Included in Your Online Relocation Package for Anne Arundel County, Maryland - Home of Fort George G. Meade, NSA, Northrop Grumman, BWI, and the U.S. Naval Academy.

There's more to moving than packing up your belongings and transporting them in a truck to your destination location.  Getting your life back to normal means hooking up your electronic equipment to make it functional again. 

Moving your piano is nothing, compared to this challenge.  After all, the movers perform all the heavy lifting, while the electronics hook-up is in your own hands and at the mercy of your time availability.

There's no way around it, a job transfer or PCS military orders mean you have to dis-connect your computer, printer, and other electronic equipment to relocate.  There's a risk of losing your data; you know how time-consuming it was to set up your computer and other equipment previously; and you cringe at the prospect of having to do it all over again at your destination.  

To avoid the risk of data loss and minimize the hassle of re-connecting your hi-tech equipment:

1.  Back-up all your data files. 

Store your computer data on a USB device, external hard drive, CD, DVD, or online; or create a hard-drive image back-up.

2.  Separate your back-up data from your computer. 

For example, if your computer is packed on a truck with your household goods, carry the back-up data in your car or mail it to your destination.  (I would probably make two or three back-ups, in an overabundance of caution.)

3.  Map your computer components.

Photograph your setup to help you remember it when you arrive at your destination; color-code or label cables and jacks; sketch a diagram of back panels on the equipment and label both switches and jacks for future reference.  (Again, I would probably make two or three copies of any photos or sketches.)

4.  Carefully pack and label your cables, copies of your diagrams and instructions, and small computer components.

Bundle together your cables and pack them with any diagrams and small components in a single box or container; then, clearly label it and designate which room to place it in at your destination.  Don't leave this up to professional packers, who surely will pack five cables in five separate boxes and your diagrams in another.

5.  Repeat steps 3 and 4 for your TV, VCR, Tivo, Stereo and any other electronic equipment.

Don't rely on your memory.  Again, color code cables and jacks; sketch a diagram of panels on the equipment and label your switches and jacks.  Bundle cables together and pack them with the piece of equipment or, if they're packed separately, be sure to identify them clearly.

 

There are other things to consider, as well, since it's likely you'll have different options available for Internet, phone and cable connection at your destination than you do now.   It might be a good idea for you to do a little detective work on your future options prior to your move - possibly even arrange for service to begin promptly when you move in to your new home. 

Determine if FIOS, DSL, cable or broadband service are available and find out if they're bundled with other services offered by the local cable or telephone company, since that could be a cost-cutting consideration.  Decide in advance if a wireless connection is something you want.  Think twice before changing your email address, as that could present other issues.

Then, of course, there are possible wiring issues at the next house.  When you have your home inspection or pre-settlement walk-through, make a sketch of existing wiring and jacks for Internet, Phone and Cable connections and ask the seller who their Internet, Phone and Cable providers are.  If you're comfortable with maintaining the same level of service they have, that may be your easiest option to get connected quickly.

A little preparation up-front, before you make your move, could go a long way towards expediting electronic hook-up at your new home.