Moving doesn’t have to be stressful if you plan ahead. A move can be a good thing. It can be a new beginning or a fresh start. Just keep a positive attitude.
Make a list of things you need to do. For example, check out your new neighborhood in the day as well as the night. See what schools are in the area, check out the community. Are the people friendly? Is there transportation? Are there events going on in your community? This will tell you if it is a close community.
Is your new residence affordable, and do they allow pets? Are the schools close by and if not, do they have transportation? Check prices for Internet, satellite, or cable. Once you know these facts, you won’t be surprised later. Think about how much you need to move. Do you need a truck or a moving van? Call different places for prices and ask questions about mileage and weight capacity. If you don’t need a truck, use a friend’s van or pick it up to save money.
Once you have given your notice to the management of your rental community or know your house is sold, it is time to notify all utility companies. You can call the gas, electric, satellite, Internet and your telephone provider with your new address. Be sure to give them the date you are moving in and confirm the date you are moving out of your old residence. Notify creditors, cellular providers, banks, friends, and schools.
Notify your local post office or go online to change your address. If you go online, it will cost you a dollar to change your address, and you can do this two weeks before you move. It will take a couple of weeks to arrive at the new location, so don’t be surprised if you’re not getting mail right away. Certain mail will not be forwarded, so it is important to notify everyone of your new address.
To make your move easier, you will need to get plenty of boxes, markers, newspapers, containers with lids, masking tape, and twine. Always wrap dishes and fragile items in newspapers to protect them. You can also wear rags, old socks or old clothes. Containers with lids are great for small stuff like Christmas ornaments, seasonings, medicines, and items you want to keep dry. After your boxes or containers are filled, you should mark each one with a black marker. Write the contents on the box and the room it should go into. Don’t forget to tape the bottom of each cardboard box to keep it from collapsing.
For books, I have found that stacking them by ten and wrapping them with heavy twine will keep them together, and it is easier to carry. Books are just too heavy to put into boxes, and they will collapse.
Before you move and pack unnecessary items you don’t want, have your family go through the house and get rid of unwanted items. Have children find the toys and clothes they don’t play with anymore. Take all these unwanted items and have a garage sale or moving sale. You can also put them on paper. Some newspapers offer free advertisement for classifieds. Now you have a little less to move and some extra money.
Before your children get out of school, it is a good idea to transfer their school records and transcripts. This will save time later when enrollment starts. Be sure there is transportation to and from school unless they are close enough to walk or ride their bike.
When moving cross country, be prepared for fuel and lodging expenses. Another suggestion is renting a U haul. They offer many sizes, and they have dropped off sites in almost every area. Their prices are quite reasonable too. If you don’t care about price, then hire movers. Movers can make moving much easier.
If you have pets, it is a good idea to keep them in a large cage and make frequent stops so they can relieve themselves. If you are worried about your pets, then take them to the vet, and he or she may suggest a sedative. Sometimes animals need to be tranquilized if the trip is very long. Be safe and ask your vet.
