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Moving Advice
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The most important steps in a move are made long before the hunt for boxes begins.
Follow these tips and you'll have less to worry about on moving day.
Surviving the Move
The key moving survival tactic is getting an early start.
When you have a deadline, everything has a domino effect.
Allow some leeway, so you can stay on schedule even before packing a single box.
Begin at least eight weeks before you plan to leave by hiring a moving company or contracting to rent a moving truck.
If you're planning a summertime move, you may consider moving during the week.
Weekends are the busiest times for moving and the equipment you need may not be available.
Because every moving situation is different, the only way to determine costs is to get estimates.
A house full of wicker, for example, costs much less to move than a house full of heavy antiques.
Moving during peak time - the usual school breaks - costs more, and homes with minimal access or apartments with lots of steps will add to the final cost.
Using Professional Movers
The simplest way to move is to hire professionals to pack up your household and haul your belongings away to your new home.
If you do this, ask several moving companies to come to your home and give you cost estimates.
Some movers will give estimates guaranteed to be your final cost.
In this case you know in advance exactly what your moving bill will be.
Packing materials can add quite a bit to the cost of a move.
A new tall wardrobe container can cost $7 or more, depending on where you live and which company you use.
So whether the movers are doing your packing or you are doing it yourself, try to get used boxes from the moving company.
They should cost you about half as much as new.
Although cost estimates are important, give equal weight to the reputation of the mover.
Check with local consumer protection groups if you're making a short move.
These agencies keep records of complaints that are filed against businesses.
The Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) regulates moves from one state to another.
The agency can provide a summary of the most recent performance reports of the largest moving companies.
If you're moving to another state, the ICC requires the moving company to give you a document titled "Summary of Information for Shippers of Household Goods."
It details your rights and how to protect them. If you're moving within the state, check with the state Attorney General for any regulations affecting the move.
Even when you use a professional mover, there are ways to cut expenses.
Avoid the peak summer season.
Minimize additional charges, like hooking up appliances and moving heavy furniture up more than one flight of stairs.
Also, do as much of the packing as you can yourself.
Leave expensive and fragile items to the movers for insurance reasons, and don't pack perishable items.
Moving Yourself
If you pack your possessions and move in a rented truck, you'll probably cut your moving bill in half.
You will save money, but you'll also increase the amount of work and worry for yourself.
And there is a financial drawback.
Rental truck companies generally allow you to insure up to $25,000 for personal property, and claims are valid only for major damages like fire, accidents, etc.
If your grandmother's cut-glass bowl gets broken because you have to slam on the brakes, that's a packing problem and is not usually covered.
The day you reserve a moving truck is a good time to review your homeowner's insurance policy to determine if it covers your possessions during a move.
If it doesn't, you can usually buy cargo insurance through the truck-rental firm.
Cargo insurance protects against the loss of, or damage to, your possessions while in the rental truck.
Whichever method you use to move, be sure to save receipts.
If you are moving in conjunction with a job and itemize on your tax returns, you can write off moving expenses at tax time.
Be sure to check with your tax advisor.
Moving Day
If the pros are moving you:
Be on hand to answer questions and give directions when they arrive.
Discuss and agree on the delivery arrangements before pick up.
Tell the mover how to reach you at your new destination. While shipment is in transit, keep in contact with the mover's agent at your destination.
Before the moving van arrives, dispose of all flammable materials - movers won't carry them.
Set aside especially valuable small items - jewelry, documents, money - to carry with you.
Movers cannot be responsible for transporting pets and might not accept plants.
Read the loading and freight contract completely before you sign it.
Keep it until your shipment is delivered, all charges are paid, and all claims, if any, are settled.
If you're moving yourself:
When moving day arrives, load major appliances first.
This ensures that the center of gravity will be closest to the driver, where it belongs.
Take your time packing the truck.
A tightly packed load is your best guarantee that your belongings will come through the move unscathed.
It's also a good idea to place the items you need least at the bottom of the truck.
Stack lightweight, bulky items on top.
Mattresses and mirrors should be placed along the walls of the truck and tied securely.
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