Moving in to your new home!

Moving house is stressful! Let’s face it, nobody likes packing boxes, cleaning ovens, doing all the last minute chores – it is always a stressful time. And then there are the kids who are understandably nervous… not to mention the pets!

The key survival tactic to moving is to prepare early. When you have a deadline, everything has a follow-on effect. If you do not plan your move early, you will be out of control before the first box is packed.

Here are some ideas and tips to make your move-in as easy and relaxed as it can be.

Moving Companies

Decide whether you are going to do the move yourself, whether you need to rent a truck, or whether you are going to use a moving company. A moving company is by far the easiest way to move, but the cost can be significant. Depending on the type of furniture you have, the price will be higher or lower than you expected. For instance, if your furniture is lightweight it is easier to move therefore less expensive than heavy or antique furniture. Also, moving during peak times such as school vacations or weekends is more expensive than at other times. You also have to think about access and ease of moving furniture out of your existing house and into the new one. Difficult access makes the job more expensive.

In any event, you should commence making arrangements as soon as you know you are moving. Book a rental truck or moving company at least 6 weeks or 8 weeks prior to the date of your move, if at all possible.

When selecting a moving company, make sure you get cost estimates before you contract them, and make sure you understand what the estimates mean. You do not want to be surprised after the move to find out it cost significantly more than you expected. Of more importance than cost is the reputation of the moving company. Be wary of cheaper movers – you usually get what you pay for. Ask for references from the moving companies you are considering – and check the references before you contract them. Also ask friends and relatives about their experiences and get recommendations from them. You can also check with local consumer protection groups about local companies.

Moving-in Yourself

If you pack and move yourself, it will cost significantly less than if you use a moving company. You may save money but will increase the amount of stress and work you will have to do.

Call several truck rental companies for estimates. They usually charge by the day plus mileage costs, plus costs for boxes and packing materials etc.

Also, check whether your existing homeowners insurance covers your possessions during the move. If it doesn’t, you can usually buy cargo insurance from the truck rental company – this is a good idea. And make sure you take out comprehensive liability insurance on the rental truck.

Postal Services

Before you move, request a change of address form from your local post office. The form will ask for your name, old and new addresses and the date you want the mail to be redirected. Also, don’t forget to notify your bank, magazine subscriptions and other important sources of mail of your change of address. Getting your mail sent to your new address efficiently reduces a large part of the worry associated with moving.

Also, send “postcards” with your new address to all your friends and relatives, so they will know where to send the next birthday card!

Utilities

As part of your move, you will need to cancel all existing utility accounts, or have them transferred to your new address if you are staying in the same area. You will also have to make sure that utility connections are in place for the new residence.

Some of the utilities you'll need to transfer, disconnect or connect are:

electricity

gas

water

trash

telephone

cable tv

Most of these are easy to do and it just takes a simple telephone call. If transferring the account to a new residence, there should not be any difficulties with deposits etc. If moving to a new area, and a new provider, you may be required to pay deposits when the accounts are opened. Talk to the respective utilities providers before you move so that you can make all the suitable arrangements.

These are just a few of the major areas that you need to consider to make your move smooth.

For a helpful time-line guide for moving, click here. For packing tips click here.

We hope this information has been helpful to you. If you are ready to start looking to buy a home, why not check out “Petersens Picks” which is a selection of Kent’s more interesting properties currently for sale in the Antelope Valley. If you would like to know more about the Antelope Valley, click here. You may find that the Antelope Valley offers alot more than you expected. We think it is a great place to live!