Tag Archives: guide

23
Feb, 2019
moving-day

Start Preparing for Moving Day with These Easy Steps

Many people fear moves because they expect the worst. If you make a plan and break everything down into doable steps, you’ll find that moving can be an exciting process. Mentally, walk through everything you’ll need to do. This will get you geared up for the move.

1. Reduce Unnecessary Items

It’s a good idea to pare down on furniture and items you no longer need or don’t want. Minimizing your household inventory is the best way to reduce the cost and chaos of moving. Make sure to look through expired medicine. Take a look in your food pantry, and get rid of anything else in your house that’s expired.

decluttering

2. Organize Your Home

If you take the time to organize your home now, the packing will be easier. It will make it easier for you to settle into your new place as well.

3. Get All of Your Supplies Ahead of Time

You know you need boxes, packing materials, and strong tape. It can surprise you to think about keeping a few permanent markers on hand, color-coordinating boxes according to rooms, or requesting a dolly to move your washer up the stairs in the new place. Consider what you need to move everything and how to unload everything into your new home.

4. Make a Checklist

Preparing for a move isn’t a one-step process. Often, you think of something you’ll have to do for the move while you’re doing something else. Keep a running list going of everything you can think of. Once you are certain that you’ve finished, put it in order.

checklist

5. Make a Budget

Once you have figured out how you’re moving everything, you need to consider making a budget for eating, sleeping, gasoline, supplies, turning on utilities and other related expenses.

6. Take a Look at the New Place

This step is especially important if you have children. Getting used to the new place starts when you see it. Look at the layout of your new home, and discover what is around your home. You’ll discover fun things to do and get an idea of how day-to-day life will be like.

7. Arrange a Good Time to Turn On and Shut Off Utilities

Plan as much as you can. Trying to take care of your utilities shortly before you move can lead to disaster. You want enough time to pack up before your utilities are shut off, but you don’t want someone using your electricity or gas after you move either. You also want to have everything up and running when you move into the new home.

8. Vehicle Work

Whether you’ll be towing your things in a trailer or using a truck, you should make sure your vehicle can make the trek. Have your oil changed. Check your spark plugs and tires. If you have four-wheel drive, you can’t use a regular two-wheel tow dolly.

9. Save Money Ahead of Time

There are unexpected expenses when you move. For example, virtually no one tells you that you might need a hose for your new home. You might not know where toll roads are. The utility company may be late in turning on your electricity, which could mean eating out for an entire weekend. Whatever the case, you want to have enough money to plan for the worst-case scenario. Planning ahead of time will make your move easier.

saving money

Let the process of moving settle in. Take the necessary steps, but enjoy the process. Change can bring many wonderful possibilities if you let it.

31
Aug, 2018
moving-guide

Cross-Country Moving Guide: Costs, Tips & More to Plan Your Move

Moving across the country is a bit more detailed than moving to another city or down the street. There are more costs involved, and you will spend more time on the road unless you’re able to fly to the area you’ll be living. Fortunately, there are a few tips that you can follow to make the move easier so that you can enjoy this new chapter in your life.

What Are The Costs?

When you begin making your budget to move across the country, you need to factor in a few different things. Most of the time, it will take about $1,000 to get everything moved. If you have vehicles that are large enough so that you don’t have to hire a moving company, then you can save money. However, if you don’t have trucks or vans, then you can rent these vehicles so that you don’t have to hire movers, which can save you money as well. You should also factor in food that you’ll have to purchase while on the road as well as what you’ll pay for a hotel room if you plan on stopping to sleep at night.

cross-country-moving

Make A Checklist

Before packing anything or getting your belongings into a moving truck, you need to make a checklist. It should include all of the tasks that you have to complete in order to get everything turned on in your new home as well as what you’re going to do with your pets and what items you’re not going to take with you. Your checklist should include the things that you need to do each week as well as things that you need to do to get prepared during the few days before you move.

Hire Movers

If you’re planning on using a moving company, then compare a few different ones so that you can get the best rates and movers who have the most experience handling furniture and other items that you have in your home that are fragile, such as electronics. Find a moving company that offers insurance in case there are any issues with your belongings getting damaged during the move.

Take Inventory

While you’re packing clothes, toys, dishes, and other items in your home, think about what you really need to keep and what you can sell, throw away, or donate. Use the time that you’re moving to get rid of clothing that no longer fits or belongings in your home that are broken. Items that can still be used but that you don’t want can be donated to someone in need or sold so that you can make extra money for your move across the country.

moving

Keeping Kids Happy

Moving across the country with kids can be a challenge. Explain to them why you have to go to a different home in another state. Talk about the benefits as well as what you can do as a family to have fun. Pack a few games and activities in your car to give your kids something to do while you’re on the road.