Moving Day Advice
by Moving411.com

Usually the reason for moving is a happy one, such as a new home or job promotion. The excitement this generates hopefully compensates for the inconvenience of packing up and relocating. Whether you're moving across the street or across the country, moving is stressful.

Moving is considered one of the top three most stressful life transitions. Moving is as hard for kids as it is for adults. If you are worried about how expensive your move will be, you will have to do some estimating. After estimating the cost of wear and tear on your vehicle, the cost of renting a moving van, and the cost of gasoline you may find that moving yourself is more expensive than you thought. Packing materials and moving boxes can be a substantial part of your moving costs.

In addition to doing all the work yourself, you will also need to figure in broken items and unexpected trips. A new way of moving that is becoming more popular is you load the truck or container and the moving company drives. One thing to remember is that you can deduct the costs associated with packing up and physically moving your stuff from here to there including truck rentals, moving companies, boxes and so on at tax time. You want everything to go right and finding a reputable mover is a key step in the moving process. Choose companies that have been around for at least ten years. Ask the companies to come to your home and do an estimate. Never accept an estimate over the phone and do not consider using a company that offers you this service. You should have picked your final choice of moving company at least one to two months in advance. Let the mover know how much packing you intend to do. Of course the more flexible you are, the less the cost will be.

Once you've selected a mover, be sure to confirm the move dates and details. Standard moving company insurance may pay only a percentage of the cash value of broken items. If you are moving to a different state, check to make sure the mover is licensed by the Federal Department of Transportation. Ask the mover how they can be contacted before the move, during the move, and after the move. Here are a few moving tips to help you out. Last minute decisions must be made by you so do not leave until after the movers have gone.

Don't forget to get pet records from your veterinarian. On moving day you should be at home when the movers arrive to supervise their work. Draw up a floor plan of where you think your furniture should be placed. Get valuables out of your safe deposit box. While the boxes are being loaded onto the moving van you may want pets and very small children to stay with relatives or a babysitter for the day. Pack an "essentials" box for arrival, with toiletries, paper plates, etc. Check personal insurance policies to see whether moving is covered. If your pets are micro-chipped, be sure to call and update your address and phone number.

---------- Moving411.com has been helping people relocate since 2002. You will find free moving quotes and everything to help your next move be a smooth one at moving411.com.