Wednesday, October 16, 2013

How To Make Relocation Easier

By Joyce McIntosh


If you are moving far away from your hometown, you might be both excited and nervous about this new adventure. Unlike moving and staying in your general vicinity, relocating to a new town or city poses a whole new set of challenges beyond the typical moving tasks. Here are a few tips to make relocating a little simpler.

Finding a moving company is always a big task, and while you need to get several estimates, don't do it over the phone. Ask them to come out, look over your entire house and give you a firm, written estimate. In addition, even if you have the very best moving company in the world, move your most valuable items yourself. This includes jewelry and expensive artwork, as well as items with a high sentimental item. This insures that your items won't be stolen or broken.

Moving companies base their rates on the amount of items you have as well as the size and weight of these items. So before you move, get rid of everything that you don't really need, use or like. This might be old patio furniture, a dated sofa or kitchen items you received as wedding gifts two decades ago but never used. The more you purge, the less you have to pack and then unpack at the new place. Often, a charity truck will come to your house to get donations, so all you have to do is put it in bags and haul it to the curb.

If you are arriving in town before your scheduled move-in date, you will need a storage unit where you can safely keep your belongings. This is also true if you don't have a place to stay yet or you need to make some changes to the new home and want to remodel prior to moving in. Self storage is a great, inexpensive way to house your items and usually less than the movers charge for storage.

When looking around for storage companies, select a facility with good security. This includes having security monitors installed around the premises, which also should have plenty of lights and a fence surrounding it. Because you probably don't need storage for a long time, select a company that offers monthly rental rates rather than a long term contract.

Before you head into to town, do some basic research about your new home. With the internet, this task is easier than ever. You can get to know where grocery stores and drug stores are located, as well as researching the local schools and even sports organizations for your kids. You can also find a suitable church or house of worship. You also probably will need to find new doctors, dentists, veterinarians, cleaners and other service providers. Your real estate agent and new neighbors are often excellent resources.




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