Moving can be a hectic experience, emotionally, physically and even financially. Amidst the different aspects of the move pulling for your attention, things can easily get out of control, leaving you even more confused and stressed out than before.

Many folks now contract moving companies to handle the main aspects of their move, at least to reduce the stress. Even with this, you still need to make a lot of arrangements to ensure that the move is hitch-free. It’s little wonder that in this survey, some Americans consider moving to be more stressful than divorce and even having kids.

Given all of the above, this article will be looking at a comprehensive moving checklist that you can adopt to make the entire process smooth.

What to Do When Moving Out

Having completed all your arrangements and confirmed that indeed you’ll be moving to a new location, there are simple things you can do in an orderly manner to make sure that everything goes well. This is the section where we discuss details of the checklist you can work with.

For greater efficiency, we’ll look at this list under three broad headings – pre-move checklist, moving checklist and post-move checklist.

Pre-move Checklist

This list includes the different things you need to take care of before the actual move. They include the following:

Make Necessary Arrangements for Your Current Address

Having confirmed your move, one of the first things you should do is give notice to your landlord if you are a renter. You should also sort out your utilities and other services. You need to begin to make arrangements to discontinue these services once you leave.

Some of the services you will need to look at include:

·        Gym membership

·        Water, sewage treatment, electricity and other utilities

·        Cable and internet subscription

·        Home insurance etc.

The above are just a few ideas of things you should start making arrangements to discontinue.

Research Moving Options

It’s a good time to begin to decide on how you plan on moving. Look at the various options open to you and decide on one that will suit your needs the best. Once you’ve made this decision, you can begin to get more information about it.

If you want to use a moving company, begin to compare quotes and services to enable you to choose one. Make your choice early and lock down the date with the company.

Take Inventory of Your Stuff

Moving time is usually a good opportunity to get rid of things you don’t really need. Use this time to go through your stuff and begin to sort things out, at least mentally. It’s important that you have a good idea of the things you will be taking with you and things you won’t be taking with you.

Give Notice of Your Address Change

Around a month to your move, you should have started notifying necessary agencies of your next address. Agencies that should be informed include:

·        The postal service

·        Your Bank

·        Social Security Administration

·        Department of Motor Vehicles

·        Newspaper home delivery

·        Home delivery services (Amazon etc.)

·        Voters register

·        W2 forms via your employer etc.

For a more complete list of places where you need to register your change of address, visit: https://www.thezebra.com/.

Get Moving Supplies

It’s time to get boxes, tapes, bubble wraps and other things you may need to properly pack your stuff. If you properly took stock of your stuff as recommended above, then you will have a good idea of the supplies you will need.

Monitor Your Food Stock and Supplies

At this point, you need to be careful how you purchase groceries. Your goal now is to empty your freezer and refrigerator. Make your meals with what you have and only get a few things so you don’t have to store things in your freezer. You need them empty and completely defrosted by moving day.

Start Sorting and Packing Some of Your Stuff

The biggest mistake you will make is waiting until a few days before your move to begin to pack your stuff. Having taken inventory of what you will be moving with, begin to pack the things that you won’t be using on a daily basis. Properly classify them and pack them in an orderly manner so you can easily locate them.

Moving Checklist

For this group, we include everything you need to do on the week of the move up to the actual moving day. These include the following:

Confirm Your Moving Arrangement

Contact the moving company you discussed with and confirm that all the arrangements are still on. You don’t want to be disappointed at the last moment.

Checking and Confirming the Utilities and Subscriptions for Your Old and New Address

With your move at hand, you need to confirm that the utilities and other important subscriptions will be active when you arrive at your new address. In the same vein, you need to be sure that they will be shut down, at the latest, a day after you have left your old address.

Inform Your Neighbors

This will be important if your move will inconvenience them in any way. This may not be applicable in some situations so, determine if this is important in your case.

Begin to Actively Pack Your Stuff

This is the time to practically tear everything down and pack them up. To ensure that your process is hitch free and orderly, carry out this process room by room. Pack stuff in a room into a box and label them appropriately. This will be very helpful when you begin to unpack at your new location.

Pack Essentials for Every Member of the Family as Hand Luggage

This is crucial as you may not have the time to immediately begin to unpack when you get to your new location. Have every member of your family pack essentials like they are packing for a short vacation. Stuff like toiletries, pajamas and any other things they may need immediately when they arrive at the new location.

Give Out or Sell off Anything You Won’t be Using in the New Location

This is a good time to de-clutter your space. You can either give those stuff out or hold a yard sale to dispose of the stuff you don’t really need. It will be a shame to start off in your new space with a lot of stuff you won’t need.

On the actual moving day:

·        Get some cash ready for any expenses that may arise until you get to your new location

·        Supervise the movers

·        Move items room by room

·        Ensure that every member of the family have their previously packed bag of essentials

·        Check every room to ensure that all items have been packed

·        Confirm that your utilities will be shut off by the next day

·        Arrange for the old location to be cleaned after you’ve moved

Post-move Checklist

This may not apply to everyone as most folks may have completed everything by the moving day. If however, you choose to move a day after the movers have gone with your stuff, you can do the following:

Confirm that the Old Location has been or is being Cleaned

While you may not consider this important, it’s just the right thing to do. Thankfully, there are cleaning services in NYC that will handle this task easily and professionally for you. Leaving a messy house behind reflects poorly on you.

Confirm that the Utilities have been Turned Off

You most certainly do not want to be shocked with bills for utilities in a house you’ve already vacated. You should therefore avoid this by ensuring that they’ve been turned off.

Hire Move Out Cleaners

We’ve decided to quickly discuss the issue of post-move cleaning as a separate subject because it is easily overlooked by many people. They assume that it’s no longer their business since they’ve left the place.

Since this is not always something folks are willing to do of their own freewill, it’s common for the lease or rent agreement to include a forfeiture of the deposit or some part of it should the place be dirty after you’ve left. Therefore, to ensure you can recover your deposit in full, it’s important that the house is properly cleaned.

With all the stress associated with the move, achieving this by yourself can be difficult. This is why you should consider hiring move out cleaners. With their expertise, they can get the entire place cleaned to the level required in your agreement. So, outsource this cleaning so you can get your deposit without breaking a sweat.

Conclusion

There’s no doubt that moving can come with a lot of stress. However, with the checklist we’ve shared in this article, you can simplify the entire process, reduce your stress while also increasing the efficiency of the move. Rather than being a memory you can’t wait to forget, your move can become a fun activity for the entire family.

Photos By: Freepik

When you are going to move house, to become independent, or you are simply going to acquire one to live with your partner or you have just got married, you go on vacation to your second home etc., whatever the reason for moving, there is a doubt big one that always comes up: How do I move? The answers to these questions are only two: I do it alone or with the help of my friends and / or family, or I contract a move. Before considering one option or another, you must take into account many factors: distance from the new house, amount of personal items, belongings and furniture that you have; if the new house already has furniture and appliances, if you have free time of at least 3 or 4 days to completely make the move, etc. For one thing or another, of course it is always much more comfortable and better to hire a moving company or professionals to take care of it.

We are Going to Indicate you 6 Reasons to Decide to Hire A Move

The distance between one home and another. As indicated above, in a moving company or professionals you should not worry about the distance from one house to another to move your belongings. Of course, they can apply a price supplement, but the company will ensure that it arrives in optimal conditions. If you decided to make the move yourself, you would have to consider a perfect move, as if you did not forget anything, since it would be difficult to return later. In a company that does not happen.

The time that you will have to spend on the move. As in distance, time is wasted. If you do not have vacations or free time, it is impossible to take care of your move. Leave it in the hands of professionals and they will take everything to your new home. When everything is ready, you just have to install and go. Very comfortable! Look for qualified professionals or companies with guarantees, so that your belongings are insured. To search for professionals, it is better to locate those who live in your city or where you are going to move. Shuffle several budgets and investigate the opinions of customers, it is the most reliable. Make sure you agree with the rates, contract terms and general conditions. Contract the moving service in writing with H2H Movers.

Buy the packing material. A move is not moving furniture and that’s it. You must pack the objects, and more if they are delicate, since during the journey they can break and scratch. The moving company will take care of packing everything to perfection so that everything reaches its destination in optimal conditions. Rent or find a large vehicle. You should find a van or small truck by asking a friend for a favor or by renting one. Forget about that headache and ask for favors that can compromise you, the moving company has its own fleet. The weight and volume of boxes. There are very heavy or very large boxes. You have to carry a lot of weight, and if there is no elevator in your new home, you could die. Raise the boxes to the address. The moving company will be in charge of loading all the weight and, given the difficulty, you have external elevators that allow you to make the move in record time.

Next to the psychological trauma caused by the loss of a friend or pet, is relocation, and specifically long-distance relocation. Moving house is an overwhelming, stressful, and tiresome experience. This explains why businesses have come up offering all sorts of services that will ease the pressure. Relocating can be one of the most traumatic experiences in some people’s lives. However, it does not have to be this way. There are many different moving companies out there, some of them good, some bad, that are able to help make your move a success.

From packing to loading, transportation, consultancy, and so on, numerous companies have specialized in the business of moving, some whose services will add to the tension other than easing it. Working with a mediocre moving company is appalling. Can you imagine moving from one state to another only to realize boxes from one room were left back at your previous home? To escape all these, here are five tips to ensure you choose the best moving companies here in Florida:

1. Type of Establishment of Movers in Florida

Though bigger doesn’t always mean better, getting an established business increase your chances of getting better movers in Florida. Many uncountable companies have ventured in the moving business, specializing in either international, local, cross country, or long-distance moves. It’s therefore key to look for well-known companies that you’ve heard of to avoid getting conned or a raw deal. One way of verifying this is by checking their online platform. Any good business has been mentioned a couple of times on the net. Having uniforms is another way of telling if, for sure, the moving company is serious with their business and, finally, logos that represent the company. Companies that pass this test will most likely have excellent services.

2. Do They Deliver the Services you Require?

As previously stated, some companies will specialize in a set of services, while others will offer all. When moving from state to state, for example, choosing a good renowned local company may get you poor service simply because they do not deal with long-distance moves. They may, however, take the job for the sake of the revenue, then end up dilly-dallying, have a lot of stopovers, or feel exhausted pretty quick. Specialists in one specific type of move may offer better services than one who deals in all. This is because when you’re a jack of no trade but a master of one, you tend to be superb at it.

3. Their Reviews

Well, yes, this is a good company, very big, employees have uniforms, and they have a huge online presence. But really, how are their services? The best way to know is to hear it from someone who has moved with them before. They help determine whether, for sure, the company is reliable and trustworthy. One way of verifying this is by checking ratings and reviews from websites whose sole business is to advertise various moving companies. They usually have a directory where they post the moving company’s U.S. DOT number, client reviews, and bureau ratings of movers if present. This will ensure you get a reputable moving company whose services you can trust.

4. Will They Complete the Move Safely

If you are looking to allow movers to touch all of your things and come into your home during a pandemic like this, make sure that they will take all necessary safety precautions. You can call the company before you hire them and ask them what sorts of things they will do to keep your family safe. There are some obvious precautions that they can take, such as wearing masks and gloves while they move your things, and other more detailed precautions. When speaking with a moving company, ask them what different things they will do to make sure that you can move safely.

5. The Free Quote Request

Any serious investor will never turn away a potential customer. This said, when you request a quote, the company should respond courteously and give a free quote. To do this, usually, the company will require images of luggage to be moved or videos of the same. A company that sends you a quote without inspection of luggage may be fraudulent or cause you issues later. This is a right, and you don’t have to feel guilty for getting valuable services at no cost. The Federal Motor Carriers Safety Administration requires these organizations to give free, in-home estimates. Be sure to steer away from any movers who ask for payment even before rendering their services as they may be rogue. Most companies ask for a deposit, but a contract holds even this.

6. Certifications

There are a couple of documents that any legit moving company must-have. One of these is the Certificate from the American Moving & Storage Association that shows whether the firm is registered. The Better Business Bureau could also come in handy when checking whether the company is rightfully practicing its business and, finally, the possession of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) number. This also shows that they are on the right side of the law. When it comes to interstate movers, they mainly have to provide certifications like trucks’ insurance covers, workers protection covers against dangers, and finally, liability insurance numbers. All these are steps by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, which ensure moving companies are in check. Most credible companies will have this on their online platforms even before you ask for them. With the recent outbreak of the Coronavirus, it is also important to make sure that the moving company you are working with is taking every precaution to keep you safe from Covid.

Conclusion

Getting the best moving company in Florida can be quite challenging since the options are too many to choose from. Despite this, however, finding the one to suit you is a matter of simple research, as shown above. With these simple tips, you’re not only sure of getting a good moving company, but you’re also rather sure of the best. If everything seems right, but something tells you a company is fishy, you could give the FMCSA mentioned previously and confirm whether a business is accredited. Rogue movers are more common than you may think, and poor movers are even more. To avoid being preyed on by these moving scams, be sure to follow all the steps thoroughly. From here, you’re lest assured and confident of a decision.

Sometimes you need to move from one office/house to the other for the better! Some people might like the process, while others might detest it completely. However, if moving is on the cards, you need to address it and ensure that you join hands with the best moving company. The online world has made life easy for us! You can search for anything and get it with a few clicks and browse. Today, out of the many companies, you need to browse online and choose a Singapore moving company for your moving purpose. It is challenging to choose the best name from an extensive list of service providers. Also, you need to get the pricing correct, as well. How will you understand if the moving company is perfect for you? For this you can rely on the following pointers:

1. The Company is Prompt to Respond

The ideal way to get to know a moving company is through establishing initial contact through an email or phone call. If the company responds to both promptly, that’s a sign that the company is professional and is here to do some good work.

2. Explain your Requirements

You need to share your moving requirements. For instance, if there are a few belongings that you want to shift before and the rest later, you need to update the company about it. In such a situation, you need to know whether the company will be able to execute this. Usually, a huge residential move takes a few days to complete. You can’t move all your belongings one day.

Accommodate your Packaging Requirements

If the moving company is willing to share their packaging details with you, it is a good sign. That way, you know how your goods and belongings are getting packaged and decide if that suits your purpose, you can go ahead with the company. Also, check if the company is willing to accommodate your packaging needs. There are moving companies that are not willing to move the extra mile. In such a situation, you need to decide whether you wish to go ahead with the moving company or not.

Negotiate on the Price

The moving companies have variable pricing slabs. If they are willing to negotiate the price with you, it is a smart decision to join hands with the company. Also, ensure that the reduced price doesn’t mean you are signing up for inferior-quality services.

Keeps you Updated

Does the moving have a business practice of updating the client on every move? If yes, you should go ahead with the company. Moving is not an easy process. Also, since you have to get into other household chores as well, you might forget a thing or two about the moving phase. If the company has a practice of updating their client on every move, then it’s always a good sign. These are some of the business traits and signs that ensure your moving will do a quality job. Also, it reduces the chances of disappointment and complaints later. Keep these pointers handy when you are choosing a moving company.