There’s excitement and anticipation associated with relocating to a new place to live; you get to pick the paint colors you love, maybe there is a new yard to plan and that extra room you always wanted. If you are preparing for a new home or apartment, you are not alone; the U.S. Census Bureau finds almost 36 million people moved to a new residence between 2012 and 2013. The reason for most was to find a new place to live, followed by relocation for a new job. No matter the reason, preparing for a moving adventure can be a stressful experience.
Here are some helpful packing tips that will make the move easier, from the article 17 Packing Hacks that Will Transform Your Next Move:
- Open all lotions, sprays and gels, 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
- Plastic foam plates between breakable dinnerware is better protection than newspaper
- Potholders can be used as knife holders
- Pack bottles of wine in kids pool floaties to keep them from breaking
- Label your cords with duct tape with the name of the corresponding appliance for hassle free matching
- Pack books in suitcases
The time of year you move can save you money. In 2008, July passed June as the most popular month to move. November was the slowest time, meaning more room for price negotiation.
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 the 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
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 all is said and done, 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 during 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 California Casualty representative BEFORE-hand to get the appropriate coverage on your new dwelling.
Make sure you get the best value in protecting your home and the valuables inside. Contact a California Casualty advisor for a homeowner or renter policy review at 1.800.800.9410.
Sources for this article:
https://www.mymovingreviews.com/move/moving-statistics
https://www.moving.com/about-us/index.asp
https://www.hampdenmoving.com/forgotten-items.html
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