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Before you call a moving company decide: What, When and Where...early in the planning. What's the best way to dispose of items you don't want in your new home? Identify furnishings that won't fit and things your family has outgrown. What furnishings will you replace within two months? Keep receipts if you give to charity. Try to arrange your move during the least busy period of the month. A high percentage of moves occur during the last week of the month, and in the summer.
Before you decide whether to move yourself or to have a professional move you, answer these five questions:
- Do you have adequate physical strength and endurance?
- Do you have at least two helpers, one who is stronger than you?
- Can you be sure to have adequate time off work to complete the move on schedule?
- Will your homeowner’s policy cover potential loss in case of accident en route?
- Can you carry everything through doorways, up stairs without damage?
Packing is both art and science--art in combining just the right items in each box to arrive damage-free, science in producing an inventory that enables you to quickly find anything you need at a moment's notice after arriving in your new home. Some helpful hints:
- When possible, combine items that will go together in your new home.
- Pack heavy items in smaller, heavy-duty cartons.
- Clearly mark room destination on top and at least one side of every carton.
- Remember, your mover won't know which child is which, so tag bedroom boxes with BR-1 or BR-2 and tape the same tags on appropriate bedroom doors.
Be sure to have these items readily available:
- Children's health records (schools require proof of immunization)
- Documentation for your lender including back tax returns, last two pay stubs, bank statements for last six months.
Some items should be moved with you:
- Family records
- Passports
- Insurance, health and other related paperwork
- Photo albums
Don't Forget! Pets, Plants and Perishables:
- Moving is especially tough on pets. Have them groomed on moving day and make plans early for their transit to your new home.
- Four weeks prior to moving, begin the process of winnowing down your freezer's content to avoid throwing out large quantities of food.
Gather records and memorabilia and make plans to move them as carefully as possible including:
- Family medical and tax records
- Diplomas, school records
- Family genealogies, pictures
- Business, social organizations other memorabilia
- Notify utilities, media and others before the move. Check this list of businesses to be notified:
- Electric power company
- Water company
- Natural gas supplier
- Local telephone companies
- Long distance telephone company
- Television company
- Stock brokers, mutual funds
- Credit cards, banks
- Magazines, book clubs
- Religious organizations
- Country, boat, sports clubs
To the younger members of your family, moving can be upsetting. Communicate openly and realistically with all family members as early as possible. Here are some other helpful hints you can use: Tell children what is happening and include them in the process of selecting the new home, if possible. If children feel included in the decision-making process, and "take ownership" of their new home, the transition will be easier.
- Don't try to get rid of children's favorite items at this time even though it might make moving simpler.
- Don't throw away personal stuff behind a child's back.
- Negotiate what goes and what stays.
- Bring pictures from the new home and school, as well as special things about the area, according to their interests.
- Ask the new coach, scout leader, teacher, etc., to call your child.
- Don't forget grandparents, cousins, and your extended family, close friends of adults and children. Share the excitement and responsibilities.
If every family member takes responsibility for an age-appropriate part of the move, yours can be an easy move.
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