How to Take the Stress Out of Moving
Most often the reason for moving is a happy one, such as a new home or job promotion. The excitement this generates hopefully compensates for the inconvenience of packing up and relocating. We know moving is stressful and emotionally draining, even under the best of circumstances. Moving is considered one of the top five most stressful situations. It is always tough on families, pets included.
Moving is going to cost you, regardless of how you choose to do it. After estimating the cost of wear and tear on your vehicle, the cost of renting a moving van, and the cost of gasoline you may find that moving yourself is more expensive than you thought. Packing materials and moving boxes can be a substantial part of your moving costs. In addition to actually moving your own stuff, you will also need to figure in broken items and unexpected trips. A new way of moving that is becoming more popular is you load the truck or container and the
moving company drives. One thing to remember is that you can deduct the costs of packing and moving from here to there including truck rentals,
moving companies, boxes and so on at tax time.
You want everything to go right and finding a reputable mover is a key step in the moving process. Choose companies that have been around for at least ten years. Ask the companies to come to your home and do an estimate. One way to ensure pleasant and stress free moving experience is getting one flat price that will not change when the movers show up. You should have decided on your final choice of moving company at least 4 to 8 weeks in advance. Let the mover know how much packing you will be doing. Of course the more flexible you are, the less the cost will be. Once you've picked a mover, be sure to confirm the move dates and details. Generally, any loss during transit is the loss of the company and they reimburse it. If you are moving to a different state, check to make sure the mover is licensed by the Federal Department of Transportation. A careful, professional moving company can be the difference between a smooth move and a disaster.
Here are a few things that you may have not thought about. Don't forget to get pet records from your veterinarian. Draw up a floor plan of where you think your furniture should be placed. Check personal insurance policies to see whether moving is covered. While the boxes are being loaded onto the moving van you may want pets and very small children to stay with relatives or a babysitter for the day. Pack an "essentials" box for arrival, with toiletries, paper plates, etc. If your pets are micro-chipped, be sure to call and update your address and phone number. On moving day you should be at home when the movers arrive to supervise their work. Last minute decisions must be made by you so do not leave until after the movers have gone.
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