Moving Tips
You know you're a true pack-rat when you discover boxes of cable wires, phone cords, surge protectors,
cell phone chargers and other unidentifiable electronic stuff from gizmos you don't even own anymore
stashed neatly away in a closet. If, when you find said box and you don’t think twice about packing it
up to move to your new home, face it, you need help.
Strategies To De-clutter Your Home
Paring down the excess clutter will free up space in the house for a bigger, cleaner look during open
houses and showings. If you have way too much stuff, you might consider having a garage sale before
you list your property. If you plan ahead and give yourself plenty of time, it can actually be fun
getting rid of stuff and living less encumbered. Besides, you’ll make some money, take a big step in
removing clutter, and you’ll have less to move when the time comes. By the way, having less to move
can save you money since moving companies often charge by weight. So it’s best to be ruthless —
the more you can discard, the less your moving bill will be.
Don’t forget, if you have leftover items after the garage sale, consider donating them to charity —
many have trucks that will come by and pick up you items for free. Plus you will receive an
opportunity for a tax write off.
Moving Day
Moving can be an exciting time — new beginnings, a new adventure, a fresh start. But the cost of a
move can vary dramatically. Get estimates from several companies. It is very important to compare
prices and services. Ask if the estimate includes packing, crating and insurance. When comparing
estimates, make sure each company has allocated the same number of movers and the same number of
hours to achieve a true comparison.
Reserve the moving dates with your moving company approximately one month in advance. Note that
midweek moves can be less expensive than the weekend, likewise for moves during the non-peak
months, fall-to-spring.
If you’re moving into (or out of) a condo or townhome, it’s important to let the resident manager
know what day you’re planning to move. This way, if there is an elevator in the building that
needs to be reserved or prepared with padding, that can be done in advance.
Contact utility companies before your actual shut-off date. Remember to make arrangements to
have your TV cable and Internet service hooked up in your new home. You may want to do this two
or three weeks ahead of time.
Talk to your Prudential Locations real estate agent about how to best survive a move. They
have been through many moving seasons and will be happy to share their words of wisdom with you.
Additional moving tips:
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Give your forwarding address to the post office on line at www.usps.com.
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Notify credit card companies, magazine subscriptions, and bank of your new address.
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Get estimates from moving companies and compare prices and services.
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Arrange to have utilities disconnected at your old home and connected
at your new home.
- Cancel the newspaper.
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Check insurance coverage for items you plan to move. Usually movers only cover items in which they
pack. You’ll want to make sure your belongings are covered sufficiently during transit.
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Make a note of the weight of items, since long-distance moves are usually billed according to
weight.
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Check your homeowner association rules for restrictions on elevator use, driveways, etc.
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Reinforce boxes with extra tape to prevent them from opening before you’re ready to unpack.
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Have a "first open" box with necessary items like toiletries, trash bags, scissors,
hammer, screwdriver, pencils, cups, plates, water, snacks, toothpaste, and anything else you
may need right away.