10 Summer Moving Tips

As the summer weather is approaching the moving season has officially started. Believe it or not summer is the top season for sales in real estate. Moving in the summer can impose some complications as well so below is 10 summer moving tips that will make your transition go smoothly.



1. Hire a Mover or Move Alone
      This poses as the most difficult questions soon-to-be-moving households face. The answer is different for each family and therefore there is no right or wrong answer. You need to consider your household size, budget, and the amount of time you would like to take to move. I suggest getting 3 written quotes from licensed moving companies and your options within each so if you choose to hire someone you are getting the best deal. If you go online you can use a packing calculator to make it easier to estimate the amount of boxes and packing materials.
2.Unpack before you Pack
      Before you pack up all of your belongings in random boxes that will be shipped to your new home, decide what you want where. Take pictures, or sit down and play what piece of furniture you want to go in what room at your new place. From there you can label your boxes with each room name and put items in accordingly. Once you get to your new house you can unpack each box in the room where the items go and it will make the process way more organized.
3. Pack Strategically
      If you have more than a month to move, start EARLY! You should complete your address change and schedule utilities ahead of time that way you have one less thing to do come moving day. Start going through that "junk drawer" of items that have no home and consolidate. Whether you start with an entire room or just a single drawer, little by little you can weed out what you want to bring to your new home and what you don't.
4. Moving is Not for Children
      I highly recommend having family or friend watch your children for the day. Moving is time consuming and having to entertain a child (any age) while under high stress is not good for either of you. If you have no daycare option then set up a "safe zone" filled with toys or activities that way both of you can be happy.
5. Poor Buddy
      Sometimes we forget that moving isn't just stressful for us but for our pets as well. Moving into a new environment while there are many visitors at once is going to stress out your family dog "Buddy" as well. Consider checking your pet into day care or having a friend watch them for the day that way they can relax and you have one less worry.
6. Small Parts
      Keep track of your small pieces! Odds are all the furniture you have is not going to fit in the moving truck in one piece. Therefore you will have screws and little pieces all over the place. Instead of taping them to the furniture have a separate little baggy that is clearly labeled for all of your furniture. On moving day use a box filled with all the baggies that way nothing gets lost and it makes its way to your new home together.
7. Take Pictures
      Before moving in take pictures of the electronic hook-ups. Organizing your furniture is a big part of making a house your home. If you have a plan in your head of where you are going to put your TV and come moving day you find our there is no outlet to make that work, you are going to be stressed. If you plan accordingly beforehand that will eliminate all confusions and you will be able to have a set floor plan. Also, you will have a lot of loose wires and cords. Take pictures of each cord as it comes out of the electronic device and label it to stay organized.
8. Cleaning Products
      Detergents, pesticides and paint are heavy and unwieldy to pack. Dispose of as many as you can before you move in an eco-friendly way. Call your cities waste disposal department for guidance on proper disposal. For items that you must take, pack them in a small box inside of a larger box for protection against leaks. Do not over stuff these boxes!
9. Full Value Insurance
      If you are using a professional mover, it may cause a couple of extra dollars but I highly recommend getting full value insurance protection. This means that any lost or damaged articles will be replaced at current market value regardless of how old the piece is. It is important to note that this would not cover at full price more expensive items like a flat screen TV.
10. Know Your Rights
      When using a professional mover, research your rights. Know what to do if they fail to live up to their promises or if they threaten to hold your belongings hostage. FMCSA requires interstate movers to offer arbitration to help settle disputed claims.





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