As exciting as taking possession of a new home can be, moving your belongings to a different city can be stressful. The stress will happen if you haven’t done your homework beforehand.
With the national economy hopefully improving over the next few years, more families will need to relocate. Often to new counties or states, and with professional movers’ help.
Here are some basics for navigating the world of moving companies.
Before planning any move, take a good hard look at what you need to transport. Plus, consider any special requirements movers must meet to accomplish your activity.
To get accurate moving quotes from commercial services, you must describe the furniture and other belongings. A detailed list will eventually give details of each item or box and its condition.
Next, take advantage of Internet resources to get quotes from top-rated moving companies in your area. The website MovingRelocation.com, for instance, allows you to plug in your details. And they quickly get back to you with no-cost estimates from various movers. The website’s built-in search engine utilizes state-of-the-art algorithms matching pre-screened companies with your stated needs. The movers deliver reliable quotes in a neat and easy-to-understand format.
Before comparing rates between movers, understand that long-distance moving companies specialize in relocating clients across state lines. And the words “state lines” are key here. Crossing a state boundary in moving is officially a “long distance” move, and specific rates and rules apply.
It doesn’t matter if the move is only to a neighboring community.
Licensed moving companies must handle interstate moves following federal Department of Transportation regulations. So in considering moving quotes, consumers need to remember that general price comparisons between movers aren’t valid. Also to be considered is that many long-distance moving companies provide full service when packing your things—and even unpacking them on the other end. Their fees are based on either the total weight of the shipment or the total cubic feet of space involved. Also important, of course, is the mileage between points, any extra insurance opted for, special services, road fees, taxes, and other legitimate expenses.
Now might be the time to stop and think about the items you don’t need or won’t fit into your new living situation. Beyond those with apparent sentimental value, eliminating things you don’t need will help keep down moving costs and free you to find uses for the freed-up space in your new home.
What delightful new wonders might you be able to fill that space with?
If you have kids, there are other factors to consider. For instance, you’ll probably want to avoid moving in the middle of a school year. Despite any assurances, no two teachers will likely cover the same materials simultaneously. Nor will it be easy for your kids to adjust to new school routines while finding a place for themselves in a new social scene. Read about Moving with Kids here.
But sitting down with them beforehand to thoroughly discuss a pending move helps better prepare them emotionally for the change.
Moving with pets presents a set of challenges with fewer potential pitfalls. But be sure and consult with your veterinarian if your pets have health issues. You’ll need to know how best to deal with problems that might come up due to the change in your pets’ surroundings and routines. You’ll also need a plan to keep your pets safe and comfortable in transit. If the moving company handles this, they will have a checklist ensuring pets are kept in a suitable environment during transit, given the proper food and water, and kept track of at every stage until finally arriving at your door.
Moving need not be a horrible experience. With a prudent approach and the planning and experience a professional mover brings to the challenge—you should have lots of energy to devote to settling in at the other end.
Isn’t that the way you’d prefer it?
Photo from PEXELS.