Summer is here and the moving season is on. If you are preparing for a new home or apartment you are not alone; the U.S. Census Bureau found almost 36 million people moved to a new residence between 2012 and 2013. Most wanted to find a new place to live, followed by relocation for a new job.
While it can be an exciting time – you get to pick the paint colors you love, there is a new yard to plan and you finally get that extra room you always wanted – preparing for a moving adventure can be a stressful experience.
Here are some helpful packing tips that can make it easier:
- Open all lotions, sprays and gels and place a layer of plastic wrap over the opening before putting the cap back on to prevent messy and costly spills
- Use a garbage bag liner in a box with numerous small items that could break; it will make clean up much easier
- Put necessities in a small suitcase or tote so they will be easy to find when you arrive at the new place
- Keep clothes on hangers, zip tie them together and wrap them in plastic for easier transition into a new closet
- Put fitted sheets on both sides of a mattress to protect it
- Use plastic foam plates between breakable dinnerware for better protection than newspaper
- Turn potholders into knife holders
- Pack bottles of wine in kids pool floaties to protect them from breaking
- Use duct tape to label electrical cords with the name of the corresponding appliance for hassle free matching
- Pack books in suitcases
Mayflower.com has a list of 10 essentials most often forgotten in a move. Did you remember?
- To get copies of your family’s medical records and veterinary records for your pets, as well as copies of prescriptions you may need to transfer
- An official copy of your child’s school records (needed to enroll them into a new school)
- Valuables you had hidden around the house (jewelry, stamps, coins)
- Important phone numbers and email addresses
- The items you may have taken to the cleaners but hadn’t picked up yet (or the watch at the repair shop)
- A copy of your new address
- To leave some cleaning supplies for the after move clean up
- To leave the garage door opener – many people forget to take them out of their vehicles
- To open a checking account in your new city a month prior to the move
- To gather all the keys to the house you have hidden or given to neighbors and friends
The time of year you move can save you money. In 2014, June and August were the most popular months to move. November and December were slowest, meaning more room for price negotiation.
Keep in mind there are other expenses to consider: hotels, meals out and establishing utilities, internet and cable or satellite TV at your new location. Moving.com calculated that people spend more money during the three months around the time of their move than non-movers spend in five years. When you add it up, relocating homeowners spent as much as $10,000 on furniture and accessories, apartment dwellers around $4,000.
Insurance is also an essential part of your move! While most renters and home insurance will cover your items before and after a move, very few provide coverage while your goods are in transit. It’s recommended that you purchase insurance from a moving company to protect your items from point A to point B.
You will also need to contact your insurance representative BEFORE-hand to get the appropriate coverage when you get to your new dwelling.
Just like preparing for a move, you need to plan ahead to make sure you get the best value in protecting your home and the valuables inside. Contact a California Casualty advisor today for a homeowners or renters policy comparison or review at 1.800.800.9410 or at www.calcas.com.
Sources for this article:
https://www.mymovingreviews.com/move/moving-season-2014-in-numbers
https://www.moving.com/about-us/index.asp
https://www.hampdenmoving.com/forgotten-items.html
https://www.housebeautiful.com/lifestyle/cleaning-tips/tips/a2427/packing-hacks/
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