MOVING INFORMATION

Moving With Kids

For kids, the moving experience can be stressful and emotional. It is recommended that before you start organizing the move, sit down and talk with your kids. Get their feelings about what’s happening and then explain to them the moving process. Try and calm any fears that they may have. Make the move interactive for the kids. Get them involved, so that they can feel like they have a responsibility and are part of the move. Keep them apprised of the moving process through its entirety. This way, channels of communication remain open at all times. Keep things positive and upbeat, so that your children recognize that the move is a good thing. Let them have input, and try to keep them in mind when you are scheduling your move. If you can, try and do everything you can to make sure that you give your kids enough time to get adjusted to their new home and environment and to make new friends. If it’s unavoidable and you have to move your children at a time that is inconvenient or scary to them, e.g. in the middle of a school year, open all counseling or any other resources to them so that the move can be as painless as possible. For older kids, one of their main concerns will be the friends they are leaving behind. Sit down and figure out plans and ways that they will be able to stay in touch with their friends. You may want to talk them about making new friends in their new town.

When the moving day comes, try to get your kids involved in getting everything prepared to move, so that you can keep them busy. If they become more of a hindrance than help, you may want to take them somewhere else where they can be active for the day, or you may want to consider getting a baby-sitter to watch them while you get everything organized.

For kids, the moving process can be an emotional and tense time. Communicating with and keeping them involved in the moving process can ease their concerns and get them excited and positive about moving to a new home.

Checklist For Moving Week

Within the week before you move, you should make sure that all the items that you want the movers to take are labeled and organized. The items that you are moving yourself should be separated. Have your checklist handy, so you can keep track of where everything is. Once again, confirm all your arrangements with your moving company. This is the time to start taking apart furniture that needs to be moved in pieces. You’ll also want to unplug and defrost your fridge and freezer. Make sure you have all the house’s paper work in order. Finish packing and labeling.

Moving day can be very hectic, so keep the following in mind. When the movers arrive, cooperate with and assist them. If you can’t be there, have some one that you trust be with the movers. Pack up any last minute items. Make sure you have all the moving company’s paper work in hand. You should also make sure that the movers have your phone number(s) and you have theirs, so that you can keep in contact with your belongings during its transit. Get out your checklist and do a final check of your packed belongings and the house to make sure you haven’t forgotten or missed anything. Make sure that the movers have taken everything they are supposed to take. Then, gather everything you’re taking yourself and check that you have everything. Give all keys, documents, and any other necessary information from your home to the new owners or real estate agent. Do a final check of your house. Make sure everything’s turned off, and you’re on your way to your new home.

Keeping a checklist of everything you need to do before you move will make your preparation and transition much easier and a lot less hectic, scary, and frustrating. Be organized, and your move will not seem like a monumental task.

Move Calendar Checklist

Here's a handy checklist to print out and stick on your refrigerator as you count down the days until the big move.

Two Months before your move

* Start to clean out things you won't bring. Plan a yard sale to sell it. It's not free to ship, so if you don't need it, get rid of it! Clothes, old school projects, and strange gifts from ex's all fall into this category.

* Start shopping around for a mover (check out our page on "how to pick a mover"). Decide if you want to pack yourself or have professions pack for you (often wise if you want to guarantee that insurance will cover breakage). Generally, two months is plenty of time though if you planning on moving in the summer months, you might want to start looking 10 weeks in advance to be safe.

* Insurance. While shopping for a mover, check out insurance and call your homeowner's insurance agent to see if you are already covered.

* Start talking to young children the impending move. Moves to new locations can be traumatic for

young children. Preparing them in advance gives the child plenty of time to prepare for the move.

One Month before your move

* Start Packing. As early as one month before, you can buy boxes, packing supplies (markers, etc.) and tape. Pack rarely used china or off-season clothes (if they still fit!). When packing, keep in mind that it's most important to fill boxes to capacity. Under-filled boxes can get crushed and over-filled boxes may fall apart. Pick the right size box for the job--boxes should be between 25-35 lbs each.

* Save all your bills. Remember to save your last bills--they have crucial information like account numbers and customer service telephone numbers that will help you change your utilities, credit cards, magazine subscriptions, etc.

* Change magazine subscriptions to new address. In the last few hectic weeks, you probably won't have time to read them anyway!

* Get a copy of medical records. We've just heard too many horror stories of people losing medical records because they don't see a physician or dentist for a while, etc. Get a copy of your medical records and transfer them to a new physician in your new location.

Two Weeks before your move

* Cancel your local newspaper. Or change the address if you get a major national paper delivered to your house.

* Notify all financial accounts of your move. Banks, credit cards, brokerages (401k, personal stocks/mutual funds, other investments, etc.) all need to know your new address. Make a list and call/write them all!

Three Days Before your move

* Disconnect major appliances. Refrigerator, washer and dryer, etc. should all be disconnected, defrosted, and dried out.

* Finish packing!

* Valuables. There are a small number of things that you'll probably want to carry with you or in a personal suitcase. Passport, jewelry, cash, house deeds and other important documents should be set aside and stored in a safe place.

* First Night. For each member of your household, you'll want to pack a few nights' worth of clothes, bedding, toiletries, etc. And dishware for meals. Remember that it will take you some time to UNPACK on the other end!

Moving Day

* Enjoy! Since you've prepared so well, just relax while WEK MOVERS load your well-packed boxes onto the truck!

Moving terms

additional services — packing; appliance servicing; unpacking; or moves that require additional stairs that are needed either per your request or building regulations that may otherwise result in additional charges

agent — a local moving company authorized to act on behalf of a larger, national company

appliance dolly — a special dolly with straps to help load and unload large items like appliances and oversized furniture

anti-static bubble wrap — bubble wrap that helps prevent static charge usually pink in color and often used on electronics such as computer monitors

assessed value coverage — specifies how much money per $1,000 of assessed value you will need to pay to cover your household items to their fully assessed value. (Purchasing this protection requires a cash value be assigned to the items you will be moving. Some valuation policies are calculated on a sliding scale, where the price per $1,000 of coverage will vary depending upon the total amount of coverage. In such cases, carriers are requested to quote valuation prices based on $25,000 of coverage. Most valuation policies require the entire load be covered — not just specific items. Ask your carrier for terms.)

bill of lading — contract between the mover and the customer that also acts as a receipt (It's important to understand everything on the bill of lading before you sign it.)

binding/non-binding estimate —

* binding — a flat price based upon a given inventory meaning no matter how long the job takes, the flat price is always paid (It's given only when an on-site estimate is performed.)

* non-binding — estimates based upon the movers' previous experience of jobs. These estimates are subject to change.

* hourly rates — charging by the hour, per person, per truck

C.O.D., Cash on Delivery — payment is required at the time of delivery (Ask if your payment should be in cash, credit or check.)

flight of stairs fee — any additional cost for a flight of stairs either at the point of origin or the destination. (A third-floor walkup counts as two flights since you are starting on the first floor. Service elevators large enough to transport the household goods eliminate the need to pay this fee.)

full replacement value coverage — amount of money to purchase a replacement for a damaged item regardless of the age of the item (Most valuation policies require the entire load be covered — not just specific items. Ask your carrier for terms.)

full-service mover — most common type of moving company; movers will move all household goods from your old address to your new address (Your items are picked up from every room in your old home and delivered to the appropriate rooms in your new home. Individual pieces of furniture are wrapped. Full-service movers will also provide, at additional cost, full packing and unpacking services.)

inventory — the detailed descriptive list of your goods showing the quantity and condition of each item

interstate move — any move that crosses a state boundary regardless of the number of miles

intrastate move — a move within a state boundary

packing service — many full-service movers provide the option of having all of their possessions packed before the move and later unpacked

stair-carry charge — an extra charge for carrying items up or down flights of stairs

standard coverage — Movers are required by law to provide a minimum amount of free coverage. This number, typically 60 cents, refers to the amount of money you will receive per pound of damaged goods. This coverage is a bare minimum and should not be relied upon to cover you for any significant damage. For example, if you have a priceless vase that weighs two pounds, you would only be entitled to $1.20 of compensation if the vase is damaged in transit.

tariff — carrier rates provisions, for every aspect of moving a shipment from one location to another

valuation — the degree of "worth" of the shipment. The valuation charge compensates the mover for assuming a greater degree of liability than is provided for in its base transportation charges. (All movers are required to assume liability for the value of goods that they transport. Most movers offer two levels of liability — basic and full value. "Basic value" is also referred to as "released value.")

MOVING TIPS:

- Make your reservations for movers two to four weeks before your day.

- Schedule disconnect times for about a week before your move day -- you don’t want to have to pay for cable, phone and utilities when you aren’t even there!

- Cancel newspapers, cable, pest control, cleaning help, lawn services about a week before the move.

- If you are depending on friends and family to help you move, have a back-up plan if they don’t show.

- Don’t use boxes without tops. No tops make it impossible to stack properly in the truck.

- When interviewing moving companies, make sure to ask if they are insured and how they charge.

- When interviewing moving company, make sure to ask if they charge extra for large items such as pianos and big screen TVs.

- When interviewing possible moving companies, remember to ask if there is a cancellation policy.

- When interviewing possible moving companies, remember to ask if they move nights and weekends and if they charge for that service.

- When interviewing possible moving companies, remember to ask if they charge by the piece or by the hour.

- When interviewing possible moving companies, remember to ask if they have a minimum charge.

- When interviewing possible moving companies, remember to ask if they charge for travel time from their office to your location

-Use only small boxes for books. They get very heavy, very fast.

-Try to pack all electronic equipment, like stereos in their original boxes. Otherwise use bubble wrap when packing these items.

-Remember: the heavier the item, the smaller the box.

-Start packing items you will not need ahead of time.

-By law, a moving company can’t transport hazardous materials such as gasoline, bottled gases and other flammables, ammunition and explosives.