Lake Living Real Estate Moving Tips

We provide real world advice on how to buy and sell a home or business.

Many obstacles are found when changing your place of residence. However, moving can be effortless and even fun if you do it right. Follow this elementary process, and be on your way to a carefree move!

Getting Organized

The most efficient way to organize your move is to ask yourself a few questions. What would you like to do? Make sure you know what you want. For example, you must have a budget and know what you will do to make sure your ends meet. How do you want to move? Would you like to hire a company, or would you rather tough it out yourself with some help of family and friends? When would you like to move? Set a date that will fit into your schedule and make sure you have enough time to get the job done. Once you have a game plan, stick to it, and get moving!

Logistics

Moving

If you are hiring a mover:

  • Make sure you know your facts, and check out the company before paying them.
  • Shop around- get a few estimates from different companies
  • Snoop a little- and research their references and their overall reputation.
  • Get insured- compare the individual company's insurance for lost or broken items.
  • Be suspicious- even if the company checks out, keep all valuables and important documents with you at all times.
  • People Watching- When the day arrives, supervise the movers, but stay out of their way and avoid irritation.

If you are moving yourself:

  • Get smart with the people you choose to help you move. Keep it simple.
  • Stock up- Go around to local businesses and ask for boxes that they are done with, or, buy some new from a moving company. Get all the materials you need to get your belongings from point A to point B.
  • Go Truckin'- Make sure that you or your friend has a reliable truck that is big enough to move boxes and furniture.
  • Get Packing- Pack up your home as much as possible leading up to the move. Your friend's are helping you out, so make it as easy as you can for them.
  • Penmanship- Clearly label all boxes with either the room it should be placed in, or what is inside it. Write legibly. This will help to smooth the transition.
  • Pump 'em up!- Make the moving day fun for your friends, and get them ready to haul out. Supplying food and drink generously will keep your helpers in a peppy mood.

Legalities

The most important task you must accomplish is the act of gathering what make you yourself. Not knick-knacks grandma gave you, or your third grade drawings, but your legal documents.

These include:

  • “The Big Ones”- Driver's Licenses, Birth Certificates, Passports, Social Security card and other forms of identification
  • Medical- all health insurance cards and records such as vaccination reports and allergy cards.
  • School- all forms for children and student records such as transcripts, test scores, and permanent records.
  • Pets- Vet forms, pet identification, pet license, if needed.
  • Financials- savings book and checkbooks for all bank accounts, as well as any financial statements or paystubs that might be needed for taxes. Stocks, bonds, and trust fund papers.

Keep these documents out of the move. Put them in a safe and secure place where you know where they are and have easy access to them if need be.

Services

CANCELING - The contract holder must deal with the canceling of services from one home to another. These services include Utilities, such as:

  • Electricity
  • Gas
  • Water
  • Trash collection
  • Telephone

As well as your favorite luxuries such as:

Cable/Internet Landscaping /Lawn care Newspaper delivery Cleaning service

TRANSFERRING - While you may not have to completely cancel services, usually you must inform the service companies of the change in address, though the service is the same. These include:

Address- Go to your local post office to change the address that your mail will be sent to. This insures that you will still receive your bills, letters, and subscription magazines without having to pick them up. Basics- Electricity, Gas, Water, Trash collection, Telephone, and all other services used at your previous home.

*If you are moving out of town, or especially out of the state, you should transfer your checking and saving accounts to the new area.

When the time comes to leave, make sure to leave the old house in good condition for the new owners. This task will also help you to double check that you have all of your belongings and give you a last goodbye look at your old home. Once these tedious tasks are taken care of, it’s time to leave your old home and all of its memories behind and start fresh in your new place. With every new home, comes new memories, new experiences, and new hassles.

Moving In

You are now ready to move into your new home! When moving in, have one person who directs the movers to where they should place the boxes and such. This will help to make sure that everything is put in its right place.

Unpacking

Unpacking is usually less of a hassle than packing. This is because everything is already organized and labeled for the new house. You might not want to start unpacking the boxes until everything is inside the house. Once the move in is complete, you can start to set up your home.

Everything is fresh, and if you always wanted to spice up your new house with new accessories and designs, now is the time to do it. While designing the interior of your home, check to see if there are any repairs or alterations that need to be made before you settle in.

Settling In

Once all is set up the way you would like, you are finally home. Sit back, enjoy, and feel proud that you made it all happen. Welcome home!