find the best moving company?
A salesperson from the moving company will walk through your home, making note of large furniture, breakable items like china and how much furniture needs to be broken down.You pay a certain amount, usually $4 to $9 for every $1,000 of your items’ value.
Anyone who’s ever used a moving company will have strong opinions about whether it was good or not.Most moving companies will offer a few options for insurance to cover items that are broken, damaged or lost.Movers aren’t perfect, so insurance is probably a good way to go.Even tackling a few boxes every weekend is worth saving the money.So after several weeks of researching companies and gathering estimates, here are my tips on shopping for a moving company: * As soon as your house hits the market, you’ll start getting promotional cards in the mail and phone calls.Get recommendations from friends and family.The rates go up on three-day holiday weekends, especially those that fall at the end of the month.I’ve even heard of people having packing parties where they get a few friends together for food and drinks and some packing.If not, choose an insurance plan based on the type of items the company will be moving.Look through them for interesting deals.Once you get a few estimates, figure out who your favorite is and ask if they can tweak their estimate to compete with the others.
All the moving companies I spoke to said they would consider bringing down the price to match estimates from similar businesses.Some of the best moving companies get business only through word of mouth, so you won’t hear about them through promotions or advertising.If you have lots of sentimental movers" class="kblinker" title="More about antique »">antiques, more coverage may be the best way to go.The last time my husband and I moved, we hired three guys who were recommended by a neighbor.Having a moving company pack your belongings will double the price of the move.Pack your own stuff, especially if your moving date is a few weeks down the road.My agent was able to get me a 10 percent discount with a large local moving company.We have grown-up furniture and a lot more of it.Get several in-home estimates.Things are a little different now with our second move.It was a little sketchy, but in the end our stuff arrived at our new house in pretty good condition.No company will be able to give you an accurate figure over the phone of how much it will cost to move your stuff.They showed up in an unmarked truck covered in graffiti to move our pitiful collection of furniture.Don’t forget to show them the attic, garage and basement.If you’re working with a local real estate agent, ask if they have any discounts or coupons with moving companies.But check with your own insurance policies to see if you already have coverage for moving damages.Research some of the names and see how they fare on consumer review services like Angie’s List.Moving companies kept telling me that my attic would be the most expensive part of the move because of how much stuff we have stored there.Don’t plan your move for a holiday weekend like Memorial Day or Labor Day.
6-8 Weeks Before Move
Getting boxes from other sources may create some difficulties when packed in the van.Contact your insurance agent to transfer medical, property, fire and auto insurance.Plan on taking all important documents, such as wills, stock certificates, and other one of a kind items (valuable items including jewelry, coin collection, photos etc.Get familiar with your new community.Request information from the local Chamber of Commerce on schools, community programs, parks and recreation facilities.
If you decide to get rid of stuff that you don't need you should either donate them to a charity or consider having a garage sale.Return all the things you have borrowed.
All medical and dental records should be placed in a safe and accessible place.Notify schools in the old and new location and arrange for the transfer of school records and begin the process of registering in new schools.Create a floor plan of your new home and this will help reduce the stress of making decisions when your furniture arrives at your new home.Organization is the key for a smooth move and this is the time to start planning the details of your move.Try to keep your plan as flexible as possible to accommodate any schedule changes or delays.Keep all receipts for moving related expenses in a designated moving folder.Start accumulating the moving and packing supplies that you need if you plan to do your own packing or partial packing.Contact a local charity or pick a date at least two weeks before the moving date for the garage sale.All travel arrangements (hotel, flights, car rental, etc.Form 3903 to help deduct moving expenses.This is the time to decide what items you wish to transport to your new home and what you may want to dispose of.Team up with your neighbors who want to sell some of their old belongings and plan a large neighborhood "sale.Many moving expenses are tax deductible.Be sure to include prescription and vaccination records.Think about your new home layout and start thinking about where you'll place the furniture.All boxes that you purchase from a moving company (or moving supply company) are specially designed for the moving industry to prevent damage to your belongings.You will be able to download and print form 8822 and most other IRS tax forms; e.Place the items in one easily identifiable and easy-to-locate folder.Advertise the garage sale locally.You can purchase moving boxes or packing supplies at your local box supply stores, moving companies or even online.Obtain an IRS Change of Address form, Form 8822, by calling (800) 829-1040 or visiting the IRS website at www.Check with the movers to ensure your move is scheduled.Finalize all real estate and rental needs.These boxes may be unusually sized and may not be strong enough to prevent damages to things packed inside.
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