You know you have a lot ahead of you, so why wait until the last minute to throw things together?
Plan well in advance and start taking steps now to make your move more manageable.
Be an Informed Mover
Start by creating a "move file." You'll need a place to keep important information and receipts for moving related expenses. Contact the IRS or visit their Web Site to determine what expenses can be deducted on your next tax return.
Research your new community
One great moving tip is to start by visiting your new city and state's Web Site or contact their chambers of commerce for relocation packets. Check out local entertainment, shopping and restaurants.
This can be lots of fun and will give you much to look forward to. You'll also want to order a phone book and city map for your new location. This will allow you to start researching new schools and service providers and is a must for your "essentials" box. Finally, consider ordering a local newspaper. Most news providers will send a complimentary issue to prospective customers.
Start Paring Down
Moving is tough, but it can also be an opportunity. This is the perfect time to get rid of the extra "stuff" you've accumulated. Take it one room at a time and prepare to make tough decisions.
Survey each room and ask yourself:
- Does this have sentimental or monetary value?
- Does anyone really use it?
- Is it worth lugging around?
- Is there room for it in our new home?
If the item in question doesn't make the cut, ditch it! Plan a yard sale, post an online auction or simply donate anything that does not meet your criteria. This is a great way to earn a little extra cash or another tax deduction.
Start using up items that can't be moved to your new home. Properly dispose of flammable or potentially hazardous chemicals. This would include anything in an aerosol can, cleaning and lighting fluids, paint, matches and ammunition. Eat foods that are frozen or stored in glass jars and don't plan on replacing these items until you are in your new home. Finally, be aware that live plants cannot be shipped with your other household goods. Plan on taking these in your car or find new homes for them.
Take Inventory
Sorting through your home gives you the opportunity to take inventory of your belongings. Make a list of everything you decide to keep and assign replacement values for insurance purposes. Make note of items that are difficult to replace. Either carry these items with you or ship them by insured or certified mail. Such items might include:
- Photos and home videos
- Birth certificates, wills and other legal documentation
- Jewelry, rare coins and special collections
- Stock certificates, insurance policies and financial records
- Computer diskettes with backups of important files
Know what you will need upon arrival to your new home. Plan ahead and make a checklist of things you will need to pack in suitcases and an "essentials" box. Allow for extra clothing and be sure to make room for treasures, toys and snacks for the kids. Your essentials box should include things you'll be scrambling for upon arrival.
- Scissors, masking tape, utility knife, can opener
- Coffee cups, paper plates, paper towels
- Plastic forks, spoons, knives
- Dish soap, trash bags, towels
- Instant coffee, tea, beverages
- Toilet paper, toiletries
- Prescriptions, aspirin or other pain relievers
- Flashlight, light bulbs, hammer
- Phone books, pencils and paper, your "move file"
- Telephone, radio, batteries
Plan on keeping your essentials box and luggage handy, preferably in your automobile.
The Ten Most Forgotten Things When Moving Home
Packing and moving home is both exciting and stressful. There are many things that you have to remember when making the move and it is very easy to forget items. Here are the top 10 most forgotten items when moving, so be aware of them and double check to ensure that you do not leave anything behind on your move.
- One of the most forgotten items that homeowners moving leave behind are records. Not LPs but family records such as birth and marriage certificates, insurance policies and any other personal records. Along with these you have to ensure that you hunt out such records as vaccination records for your pets and such documents pertaining to children such as their permanent records, school reports and school certificates that they have received.
- Many of us hide things that are of value to us personally or items that we do not use every day. We often hide them in safe places to ensure that we do not lose them. This could be underneath drawers or on the top of wardrobes. So to ensure that you do not leave any of these items behind pause for a moment and ask yourself if you have secured any items in safe places.
- Phone numbers by way of address books can often get left behind. Many times old address books are stored away for safe keeping at the back of drawers and many times these can get forgotten about and are overlooked. Therefore they can get left behind if for example you are leaving some pieces of furniture in the property for the new tenants.
- Spare a thought to any items that you might have taken to the cleaners or that you have lent to neighbors and friends. If possible get in touch and reclaim your items before you leave, otherwise you may never see them again.
- While this may sound like a silly thing it can be easy to forget your new address. Someone might ask you for this such as friends and neighbors and of course you will have to give it to utility companies. Ensure that you write it down and keep it on you at all times.
- Remember to leave out just the basic cleaning supplies so that you can go over the house once more before you leave to ensure you leave it spic and span. Where possible keep small cleaning supplies such as travel sizes so that you can leave them behind as cleaning supplies will be listed as hazardous materials.
- If you have a garage attached to your home then check to make sure that the door opener is handy for getting the car out on the removal day and also remembers to leave it for the new homeowners.
- Remember to make arrangements for your pets and children for the removal day. While you will not leave your children behind, pets such as cats can often be forgotten and left behind if they have gone wandering off.
- Always ensure that you have not forgotten to provide such as banks of your change of address.
- Finally do not forget to retrieve any spare keys to the property you are leaving from relatives or from hiding places. Also don’t forget to take your new house keys with you.