You know when you're getting ready to move,
and you think, "This is nothing. I can get it done in two weekends."?
Well, you should really stop thinking that way because one thing's for sure:
Moving pretty much always takes longer than you think it's going to take. So,
be smart and plan ahead. There's lots of packing and organizing you can get out
of the way two months in advance of your move. Click through the following
pages to find out what should be on your to-do list.
10. Get Estimates from
Movers
Unless several of your friends look like
Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, you're probably going to need to hire
professional movers to do the heavy lifting. But if you put off lining up
movers, you might not have time to conduct research and get the best deal. So,
go ahead and get that out of the way at least two months in advance. Ask your
friends and relatives if they recommend any movers, call the movers in your
area, compare prices and then line one up for your moving day. Besides a decent
price, you should be looking for a reputable company that is licensed with your
state's Department of Transportation (DOT) and, if you're moving out of state,
licensed for interstate transport. You also want a moving company (and its
workers) that are bonded and insured. If you want to be super thorough, you can
even check up on the company by contacting your local Better Business Bureau.
9. Select a Mover and
Review the Details of the Move
Once you've selected your mover, make sure
you understand what the final agreement is before signing a contract. Does the
business charge by the hour, by the item or by overall weight? Will the moving
company be doing any packing for you? Will you have movers move only the large
items or every item? Is there a special charge for large awkward items like a
piano or a pool table? Are the employees handling your move bonded and insured?
Is the quote you received non-binding or binding? A binding estimate should
guarantee that the price would not change. If it's non-binding, should you be
worried about any surprise charges? For example, say you're moving from a house
in the suburbs to a high-rise apartment in the city. Will you be charged an
extra delivery fee because the movers have to take the elevator up to the 24th
floor? And, if there's no place to park the moving truck near the high-rise,
will you incur a shuttle fee?
8. Collect Boxes
You'll want to start packing up your
nonessential items, so you need boxes. You can buy boxes from a retailer. But
you can also find other ways to score free boxes. Have any of your friends or
relatives moved recently? They may have some boxes they'd like to get off their
hands. Or you may be able to pick up boxes from a business -- and don't just
hit the standard grocery stores and ABC stores, think outside the box. For
example, if you live in a college town, check out apartment complexes that are
located near campus, they may have a recycled box network so that you can pick
up gently used boxes from someone who has just moved to the area. Or, go online
-- you might be able to find boxes via Craigslist or Freecycle.
7. Begin Packing
Little-used Items
You may think it's silly to start packing
two months in advance, but if you're like most people, there's plenty of stuff
you don't use on a regular basis that can be packed up in a box. For example,
if it's summer, start packing your winter items -- winter clothes, heavy
blankets, holiday gear. Or you can pack by the room -- and perhaps the guest
room is a good place to start, since it's used the least. You decide. Remember
to pack small items in the big boxes and large items in the small boxes. It
seems counterintuitive, but it will prevent box breakage.
6. Go Through Your Stuff
and Identify Unwanted Items
Moving is the perfect excuse to get rid of
unwanted junk that's collected in your house over the years. The rule of thumb
is: If you haven't used it in about a year and it doesn't have any sentimental
value, get rid of it. It can be hard to let things go, though, so you may need
to go through each closet or storage space twice. On the first run, you'll
remove the obvious unwanted things, and on the second run you'll remove the
items you're a little more attached to.
5. Have a Yard Sale
Now that you've set aside your unwanted
things, it's time to figure out what to do with them. Since you're doing this
two months in advance of your move, you've got time to plan a yard sale. Yard
sales are generally on Saturdays, and you'll need to advertise to get a good
turnout. So, put up fliers where it seems logical - your workplace, your
church, your community center, the local library and, of course, don't forget
to put up signs around your neighborhood. There are even Web sites where you
can advertise your sale. If you're looking to make money, check eBay before you
price your items to make sure you're not essentially giving stuff away. Of
course, that is an excellent option; you can do just that.
4. Donate Items to Charity
If you don't want to hawk your unwanted
items from your front yard, give them to charity. There are a million ways to
give your things away. Anything from cars to appliances to clothes and shoes
can be donated to a charitable organization. Start by going online to see what
nonprofits have locations in your area and find out what their needs are.
Choose a charity that needs the types of things you'd like to give, and then
just give. Many nonprofits even set up receptacles on the side of the road to
accept your donations. It's easy!
3. Notify Correspondents of
Your Move
Even in our busy world of e-mails, texts and
tweets it's nice to find a letter or card in our mailbox now and then. So, it
would be really sad if you don't receive all those lovely holiday and birthday
cards because your friends and relatives don't know what your new address is.
Let people know that you're moving and what your new address will be. It can be
as easy as sending out a mass e-mail with all the pertinent information. Or,
you can order a pack of moving announcements and put that holiday mailing list
to good use. If you're moving to another town, you might even get a going-away
party out of the deal.
2. Plan Menus to Use up
Food in the Cupboards.
As you start looking through your cupboards,
you might notice you've collected some nonperishable food that you'd rather not
pack up and move to the new place. So, sit down and put together some menus to
use up that food before you move. It might actually be fun to think of creative
ways to use mushroom soup, canned pineapples and spaghetti in one meal. And if
the move has you too busy to manage this type of culinary cleanse, pack
everything up for the local shelter or a food drive. Or, invite some neighbors
over for a pantry-clearing party and send them home with the goods.
1. Arrange Air Travel for
Family, if Necessary
If you're moving to a faraway place and
you're not driving, then you'll obviously need to buy plane tickets for
yourself and your family. It'd be great if you could get this out of the way
well before the two-month mark, so you can watch ticket prices and strategize a
good ticket deal. But when you're transferred due to work or you've accepted a
new job offer, you don't always have that much notice. If possible, buy your
tickets at least two months in advance of your move. And don't forget the
family pets -- arranging their travel can take even more preparation.
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