Have some quality time with your furry friends while checking your pal for lumps.

We regularly organize family moves that include pets. And, because moving is just as stressful for your pet as it is for you, PHA suggests that the animal be crated during the packing and unpacking process.

Photo courtesy of my good friend Cheryl

November is Pet Cancer Awareness Month, and according to Dr. Post, a veterinary oncologist, cancer is one of the leading causes of death in pet dogs or cats. Like humans, the earlier the cancer is detected, the better your chance for receiving effective treatment.

More information is available at http://www.acfoundation.org. In the meantime, take the time to hang out with your furry friend and give them a rub down. They will enjoy the attention, and you can determine if it's time to schedule an appointment with your vet.

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Art of Stress-Free Move - PASSWORDS

Passwords? How do they relate to the Art of Stress-Free Moving? Let me count the ways!

Some of you may or may not know that I've had 52 different addresses in my life... yes, 52! Three times cross country and back from the East Coast to the West Coast and all up and down the Eastern seaboard. So, I know a thing or two about moving.

Since 1994, I've lived happily in San Francisco, CA. And even though I moved 3x within SF from 1994 to 1998, I am now living in the same building, at the same physical address for the longest period in my life!!

In 1994, living in the technology rich Bay Area, I purchased my first, very own personal computer. And with that purchase, PASSWORDS, became the norm. Now, when you're young, you are able to keep alot of information in your head that you can easily remember within seconds. But, as the years go by.....

Fast forward to 2010 - I have 65 unique usernames and passwords. I tried to keep a handwritten list, but websites weren't always alphabetical and I had trouble finding the information easily. And, I didn't want to keep my passwords in an electronic format for security reasons.

So, to keep track of 65 unique usernames and passwords so that I could retrieve the information easily and effortlessly, I got an old fashioned address book!

Now, I never have to worry where this important information is. I keep it on my desk, very close to my computer.

For this SF Professional Organizer, with every site alphabetized, I can find the information I want easily. And, I can add new sites or cross off old sites in an very organized manner.

Sometimes, old-fashioned ways can help with new technology!

Another tip for a Stress-Free Move!

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Art of Stress-Free Moving Coast to Coast or Anywhere in Between

Stress-Free Moving, is that really a possibility? I think so. But, you need some tips to get from here to there with a minimum amount of stress.

If you're being relocated due to a job change, your Employer is probably providing services through their Relocation Services vendor. And, if you're lucky, the moving company will pack up your belongings, physically move them, and deliver them to your new temporary/permanent home... sounds stress-free, but is it?

Items arrive at your new temporary/permanent home, and now what? The physical configuration is way different than the home you left behind.

Again, you might be lucky and the movers will unpack the boxes, but they leave everything on counters and on the floor. Where do you begin with all this chaos? You are now more stress-full than before!

Here are some tips that anyone can use whether you are moving within your local city, or moving coast to coast:

Once you know you'll be moving, research reputable, licensed moving companies. Get at least three bids and make sure they are apples to apples:  You want a not to exceed bid, which means, the Mover cannot go above that price for your move; You want to know how much Replacement Cost insurance is going to cost - what deductible applies, and, finally what other charges may be included (most movers charge for travel time, packing materials like shrink wrap, and a surcharge for fuel).

For coast to coast moves, the rate is based on the weight of your items; however, there should be a to-not- exceed % above the price as the moving estimator should have done a good job when they originally came out to bid the job.

Declutter, declutter, declutter.  Years ago I read a statistic that people who move throw away or donate up to 1500 pounds of household items AFTER they move!!  Don't pay to move something that is no longer useful to you.  Donate to your favorite charity, sell on Craigslist, give away on FreeCycle.    And, folks, books are heavy.....thin out your book collections - you'll save tons.

Pre-Organize before you begin Packing.  I've moved over 200 families in the last ten years.  With no exception, items are located in one room that belong somewhere else.  If you get these stray items to the rooms they belong, when packing begins all items in that room are in that room!  Helps on the unpack as well ;)

Use a moving concierge - if you can. It will simplify your life in ways that you cannot even imagine.  Think about it. If all you had to worry about was packing suitcases for you and your family with important documents (birth certificates, copies of insurance information, deeds, copy of will & trust, etc.); daily medications, clothing and favorite children's toys? If someone else took care of everything else, now, wouldn't that be a stress-free move for you?

PHA/Peggy Hughes Associates - San Francisco  Los Angeles  New York City                       415.846.0569

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