Moving can be a wonderful time in your life. It can signal a new start with exciting things ahead of you! It may seem a bit overwhelming at first – moving is a process, not an event! – but if you start planning early, it will go much more smoothly. If your move is still months away, there are lots of things you can start doing now and planning for today that will make the move much easier in the long run.
Packing Tips:
- Look at all your belongings and decide what you want to keep. If you can, give things to family or friends, donate them, sell them, or just throw them away. Everything you move will cost you money, so get rid of what you can.
- Determine if you will do your own packing or if you will hire packers. If you are packing yourself, begin packing items that you won’t need before you move – off-season clothes, items in the attic or basement, good china, etc.
- Use good packing supplies like boxes made for moving and packing paper. Boxes from the grocery store may be free but they aren’t the best for moving. The different sizes make it difficult for the movers to load them, and the boxes may not protect your belongings well. It’s best to tape boxes shut so things won’t spill out. Also, be careful: using newspapers can transfer ink from the paper to your belongings.
- Label your boxes clearly with the correct room and the contents. It’s good to keep a log of boxes and number the boxes so that you can easily find a particular box.
General Tips:
- Contact moving companies as early as possible to get estimates. Moving companies are busier in the spring and summer, so you will need to book you move earlier at those times of the year. Ask for referrals and ask about insurance.
- Check your insurance policy to see if your belongings are covered during your move. If uncertain, call your insurance agent. Movers are not obligated to replace damaged items. Ask your mover about replacement value coverage. Tell your mover about any high-value items that are moving.
- About 4 weeks before you move, fill out the US Postal Service change of address form online or at the post office. Contact magazines and businesses with your change of address. It will take at least a month for magazine and businesses to update their records. Also, send out change of address to your friends and family. Change your delivery address, if you take newspapers.
- About 3 weeks before your move, transfer or cancel utilities and telephones. Contact your bank and financial institutions with your new address.
- If you have pets, plan to have them out of the way during the move. Ask a neighbor or family member to watch them or board them for a few days. Moving can be disconcerting to pets.
- Plan for moving houseplants. Most movers would rather not take them on the truck because the plants can damage furniture.
About the Author: Susan Campbell founded and runs More Than Moving for Seniors
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