Nashville Real Estate and Relocation Guide
Moving Tips
Take an inventory of your belongings and determine the replacement values. This will help you determine the amount of insurance you will need if you are using a Moving Company in your relocation.
Have a garage sale. This will likely save you money in your move, because there will be less weight for the Moving Company to charge you for. It will also give you fewer boxes to unpack at your destination, and you'll gain a little spending money. You should also consider donating some items to charity. Many donations are tax-deductible.
Look out for your pets! Make sure your pets are in a safe place before the movers arrive. I recently read a story in the newspaper about a family who lost their cat while the movers were loading their things onto the truck. Luckily, they found the cat alive (but in very bad condition) . . . twenty-two days later, when their belongings were delivered. During the move, he had been hiding in their boxsprings and had gotten packed in the boxsprings crate. Also, remember to talk to your veterinarian about the best way for your pet to travel during your move. He may be able to give your pet some medication, if your pet normally has difficulty traveling. He may also have some good tips to help your pet more comfortable during travel (e.g., how often and when to feed and water your pet). If you plan for your pet to travel on a plane, call the airline many weeks in advance to find out their guidelines and practices for pet travel and to book the best flight for pet travel. And remember, NEVER leave a pet in an enclosed, locked car!
Take your current phone books with you on your move. You may need to get in touch with businesses or other people in your former hometown. Also, call ahead to order your new phone books, so they will be waiting for you when you arrive at your destination.
Keep a set of towels, sheets, and other important supplies in a designated place such as a dresser drawer. This will make it easy to find these necessary items once you get to your destination. Also, make the beds before you start unpacking boxes. Once you've reached the "I'm too tired to unpack anything else" stage, you won't want to have to make the beds.
If you will be using a moving company, be sure to give the driver a phone number or two where he can reach you while he is en route. You should also find out a phone number you can call to get messages to him.
Verify that caps of toiletry items and medicines are secure. You may also want to put any containers with liquids that may have a potential to leak or spill in a Ziplock bags for extra protection.
Label your boxes well! You don't want to forget where you put little Tommy's favorite Superman pajamas that he HAS to have to be able to go to sleep. Also, if you have a Polaroid camera, you may want to take a picture of the contents of any box containing miscellaneous items. You can tape it to the side of the box, and when it's time to unpack, you'll know instantly what's inside.
Make a "Necessaries" box and take it with you. Some of the items you should include are toiletry items; a first aid kit; telephone and telephone book(s); coffee and coffee pot; tools; plastic plates, utensils, and cups; snacks and drinks; paper towels; children's school and medical records; and pet food and medical records. You should also personally take any valuables, bank and other financial records, and personal photos and/or negatives that cannot be replaced.
Make a "Kids' Kit" for your children. Let them choose what they want to take to do on the trip or you can surprise them. You may want to include games and activity books. If you choose to include coloring books, you may want to take colored pencils rather than crayons, to lessen the risk of damage to your car seats.
Consider setting up the TV/VCR first to occupy the children while you and/or the movers unload the truck. Also, if you already have friends or relatives at your destination, you may want to arrange for them to look after the children and/or pets during the unloading process.
Take your car in for a check-up. Be sure to check oil and other fluid levels and tires. Also, be sure you check your antifreeze if you are moving to a colder place.
Request a letter of your perfect payment records from your current utility company. This may help you to avoid having to pay high deposit rates with your new utility company.
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Before the big day, check out the Moving Countdown. |
For more help with your move, check out these sites!
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Linda Reeves, Realtor® |
