives before the move.
If you plan on moving your
plants by car, try not to let foliage rest against
the windows, as the leaves may scorch. Thoroughly
water the plants the day before you move, cover
it to retain moisture and warmth and place in
a study carton to keep it from tipping over.
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Preparing Appliances and Electronics
Appliances and electronics are some
of the most expensive items you own. Take these simple precautions
to protect them from damage during your move.
Appliances:
- Clean and dry washing machine. Disconnect
and drain hoses.
- Unplug clothes dryer and clean the
lint screen.
- Remove grease from the stove top/range/oven.
- Dry out refrigerator and freezer,
especially those with an icemaker.
- Remove any glass trays from appliances.
Pack them separately.
- Clean small appliances, fill empty
space with paper and wrap separately.
Electronics:
- Use the original carton and packing
materials if possible. If not, carefully wrap electronic
components like a receiver, CD player or VCR, in clean paper
to protect from dust and dirt. Pad them with bubble wrap.
- Carefully pack each item in a sturdy
carton that is lined with paper or Styrofoam peanuts. Securely
seal the carton and mark the outside of the box to indicate
that it is "Extremely Fragile.
- Disconnect wires attached to movable
hardware, such as a modem or mouse from your computers.
Detach paper holders/feeders from printers. Wrap monitors
in clean linen or paper to protect from scratches.
- Back up all files on your hard drive
and keep the "back ups" with you, not on the moving
van or truck.
Announcing Your Move
Four or five weeks before you move,
contact the Post Office for a Change of Address form or visit
the U.S. Postal Service Web site to change your address online.
In either case, just fill in the form and be sure to include
the date you want the Post Office to begin forwarding your
mail to your new address.
Send change of address notes or e-mail
postcards announcing your move to:
- Friends and family
- Banks, insurance companies and other
institutions
- Credit card companies
- Employers
- Utilities and phone company
- Cable or Satellite TV company
- Voter Registration
- Secretary of State, Department of
Motor Vehicles
- Doctors, dentists and other service
providers
- Any clubs or association memberships
- Local and Federal government agencies
- Schools and church
- Magazine and newspaper subscriptions
Remember to notify utilities and telephone
companies at both old and new addresses. Set a date for utility
disconnection here - and hookup there. Record all utility
meter readings and check service and transfer dates. Be sure
to keep telephone and utilities connected at your current
home throughout moving day.
Moving and Packing Resources
www.usps.com
The Movers Guide on the U.S. Postal Service site allows you
to change your address, connect utilities, update email address
and get moving and packing tips.
www.homestore.com
The moving section of this site is an excellent resource for
planning, packing, organizing and unpacking. Good information
on professional movers and how to move yourself.
www.uhaul.com
Simple, helpful tips appear on U-Hauls Moving Guide. Tips
on everything from the kind of boxes or truck rental you'll
need to a moving day countdown and planning chart.
www.movingrelocation.com
This site is a network of relocating and home solutions. Moving
companies are listed by state. You can get multiple quotes
online.
www.movermax.com
Get online estimates, moving guide, storage solutions and
moving supplies.
www.vanlines.com
Nationwide Van Lines provides information that can help make
your moving process cost effective, pleasant and efficient.
Use the suggestions and planning guides for packing and moving
tips and a moving day countdown.
www.allied.com
In addition to free estimates and packing and moving information,
this site provides related links to city information, home/school
search, career search and other relocation services.
www.powellmoving.com
Powell Relocation Group has been in business since 1962 and
assists families and businesses regardless or origin or destination.
They are an agent for one of the world's largest relocation
service providers, Atlas World Group.
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