Moving 101 - Make Your Next Move Like a Pro!

MOVING 101 How to Make Your Next Move Like a Pro!

By Janet Giles

Rick…thanks for the quick editing.

You are always there for me!

MOVING 101 Moving can be a 10 on the stress level chart. But good planning, as in any of life‟s changes, turns moving chaos into a manageable process. Moving is not for the faint of heart and waiting until the last minute to plan a move does nothing but add stress to your life! Not only is it important to get everything moved from one location to another, but it is also important to be able to find it once you reach your new home.

Moving 101 gives you plenty of moving tips, ways to de-clutter your home, packing advice, lists for what to do and how to do it! Use the 8 Week Countdown to organize your move and find tips to help you organize your unpacking. Following this easy guide to moving will help you chart the waters of moving whether it is your first time or routine for you.

Tip 1 - Clean Your Current Home and Get Rid of the Clutter! It is so important to get rid of furniture, clothes, pictures, even books and magazines that you no longer use. You can have a garage sale, take items to an auction or consignment shop or just donate them to Goodwill or another charitable organization. [Comment: Call a local women‟s shelter and see if they might need your nice business attire to help someone get a fresh start in a new job]. Start by making four stacks: (1) Keep (2) Give Away (3) Sell (4) Throw Away Tip 2 – Rent Additional Storage Space If Necessary. Figure out how best to end the clutter and keep in an orderly fashion what you want to move. A storage unit or POD may be an easy solution especially if you are planning your move and just putting your home on the market for sale.

Tip 3 - Calendar Exactly When You Need to Perform Certain Tasks. Calendar when to cancel utilities such as telephone, gas, electric, water, cable, trash pick-up and recycling. (See the 8-Week Countdown). You will also need to calendar when to have the utilities for your new place transferred into your name. If you are purchasing a home, be sure that the utilities are on through the date of closing and call ahead to have them put into your name before you go to the closing table so that none of the utilities are shut off. Oftentimes, once the previous owner has turned utilities off, you will need to pay a reconnection fee. To avoid this additional fee, have the utility „transferred‟ and not „turned-on”. Do you need to order trash containers from the city in your new place? More on utilities later.

Tip 4 – Pack Like Items in Like Boxes. In other words, try to put the contents of boxes that go to the master bedroom in boxes that are clearly marked Master BR and even saying 1 of 5 (2 of 5, etc.) is handy no matter who helps in the move. You can take this a step further and use different colored markers for each room too OR different colored markers for each floor of your new home. See what NOT to pack in a later chapter.

Tip 5 – Keep That Tool Belt Handy. If you purchase an apron with a lot of pockets or use one of the tool belts with pockets when you are packing, you will find it handy to have everything at your reach like markers, a small note pad, tape, and even your camera to take pictures of something that you want to remember. (The camera on your cell phone is also handy for snap pictures). Smart phones can be used for almost everything during your move – keep it handy!

Also when you are moving into your new place you will need many of the same tools that you have in this tool box. Keep it handy.

Tip 6 – Make a Survival Kit! This box should include items that you might need right away at the new home. If you are making a local move and are lucky enough to have possession of both homes in the move, then you have a little more flexibility if you forget something, but moving a distance without having a Survival Kit can cost you hours in finding what you need. A suggested list follows later but pretend you are spending the night somewhere with no luxuries yet including personal hygiene items, food and something to sanitize!

Tip 7 - Make Moving Day an Adult Experience! If you have small children and can have a baby-sitter and secure your pets for the day, this will take away a lot of stress. Having small children or pets underfoot is a safety hazard. See later chapter on moving with children and pets.

Tip 8 - Find a Moving Company. Check at least three moving companies if you plan to get quotes from professional movers. If you are a DIY mover, plan a few weeks ahead for the truck rental and any equipment you might need as weekend rentals book well ahead of time. This way you are sure to get the right size truck for your move.

Tip 9 - Don’t Grocery Shop Before Moving! Moving refrigerated items can also be a hassle.

Don‟t go grocery shopping before you move but a few weeks before the move start making a grocery list of what you will buy as soon as you move! Start eating the food in the freezer and using up what you can to avoid packing it.

Tip 10 – Start a Folder On Your New Place. Make a folder for the new place (hopefully you have one or a drawer where you keep important papers on your old place already). Divide the folder in sections with utilities, appliances, paint colors and receipts. If you plan to do a lot of redecorating after your move-in, take some before photos for later when you‟ve created your masterpiece.

Now, let’s go into detail about these Tips…

De-Clutter Your Life

De-clutter Your Life: If you haven‟t used it lately – don‟t move it! Remember – the more you de-clutter your home (and your life) the less you have to move. If you really have years of “trash” and can pay for convenience over bottom line cost then consider ordering a dumpster.

Even though it may seem costly, in the end it saves lots of time and the added convenience may be worth the expense. If you are really squeezing every dollar to make the move but are using this move as an excuse to get rid of lots of junk, you could put everything going to the dumpster in one place like the garage or a back covered porch and once you have all of your throw-outs, rent a truck for one day and load it up and take everything to the dump. This is probably less than 25% of the cost but means a little more work for you. Remember to clean out the rental truck and return it in tip-top shape and full of gas to get your deposit back.

You could also check out portable moving pods. This way you have the POD (portable storage container) delivered to your current home (driveway or parking space, if allowed) and left for a week or two prior to your move. You can systematically organize your boxes and the packed boxes will not be moved onto a truck but picked up by the same company that dropped the POD off and delivered to your new place. These companies are both local and national.

They are competitively priced to hiring a professional mover. Several examples are www.upack.com, www.1800packrat.com, www.pods.com and www.SmartBoxusa.com. I‟m sure there are more of these companies as they have become a convenient way of sorting and packing. It is also nice because you pack your own items so you have a good idea which boxes you can pack first according to use and load into the POD early – also contributing to the decluttering that is necessary! PODS are typically secure, all-steel and weather-proof. They don‟t look very attractive though when sitting in a drive-way for a week or two if your current home is still for sale.

Another alternative is renting a storage unit. Especially if your current home is for sale, a storage unit can be very helpful in de-cluttering and organizing what you can set aside in boxes.

Many items that are either not being used because of the time of year or that will help de-clutter a room can be moved out of the house ahead of time. This will help in staging your home for sale and hopefully making it seem bigger to a buyer. Be sure to understand the leasing terms if you want a short term rental and compare storage facilities. Ask what the special rates are, whether access is 24/7 and the lease term and penalties if you don‟t keep the unit as long as you

suspect you will. You shouldn‟t need for the unit to be heated but if you are concerned about this, then ask. [Comment: I would advise to place mice pellets along the wall in several spots in your storage unit. Mice are just something normal in such places but it is easy to control by using the little green pellets that are sold at most hardware stores]. Ask if you can sign up for auto-pay or pay a few months in advance. Sometimes you get the first month free but be sure to understand what happens if you only keep the unit for two months! What is really great about having a storage unit (besides mentally visualizing your move and what is necessary) is that the potential buyer can imagine placing their own furniture in the home now that they can see past your clutter. Also you may find that the storage unit offers a free truck rental if you lease from them. If this is the case and a free truck is offered, ask how long you have to use the free truck.

If your move is local, of course, this could defray the cost of renting a DIY truck and when figuring that particular cost, using the free truck may actually pay for six months of storage!

[Comment: I actually rented a storage space for old office files and when my daughter moved from one apartment to another, I got free use of the truck and saved her a bundle. I had paid for the storage unit for almost a year and as long as I wasn‟t using the truck to move out, I could still use it for free! Just ask!]

Some people have a hard time letting go of anything but ask yourself “do I really need this”? When was the last time I used this juicer that Aunt Mildred got me…five years? Ten? When was the last time I wore these bell bottoms? Hmm, was this paint the color I painted my bedroom time before last? Getting the idea? Toss it! It will cost you money to move it! If you can‟t quite part with something but you know you aren‟t going to use it, put those things in a box and mark “Open in 6 Months” and usually it is a little easier to part with things after you‟ve stored them with no use – especially if you have paid to move them or if you are paying for storage somewhere! Goodwill, Salvation Army, Am Vets or even St. Vincent De Paul are all charitable organizations that will be more than happy to take your giveaways in return for a tax deductible receipt if you don‟t want to have a garage sale or put items on eBay or Craig‟s List.

Also consignment shops have become very popular in almost every big city. Consignment shops will usually charge you 50% of the sales price but this may be worth not having to take phone calls from the public or to me much better than spending all day holding a garage sale. Should all of the above take too much effort on your part but you still want it done, contact 1-800-GOTJUNK? (1-800-468-5865) or 1800gotjunk.com and see if they are in your city. Say goodbye to your junk without doing a thing. They will pick up old furniture, appliances, electronics or any debris. They will load it and best of all, they will clean up afterwards. You pay them. They don‟t pay you. No matter how you get rid of the clutter, getting the job done is what is important.

Take snapshots or make a list of the furniture and items you do want to move. Smart phones are wonderful for this! An inventory is great to keep track of your possessions and it is also handy for insurance purposes. [Comment: In taking pictures, if you have a favorite

furniture grouping or wall grouping, snap a picture and you can easily recreate it at your new place].

You‟ve heard the old saying that cleanliness is next to Godliness? Well, let‟s then put decluttering next to cleanliness when we are thinking about moving. Cleaning your home thoroughly when you move out, even if you didn‟t own the home, should be a matter of duty and respect. You can always opt to hire a professional to clean your old place once you make the move and the home is empty if you want to concentrate on your new home. Don‟t forget the carpets and leave air-fresheners for the Realtors if the home is not sold yet. If you are moving from a rental, remember you won‟t get a deposit back if you leave the property dirty (and you may get a bad reference from the landlord at a later time, too)! For marks on walls, a “Mr. Clean Magic Eraser” can‟t be beat, but for dirty walls there is nothing better especially if your home is still for sale than wiping down the walls and applying a fresh coat of neutral paint.

CHECK LIST OF CLEANING MUSTS for the Home You Are Leaving Kitchen: > Clean out all cabinets and wipe up any sticky residue > Clean oven and stove top > Clean microwave > Clean refrigerator – empty ice trays – shut off ice maker > Scrub sinks > Run garbage disposal (nothing smells worse than garbage in the sink for a week!)

Bathroom: > Clean toilet and place a tank tablet in tank > Clean sink > Clean shower and tub > Pour Lime-A-Way around faucets and shower head > Remove hair from tub drain > Clean mirror and/or medicine cabinet Rest of home interior: > Vacuum, sweep and mop where necessary > Clean carpets as needed or agreed by a lease or purchase agreement > Try to remove any noticeable black marks from walls > Fill nail holes and sand lightly > Touch up paint if you have matching paint > If you have garbage bags of trash, remove from home – don’t leave it there unless you know that the trash pick-up day is within a day or two and you know all items will be picked up. Not all areas have a heavy trash pick-up every week.

CALENDAR YOUR NEXT MOVE!

8 Week Countdown 6-8 Weeks Before Move Date > Start budgeting for the move. > You probably are thinking you know where you want to move or the area, so you should be well into the hunt. If you are moving to a far away location, start checking out the area on the Internet or contact the local Chamber of Commerce and see if they can provide information on local businesses. Real estate websites and smart phone Apps now list easily both „for sale‟ and „for rent‟ homes. You can pull right up in front of a home and find current information on sites such as Trulia.com, Realtor.com, Homes.com and others. Most of the national real estate search sites have smart phone apps that are available for free. Besides using the Internet and apps to find a home, there are also smart phone apps that can help you know what is around any certain area at any given time. For example, apps such as Around Me, urbanspoon, Yelp and Search It helps you identify restaurants, hospitals, banks, supermarkets, free Wi-Fi and more. So, if it is your first night in a new city and you can‟t stand another minute without Mexican food, it only takes a moment to find the nearest one and its rating! > Start creating your own To Do List and calendar all steps in the process of moving. > Write a form letter asking for medical, dental, and prescription records if you are planning on moving too far away to keep your same health care providers (ask them to provide you names of doctors and dentists in your new city). > Notify your veterinarian for pet records and ask for referral in new city. > Ask your insurance agent what you need to do to change insurance for home, apartment and car. > Make a list of the people and businesses you need to notify of the move – friends, family, newspaper, utilities, auto insurance carrier, apartment or home insurance carrier, Internet service, cable service, schools. > Consider getting a new email address from Yahoo or Gmail if you currently use an email address that is linked to your area and then at the same time you notify friends and family of your new address you can start using an email address that will „always‟ be available to you. For example, yourname@comcast.net, or yourname@sbcglobal.net may not be available to you in another city. Your Gmail or Yahoo email would always be available wherever you are and you can move to ten cities and still keep the same email. > Inventory each room of your current home – the list should say what goes with you, what can go to Goodwill, what can go to garage sale, what can be thrown away.

> Start eating and disposing of the foods that you have in your pantry and especially in your freezer. > Start using up cleaners and items that can‟t legally be moved such as bleach, lighter fluid, aerosols. > Contact movers or check on prices for DIY truck rentals.

4-5 Weeks Before Move Date > Start getting boxes and packing supplies and begin packing items you rarely use (properly mark and place all boxes in one easy area to move onto the moving truck) > You may want to consider renting a storage area about now to start moving boxes that can be loaded directly onto the truck or if moving locally, can be picked up after your main move gradually. > Start deciding how best to move your pets. You will need immunization records but you have already ordered these from the veterinarian and should have them. > If you are having a garage sale, place an ad and set dates. > Each week you should be getting rid of what can be thrown out or go to Goodwill. > If you are moving locally and need to plan for a day or two off of work, as well ahead for time off.

2-3 Weeks Before Move Date > By now you should have an address! So call utilities at new residence and ask that utilities not be shut off but transferred and give them the date that you should take possession. It is probably best to ask that these utilities be in your name one day prior to your possession date so that you will not be without gas, heat, water or electricity. > If you have a home business, order new business cards with new address. > If you can make your own cards or labels, this is a great way to hand out your new address when someone asks. There are free templates on the Internet for self made cards – you can even use one of the templates and not even put on card stock – just print on a plain sheet of paper, cut them and hand out to friends and family with the new info. > If possible, take pictures of your new residence and make drawings of the rooms so you can start planning where to place furniture and pictures. > If you are getting a land line telephone or cable or Internet service, you should call and make arrangements for the day you move into the home for these services to also be in working order.

Telephones and cable all take a longer time to install where utilities such as water, heat and electricity can usually be done the next day after you call. > Check specials on cable TV service for your new area. As long as you have completed your current contract with Road Runner, Comcast and AT&T you should be able to start a new contract at your new location at an introductory price. Check out DISH and Direct TV for their specials too. If you currently have a dish service you typically leave the satellite dish attached to the home or apartment. Take only the receivers and remotes. DISH and Direct TV will typically install a dish at no charge at your new location if it never had a satellite dish before. If you are not going to continue the same service provider then by all means turn in every piece of equipment or you will get charged. > Each week you should be getting rid of what can be thrown out or go to Goodwill – remember the four stacks you were to be making – (1) Keep (2) Give Away (3) Sell (4) Throw Away > Arrange for child care for moving day. > Return all library books and DVD rentals and don‟t rent any more until you move. Also anything such as dry cleaning or repaired items should be picked up in this time frame. > Call all your utilities on your current home and tell them the date to take those utilities out of your name. If you sold your home then you should tell the utility companies that someone else should be calling before the date of disconnection and make sure that they transfer properly the utilities into their name without actually disconnecting. Usually you would keep the utilities on in your name through the date of possession if you are selling your home and if you are not giving possession the date of closing. If this is the case, then coordinate with your Realtor and the buyers the day that each of you are going to call to transfer all utilities. > Put in a change of address with the USPS (you can also do this online at USPS.org). > Contact your bank and see whether you need to transfer or close accounts. Don‟t forget safety deposit boxes. If you can set up new accounts prior to moving to your new location, remember it takes about 10 days to get new debit/credit cards in the mail. Also if you use your bank card for gas and every day purchases, remember that if you have to put in your zip code that the zip links to the card so if you change your bank account‟s address, you will also need to use the new zip code when you are asked for verification of your card. > If you are moving far away, have your car serviced so that you will not need to worry if you travel in the car. > Arrange to have new addresses on everything that is not first class mail such as magazines and trade papers if you want to continue receiving them after the move.

> Have all information on driver‟s license requirements in your new location, also on registration for your vehicle. > Arrange for someone to drive any additional vehicle to your new city if you are moving far away. > Notify creditors of your new address (sometimes this is forgotten since we always think the bills will find us but this is one way to unintentionally be late on paying something if it goes to the wrong address first and this could easily drop your credit score if you are working hard on this). > Start cleaning one room at a time for heavy cleaning – spots on walls, light fixtures, etc. so that you will have less to do on Move Date. > Fill prescriptions preferably for 3 months so that you don‟t run out of medications as soon as you move and need to find a doctor or pharmacist to assist you in refills. > Start two folders or clip boards – one for you with receipts, notes, plans and one for the new owner if you are selling your home (or use a file folder as mentioned earlier in the Tips).

1 Week Before Move Date > Read the entire list above and do anything that you have not done especially re-affirm child care and pet arrangements. > If you have not taken items to Goodwill, do it now or call an organization that will come and pick these items up. > Pack now everything that you can but keep out a “Survival Box” and mark any boxes “Take this Last” for those items you will need quickly. > Water plants a few days before the move so they will not be dripping and figure out how to safely move the plants. If you cannot do this, then give the plants away. > Clean out your refrigerator the day before your move, toss what can‟t be taken. > Clean bathrooms and use only one bath for the last day. > Clean oven and microwave and use it very little the last few days. > If you are moving your washer and dryer then do your last load of laundry at least 24 hours before the move so that everything is dry and drain your hose and disconnect. > If you have a water bed, hot tub, water fountain or outside hoses that you are moving, drain them 24-48 hours ahead of your move.

> Figure out what you are going to eat if you are traveling, what you will need for snacks as soon as you arrive and pack these things accordingly. > Charge cell phones and electronic devices fully and place all chargers in one box or suitcase that is easy to reach. > Make a note to leave keys and garage door openers for your current residence. > Leave a note with your forwarding address for next residents so that mail can be forwarded. > Make sure all windows and doors are secured on the last day when you leave. > Turn all heat to where nothing freezes. > Set out trash cans for pickup especially if they are filled to the brim (ask a neighbor or friend if they would stop and put them back where they would normally sit all week once emptied).

See if you need to order trash cans from the city for the new place if your trash pickup is provided by the city. > If you are selling your home and it is not yet sold, consider getting home winterized or turn off water to the house if there is danger of pipes freezing. > If you are renting a home, snap a picture the last day of each room and even utility meters to verify how you left the property (smart phones are great for this!) > If you have borrowed something from a neighbor or friend, now is the perfect time to return it. > Return all cable boxes, DVD players if part of the rental equipment, receivers and remotes (cable companies will find you and you will pay dearly for the unreturned equipment OR their computers will have your name in their “bad person” list forever and it will affect you getting cable or satellite service at your new location. > If you don‟t already own 4-8 of the sliders that allow a single person to move a heavy piece of furniture across a room, then go to any hardware store and buy a set now! You will use them for the next ten years and every time you do you will be amazed what you can do. They are sometimes called „moving buddies‟ and are usually round and slick on one side and have a softer cushion fabric or rubber fabric on the other side. You place them under the feet of furniture and it helps you glide the furniture across floors or carpeting easily and they don‟t even scratch wood floors. They will cost under $10 and I‟ve heard them called Moving Buddies, Moving Men or Husky Movers.

Day Before

> If you are moving into an apartment complex, condo community or somewhere that the parking is limited, you might consider parking a car directly in front of your new place the day before your move when a space becomes available so that you will be guaranteed to have the convenience of parking the moving truck right in front of your new place. > Get a good night‟s sleep!

PACKING – RULE #1 PACK LIKE ITEMS IN LIKE BOXES Before you can start packing, you will need sturdy moving boxes, newspapers (or bubble wrap), box sealing tape, and a Sharpie Pen to mark the boxes. You can also color-code your boxes with different colored markers for each room and each floor level. If you are using a professional mover, the mover should provide you with the way that your items must be packed. The information below is a guide for the DIY mover. Understand that if using a professional your boxes may need to be repacked if they are not done to their standards.

You can also tag your furniture as to what room in your new place the piece of furniture should go just in case you are not the one directing the movers or your friends that are carrying in your furniture. Just getting everything in the right room is such a huge start to organizing your new home.

Protect your belongings by wrapping them in bubble wrap, newspapers (esp. non-printed newspaper), or even extra towels and dishcloths that you can spare until you unpack again. You could even use sweaters in between fragile items and once you unpack, take them to a closet and hang them up. Also if you put paper plates between your dishes, they will provide a good cushion and should still be useable after you unpack. Dishes should be packed standing vertical.

Be sure to put a layer of protection (wadded-up newspapers, packing peanuts, old pillows or a blanket) on the bottom of the packing box to provide an extra layer of protection. Remember to pack the more fragile items on top of the box using additional newspaper or packing peanuts where necessary. Heavier, less breakable items such as small appliances and utensils should be placed at the bottom of a box. Delicate glassware and stemware should be wrapped and placed in a vertical position, lips down (not on their sides). As you pack each layer of dishes or glassware crumble packing paper to make sure that the items will not move around. Any glass or mirror items should be wrapped separately and packed so that they stand. You can use a comforter or blanket around artwork or mirrors. Never lay glass or mirrors flat!

You may also leave clothes in drawers, pull the drawers out of the chest or bureau to transport the furniture to the truck and then replace the drawers in the furniture while on the truck.

Drawers should not come open while the truck is being driven but you might face any furniture where drawers can‟t fly open or place something solid up against the drawers just to be sure.

Doors on furniture need to be secured. You don‟t want a door flying open as someone is carrying a heavy piece of furniture. This happened to me once and the door came open just enough to hit a window glass „just right‟ and broke the window.

The clothes in your closet are probably the biggest hassle to move. If you are moving a short distance and making a DIY move, try to move the clothes on the hangers and in a systematic manner so that you can carry the clothes (or your help can) right into your new closet and put them in the right bedroom the „first time‟. If you are moving a long distance and have car space, then hang clothes on the clothes carriers that hook above the windows in the back and go from side to side or purchase one of the closet boxes with the pole to hang clothes in an upright position from the place where you rent your truck.

Mattresses have changed considerably in the past few years. If you have a memory foam mattress, you do not want to stand it on end for more than a few minutes as it may damage the mattress. Also if you stand on end one of the baffled air mattresses, you may need to unzip the top layer of the mattress and straighten the baffles inside the frame prior to re-inflating.

Waterbeds, obviously, should be drained well ahead of time and follow the book from the manufacturer on directions for moving. In most cases, once the waterbed is drained, you would fold the vinyl over about every 20 inches for carrying but if you can‟t find your directions then „Google‟ on the Internet your brand of waterbed and hopefully you will find instructions applicable to your type of bed.

Rugs should be rolled up for easy carrying and loading onto a truck.

Lawn equipment or power tools need to be drained of oil or any fuel and boxed in strong boxes.

Grates on your outdoor BBQ grill and the briquettes should be wrapped separately and with lots of protection so that the soot does not get dispersed throughout the box. Place them together in a separate box from anything else. A professional mover will not transport a propane tank. If you do, then move them carefully and take all necessary precautions.

It is best when moving lamps and lampshades to remove the light bulbs, the harp and the lampshade. Place the lamp in a box with the cord wrapped securely around the lamp and secure the lamp in the box with plenty of newspapers or towels or blanket wrapped around it for protection. The shades can be moved separately in or out of a box but if placed in a box then mark FRAGILE and indicate on the box what is inside.

Medicines should be packed separately making sure that lids are tight on the bottles. Remember medicines such as insulin may need to be refrigerated and cannot be placed in a box that is in the sun or not unpacked immediately. This is a good time to purge outdated prescriptions and cold medicines from your medicine cabinet! All medicines should be put in one box and marked accordingly.

Transporting guns or ammunition obviously should be done by the individual who owns the guns. If you place the guns and ammunition in a box, then mark the box as FRAGILE and it is best to even say what is in the box and indicate who is to move the box. All firearms should be unloaded before moving. A professional mover should be notified that you intend to move

firearms and ammunition if they are moving it for you and they may require a list of the serial numbers prior to packing. Check with the professional mover if you intend to move guns or ammunition.

If you remove a shelf or a towel rack that requires the same nail or screw to be used to re-hang, use a piece of tape and tape the nails or screws onto the shelf or around the towel rack to keep it with the right item. The nails or screws won‟t be hard to find and they will be the right fit.

If you need to move frozen food then you will need ice chests to pack it in if the move is local.

If you are moving to another state or across the globe then obviously it isn‟t practical to even try to move refrigerated items.

Do Not Pack perishable items such as lighter fluid, paint thinner, pesticides or anything potentially flammable (just make it a point to start over at the new place) if you are not making a local move. A professional mover should refuse to move these items because of potential liability.

Do Not Pack your jewelry, cash, credit cards, important legal documents but instead, mark them “Personal – Keep with Owner” and put them in your car or send them to your destination in a secure manner if you are hiring a driver or using a professional mover.

MOVING BOXES Professional moving boxes can be purchased from any professional mover such as Wheaton, Allied, Mayflower, U-Haul, Budget, Ryder, United, North American, Two Men & A Truck and other national franchises. Most of the time, you can return any unused boxes and get a refund if you purchase from one of these places. There are all sizes and shapes and those boxes that are made to pack certain items such as dishes, glassware and china. There are also wardrobe boxes that allow you to hang clothes just like your own closet and are also perfect for blankets, pillows and larger folded items. There are also plastic covers made just for your mattress to keep them from getting soiled in the move. If your employer is moving you, more than likely these boxes will be provided to you by the mover of choice but there is a size and shape for everything!

Obviously professionals are going to say only to use these boxes as they are sturdy and made specifically to handle certain weights and comply with industry standards since someone other than you will be taking responsibility as a professional mover. With the professional move, let the company representative guide you on what they require.

If you are the DIY mover and on a very tight budget, liquor stores, groceries and drug stores are your best bet to pick up free boxes. First find out what days most of their deliveries are made and ask them not to cut up the boxes if you promise to come get them. Be sure to go get them if they are holding them for you! If you work in an office where they use lots of copy paper, ask the copy center to start saving the boxes for you. They are wonderful and have lids. You might also check to see if your local Staples, Office Depot, Office Max or FedEx printing centers have extra boxes left over from the copy paper. Also, even though these aren‟t free, I love the plastic storage boxes (especially the clear ones) that are at all the popular department stores and hardware stores and range from $5 – $8 each. They are reusable, year after year, stackable and are awesome for moving and make great storage boxes for organizing your garage once your move is done. Don‟t forget to pick up the matching lid when you purchase one of these boxes from a store such as Target, Walmart, Meijers or Home Depot.

You could also use the colored storage boxes to organize rooms or organize family members‟ storage items by color. No matter what kind of boxes you use, marking and properly labeling the room where the box should be taken at the new residence or indicating what specifically is inside is key to transitioning your household goods. [Comment: Boxes can easily be too full or too heavy. You need to be careful not to put too much weight in the boxes especially if you are going to carry the boxes out yourself. You may find that after carrying a few overloaded boxes that your mind says you are moving but your body says you can‟t do anymore].

Be sure to tape and label each box before moving on to the next one and try to move boxes together that are to go into certain rooms or if you have followed the Tips, you have marked and color coded the boxes for each room.

HOW CAN A TOOL BELT BE HANDY? If you purchase an apron with a lot of pockets or use one of the tool belts with pockets when you are packing, you will find it handy to have everything at your reach like markers, a small note pad, tape, and even your camera to take pictures of something that you want to remember.

The camera on your cell phone may be your best moving buddy! Smart phones can be endless in helping you and it will fit in one of the pockets on the tool belt.

A SURVIVAL KIT? I’m Moving Out – Not Camping Out

Your Survival Kit should contain items that you may need right away either along the way when moving or at your new home as soon as you arrive – before unpacking. If you are making a local move and are lucky enough to get possession of your new place before the move then you have more flexibility if you forget something, but moving a distance without having a Survival Kit can cost you hours in finding what you need. Be sure to pack and have handy toilet paper, paper towels or cleaning rags, soap, shampoo, washcloths, towels, razors, shaving cream, batteries, a toothbrush, first-aid kit, a few easy to get to snacks, an extension cord, an all-purpose cleaner and disinfectant, rubber gloves, a broom, a box of trash bags, a note pad and pen, cell phone charger (and cell phone of course), aspirin, alarm clock, a hammer, a flat head screw driver and a Phillips head screw driver, flashlight, a few light bulbs, and even a change of clothes. If you need to spend the night before your furniture arrives, an air-mattress can feel like the finest hotel bed when you are exhausted (but don‟t forget sheets, blankets and pillow).

If you have small children you will want to pack their own Survival Kit with their favorite toys, video games, DVDs, coloring books and/or board games.

MAKE MOVING DAY AN ADULT EXPERIENCE! If you have small children and can have a baby-sitter and secure your pets for the day, this will take away a lot of stress. Having small children or pets underfoot is a safety hazard.

If your children are a little older, having them become part of the moving experience and having them feel excited about helping may make it easier for them to adjust to their new environment. Do not delay in telling your children about the move. It can be very traumatic to think of moving away from their friends and familiar surroundings especially if they are school age. Immediately make them feel as if they too have a say in the decision to move and make sure they stay involved in the planning process.

Moving tends to be hardest for preteens and teenagers. Find out as much as possible for your children about their new city, school and social activities and include them in choosing the area or neighborhood if possible. There are even several good books about moving your children – no matter what the age – and advice from professionals. If you think your child is going to object to the move too harshly then check out one of these books and try to use the advice of a professional to soften the blow.

Moving with Kids: 25 Ways to Ease Your Family‟s Transition to a New Home by Lori Collins Burgan Helping Children Cope with Moving (Family Matters) Thomas T. Olkowski

MOVING WITH YOUR PET! Pets are like our children except our children will let us know when they are miserable, too hot, too cold, car-sick and on and on. Our pets, however, just shake a little bit and look sad.

Your main goal in moving your pet is arriving safely with a healthy pet.

If you are moving locally, your pet may be a little anxious when he sees everything being boxed up and taken away but all in all, he‟ll adjust pretty quickly. Be sure to keep the pet on a leash or in a cage during the move. Your cat or dog is best put in a room with the door shut while furniture is being loaded. Leave them water and a treat and check on them every little bit for assurance and they will be fine. Transport them in the car with you.

Plan ahead if moving requires changing your Veterinarian. Make an appointment with your veterinarian before the move to get your vet‟s advice specific to your pet and be sure to pick up the pet‟s records at the same time or have them moved to a vet in your new city.

If you are moving with caged animals such as birds or guinea pigs or bunnies, they are usually good when transported by car in a cage. Keeping the cage covered with a cloth helps them stay calm. If you are moving fish, ask your local pet shop how best to move your type of fish and the aquarium.

MOVING PLANTS House plants or treasured ground covering is usually something you will need to move yourself. Most movers will not load plants in the truck especially if the move is several states away. So you will need to load your plants last and in your own vehicle. If you don‟t have room in your vehicle for the plants and you are a DIY mover, then you should place the plants at the very back of the truck so they are the first things off.

You should consider taking small plants out of their containers and wrapping the roots in damp newspaper. Place them in a plastic bag such as one for food-storage and put a rubber band around the stems just below their foliage if possible. You‟ll want to keep these plants out of direct sunlight and they should not sit in the car or trunk overnight.

Unfortunately moving large plants a long distance is almost impossible unless you have space in your own vehicle. What you could do is donate that large plant to someone special but first cut a start of the plant and use a milk jug or plastic container and put some kind of floral foam or plant starter mix and keep the roots damp until you arrive and can replant them. It‟s just difficult to keep large plants alive during a long move. If you do attempt to move large plants, make sure they are not top-heavy so a quick pruning may keep them from tipping over and making a mess.

You can wad up newspaper and put between the plants to help them keep from tipping also.

Dig up bulbs only after the foliage has faded otherwise it may take several years for replanted bulbs to bloom again. Store them in paper (not plastic bags). It is best to plant bulbs in the fall.

If you are moving at a time of the year that is not conducive to the replanting of bulbs, it might be best to just start all over in the fall and leave the bulbs at your old home for a new owner to enjoy.

Succulents or cacti can be stored in cardboard boxes or paper bags and usually can make the move and last up to a few months this way before replanting. You may get stuck moving them but they‟ll make the trip with you! For large cacti, wrap the plant in a blanket to carry out. If you need to lay or angle the plant while wrapped loosely in the blanket, it should not break. Repot in new dirt (especially dirt specifically for cacti if that is what you have.) I would add plant food to all of the plants once you reset them.

Oh, BTW, if you are moving across any borders, your plants are probably not allowed to move with you anyway.

HIRING A PROFESSIONAL MOVER Anyone will tell you to get a minimum of three estimates from moving companies. This means that a live person from a real company that you can „check out‟ will send a representative to your home to do an „in home‟ moving quote. Since someone is going to come to your home, you need to have a very good idea of exactly what you intend to move and what you will not be moving! SO start your inventory list well before you have someone come out to give you the quote and be accurate. Having a written list to provide to the mover will help get you an accurate quote – in writing - with an expiration date of when this quote will no longer be good!

You will find a list at the end of the book of the websites of most of the national movers but I‟m sure there are many local movers that move interstate.

You will want to ask your professional mover questions such as: 1. What additional expenses could occur once we arrive at my new home?

- Is there an extra expense for stairs?

- What if there isn‟t a close parking space when we get in front of my new condo?

2. Are there repacking fees if something isn‟t packed properly?

3. Is there additional mileage if a road is closed and you have to take a detour?

4. What happens if there is some delay that is your fault?

5. Will I receive proof of your insurance in case of an accident or damage to my property?

6. Can you provide me references?

7. Does your quote include all the boxes that I need and will you drop those off to me or where do I pick up? (This is assuming you are going to do your own packing).

8. Will my property be the only property in the truck or is the truck carrying property from another move too?

9. How do you charge- by weight, by the hour, by a flat fee? If you are making a local move, usually a professional mover will charge by the hour but long distance is different and often charged by weight. So if you are moving long distance, you will need to know what you are taking and have the quote based upon those items. [Comment: This is why getting rid of the unused and buying new at the other end may prove to save you money].

10. When will you give me a written price and if acceptable will this be signed by both the company and me? Any estimate to be binding must be in writing. Any agreement must be in writing and both you and an authorized agent of the moving company must sign the estimate to be binding. A dollar amount should be stated, a date should be given as a date of signing and as a date when the quote will expire, how you will pay, and signatures are readable. Be careful to read and understand this agreement as it may contain language that binds you to a contract that is legally enforceable. If you sign something that says there may be additional charges then THERE MAY BE ADDITIONAL CHARGES! 11. What do I do if something is damaged during the move?

12. When do I pay and how much is the deposit? (Never pay the entire amount until your furniture has arrived and it is being unloaded from the truck! But, in complete anticipation of any amount quoted and contracted, have enough money to pay the mover at the end! Your mover may require cash or certified funds at the other end. Find out and make sure to have the funds available to pay when finished). Any mover that you hire should be one that puts everything in writing and you can thoroughly check out references. It is always smart to ask your friends for recommendations. Be careful of any mover whose estimate is much lower than the others you received. Compare movers on reliability, service, and presentation not just price.

13.. If you are moving because you are relocating with your job and your company offers a relocation package then your relocation director will probably tell you which company you will use and will provide you detailed information.

14. If something is damaged during the move, you should immediately take a photo and notify your moving company although this is one of the questions you should ask your mover and understand how to handle.

PLANNING THE DIY MOVE Not everyone can afford to pay professional movers. It doesn‟t matter whether you are moving one-half mile away or 2,000 miles down Route 66, it all boils down to the money!

It is probably cheaper to rent a truck mid-week instead of the weekend when the trucks are more in demand. As mentioned earlier in Moving 101 you may be able to get a free moving truck several ways – purchasing a storage unit, your apartment complex offers a free truck when renting from them, your Realtor has some special arrangement with a rental company or provides a truck if you use their office! When you hire professionals they usually help you organize your move with their professional advice but that is what Moving 101 is going to also do for you. Be sure to use the 8 Week Countdown and your move will be a happy memory.

Be sure to reserve not only the right size truck early but you will also want to rent a dolly if you are moving appliances, a truck with a pull out loading ramp is also a back saver and you might check with the rental company to see what other items they offer for rent such as blankets and straps.

A dolly is not only good for appliances but a real step saver when you stack several boxes on the dolly. It is easier to stack boxes if the boxes are uniform and have lids.

Packing the truck is really an exercise in efficiently organizing your furniture and appliances to fit tightly enough in the truck so that nothing shifts around and also to as evenly as possible distribute the weight of your belongings. If you place mattresses on each side of the truck, the mattresses will help cushion your furniture (read the section on memory foam, and/or air mattresses and on waterbeds later in Moving 101). If you have a space above the cab (sometimes called Grandma‟s Attic) then place your fragile items such as dishes and glassware, computers, printers, TVs, small microwaves (especially if these items can be packed in their original boxes) in this area. If your truck has this space above the cab there is usually some

straps that go from one side of the truck to the other to help strap these boxes in. Also, as an additional precaution, put the heaviest and biggest items right up next to the space above the cab to help hold these fragile boxes in place. Your refrigerator is probably one of the heaviest items so it would be perfect to load first – up against the space above the cab and on one side of the truck. To help distribute the weight, if you are also taking a stove or washer and dryer, place these items in early opposite the refrigerator. Then continue to load heavy items as close to the cab and the lighter boxes and light furniture last. If you put the heaviest furniture on last and the lighter items toward the middle of the truck and near to the cab, the back end of the truck might be over-weight and cause the truck to drag when driven. This is another reason to load your truck properly. Obviously you will want to stack boxes on couches or on top of furniture.

Having like-size boxes again makes boxes easier to stack. Be careful not to have anything sticking out of a box that might puncture fabric or leather. Placing blankets and padding in between antiques and wood furniture should be done. Try to place boxes where they cannot topple over. Try to rent the right size truck for your move. Your rental place will tell you what size truck will move a 3 or 4 bedroom home and will base the size of truck on the number of rooms you want to move. In this case, bigger is not always better. A truck that has lots of space left may allow the furniture to scoot around and it is more likely that something will get damaged.

Hopefully you have been helpful to your friends and family in their times of need so they can return the favor when you are ready to move. Ask them in plenty of time and plan a packing party a few days ahead of the move date. If you have possession prior to the move of your new place, fill the refrigerator with plenty of drinks early and have them available anytime someone needs to take a break! And remember, pizza is only a phone call away!

YOU HAVE POSSESSION – NOW WHAT? There are several things that should be done before you move into your new place if at all possible. Sometimes we don‟t get the luxury of having possession before the furniture arrives but if you do, the following should be on your To Do List. > If you need to remove doors to get the furniture in, have your tool kit ready to remove the hinges. Also check to see if the stair rails need to come down to allow the extra space to go up or down stairs before your movers carry the furniture off the truck. > Your new home (or apartment) should have lights, heat or air, and water because you have planned ahead and have had these utilities transferred. Sometimes, cable, Internet and phone service cannot be turned on until someone is there but if this was not a requirement in your area, then you should have also planned ahead and had these services operational. Although it might be romantic to stay your first night in your new place by candlelight, knowing you can turn a light on or have running water is comforting. > If you have clean carpets and especially if the move is during inclement weather, you should make sure that runners to protect the flooring are in place. Usually professional movers will immediately take care of this but if you are a DIY mover you may not think of this until it is too late. So plan ahead! > In case your move is not completed by dark, be sure that you have the lights working and an extra light bulb to replace a burned out light in any area where the movers need light. > Whether you are a DIY mover or hire professional movers, someone needs to be in charge at the new home. If you have properly marked all the boxes, it should be relatively simple to follow the directions on the boxes. Also if you tagged furniture as to where it goes in your new home, each piece should be placed in the room that you noted. Tell your help to put all boxes for each room on one side of the room as marked and any furniture that is tagged or should logically go in a certain room on the other side of the room to make unpacking easy. When you unpack, do one room at a time and try hard to stick with only that room. Get all the boxes for the first room emptied completely before moving on to the next room. Immediately break down the box and take it to a stackable place in the garage. Since you have properly prepared a Survival Kit to use right after the move then you should be able to follow this advice and not haphazardly have boxes open in every room. Decide where things go and put them in their place „one time‟ and it will save lots of time and energy. If you anticipate that you will need to move some furniture around without help, be sure to purchase some of the „moving buddies‟ (sliders that you place under feet of furniture to glide on floors and carpet) that makes moving almost anything possible for one person and without damaging floors.

> Appliances may not be within your budget right away but if you are thinking of new appliances then order ahead of time so that you can coordinate their delivery the first day you arrive at your new place. Usually when you purchase new appliances, the delivery will include hook-up but you will have to coordinate delivery times with your move. Be sure to check if you have a gas or electric hook-up for the stove and also for your clothes dryer. If you are on a budget but still need new appliances, don‟t forget about scratch and dent stores in your city. You may find a great buy on a refrigerator that has a dent on the right side that goes directly next to a wall and the dent will never be seen. Of course, too, there is always eBay and Craig‟s List! > Before you crash the first night of the move, it is not important to unpack since you have your Survival Kit. It is important though to get the washer and dryer and dishwasher running especially if you are a single woman and don‟t know how to do this! Put on your list well ahead of time new hoses for the washer if yours look worn and the dryer flex hose may need to be replaced or your movers may have left the flex hose at your old place.

CHANGE THE LOCKS Re-Key Your New Home as soon as you move. Make a note of the type of lock your doors have (or use your Smart Phone and snap pictures) and try to purchase replacement locks keyed the same for your entire home. Previous owners may have given out keys to long lost relatives, neighbors, cleaning people and even repairmen through the years so replacing your locks will provide you peace of mind when moving to a new neighborhood.

Getting new locks is also a great time to consider getting new garage door remotes and a keypad remote. Once you have a keypad opener, it is difficult not to have this on your musthave list. Remotes are not expensive and can be purchased online for about $35 each.

CHANGE NAME ON MAILBOX Earlier you completed a change of address form with your local post office or you advised your creditors of your new address along with your family, friends, employer, utilities, banks and anyone who needs to monthly send you mail. If you didn‟t then do so now! You can also do this online at www.usps.com (however, if you hate junk mail, if you fill out the new address cards you are opening the door to getting on mailing lists – you could just make sure you notify all of your first class mailers of your new address by systematically keeping an updated list of all contacts). Indicate to the post office that you want only first class mail forwarded and have them stop delivering your mail and forwarding to the new address on your chosen date. Notify your credit card companies, your auto loan, your family-type magazines and your trade or business magazines and mail, and especially your bank so that you can not only receive your bank statements at the correct address but also make sure that any automatic payments for bills and creditors and any checks that you may receive on a monthly basis have the new address and permission to deliver to the new address. Also remember that if you continue to use your same bank card as debit or credit, you will need to continue using your old zip code until you make the change with the bank. Once you have changed your bank address, you will need to use the new zip code as verification for debit and credit card purchases. If you put the wrong zip code in more than once on a gas pump, you may not be able to make the purchase without going inside.

You should also notify any previous employee for that particular year of your new address so that you get your W-2 delivered at the right address at tax time. Advise your insurance carriers and even your doctor and dentist of your new address if you stay local. Once you are moved, then put your name on the mailbox and notify your new delivery person that you are waiting for any mail that may have been held by them before you arrived at your new location.

CHANGE YOUR DRIVER’S LICENSE AND SEE IF YOUR CAR NEEDS TO BE REGISTERED IN NEW STATE If you move from one state to another, you will need to change your driver‟s license. States differ in the time you have to legally change your license to the new state but put it on your calendar and do within the first 30 days and you won‟t have to explain you just moved there when you need to show your driver‟s license for ID purposes. Usually if you move to another state, you will have to go to the Bureau of Motor Vehicles (license branch) and give to them your old driver‟s license and they will issue you a new one. In the last few years Homeland Security Offices in your state may have implemented some additional requirements to show as proof of your residency such as a utility bill or work ID, so you might check first before waiting in a long line to see what is required. You usually do not need to take a driver‟s test in another state as long as proof of a valid driver‟s license is given to the branch when you apply for your new license. When you get new plates in your new state if you have moved across state lines, you may be required to show proof of insurance and proof of residency to get new plates and registration. A few states also require that your car meets certain safety requirements and must pass an inspection.

CHANGE EMAIL AND PHONE SERVICE

Cell phones are quickly replacing land lines but if you are one of the people that still like a home phone number separate from your cell phone, you might consider using a service like magicJack or netTALK that offer unlimited calling and free long distance anywhere in the continental United States for less than $49 a year. You must have high speed Internet to use these services but they even give you an email alert when you miss the call. I also love Google Voice. It is free on Google under “more”, requires a Gmail account and you can even order a phone number with any of these services with your new area code and get the number working well ahead of your move.

I mentioned earlier in the 8 Week Countdown that it is smart to have an email address from Gmail or Yahoo or one of the services disassociated with the provider of your Internet services.

If you currently have Comcast (or Road Runner, SBC, AT&T, etc.) and you do not have the same Internet services in your new city, your email and all of your addresses will end. Having a Gmail or Yahoo or another like account though will be available to you anywhere you go and never miss a single email.

PAINTING WHILE YOUR NEW HOME IS EMPTY If you are lucky enough to be able to paint your new home while you are still in your old one then „get to it‟! Or if you arrive at your new place a few days earlier than your furniture then take advantage of the empty house! But here are a few tips: Buy only high quality paint. The paints that contain a primer are more expensive but worth every penny. You will save time and the paint goes much further for every gallon. If you are painting over dark walls, purchasing the built-in primer will make up the difference in price by saving time and quantity of paint.

Just like paint, buy good quality rollers and trim brushes. If you don‟t want to wash out your roller or throw it out because you are going to use it in the next day or two – wrap it up in foil or place a plastic bag around the entire roller and pan. Wrap tightly so no air gets inside and it will stay good for a couple of days. This way I only have to wash the roller once when I am finished with a color. I like to personally change rollers though when I change wall colors. Use latex paint for interior as it is easy to clean up with soap and water. It is so amazing what a fresh coat of paint will do for a room. It is the cheapest fix to any decorating problem. Also if you aren‟t sure what color you want, do something neutral but clean and it will have a good base for your perfect color in a month or two when you feel more comfortable with using bolder colors.

It takes a little more time to put the trim tape around doors, windows and ceilings but nothing looks worse than seeing splotches of paint where it shouldn‟t be.

Walls should be as clean as possible. To remove black marks use a “Mr. Clean Magic Eraser”.

Remove all of the electrical and light switch plates when you paint. [Comment: On a budget but need new electrical plates and light switch plates? Buy new or reuse the plain $.29 plastic plates and spray paint them with the hammered bronze or silver spray paint].

Have a sponge handy to wipe up any spots right away.

Be sure to cover the floor with a sheet of plastic or newspapers no matter what a great painter you may be.

CLEAN, CLEAN AND ENJOY Unless you are buying a brand new home or moving into new construction or you are renting from an apartment community, most new occupants want to clean prior to moving into the home or apartment. Hopefully the apartment management or the previous owner has cleaned your new place thoroughly and all you need to do is do a quick once-over to feel that it is truly to your standards, but here are some easy hints on cleaning if your new place needs a little more of your elbow grease!

Schedule to have carpets cleaned immediately when you close on your new home. (Most states have health regulations for apartments and the carpets are usually replaced or thoroughly cleaned prior to the tenant signing the new lease). You can do this yourself but if there are pet stains or furniture stains, it might be worth having a professional carpet cleaner do the job for you. If you have decided to have any carpets or flooring replaced, do it prior to moving in if at all possible. Who wants to move everything in a new home and then move the furniture again to work on the floors!

There is a list of what to clean earlier that pertains to the move out of your old place but it can be a handy check-list here too. Of course since this is a new place and especially if it has been previously occupied, we may want to do a little more than a once over. Bathrooms and kitchens may need to have the tile or vinyl cleaned. Only use products made for wood on wood floors.

Clean appliances and wash down walls, if necessary, with an all-purpose disinfectant. Stainless Steel appliances often streak and show lots of fingerprints if you have little ones, but you can use Pledge on them after cleaning and they will be streak free! Simple Green also has an all-in-one cleaning product that does a good job on Stainless Steel. Clean toilets with a product specifically made for the job and put a new toilet brush on your list of must-haves before moving.

[Comment: If the toilet seat shows any sign of use, it is on my must replace list right away.

Seats range anywhere from $10.00 up and are simple to change-out.] If the toilet has hard water stains, leave a denture-cleaning tablet in the toilet water overnight. Shower doors can be cleaned with any all-purpose cleaner but don‟t be cheap – buy a good product and you won‟t be sorry.

Tile in the kitchen and bathroom may show mildew stains. There are some good commercial products for this and if the grout doesn‟t improve after several applications, then you may want to consider re-grouting later. Once you are happy with your clean shower, wiping it down (one of those squeegees are great) after every use will help keep the mildew away and once you are in the habit, it is easy to maintain clean shower doors and tile. Lime-A-Way is a great product for mildew and lime deposits around faucets. Rust stains (often from well water) can be cleaned with a mild acid like vinegar or even lemon juice. Also equal amounts of Borax and lemon juice works great without spending money on expensive over-the-counter cleaners. You may need to purchase a water softener if the water is too hard in your area. Water softeners, even though they are costly upfront, almost pay for themselves over time since it takes less detergent, shampoo and soap to do the job.

Put these items on your shopping list for the new home. You may not need all of them but every time I move, I always seem to replace these same things or need these staples right away and these are items that it is always good to make a move a good time to replace or have handy.

This is „not‟ your Survival Kit but your „just moved‟ accessories! > Shower Curtain – don‟t forget the hooks > Light switch plates if missing > Smoke alarm batteries or new smoke alarm > Different sizes of light bulbs > Trash bags > Dish drainer > Shelf liner > Garbage cans > Fireplace logs > Mailbox if old or damaged > Salt for sidewalk if moving in winter > Extension cord > New hose for clothes dryer > Water softener salt > Door mat > New litter box for cat > New ID tags for dog > New broom > Vacuum cleaner bags > Padlock for shed or gate > New trim/drip rings for stove > Box of baking soda for refrigerator > Universal remote for TV if you lost old one or used cable company remote > Extra or new garage door opener

Pantry and Drawer Space - Unless you have a gourmet kitchen with all the bells and whistles built into bathroom and kitchen cabinetry, you might find that now is the perfect time to organize your pantry and drawer space before unloading boxes of towels and cans of food. Products by Rubbermaid and Closet Design are offered at Target, Walmart, Meijers and other super stores and will last for years to help you save space (or create space). The Container Store and IKEA both have all kinds of space-creating and organizing products that can be shipped to your door if you order on-line. Making some additional space in your pantry may also be as easy as pouring two half-used bottles of the same cleaning product into one. It is easy to have three bottles of Windex under one sink and not realize it.

Closet Space – oftentimes closets are neglected. They are not repainted and the shelving may be worn or need fixing. Now is a great time to redo the inside of the closet before hanging your first piece of clothing in the closet! When are you ever going to empty your closets once you fill them to paint? Having sufficient closet space is always something that homeowners and apartment dwellers dream about. There are some great fixes and ways to make your closets more efficient at any of the hardware centers and it has been tailored to the DIY homeowner.

You can double the size of your closet just by making a few adjustments. Today there are even great answers for the lack of actual closet space at stores such as Lowes, Menards and Home Depot. You can buy portable closets that are already made and look nice in any room or you can build your own or upgrade. IKEA has some beautiful closets that will add luxury to any room and cost anywhere from $129 to $1,000. (Remember when purchasing closets such as these that they are movable and go with you to your next home if you frequently move or move into a rental that needs the additional storage).

Garage Walls and Floors – although the garage is not part of your true living space, it should not be neglected. Once you move into a home, it is much more difficult to give a garage a facelift and very easy to do it when it is completely empty. There are all kinds of paint products to improve the garage floor. Be sure to use a concrete paint at the very minimum. [Comment: even though a light color such as beige or light grey may look bright, it will show tire marks and footprints so stick with a darker grey or green]. There are also high-end epoxy paints and twostage epoxy paints that make your garage floor look amazing. Hardware stores such as Lowes, Menards and Home Depot and Sears also carry a variety of storage cabinets and shelving.

However, the granddaddy of all of these would be the Gladiator “all welded” storage system.

The man of the house will love showing off his new digs and this probably isn‟t the living room if he has the epoxy floor and these high end storage cabinets!

MY OLD HOME IS STILL FOR SALE If your home is still for sale, getting rid of unused furniture and household goods will be beneficial in getting ready to move to your new place and also will help „show‟ your home. Too much furniture can make your home feel smaller so if you aren‟t using it either store it away from the house, move it or get rid of it. Staging specialists are well worth their weight in gold if you can‟t arrange your furniture to make its best impression. Don‟t hesitate to rent a storage unit if you have just outgrown your current home and want to take all your furniture with you but it is simply too crowded. Renting a POD is also a good way to organize but they can look unattractive in your driveway.

If you find it necessary to move from your home before it is sold then you will probably need to keep some utilities on at the old property.

Winterize your home if there is any possibility of the pipes freezing and tape the toilet shut to make sure someone understands the home has been winterized and no one should use the facilities. Turn the thermostat on „heat‟ in cold areas to around 50 degrees so that there is some heat on and the walls will not be damaged from cracking.

Realtors will tell you that first impressions are lasting impressions and showing homes when it is warmer outside than inside is miserable and the same goes for a home that is so hot you can‟t breathe inside.

You might want to consider putting an automatic timer on a light to come on as evening approaches and leaving only the curtains and blinds open upstairs or where someone can‟t look in the home if you feel you are in an area that might invite the uninvited into the home if they could see it was vacant.

Check all windows for working locks and consider dead bolts on any entrance doors if you do not have them. If your home is listed with a Realtor then you probably have a lockbox on the home and that will allow someone access when an appointment is set. If your Realtor uses a „showing service” to set appointments, then let the showing service know that it is easier now to get into the home without setting an appointment but also ask the showing service to be sure to ask the agent showing the home to turn off all lights except the light that you have purposefully left on and be sure all doors are locked.

If you have clean or new carpeting, ask agents and their buyers to remove shoes. You may also leave a basket with disposable shoe covers at the front door with a note attached to remove shoes or wear the shoe covers. Also in the winter time when snow or ice is on the roads, be sure to leave a large rug at the entrance where buyers walk in to wipe their feet on and big enough to leave their shoes on while seeing the home.

In the summertime, if you are unavailable to keep the grass mowed then make arrangements with someone that a neighbor or Realtor suggests will keep the grass cut on a regular basis and make payment arrangements with them.

It is not the responsibility of your real estate agent to shovel the walkway from snow but it is handy if you leave a shovel in your garage just in case they are willing to make a pathway to your door when there is a scheduled showing. You should, however, ask your agent or check with a neighbor if there is someone that could routinely shovel a path for you if your move is not a local move and there is no way for you to get to the property that you have vacated. If you have a long driveway or a difficult driveway to get to the home when there is snow, this is also something that needs to be discussed when you move from a home in the wintertime.

Close the flue on every fireplace and if the fireplace is gas and is ignited by a key, secure the key until it can be presented to the buyer at a closing.

Place any information about the appliances, furnace, air conditioning, etc. in one drawer in the kitchen for the new owners.

Leave extra keys and garage door openers with your agent – not loose in a drawer in the kitchen. The agent can keep them safe somewhere until giving possession at closing to the new owners. (Just as an explanation – let‟s say the Realtor has an open house and is not in the kitchen when someone opens a drawer and finds an extra set of keys – we all want to think the best of people but today is what it is).

Be sure nothing is left in the garage or in the refrigerator that can create a bad odor throughout the home. Putting a box of baking soda in the refrigerator after cleaning is a good idea.

If there are oil spots that can be cleaned in a driveway before moving and your home is for sale, do it. These spots are noticeable especially when no one is living in the home and the empty driveway with oil blotches spoils your curb appeal.

If you have a pool or hot tub, be sure that these are secured, covered and any security measures that your local ordinances may require be enforced.

HAPPY MOVING! The companies and items that I mention here are from either my own experience or because I live in the Midwest. Most of the hardware stores and places I mention are national but I apologize if I didn‟t mention a company. I‟m sure there are great places everywhere. Several of the links below have great websites on moving too! www.Upack.com

www.1800PackRat.com www.pods.com www.SmartBoxUSA.com www.1800GotJunk.com www.fedex.com/us/office www.staples.com www.att.net www.directv.com

www.sbcglobal.com www.comcast.net www.dishnetwork.com

www.lowes.com www.menards.com www.homedepot.com www.sears.com www.target.com www.walmart.com www.meijers.com www.OfficeDepot.com www.OfficeMax.com www.wheatonworldwide.com www.alliedvanlines.com www.northamericanvanlines.com www.mayflower.com www.budgettruck.com www.uhaul.com www.ryder.com www.unitedvanlines.com www.twomenandatruck.com www.TheContainerStore.com www.IKEA.com www.Rubbermaid.com www.ClosetDesign.com www.magicJack.com www.netTALK.com www.USPS.com

I hope you found Moving 101 helpful!

You can send any suggestions or comments to info@honeycombpublishing.com

About the Author Janet Giles has been a Realtor since 1974. When she was a child her parents liked to move around so she always jokes that along with the arrival of Spring, the moving boxes came out and she would see a sign in the yard. She says she tried selling her first home at eleven so that hopefully her Mom and Dad would stay in one place for a while. She's had moving advice on her real estate website as long as she can remember but several years ago got very interested in eBooks and decided to publish books written by her friends and found ePublishing as a good forum for her own writing. Find other books that she has published on www.honeycombpublishing.com including her own book of short stories, "Timeless Friends".