Kelly's Korner - Moving Tips

Hey, All,

Springtime seems like the time when people are moving from one residence to another.  Whether it is kids moving home from college, out of home after graduation, or just packing the whole family to move to a bigger place, there are a lot of people on the move.

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Now this can be a stressful time for anyone.  All the little things can add up to one big headache if you let it.  Having moved many times myself, I have come up with some things that have helped me immensely.

• PLAN!!!!  As soon as you know you are moving, start bringing boxes home and start packing up the things you don't use everyday.  Books, knicknacks, seasonal clothes, etc.  Mark them well and designate an area to put them.
• Call your utilities.  Let them know your new address and when you want the utilities stopped or transferred well ahead of time.
• If children are able to help, have them pack up themselves so you don't have to.
• Reserve a moving van well in advance.  Weekends are especially busy for rental trucks so make sure you're not left out.  Make sure you have a hand truck to move the big stuff - washer, dryer, refrigerator, etc.
• If you have a front load washer, check with your favorite appliance repair person to see if you need a moving kit.  Some of the front loads have special moving bolts needed to keep your tub in place.  Do this sooner than later as they may need to be ordered.  Also, check your pigtail (power cord) on your dryer and stove between your old place and the new one.  You may have a three wire receptacle in one place and a 4 wire in another.  Have your tech check this out, also, and have him get you the correct pigtails.  
• Check the laundry hook-ups in the new place - you may need longer hoses and venting - your tech can help you with all of this.  Get him scheduled in advance.  Same if you have a gas range - get unhooking and hooking lined up - if you are going from natural gas to LP (liquid propane) you will need to change some things, like orifices for the fuel supply.  This is something that needs to be done as soon as you know your are moving as parts may need to be ordered.
• If at all possible, start moving small loads to your new residence ahead of actual moving day.  When I moved from our apartment into my newly purchased home, I made sure I had a month before I had to be out of the apartment.  That gave me time to paint before moving furniture in.  Every night on my way home, I'd drop off what boxes I had already packed.  Then I went home and packed a few more, taking things off walls, stuff stored in closets, etc.
• Moving is a major pain and all your friends will say, "Sure, I'll help!" and then be unreachable that day.  Make sure you line up some really reliable peope or hire some day help for things you can't manage yourself.
• Have your magic marker, Phillips head and flathead screwdriver and a pair of pliers on you at all times!  They get lost easy and you'll need them.
• This is the most important tip I can give anyone:  If you have items that have parts and pieces that need to stay together - bed frames, bookshelves, etc, - take all the screws, brackets, whatever and put them in a ziplock bag and very securely DUCT TAPE them to the item they belong to.  I don't know how many phone calls I get from people that have moved and have had to take the doors and hinges off their refrigerator and have lost them.  Put those screws and hinges in a bag and tape it to the inside of the freezer.  Put the remotes in a bag and tape them to the back of the TV.  Put screws and brackets for bedframes and tape them to the rails.You will save yourself untold headaches and anxiety by doing this.
• As soon as you empty a room, clean it - wash windows, wipe down walls, sweep-mop-vacuum floors.  Fill in nail holes with spackle.  If you are in a rental, this will help getting your deposits back.  Plus, you don't want people thinking you're a total jerk by leaving a mess.  In the kitchen, pull out fridge and stove and clean behind and under them as well as inside.  Please don't take knobs, door bars, shelves or anything that belongs in or on the appliance.  One of the reasons rents go up is the maintenance and repair of turning a rental over.
• Be a good tenant and leave all the lightbulbs and a roll of toilet paper in the bathroom.  Nothing is worse than having to go and digging through piles of stuff to find the TP or not having light to see where you're going.  Have TP, soap and hand towels in the new place, too.
• If you have wood or tile floors, make sure you have them protected - large pieces of cardboard work well.
• Reward you, your family and anyone helping by providing food, drinks and snacks.  You'd be surprised at what people will do for free vittles lol

Make moving day less of a chore by getting all those ducks in a row before The Day and everyone will be a happy camper.

Have a great week!