Try to Keep It Together—and Try to Win A FREE Move!!

The phrase “try to keep it together” fits when moving appliances.

If you have a computer or home audio system, and there are cords that belong with these or other appliances, tape, tie or rubber-band them to that appliance so they don't become separated. The same goes for air conditioners. That is, if you have long extension cords attached to those air conditioners, don’t disconnect them. Simply wrap them around the air conditioner, then tie or tape them to the air conditioner.

If your new place doesn’t have central air conditioning, you don’t want to move in the summer and discover that the electrical outlet is too far from the window. If your extension cords are attached to the air conditioners' plugs, you don’t have to go through boxes or run out and buy new extension cords.

But—now’s the time to run out and win a FREE move! Just enter Moishe’s Moving Movie Madness (http://www.facebook.com/MoishesMoving). Moishe’s invites aspiring filmmakers to produce videos that document their entire move with Moishe’s Moving from beginning to end. The winner of the competition, as chosen by fans on Moishe’s Facebook Page (Moishe’s Moving ), will have their video published on Moishe’s Official Site (Moishes.com), and will have their entire move refunded to them in full! The contest ends September 8, 2009—so get moving!!

You Can't Go Wrong If You Mark your Boxes Right

It can be frustrating if there's a box you labeled "Misc. Stuff" and in the confusion and excitement of the move you forgot just what is your definition—or inside-- Misc. Stuff."

Label, mark, and pack things by room and accurately mark the boxes by what you took out of the room: "Bathroom,” “Kitchen, "Bedroom," etc.

If you have a mixed box or one with items you'll be needing first, be sure to mark that on the box too. You may have dozens of boxes marked "Kitchen," and you don't want to have to dig through all of them looking for your favorite coffee pot or silverware.

Also, they may not look “too fashionable,” but garbage bags are fine for packing t-shirts, and socks. Just make sure you don’t mistakenly throw them out!

Making Moving Day Painless--and Cheaper

Here are a few helpful hints to make your move as stress-free as possible:

Take your time. It’s better to be packed up a month or more in advance of “Moving Day.” Start by packing a few boxes filled with things you really don't need every day. Once you get closer to moving day, your task will be made easier because of your early prep work.

Moving is also a perfect opportunity to shed some of your belongings. It's hard to get rid of those things you hang on to "just in case." But when it comes to having to pack those things and load them into a truck, and/or paying someone to move, load or store them, it’s better to throw out those now costly possessions that others have said you should have thrown out long ago!

The Moving Window

Be upfront with your moving company about the exact date of your moving date. This date will depend on many factors: your home’s closing date, your travel time, when you will get possession of your home and thus, can “legally enter” your new residence. Discuss these details with your moving company in the early stages of your move date.

Once the delivery window is scheduled, you have to accept your shipment within that time frame. However, your moving company will weigh many factors when they give you delivery dates. For instance, the date(s) depends on the size of your shipment, the number of travel days a driver will need to drive to your new home (the government sets a maximum hours per day that a driver can drive a truck), and if the driver(s) will have other pick-ups or deliveries besides yours.

Day of Move Moves

Before the day you move arrives, you should make a list called “Things You Need.”
These would include:

· Any prescription meds and jewelry.
· A charged cell phone
· Several copies of directions to your new home printed out

Also, before you get to your new home, install new batteries in smoke & CO2 detectors. It's never too late to think safety first.

Moving Yourself

If you’re hiring professional movers who are moving everything (including your car), make travel arrangements with airlines or car rental agencies at least a month in advance. You don’t want to set the date for your possessions to move out only to discover you have to make last minute travel arrangements.

Plus, the closer you get to your departure date, the more likely the price to travel (i.e., plane tickets, car rental and gasoline) will rise.

If You Live In an One Room Apartment--

Or, a VERY small studio (less than 800 sq. ft.), a question is often raised: Should the occupant even bother calling a moving company?

He or she should.

All moving companies invite small shipments to add to the load they’re hauling, and to increase their revenue. Therefore, even if you’re only moving from an one room apartment or even one room, there is bound to be bulky furniture. If it is a local move, you could rent a truck for a short amount of time and move it yourself. But compare the cost of the truck rental, fuel and labor involved to what a mover would charge. If it's not much in savings, it’s worth it to have your cargo moved by a professional.

Mail (and/or E-mail) It In!

Before your move, arrange for your mail to be forwarded to your new address. You can change your mailing address online with the U.S. Postal Service for very little cost. Fill out the online form and voila! All mail sent to your previous address with be forwarded to your new one. Now, you don't have to worry if you forgot to notify someone of your address change and they mailed their mail to your old address.

Also, send out a mass e-mail to your friends and family letting them know you've moved. If you're planning a housewarming party, provide this information.

Do e-mailing before the move, not after—when your computer might be still be in a box!

Giving Your Home The Look You Want

Before you move into your new home, you should know how your home will look. Which room(s) will be utilized as a study? A home gym? A “playroom” for your child (children)? A bedroom? The washing machine/dryer room?

If you have a backyard, before the move is the time to plan what will fill it. Do you want the backyard to hold a picnic table? A patio? A garden? A swimming pool? A barbecue pit or birdbath or any lawn ornament? Or, if any of the aforementioned is in the backyard already, do you wish to have any or all of it removed?

A clutter free backyard can not only clear your mind, but clear up space—especially if you have a young child or children and they have (or will have) a swing set or jungle gym.

A Move Can be Taxing – and Tax Deductible!

Yes, a move can be used as a tax deduction. The IRS allows the move to be tax deductible if it falls under these conditions:

You are moving because of a job change.

Your new home is at least 50 miles or more farther from your former home and job. For example, if your old job’s location was just two miles from your former home, your new job location must be at least 52 miles from your former home.

If you’re self-employed, you must work full-time for at least 39 weeks during the first year and a total of 78 weeks during the first two years at your new home. If you’re a company’s employee, you must work full-time for at least 39 weeks during the first year upon arriving at your new job and home.

So start a moving file for taxes right after the move – while the information is still fresh!

Making Do with Less

If you’re a pack rat, stop “packing!”

That is, stop the habit of hoarding items that will only be thrown out in a short amount of time (i.e., magazines, newspapers). The less you have, the less there is to move—and the less money you spend on the move.

If you insist on storing yellowed-with-age personal and business papers, place and seal them in cardboard boxes and not bad-for-the-planet plastic crates.

When Situations Cause You to Move

Sometimes, someone who has to move doesn’t want to move. The reasons behind the move can range from financial to a family matter (i.e., better schools for your children).

The old saying from “from lemons make lemonades" applies to a move. A move to another town and house can give you a new sense of adventure as well as open your mind. It is up to the person who’s moving whether they’ll make the location a good or bad experience.

If you live in the town where you grew up, you can even reinvent yourself in a new place--especially if you have a new job. A new job in a new town may very well change your disposition; often for the better.

Planning a Winter Move

If you’re going to move in the wintertime into a new place situated in a winter-cold climate, be prepared for the move—and snow.

That is, have snow shovels and/or snow blowers ready at the new place. Or, if you don’t want to shovel snow yourself, have a phone number of a snow removal company handily ready. Dealing with heavy snow on moving day is an added headache; not to mention a safety issue.

When to Break The Moving News

A move is delicate news to your friends and family that you don’t want to say either too soon or too late.

Only tell when everything is good to go—including yourself. That is, tell when all of the legalese have been signed and/or you’re 100% sure that you’re “doing the right thing”--and you won't make a last minute change of mind. When you do break the news, make it clear that the move is because you feel the time is right to go; and it’s not because of them or the place you’re about to leave behind.

If the move isn’t permanent and you’re not sure exactly how long your move away from them will be, let them know ASAP--and not when you're close to moving back!

Don’t Turn Your Home Into An Obstacle Course

On moving day, your home no doubt will have cardboard boxes stacked like building blocks. In the chaos of a move, it’s imperative to keep a clear aisle between boxes--and a clear head.

For example, movers don’t want to be walking or jumping over rolled up rugs during a move. It can be injurious—and can put an injury on your wallet if a lawsuit arises should injuries incurred.
Similarly, lamp/phone cords and extension cords can be hazardous to one’s health.

So make your moving trip one that doesn’t involve moving feet tripping!

A New Home With A Fairly New Human

When you’re moving with a baby six months or younger, the move—if it’s organized—is pretty straight-forward. The baby(-ies) aren’t leaving friends; they're just content to eat, sleep food and be with their parents.

But—

Before you move into the new house, make sure the baby's room is the first thing that’s set up. Also, you’d want to recreate as much as possible your baby’s former location. Still, there’ll be a period of adjustment—which means some sleeplessness in the first few nights of their—and your—new home.

Find Your Own Best Place--

--at a website called Sperling’s Best Places.

If you need “another set of eyes” or simply more information on a move you’re pondering, check out Sperling’s Best Places website (http://www.bestplaces.net/).

It gives you a thumbnail sketch of any place in America by simply inputting the town’s zip code. These “sketches” include crime, school and cost of living statistics; as well as the locale’s climate.

The site also does comparisons of one city/town to another. For example, it compares a town’s transportation, economy and housing to another.

So if it’s another “voice” you want to hear about moving, check out Sperling’s!

Baby, It’s Time To Move!

But when you’re moving with a baby or two, that young child will feel whatever stress you're feeling. So for your, and more importantly for your baby’s sake and sanity, make the move as stress-fee as possible.

If possible, try to have someone to watch your child while you're dealing with the move. This includes the most stressful part of the move: packing, loading and unpacking . After the move is completed, reunite with your child.

It will save you time—and more importantly, a huge slice of your sanity!

Goodbye Is The Hardest Word

--especially when you’re moving away from friends.

Rather than avoid this inevitable heartbreak, allow time before you move to grieve over leaving friends and favorite places. Good friends should stay good friends so encourage other family members to stay in touch with their pals through phone, e-mail or even letters.

Let your family members know their friends are welcome to visit at your new home anytime. You can even suggest your family make a DVD or take LOTS of pictures of your friends to look back on when the separation and the distance between your “leave behind buddies” gets tough.

So try not to think too much of the friends you might lose. Think of the new friends you’ll find in your new home!

Moving In A Senior Moment

When a senior citizen (i.e., a parent or grandparent) is looking to move, it’s beneficial to all that a loved one or friend is there to help them look for a suitable place--so they feel at home before they move to their new home!

This new home should be located in a community that’s “senior friendly.” That is, a SAFE community. If they’re moving into a house, it should have a room on the first floor that can be used as a bedroom once stairs become too difficult to climb.

And, let the senior citizen unpack as much as possible. It not only empowers them, but it gives them confidence. After all, it is their home!

Finding the Four

After you narrow your search down to four moving companies, obtain written estimates from each company. These estimates should include the services involved. This will narrow your search down even further than four.

When you get down to two candidates, get on-site consultations. This entails a trained moving company employee doing a walk-through of your current residence and giving you a “binding estimate.” This is a guaranteed price for a move.

An accurate move estimate is based on the goods that are actually moved; as well as what movers have to deal with on the move (i.e., stairs to your apartment/house).

If you're not comfortable with the moving company, you won't be comfortable with the impending move!

Plan on Planning

The moving business is like any business: there are peak months and there are slow months. The peak is April, the summer and into September. If you plan on moving in those months, try to start your search in advance. The sooner you do, the easier the move.

It takes time to shop and compare movers. If you plan in advance, the better the chance you’ll get your first choice of movers—which means better service to you and them due to the decrease in stress level.

Just remember: in moving, good things may not happen to those who wait!