How to make moving home easier

Moving home is one of the most stressful events most people put themselves through.et there’s a lot you can do to make things easier.It might surprise you how much planning needs to be done in advance.You have to notify every organisation of your new address.

Home services:

1.Water supplier 2.Gas supplier 3.Electricity supplier 4.Telephone Supplier 5.Post office 6.Cable/satellite,Internet service providers 7.TV licensing.

Financial Organisations:

1.Banks 2.Credit card companies 3.Building societies 4.Council tax department 5.Solicitors 6.Inland revenue 7.Social security 8.Pension companies 9.Insurance companies 10.Your emloyer(if you have one) 11.National savings and premium bonds.

Health organisations:

1.Hospitals 2.Dental clinics.

Motoring organisations:

1.DVLA 2.Breakdown recovery company 3.Insurnace company.

Others:

1. Friends and relatives 2.Milk delivery 3.Newsagent 4.Libary 5.Schools 6.Sports club.

Few weeks before your move:

1.You have to hire a professional removals.Get at least five moving quotes before deciding which one to use 2.Make a list of your possessions so you can check if you've left anything behind 3.Always ask for confirmation letter when you book a removals 4.You have to let the removals know the following things:

1.Distance of you move 2.The amount of furniture you are moving 3.On which floor is you current home and on which floor is the new one 4.Arrange a parking space for the removal van.

Packing:

Most movers, especially the do-it-yourself kind, are so happy to finally arrive in their new home that they don't even mind that the dinner plates are chipped, there's a scratch on the coffee table or their favorite lampshade is bruised and battered.With a little care and planning, and these moving packing tips, you and your stuff will both arrive in mint condition:

1.Before you start packing, select the range of packing supplies that you will need to make the job easier.
You will need protective wrap for your delicate belongings, bubble wrap is the ideal way to protect your electrical items such as T.V and Stereo, or particularly delicate items such as crystal.

2.Each time you pack a box, use your marker pen to label where they are to be unloaded and also write the contents on the side.Always stack plates upright on their sides, making sure you wrap them individually in tissue and clearly mark “Fragile” on the outside of cartons.

3.Keep boxes to 40 lbs or less. Put heavy items in small boxes and light items in big boxes.

4.if you have big dining table,remove legs, pad and tie together. Put nuts and bolts in a bag and tape under tabletop.

5.Empty, defrost and drain the the big appliances(fridge,washing mashine....)

Finally,on the moving day:

1.Record all utility meter readings (gas, electric, water).

2.Stay with moving van driver to oversee inventory of goods.

3.Give moving van driver directions to new home and numbers where you can be reached prior to delivery.

4.Review carefully and sign bill of lading and inventory, and keep your copy in a safe place until all charges have been paid and all claims (if any) have been settled.

5.Make final walk-through of house, including cellar, attic, wardrobes and cupboards, to make sure they are empty.

6.Lock all windows and doors, and drop off keys with Estate Agent or new owner.

Ten Moving Tips

These moving tips may include a few things you hadn't thought of, or things you just need to be reminded of. Forget that safe deposit box, for example, and you may have to drive a long way to get at it. Ten more moving tips follow. 1. Get rid of things. Consider carefully what you need to keep. People spend hundreds of dollars to move things that will undoubtedly be thrown away some day. It's not just a matter of the expense, but the hassle too. Moving time is the best time to get rid of the things you really don't need. 2. Have a yard sale. It's a good way to get rid of those things, and you might even raise enough money to pay for the move. 3. Use lists. You will forget things, especially if you don't have a list or two. Start with a list of things to do before the move. It may include getting school documents transferred, filling out change of address forms, returning borrowed books and movies, transferring prescriptions, getting maps, and arranging utility shut offs and start ups. 4. Make the the moving company reservation a month ahead. You wouldn't want to find out they are booked up on the date you need them. 5. Pack early. It's hard to say how long it will take until you are doing it. Start early to avoid running around looking for boxes at the last moment. 6. Have an "essentials" box. This will have things to make your arrival easier, like toilet paper, paper plates, soap and such. Pack the box where it is easily accessible. 7. Check weather reports. It's no fun arriving in a snowstorm with your coat packed away somewhere. Allow for extra moving time if the weather is going to slow down traffic. 8. Notify family and friends of your new address and phone number(s). Do this before you have the phone shut off. 9. Save your receipts. Save receipts for moving expenses, like gas, hotel rooms, and anything else related to the move. Then ask your accountant or tax preparer if you are eligible for a tax deduction for moving expenses. 10. try to re-establish your routines quickly. It helps to quickly re-establish routines in your new home, so if Friday night is movie night, don't break with tradition. Moving is less traumatic if you have some consistency in daily life. If you are moving with children, this may be one of the more important moving tips.

How to Pack for the Movers

You’ve chosen a new home, selected a mover, and now comes the task of packing for the move. There are 3 important things you should remember that will save you a lot of time and frustration later: • Collect all the materials (boxes, tape, paper) you’ll need to pack. • Don’t put packing off until the last minute. • Stay organized! Here’s a list of the materials you’ll need to pack efficiently: • Paper for wrapping your items: Many people collect old newspapers and use them. Just remember that the news ink never dries and will come off on your belongings. If you want to avoid the need to wash everything when you arrive, you can purchase packing paper from your mover. • Boxes: You can collect boxes from your local supermarket and other businesses. Select strong boxes in good condition and make sure they have covers. Divided boxes like liquor boxes are great for glasses and stemware. Your mover can also provide you with boxes especially made for moving. However, these boxes are expensive and you may want to purchase only those which are usually necessary like wardrobes for hanging clothes, mattress cartons, and cartons for large pictures, mirrors and table lamps. • Sealing Tape - Use plastic tape that’s 1½-2” wide • Magic Marker – to mark boxes for contents and special instructions like “fragile”, “this side up”, etc. Now that you have all your materials, you’re ready to start packing! Start as far ahead of time as you can. Waiting until the last minute will create a nightmare you don’t want to experience! If you begin early you can pack a few boxes a day and have everything completed without stressing yourself unnecessarily. It’s really important that you keep your packing organized; it will save a lot of confusion later. It’s best to pack a room at a time so that you can keep everything thing together that belongs together. Start in areas containing articles that aren’t used frequently such as your attic, basement, garage, etc. You can leave an extra box to hold items that can’t be packed early. Packing Up the Kitchen The hardest room to pack is probably the kitchen so let’s discuss that in detail. Remember when you’re packing fragile items to pad the bottom of the box with several sheets of paper. Place the heaviest items on the bottom of the box and the more delicate things on top. When you pack flatware like plates, saucers, etc., wrap each item separately and then combine in groups of three. Rewrap that group in more paper and seal with the plastic tape. Each group will then be better protected. Stand them on end in the box. You can nest glasses and cups 3 or 4 together and separate with small sheets of paper. It’s best to pack them in divided containers if you have them. If the box isn’t full to the top, stuff with additional paper. If you don’t have divided containers, you can place them in other boxes where you have empty space; just be sure to fit them in toward the top of the box so they aren’t crushed. Don’t nest Goblets and stemware, wrap them individually. Try to keep small kitchen appliances like the toaster, crock pot, etc., all together rather than mixing them with other items. Wrap them individually with 2 or 3 sheets of paper and wad up paper to fill any empty space. However, if you have a lot of extra room you can add some pots and pans. You can nest pots, pans and large bowls in groups of 3 with a couple sheets of paper between each of them. When you pack boxed foods such as cereal and rice, be sure to seal the tops with plastic tape. (Remember to do this for salt and pepper shakers also!) If your things are going be stored for very long, you may want to discard these items to avoid rodents or insects. You can pack filled canisters as long as they are individually wrapped and the tops are sealed with plastic tape. Finally, here are some miscellaneous tips to remember: • Don’t pack anything that’s flammable, combustive or explosive. This includes items like aerosol spray cans, gasoline, and paint thinners. • Empty all drawers. • Pack heavy items like books and canned goods in smaller boxes. • Pack bulky and lightweight items like toys, blankets, and pillows in large boxes. • You don’t need to wrap toys, books and shoes individually. • Stand books and records on end. It isn’t as hard as it sounds, but it you don’t want to deal with packing, your moving company will be happy to pack for you ~ of course, that service comes with a very hefty price tag! Happy Moving!

A Moving Checklist

MOVING! The very thought of it can send chills down our spine and can cause us to break out into a cold sweat. Experts say that any kind of "change" creates "stress". Moving, (and especially if we are relocating to a new city or state), represents a huge change and naturally brings a great amount of stress along with it. This can be a double whammy, because stress can lead to a lack of energy and motivation. Many of us tend to procrastinate during stressful periods of our lives. This is one time, though, when we must rise above that. When preparing for a move we need to put the pedal to the metal and get a lot of things done. This checklist contains many suggestions that may seem like "no-brainers". However, the very act of printing out these simple suggestions and reminders can become a significant security blanket as the dreaded time approaches. Moving and relocating calls for being proactive, grabbing the bull by the horns and actually completing certain chores well in advance of their deadlines. Hopefully this little paper will help you to accomplish that. In this particular article we are leaving out the "big things" such as finding the best moving company, researching your new neighborhood's transportation, parking, employment, etc. Those are for other articles on another day. Today we are concentrating on the basics of planning and preparation.

Get rid of what you don't need.

Many of us are "pack rats". One thing that we can accomplish immediately is going through all of our "stuff" and getting rid of what we don't need anymore. Moving unwanted clothing and bric-a-bracs from one place of residence to another is a great waste of time and effort. It is surprising how much more in control we feel once we start narrowing down our "inventory" to what we actually need to keep. Getting rid of the unwanted items can be done by having a garage sale long before moving time and then donating the leftovers to the Salvation Army or other charitable groups.

Get all important papers and documents together and secure them.

Since moving is hectic, to say the least, we need to be aware of the exact location of all of our important items. Things that we absolutely must not lose or misplace should certainly be hand carried, not put in a box for the movers:

Address Books, Birth Certificates, Bank Statements, Checks, Credit Cards and Statements, Home Movies, Irreplaceable Memorabilia, Insurance Policies, Marriage Records, Medical and Dental Records, Military Records, Passports, Photos and Photo Albums, Resumes, School Records, Stock Certificates, Tax Returns, Telephone Numbers, Valuables, Vehicle Documents, Wills.

Prepare well in advance for living at your new location.

There are many things that we can do at our new location well in advance of our move that will help smooth out the bumps and grinds of our relocation process when the actual event occurs: Open up new bank accounts. Open up a new Safe Deposit Box. Contact the new area utility companies and arrange for your new services. These can include Cable TV, gas, electric, oil, telephone, water and Internet access. Arrange for new medical providers. If you are moving to a new state, contact the DMV and get forms necessary to re-register your vehicles. Contact your insurance companies and find out if your car insurance, homeowner's insurance, etc. can be transferred. If not, find an Insurance Broker in your new area and discuss your needs and requirements for new policies. Go to the post office and get a moving kit. Prepare change of address forms for all of your correspondents; credit card companies, other credit accounts, banks, insurance companies, current utility companies for final statements, magazines and other subscriptions, family, friends, and any other persons or businesses that you correspond with on a regular basis.

As the time approaches, get a nice new legal pad.

As moving day approaches and when the moving process actually begins, you don't want to be hunting for phone numbers in wallets, purses, or address books. Have a nice new legal pad ready with all important phone numbers written clearly and legibly for both your old and new contacts: Banks, Doctors, Emergency contacts, Family members, Friends, Landlords or Real Estate Brokers, Movers, Pharmacies Schools, Storage Facilities, Utilities.

With proper planning and preparation the moving process, though never fun, can at least be sane. With proper planning and preparation the utilities at your present address can be disconnected the day after you move and the utilities at your new address can be connected the day prior to your arrival. With proper planning and preparation you will not be frantically searching for a new doctor or pharmacy, if that unfortunate need arises. With proper planning and preparation you will have all of your important documents at the tip of your fingers at all times. With proper planning and preparation your mail will start arriving the day after you move in to your new abode and your life will endure a minimum of chaos and clutter.

Good luck with your move and good luck in your new home or apartment.

12 Essential tips to add to your moving check list

Moving means umpteen things to be done –it is not about just putting things into boxes, taking them to another place, and unpacking there. The more complicated our lives get the more the things to be done before and after moving.

To make life easier and less complicated, use a “moving checklist.” This will help you move efficiently and methodically.

The first thing is to write down simple facts about your destination—what kind of weather, climatic changes, urban or rural, water potability, infrastructure in new home, size of home, colors of walls, rules made by landlord in case it is a rented home—some landlords specify no nails on walls.

A typical check list will have:

• Inventory of goods—perishable, breakable, unbreakable. A room-wise inventory is recommended. Also a box containing “first day needs” marked load last, unpack first.
• A file containing essentials like house documents, insurance papers, packing lists, bills to be settled, travel tickets, keys to new home, and bills to be settled.
• A must do list to remind you to:
o Arrange transfer of school records.
o Pay utility and other pending bills.
o Transfer bank accounts.
o Turn off phone, heat, electricity, and gas connections.
o Disconnect television and Internet cables.
• A list of “to be done” --- post office notification; insurance for valuables, health checks and medications; buying travelers cheques ; closing club, gym, and library memberships; canceling newspapers and magazine subscriptions; returning any borrowed things; finding new homes for pets and plants; confirming travel plans.
• Pack a travel kit containing cheque books, credit cards, personal phone book, I-pod, identity card, flashlight, keys to new home, toiletries, change of clothes, emergency medications, food, towels, alarm clock, games for kids, hat, and windcheater.
• List of items to be sold/placed in storage. List of things to be repaired, replaced, painted, or refurbished.
• List of legal papers and keys to be handed over to the landlord or new owner of your home.
• A folder containing details of movers, truck number, drivers ID and cell number, as well as addresses and phone numbers of their office at the destination and call center or tracking center. An envelope containing cash or cheque to settle the mover’s bills.
• Arrangements to be made in your new home before you arrive: a working phone, installing utilities like gas, electricity, and heat, putting in cable for the television as well as internet, turning on the water supply, getting the painting as well as any other alterations or repairs done before the trucks arrive.
• Ready to use folder containing, birth certificates, school records, medical records, dental records, transfer papers, and anything else required to enroll them in the new school.
• A bare necessities box marked No 1, containing: toilet paper, towels, soap, shampoo, bath towels, paper towels, insecticide, cereal, dehydrated milk, coffee, and other must haves.
• A “new home” must do list: validate your car papers and drivers license, renew or get new insurance, put all legal papers in order (check applicable laws), make a list of emergency numbers: hospital, police station, social services, fire station, doctor’s clinic, and vet.

Be well prepared to move, make a list that pertains to you personally. If you are well organized the move will go smoothly.

10 crucial guidelines to mull over prior to selecting an apartment

Renting an apartment that suits your needs and requirements can be time consuming and challenging. There are many things to consider when selecting an apartment that renters should consider. To help you get started, here are some essential tips which will assist you in your search for the perfect apartment complex.

1: Ask for when you can move in: If you are looking for immediate occupancy, first of all ask landlord when you can tenure the apartment, also enquire whether currently is it occupied by someone else. After confirming check in, you may negotiate with the landlord for not paying for unoccupied period.

2: Ask for the rent amount: How much is the amount is and when to pay? Ask for advance security deposit and whether it is completely refundable?

3: Fine for late payment: Inquire is there any fine for late payments of the rent? if it happens.

4: Renewal Terms: Check out what are the conditions for renewing the lease. What are the terms if you move-out before the lease ends?

5: Are any utilities covered: Ask your landlord about the utilities are whether they are covered in your rental contract or not?

6: Are you permitted to share your apartment: If you want to share your place with your colleagues or room partners, check out for any written permission to doing so.

7: Are your pets allowed or not: Ask for permission if you have any pet. If it is not permitted, would it be possible by paying for pet deposit in advance?

8: Can you do minor renovations: It is but natural that you would love to live in your kind of environment, and to do so you may need minor renovations such as painting wall and some decorations. Just inquire this point before you check in.

9: Inquire about your neighbors and surroundings: Every person would like decent neighborhood, if it is not there, you may have to face frequent disturbance. To avoid this you should know about neighborhood very well.

10: Inquire for service points: Ask landlord, How far is the market and other required service points like post office, bank, restaurant and public transport stations etc. It will make you aware about your surrounding area.

By inquiring such things you can avoid any dispute and reasons for disagreement in the future with landlord.