Plan ahead for a smooth move
As soon as you know you're going to move, start planning. The sooner you start to plan, the easier the move will be.
It seems that the longer you live in a residence, the more complex things can be when it comes time to move. Also, the distance you are moving can add to the complexity.
As many have experienced first hand, it's really quite amazing how much stuff a person can amass in 10 or more years! Not only a lot of "stuff", but:
- dressers, armoires, chests of drawers
- beds
- couches, chairs
- dining room tables
- TV's, stereos, DVD players, VCR's
- dishes, kitchen ware
- washers and dryers
- lawn mower, tools
- boats, motorcycles, ATVs
- and on and on...
Do you REALLY need all that stuff?
Many people accumulate things they rarely, if ever, use. Is it worth moving it? There is no better time than now to start lightening the load. Take inventory of your belongings and identify things you do not want to take with you, or cannot take with you. Then hold a garage sale, donate to charity (get receipts for tax savings), and give away everything you're not taking.
Before starting the moving process, there are a few questions to ask yourself
- Will I have enough time and resources to pack and move myself?
- Will I have enough manpower to physically move my own stuff?
- How much can I afford to spend moving?
- Are you moving across town, across the state, or across the country?
- Do you need to move vehicles, boats, motorcycles, etc?
Scheduling and Timing your move
Before moving, you should plan ahead and schedule a time to turn off/turn on services at your old and new residence.
- Telephone
- Cable
- Utilities - electric, gas, water, etc
- Mail - Change of address notification at the US Postal service. Get it in early.
- Notify as many places as you can of your new address. Don't rely on the post office. Notify magazines, credit card companies, susbscriptions, friends, relatives, banks, and so on.
- Lawn care. If you current residence has not already been sold, you may need to have your lawn maintained until the residence sells.
- Coordinate with schools and doctors
- Pets. If you are moving to a different country, make sure your pet has the appropriate vaccinations required by that country.
- Insurance plans may need switched over to your new location (auto, house, medical)
- Bank accounts may need switched over to your new location
- Many times, you may end up in interim housing (apartment, hotels, etc) until you move into your new residence. Call ahead and reserve your housing before moving.
- You may need temporary storage for your items. Call ahead and reserve a storage unit so it will be ready when your belongings arrive.