Once
you have located
your new home, you can begin the fun part - moving. Whether
you’re moving two
streets away from your
current home, from one side of town to the other, or clear across the
country,
you have two options – either
professional movers or doing it yourself.
There
are pros and cons
of both choices. You must decide how much you can afford to spend, and
what option you feel works
best for you. Let's review the options.
•
Professional movers
costs and experience vary. There are those on the less expensive end of
the
system, consisting of
two to four people with a truck, up to the executive level of packing
and using
a
huge semi-truck to
delivery your belongings. Usually, what you pay for is what you get.
•
Most moving companies
provide sturdy, reinforced boxes. The cost of these boxes is included
in the
amount quoted for the
move.
•
Professional movers
use padded blankets to protect your furniture. These blankets are
secured with
rope or bungee cords so
no damage occurs.
•
If you are doing the
packing, make sure each box is carefully marked for the movers,
indicating
which
boxes contain fragile
items. In most cases, when using professional movers, you don't have to
worry
about the weight of the
boxes. They know how much to pack and have the correct equipment to
handle large boxes.
•
If working with
professional movers, one semi-truck may contain several households so
your
belongings may not be
the first on their route. Talk to the movers and determine when they are
expecting to arrive at
your new home. Keep in mind that traffic, construction, and weather,
can all
create delays. For this
reason, it's important to have phone numbers and e-mail addresses of the
movers along with the
main office just in case your belongings do not arrive on time. In
addition,
make
sure they have a phone
number to reach you. If the schedule denotes a 5 p.m. arrival, have
someone
at the house from 4:00
p.m. until the truck arrives: one hour before.
Self-Moving
industrial strength
boxes in all sizes, costing you nothing. Use old blankets, pillows, or
towels
for
minimal damage. Some
rental companies will rent padded blankets for a very small fee. Just
be sure
that you wrap breakable
items carefully and don't stack boxes of breakables on top of each
other.
•
Mark all boxes
carefully. Separate breakable items. Consider moving those in your car
instead of
loading them into trucks
with your other items.
unwanted items from
being packed and moved
• Carefully mark the
boxes containing towels, toiletries, sheets, etc., so you can unpack
those
first and
at least be able to make
your bed and take a shower.
"Open
me
first." This
might include a coffee pot, eating utensils, or clothing that
you've packed
separately to get you
through the first few days.
it will help them get
used to their new address.
•
If you have
cats, or other animals, make sure you keep them closed off from packing
as well
as the
moving day activity.
Pets can easily get into boxes without anyone knowing, or they can
quickly run
out a door and be lost.
Consider boarding them for a day or two.
condensation could
develop, and shock could occur when you plug them in.
placed on ice in a cooler
and then moved or given away. If you’re moving across the
country where
boxes
will take days to arrive, don't pack any perishable foods at all.
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