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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