Monday, July 6, 2009

Helpful Questions to Consider When Planning to Move

Are you getting ready to move and not sure where to start? There are so many things to do when you move and it can be hard to remember all of them without losing your mind. Here are a few questions to consider as you prepare to move. Use it as a checklist to help you get started.

-- How will you find the right house for you? This is possibly one of the most important questions you need to ask yourself. There are so many ways to shop for houses these days. You can always drive around looking for "For Sale" signs sticking up in front yards. This may not be that cost efficient, however. You can hire a real estate agent who will dedicate their time and talents to finding a house that meets your unique specifications.

You can also do a little shopping from your own home as you browse the internet for possible homes. There are many real estate websites that allow you to search their available properties. This can be nice because you can see on paper what the houses offer and compare them side by side. Then once you have narrowed the search down to a few, you can make appointments to go out and view the actual properties.

-- How will you settle your current living arrangements? If you own your own home, you will need to decide if you will be selling the property yourself or if you would rather hire a real estate agent to sell it for you. Perhaps you will keep the home and rent it out to bring in some more income. If you are currently renting an apartment, do you have more time on the lease? If so, you will want to check to see how much you will owe your landlords if you break your lease agreement early.

-- How will you move all of your possessions? Depending on what you own, it may be costly to hire a moving company. On the other hand, movers are professionals who have the equipment necessary to make your move almost effortless. You just pack all the boxes and then direct them where to go. Hiring movers is probably the best route to take if you don't have a lot of family and friends close by to help you out on their time-off.

Hopefully, the task of moving doesn't seem so hard now that you have a few ideas of how to start. Remember to have fun shopping for your house and don't let the "to do" list overwhelm you.

Top 5 Moving Tips from a Los Angeles Moving Company

Whether you're moving to Los Angeles from another state or simply settling in a different L.A. suburb, a successful move takes careful planning. Here are five top moving tips direct from the files of Los Angeles movers to help make moving day more enjoyable.

Plan First, Then Pack

Once you've made up your mind to move, it's tempting to start throwing things into boxes. What you'll soon learn, though, is the time you thought you were saving by packing quickly will be spent on the other end unpacking a mess.

Take a tip from experienced Los Angeles commercial movers. To make your move far less frustrating, gather everyone in the family and create a moving plan. This requires someone being in charge! Decide who'll coordinate the move and agree to go to that person with questions and requests for more supplies.

Use the tips below to plan your move. Purchase enough boxes, packing tape and markers for each person and decide how boxes should be marked. At the very least, note the contents ("Amy's toys) and where they belong in your new house ("Amy's room - upstairs").

Sound like a dictatorship? Ask yourself this: would you rather take charge of your move, or be completely overwhelmed by lost belongings and boxes without labels on moving day?

Don't Move Trash!

This one seems obvious, but you'd be amazed how many families unpack items at their new home that should have been discarded. Be clear with everyone in the family what can and can't be moved. Outgrown clothing and items unused for years should be discarded, given to a thrift store, or sold at a moving sale.

Create an Essentials Box

Los Angeles movers tell us families sometimes scramble at the new location trying to find the bolts that held together bed frames or something as essential as pet food. As you're planning your packing, write "First Box to Be Unloaded" on one box and put in it the things you simply must have as soon as you arrive.

Another important tip: don't pack medications or medical equipment on the moving van. Those should travel with you, in case unforeseen conditions cause the truck to be delayed.

Pack Boxes with Care

If you're doing your own packing, it's important for everyone in the family to follow some simple rules to protect the contents of their boxes. Put heavy items at the bottom, wrap breakables in bubble wrap and don't mix contents from different rooms.

Money Saving Moving Tips -- Maximize Your Move With Moving Kits

Preparing for a move can be intimidating and stressful. You have to change the information on all your accounts, have medical and financial records transferred, and enroll your child in a new school in addition to a host of other things. The list of details to deal with can seem endless, including new phone numbers, new neighbors, new jobs, new streets, and new stores. You will also need boxes, tape, and packing materials in addition to plenty of time to pack your belongings.

If that weren't enough to worry about, moving budgets are smaller than normal for most families, considering the economy. Many people do not have the luxury of hiring professional movers. Deciding to move yourself may be your only option, but when you add the cost, clutter, and confusion of a move together, your stress level skyrockets. Staying organized and saving money are ideals most movers only dream of and rarely realize. However, there is a way to save time, money, and your sanity by using moving kits and discount moving boxes.

Buy Custom Moving Kits Based On Your Type Of Move

Moving kits are prepackaged collections of discount moving boxes, packing supplies, and moving supplies. Instead of buying boxes individually and having to return to the store for more tape and then again later for more air bubble cushioning wrap, these kits come with the appropriate combination of boxes and supplies, depending upon your type of move.

Exiting the college dorm room requires an entirely different set of materials than relocating to a large single-family home. Moving kits provide you with the expert experience of professional movers while allowing you to save money by moving yourself using discount moving boxes.

1. College Moving Kits - These kits provide the supplies you'll need to make your college move fast and on a budget. They'll save you money, which is great when you also have tuition to pay, and come in several sizes since students usually don't pack an entire household when moving to a dorm.

2. Small Moving Kits - When relocating from a small townhome, apartment, or single-family home, small kits provide you with the right amount of discount moving boxes and supplies to make your move a breeze. If you have up to four rooms with small and medium sized items, small kits will usually be just right.

3. Medium Moving Kits - This size is perfect for those in-between moves where you have plenty of things, but not a huge household of family members to move. Medium kits work great for condominium, duplex, townhome, apartment, and single-family home moves of between five and seven rooms of small, medium, and large items.

4. Large Moving Kits - For a move from a townhome, single-family home, or multi-family home with seven to ten rooms of small, medium, large, and extra large items, choose a large kit. These kits can take the pressure off preparing for a large move because they offer everything you need to move even a huge household.

5. Office Moving Kits - Relocating a home office or small business office can become just as complicated and expensive as moving a household. Office kits provide the specialized boxes and supplies you'll need to move files, office supplies, and delicate computer equipment.

Most suppliers offer custom kits to suit any kind of move, whether you're transitioning from an apartment or single-family home, into a college dorm room, or when relocating your home office or small business office.

Moving Kit Features

These kits provide movers with an assortment of small, medium, large, and even extra large boxes, depending on the type of move. Packing supplies usually include plenty of air bubble cushioning wrap and packing paper. The kits even come with other essential supplies like packing tape, tape dispensers, and permanent markers for marking your discount moving boxes. They provide you with the exact amount of boxes, packing materials, and moving supplies you need for a smooth move at a reasonable price.

Supplement Kits With Additional Discount Moving Boxes

You can usually supplement these kits with a variety of discount moving boxes and packing supplies. You may need extra wardrobe boxes if you have a lot of clothing. Wardrobe and shorty wardrobe boxes along with tall closet boxes with a metal hanging bar make transporting your clothes simple. Use tall closet boxes for larger hanging items like coats, jackets, dresses, and suits. Use shorty wardrobe boxes for children's clothes and shirts.

If you have a gourmet kitchen, you may need kitchen/heavy duty boxes for your pots, pans, dishes, and flatware. When relocating your office, additional file storage boxes come in handy for protecting your valuable business files and information.

Taking the time to plan each step of your move and purchasing a kit with the appropriate collection of discount moving boxes can save you a considerable amount of time, money, and stress. Enlist the help of a few friends and make a day out of it. Just make sure you lift with your legs, not with your back.