For millions of Americans, summer is the best time to move - the kids are out of school, the weather is nice, and the home buying season is at its peak. In fact, 11 to 13 percent of all moves occur during summer months as compared to eight percent or less during the other months of the year(1).
To help the 19 million American households that move each year(2), Moving.com, a leading online destination for moving-related resources operated by Move, Inc. (NASDAQ: MOVE), today released a helpful summer moving timeline with useful tips on how home buyers and sellers can quickly get organized and easily prepared for a seamless transition to their next home.
"Moving can be a very stressful and chaotic experience for a lot of people, especially if you're moving a family or if you're a new homeowner," said Tricia Smith, vice president at Move, Inc., operator of Moving.com. "At Moving.com, we understand the ins and outs of how to plan for moving day. By providing resources that shape complex decisions like finding licensed movers easily, and by connecting consumers with a wide range of experts and helpful tips, we hope to make the process of moving as stress-free as possible."
Below are tips and advice for homebuyers, sellers, and renters planning a move this summer.
MOVING TIMELINE AND TIPS FOR 2010 SUMMER MOVES
4 weeks from move date: Get organized and start notifying the right people and companies that you'll be moving soon and give them a date to forward or terminate service. Start looking for licensed and professional moving companies, moving guides and relevant coupons.
Tip: If using a professional mover, get quotes from multiple moving
companies to get the best deal that is right for you and your
needs. Ask plenty of questions like whether or not they give
binding quotes and what kind of insurance is included. Be sure to
talk with them about the different options available with full-
service moves such as packing and unpacking services and providing
boxes and packing supplies.
Tip: Important documents such as your child's school records may
need to be accessible during your transition. Make sure to put
these items aside and make copies of any records for yourself, in
case you forget what box they're packed in.
Tip: Use the free Moving.com Address Changer service to save time
and to ensure you've covered all the ground necessary to better
ensure your move is seamless. Fill out change of address forms for
creditors, doctors and personal providers. Schedule account
closings for trash removal, gardeners, pest control, etc., and
transfer utilities or other services that'll go with you.
3 weeks from move date: Once you've selected a mover, begin by taking inventory of your belongings and their worth and decide what will be coming with you to your next home.
Tip: Start cleaning out closets, drawers and storage areas of your
home and divide things into categories: "pack," "recycle" and
"give to friend." You can always have a garage sale or donate old
items to charity. This will make packing day a lot easier and you
may reduce the total weight you'll be paying for to move.
Tip: If you're moving yourself or contracting for a self-service
move, pack the items you know you won't need until 30 days after
the move. It will feel great to get started early.
Tip: If possible, take pictures of rooms and areas inside the home
or apartment you'll be moving into so you can start thinking about
placement of furniture, artwork and other items. This will help
save time, headaches...and money...on moving day.
2 weeks from move date: If you choose not to take advantage of full service mover packing services, or are planning to do it yourself and rent a truck, start packing things into boxes. Figure out the logistics of the move, travel plans and if other specialized plans need to be made.
Tip: If you are using a professional mover find out what items are
on their "non-allowables" list and discard those items or find a
way to transport them separately.
Tip: Instead of stacking plates, pack them vertically; they will
travel safer this way.
Tip: If you are moving long distance, remember travel arrangements
for your pets. There are pet-exclusive airlines available such as
Pet Airways but regular airlines have travel options for pets as
well.
Tip: If you have young children, you may want to make childcare
arrangements so you can be 100% focused on moving day and your
little ones remain safe and busy with fun activities.
Tip: Schedule "move out" cleaning service, carpet cleaners and heavy
appliance disposal if necessary for once you'll be out of the home
you're vacating. Even if you're selling your current home, it's a
nice welcome for the buyers to move into a clean and tidy home.
1 week from move date: Set aside valuable items and keep those with you. Clean before moving and leave your house or apartment as clean as it was when you moved in.
Tip: Make sure the details for paying the moving company are taken
care of. Some will require money orders or cashier's checks upon
delivery; know their policy in advance to avoid stress on moving
day.
Tip: Start eating all the frozen foods you have, or give them to a
neighbor or friend. This way you won't have to throw them away on
moving day, or worry about packing an ice chest.
Tip: Also think about necessities for managing moving day like
confining your pets and anticipating the amount of time you will
need.
Tip: Place necessities such as toiletries, toilet paper, rags,
"must-have" cooking supplies and organize them in boxes marked
"open first" so it's easy to find the initial items you'll want
handy on those first few days of being in your next home. Don't
forget the flashlight!
Tip: If possible, take one last tour of the new location and
identify water and gas shut off locations, as well as the
electrical breaker box just in case something happens in the first
few days so you're prepared. Might be smart to drop off a fresh box
of light bulbs too!
Moving day and beyond: Take one last walk through and make sure nothing has been forgotten or overlooked. Also, make sure all doors and windows are locked and switches turned off, then you are on your way to your new house or apartment.
Tip: Go back to the photos you took when you began to pack up.
Now you can show the movers or those helping you unpack exactly
where everything goes with photos.
Tip: Unpack one room at a time according to basic needs starting
with the kitchen and at least one bathroom...and don't forget to
make a bed as early in the day as possible if you'll be sleeping
in your home that evening! Remember, you don't have to unpack
everything in one day, or even in one week.
Tip: After you've settled in a bit, introduce yourself to some
neighbors, ask for advice on the best places to eat, grocery shop,
etc. This way you will feel like part of the community and can get
some great local tips.
ABOUT MOVE, INC.
Move, Inc. (NASDAQ: MOVE) is the leader in online real estate with 14.7 million(3) monthly visitors to its online network of websites. Move, Inc. operates: Move.com, a leading destination for information on new homes and rental listings, moving, home and garden and home finance; REALTOR.com®, the official website of the National Association of REALTORS®; Moving.com; SeniorHousingNet; and TOP PRODUCER Systems. Move, Inc. is based in Campbell, California.
(1) The American Moving and Storage Association (2) U.S. Census (3) comScore Media Metrix, April 2010
First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact: vpiccinini@accesspr.com
SOURCE: Move, Inc.
CONTACT: Julie Reynolds of Move, Inc., +1-805-557-3080,
Julia.Reynolds@move.com, or Richard Garcia of Move, Inc., +1-805-557-3081,
Richard.garcia@move.com, or Vanessa Piccinini of Access Communications,
+1-415-844-6296, move@accesspr.com
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