16 tips to help to make the moving process stressfree

Getting started on a great move So, you are gearing up for a big move.

Hooray for an exciting new chapter in your life!

Moving into a new house is a thrilling experience for you and your family. It’s a new space, new environment, and new memories to create. However, moving can make you feel a little cranky and irritated.

Why? Because no matter how great this new chapter in your life will be, the reality of c h o re s, p ack i ng, la b e l i ng, u n p ack i ng, redecorating, and spending a lot of money doesn’t excite you as much. The stress of moving can be daunting if you don’t know where to start and how to plan.

Don’t worry; you’ve taken the first step by picking up a copy of this book!

By the time you finish, you will be looking forward to putting into practice what you’ve le ar n e d fo r a n e n j o ya b le m o v i ng experience. It’s not a lot of stuff either – thus the short length. But as with everything, a little knowledge can go a long way to save you from unnecessary trouble and stress.

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This book can save you some big bucks if you have some extra time and energy to spend. You’ll be surprised to know that you don’t even need a professional mover to get your stuff to your new place.

M o ving is a fanta s tic opp ortu n ity to reassess things in your life. You can even turn moving into bonding time for you and your family. It will be tiring, but it can also be fun.

So, get rid of your negative thoughts and get ready to conquer moving. Good luck!

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Table of Contents Tip 1 Get organized early ................................. 5 Tip 2 Figure out your move strategy ........... 11 Tip 3 Keep your movers in the loop ............. 14 Tip 4 Pick the right transportation and storage unit ...................................................... 24 Tip 5 Track your entire moving experience electronically ................................... 27 Tip 6 Put together a packing kit ................... 30 Tip 7 Packing Plan and Supplies Needed ......................................................................... 32 Tip 8 Take inventory ............................................. 38 Tip 9 Label everything ....................................... 43 Tip 10 Protect your valuables ......................... 46 Tip 11 Prepare a moving day kit ................... 49 Tip 12 Moving with kids ..................................... 53

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Tip 13 Have pets? Here’s what to plan .......

Tip 14 Organize for items that need to be cleaned ...............................................

Tip 15 Do the mover’s research .....................

Tip 16 Planning for your new home .............

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TIP 1 GET ORGANIZED EARLY

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Getting organized starts with taking stock of your home, belongings, and what

will change. So, you’ll need something to manage the inevitable paperwork that

comes with all of that. Here are some ideas to get you thinking, starting with the documents you need: • Documents for your house sale or purchase • Contract with the movers (if you hire them; if not get your moving equipment and truck rental contract)

• Instructions how to get free access to our on-line moving dashboard

which will help you with changing your address, update your drivers license, switch utilities, connect TV and internet, find movers, reserve self storage, and track all your moving task.

• Packing and Moving Checklist, with a two month timeline • Box and room labels to easily identify where the boxes should go • Zipper pouch to hold all your moving expense receipts What to Store in Your Moving Binder Here’s a suggestion for how you might organize all your documents by using a Moving Binder.

Idea 1 — Box Labels You can file all your Move Box Labels To speed things up during a packing spree, make up labels for each major area in the new place in advance, and store each one in its own plastic sleeve: • Blank labels

• Kitchen

• Master bathroom

• Living room

• Master bedroom

• And so on

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At this stage, you’ll be guessing about how many you will need for each room.

Idea 2 — Movers and Equipment Some ideas for what to include here: • Movers’ interviews — Notes from your meetings with each of the moving companies you’ve interviewed.

• Written estimates from moving companies.

• Final moving company contract.

• Van or truck rental documents and contact info.

• Storage facilities documents and contact info.

• Our online dashboard can help you find a moving company, purchase moving supplies and more.

Idea 3 — Purge (Garage Sales) Here’s what you might need to sell the things you don’t want to take to your new home.

• Purging Labels — Donate, Keep, Recycle, Sell, Trash. Each goes in its own transparent plastic sleeve.

• Moving Sale Planner — Notes, needed items, and other documents to help you plan for a successful Moving Sale.

• Pricing: Price tags and labels for your moving sale in a plastic sleeve.

Idea 4 — Packing Your Belongings In this section, file these four items: • The Box Log — A simple spreadsheet that records the sequential number you have assigned to each box.

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As a backup, we also suggest you write on the box label with the name of the room where the box isgoing and a brief list of the box’s contents.

• Packing Supplies Planner — Notes and the best guess of what packing

supplies you’ll need, such as boxes of assorted sizes, tape guns, wrapping for breakables, and more.

• "Open Me First” Planner — Focus on bedroom and bathroom essentials like toiletries and sheets for the first night and morning in the new home.

• "Open Me First” Kitchen & Unpacking Box — The most important items to simplify unpacking and food prep on the first days in your new home.

• Savvy Storage Planner — The plan you’ve made for how to store everything in the new kitchen.

Later, you’ll move the Savvy Storage Planner to the Moving Day section of the binder so you can know where to look for it when the unpacking begins.

Idea 5 — Moving Day Here is where you will keep six items from your planning extravaganza: • Travel Comfort Kit” Checklist • Departure day planner • Move-out checklist

• Arrival survival planner • Move-in checklist

• Move-in room labels • You might also store in this section: • Contact info for the movers, realtor, landlord, building manager. Of course, you’ll also have these phone numbers in your cell phone, but it never hurts to have a backup!

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• A map to the new address.

• A take-out menu for a restaurant near your new home that you’ve cleverly downloaded from the internet ahead of time!

Idea 6 — New Home Here’s the spot for: • Your “Settling In” Checklist.

• Area maps and info.

• School records and info on the new school.

• Referrals for new doctors and other specialists.

In this section, you might also want all the home purchase or rental docs for your new home, rather than keeping them in separate tabs.

Idea 7 — Receipts If you can secure reimbursement from your employer for any of the moving expenses — or deduct them from your taxes — a separate plastic sleeve in your binder is a good place to keep them together and safe.

Idea 8 — Any Other Docs You Want to Keep Handy Here is your catch-all for other documents and information that you may need or want to have quick access to during the move. Beyond some home sale documents, you may also consider: • Realtor contact information • Listing contract • Offer to purchase • Closing documents

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• House purchase docs • Listing data sheet • Offer to purchase • Inspection report

• Closing documents • Rental docs

• Landlord or property manager contact info • Rental application • Lease

• Security deposit information

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TIP 2 FIGURE OUT YOUR MOVE STRATEGY

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Is moving still stressful? Of course! Moving will always be somewhat stressful. All the upheaval. All the chores, and such a short timeframe.

But we can pretty much guarantee that if you put even a few of these strategies into action, your next move will be a lot less overwhelming.

So, what does the system include?

1. Visualize Your Ideal Outcomes Imagine each of the major elements in your move, and record your thoughts on the computer or in a notepad.

For example, answer questions that you might ask others.

What would your ideal moving/garage sale look like right now? What about your departure day?

What would you like to see in your “Open Me First” boxes?

And include anything else you’d like to consider.

2. Organize Your Tasks into a Single, Trusted System

One of the things that keeps people disorganized, and feeling completely out of control, is that they don’t collect every “To Do” item in one place.

This is your space to do just that.

You might have some tasks written down on the back of the grocery store receipt, a few more on Post-Its on your computer, and countless others rattling around, making noise in your head.

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No wonder you’re stressed!

We’re going to change all that. Use this guide to design your Moving Binder

system with tips for steps, processes, and even apps you might consider. You might also rely on a notebook or corkboard.

Whatever tool you choose will act as your “Command Center” for all movingrelated tasks.

3. Consolidate All Your Paperwork in your Moving Binder

It’s amazing how many documents and pieces of paper will accumulate during a move, from contracts for every location to receipts to packing labels. And the last thing you want to be doing on moving day is running around like a banshee,

shrieking, “Where the blankety-blank is the piece of paper that has the security code for the new house? I know I left it on the counter!”

Instead, keep all your important documents, planning notes, box labels, and more in a single binder or portable file box that you always have nearby.

You’ll be amazed at what a difference this simple strategy makes.

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TIP 3 KEEP YOUR MOVERS IN THE LOOP

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This section will provide an overview the distinct types of moves that cover most journeys to a new home, starting with a local move.

Local Moves For local moves, the pickup and delivery typically take place in the same state or ebordering states. Local moves typically occur on the same day, and often price is based on an hourly fee, which is the most economical for this type of move. The hourly rate includes the truck and team of professional movers.

The hourly rate may also include the following: gas, loading and unloading, disassembly and reassembly of furniture and beds as well as blanket protection for the furniture. The estimate may or may not include tolls.

Your movers may offer additional services. Seek out more information about the different services provided by moving companies (we review some in a subsequent section of this eBook). Make sure to check the moving contract toverify that it includes all the services you want and which expenses the hourly rate and overall estimate include.

Movers base local-move estimates on labor time and travel time. Moving companies have a minimum cost based on a fixed number of hours that it takes toperform even the smallest move, which may vary from one company to the

next. It will usually be in the range of 4-6 hours to load and offload in addition to travel time from point A to point B.

The final cost for local moves is essentially based on the total time it takes to perform the move, any preparation and packing that you do in advance will save you money.

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Typically, the hourly rate also will depend on the number of trucks and men. The minimum is one truck and two men, though the standard is a moving crew with three men. Although you’ll pay more for each additional man on the team, you should have at least three professional movers assigned to your move.

An exception is if you have a small move in which you packed yourself and have no oversized pieces furniture that would require more than two men to carry to the truck.

Still, we recommend a team of three movers for two reasons.

• The move goes faster with three men because, while two men take care of moving the furniture, the third takes care of moving the boxes.

• Remember Murphy’s Law: even if two men could effectively handle the move, if one were to get hurt, you would have to wait for a third man to arrive, which would add time to the move, thereby increasing the cost.

Important Things to Consider for A Local Move If you live in an apartment building, consider the following before making the reservation with the moving company: • Your building may require insurance documentation, so ask the moving companies about their liability policy and ability to provide a certificate on or before the day of the move.

• You may need to reserve the elevator if you live in an elevator building, so find out which days would work best for performing the move.

Some fees that can be added to the final cost include parking tickets and money from delays due to unexpected circumstances such as traffic. Also, the moving company may not be liable for delays due to inclement weather.

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Find this information on the moving company’s tariff document that specifies the conditions and prices of all the services provided.

As with any household move, you’ll need to decide in advance if you will pack all the boxes as well as fragile belongings including pictures and electronics. If you

plan to have the moving company pack everything, including personal belongings in boxes, you will benefit from having more men on the team. If you want to save money and do all the packing yourself, you may still want to consider having any glass objects packed by the movers.

If you decide to do some or even all the packing yourself, you’ll want to have everything ready before the day of the move.

More information on packing and other tips for preparing for the are in the Packing section of this eBook.

Long-Distance Moves For the sake of clarification, we consider long-distance moves ones where the delivery of your stuff is always out of state. The estimate for these interstate

moves is calculated according to the weight (by the pound) or size (by the cubic foot) of your household goods. The total estimated weight or size of your move is then multiplied by a rate based on the pickup and delivery location as well as the time of year that you’re moving.

Make sure that the rate per pound or cubic foot is binding and noted in your contract so you can best estimate your total cost.

Overall, all moving companies perform long-distance moves in the same way. The process begins on the day of the pickup when the moving company arrives at your home and loads the goods for the move.

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Then, movers transport goods to their company’s warehouse where they will stay until the dispatcher coordinates for a trailer to travel in the direction of your destination within the time frame that you selected.

Next, they load your household goods onto a large trailer with other families’ belongings. Although most interstate moves happen this way, the common exception includes large moves greater than 2,000 cubic feet or 14,000 pounds.

While some people may not feel comfortable having their household goods transported with other people’s belongings, this is the most cost-effective way of performing long-distance relocation with a moving company at a reasonable price.

Also, the foreman will inspect each item as it is loaded and will not accept items that he or she suspects that it may cause damage during the trip.

Keep in mind that moving rates tend to be lower in the winter because the peak season for relocation is May to September. If possible, plan to relocate during the off-season to save money. Also, the beginning and end of the month are the most popular reservation days due to lease terms.

If your move must be performed on the first or last few days of the month, you should decide early to guarantee a reservation for the specific window you need.

Moving Estimates for Interstate Moves There are two types of moving estimates for interstate moves: binding and nonbinding.

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A binding estimate suggests that you will not be required to pay more than the quoted amount, as long as all the items you plan to ship are on the inventory list, and the estimate includes all the services that you require.

However, it is rare that the inventory list provided by the customer before the move will exactly match the actual list of items that will ultimately be shipped.

Non-binding estimates rely on the actual weight of your household goods, determined on the day of your move.

One major difference between these two types of estimates is that you’re required to pay 100% of the binding estimate at delivery or 110% in the case of a non-binding estimate and have 30 days to pay any remaining balance.

Estimates for interstate moves will be based, in part, on weight or size of your household goods. Moving companies typically have a minimum weight or size for interstate moves, usually 300 cubic feet or 2,100 pounds.

So, even if your move is smaller in size or weight, you will be required to pay the price based on the minimum.

Price by Weight Moving companies that provide estimates based on weight will start by weighing the empty truck on a certified scale, and a weight ticket will be issued.

On the day of the move, after the movers have loaded your belongings on the truck, a final weight will be obtained, and the official weight ticket entries will specify tare or net weight.

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A copy of the weight tickets will accompany your bill of lading, which serves as both a receipt and contract for your move. You have the right to observe the weighing of your shipment as well as request a second reweigh.

Price by Size If the moving company is basing their price on cubic feet, then after the movers

have loaded your household goods, they will verify the amount of space that your items occupy on the truck i.e. the actual size of the move in cubic feet.

Weight or Size?

Regardless of the pricing method, you should select a company that provides a binding estimate. Also, make sure the rate is binding and the contract specifically states it. When comparing the estimates you received from different moving companies, consider the different rates per cubic foot or pound.

If you need to choose between moving companies providing estimates based on size and companies with estimates based on weight, consider which pricing method would be more cost efficient for your move.

In other words, if your household goods are larger than average, you may benefit from an estimate based on weight rather than size.

You may find it easier to understand and verify a cost based on cubic feet because you can check the amount of space occupied by your belongings on the truck rather than travel to a weight station.

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Consider Reputation Overall, reputation is the most crucial factor to consider when selecting a moving company.

Reputation is especially important when considering that estimates are provided by moving companies using software that calculates size or weight according to

the inventory of household goods to be shipped. This software can convert cubic feet to weight and vice versa.

For example, a three-cushion sofa is equivalent to 50 cubic feet or 350 pounds (7

pounds per cubic foot). Therefore, you will need to provide a specific inventory list of every item that you plan to move, as well as an estimated number of boxes, to receive the most accurate estimate from the moving company.

For most of us, the biggest cost of moving is hiring the moving company. So, it’s

worth your while to spend some time researching to find the best one for you and your family.

Here Are Some Suggestions to Help You Make Your Decision 1. Do NOT Trust Anyone Who Gives You a Quote Over the Internet or Phone Such quotes are likely from a broker, who will sell your contact info to multiple moving companies. The broker won’t be responsible for any problems you have with the moving company you choose.

Instead, use only movers who provide a written quote after an in-home estimate.

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However, you should look for some reviews online. A few bad reviews don’t always mean a bad vendor. Unfortunately, fake negative reviews are often

planted by competitors. And every business will have a few cranky customers.

But the majority of recent reviews should be positive.

2. Do the Initial Screenings by Phone, Then Make In-Home Appointments With At Least 3 Companies Here are some things to keep in mind: • What’s your general impression of each candidate?

• Did they get back to you with the information they promised, at the time they promised?

• Did they answer all your questions?

• Do they have recent references you can call?

If the movers meet these qualifications, make the time to call them and their references. Be sure to trust your intuition during this initial screening.

Also ask if they provide packing supplies, how much the supplies cost, and if

they’ll deliver the supplies to your home. Record your notes on each conversation in your task management app or your binder.

Try to get most of your purging done before the in-home visits. Movers will quote on what they see, taking your promises to purge with a grain of salt.

3. Visit the Premises of The Moving Company If You Can If they don’t have a physical address, or if they discourage you from visiting, that’s a big red flag. You don’t want to trust all your worldly goods to a couple of guys with a cell phone, working out of the local pub!

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4. Ask Each Company: “What Would Cause My Actual Bill to Be Higher Than This Quote?”

You want to avoid nasty surprises on moving day when it’s time to settle the bill.

And ask a related question: “What can I do to keep costs down?”

For instance, moving near the end or beginning of the month is almost always more expensive, as is moving on holiday weekends. The number of movers will affect your costs, as will how much packing or unpacking they need to do.

One of the easiest ways to keep costs down is to be 100% ready when the

movers arrive. No last-minute packing! You don’t want the meter ticking while they wait for you to finish a dozen last-minute boxes.

5. Ask: “Is the Meter Ticking While You Wait for Me to Finish a Dozen Boxes?”

Ideally, choose a company with access to extra crew members and extra vans.

Some unscrupulous movers will overbook and then leave the less profitable customers high and dry on moving day. We often see this with our younger

clients. They are left high and dry at the end of the month. No phone call, no apology. It can take them up to three days to find a replacement mover!

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TIP 4 PICK THE RIGHT TRANSPORTATION AND STORAGE UNIT

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Estimating the number of boxes that you’ll have on move day is always the trickiest part when providing an inventory list because it’s difficult to know in advance how many boxes you’ll ultimately have.

An in-house estimate may prove beneficial for a more accurate calculation of the total number of boxes. Read below for more information on the in-house estimate.

Moving representatives will provide you with an estimated number of boxes based on the number rooms in your house and other details, including the

number and size of your closets. Calculating the number of boxes may be easier to do if you’ve moved in the past.

However, the total number of boxes that you have on move day is typically the

factor that can vary the most and cause the moving estimate to change. Indeed, for an interstate move, 10-20 additional boxes may result in a significant increase in the cost of the move.

Therefore, you should do four things:

• Start packing as soon as possible to better gauge the final number of boxes you will need.

• Be specific about the size and number of the boxes you have already packed when speaking to the moving representative.

• Overestimate the number of boxes that you anticipate having after all is packed.

• Downsize and discard what you don’t need to take with you to save money on the move.

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In-House Estimate An in-house estimate is a physical survey performed by a moving company representative, and it covers the household goods to be shipped.

Moving companies located within a 50-mile radius are required to perform an inhouse estimate. If you can, try to arrange to have at least one in-house estimate performed before your move, since this is a terrific way to get a more accurate estimate of the final box count.

However, don’t rely on an in-house estimate as a substitute for doing your due diligence in researching moving companies or making sure the estimate is based on an accurate inventory of what you plan to ship.

Also, remember that having an in-house estimate performed by a representative from a specific company doesn’t mean that you’re obliged to hire them.

Remember, it is better to overestimate the number of boxes you anticipate having on move day. Also, ask your moving sales representative about the

possibility of updating your inventory list as you get closer to the day of the move, especially since you may change your mind regarding the items that you’d like to ship.

For example, you may decide to downsize by discarding some of your belongings.

You might also purchase additional items and have more boxes than you

anticipated. Especially if you plan to pack yourself and start packing early, you’ll be better able to provide an estimate of the number of boxes.

Keep in mind that if you’re traveling long-distance, fewer items and boxes shipped equates to a more cost-effective move.

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TIP 5 TRACK YOUR ENTIRE MOVING EXPERIENCE ELECTRONICALLY

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We confess that we regularly check out new organizing software and moving, in search of the “perfect” fit for our customers and us. Ease of use, especially on a small screen, is one of our biggest guiding principles.

There are hundreds of task management software options to choose from right now. Among the contenders for the best traditional style of “To Do” list software, the one that has been a favorite for quite a while in YourHomeResourceCenter On-Line Planner.

YourHomeResourceCenter On-line Moving Planner: A sample moving project Here’s an example of how you might use On-Line Moving Planner to organize your move. (Naturally, your list will have more tasks than this.)

YourHomeResourceCenter Online Dashboard Features Our comprehensive platform helps homebuyers, tenants and employees with everything they need for their move in one convenient place, directly from your website, freeing up your time for what you do best.

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All Moving Tasks. In One Place by helping our clients complete all other moving tasks from one convenient place on your website.

Personalized Moving Dashboard • Gives our clients a moving dashboard personalized for their move type • Free change of address

• Help them update their address with USPS and their drivers license for free • Switch Utilities

• Guide them in switching their utilities and connecting home services

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TIP 6 PUT TOGETHER A PACKING KIT

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You will need to decide if you wish to have the company pack for you or if you will pack up your home yourself. Even if you plan to pack the boxes yourself to save money, you may prefer professionally trained movers pack furniture or objects with glass components.

To start the process, make a list of all household goods with glass components and provide the sales representative with this list in advance so that you are aware of the cost and it is included in the estimate if applicable.

Ensure that any estimate accounts for all pictures and electronics, regardless of who will be responsible for packing them. Estimates use the inventory list, so make sure to include all hanging pictures as well as any items that can’t fit in boxes e.g. vacuum cleaner, lawn mower, etc.

Also, ask the sales representative if moving boxes can be shipped in advance so that you can start packing early. You may want to try to fit all irreplaceable objects in one box to take with you if you can since it’s possible that items can get lost during the process of moving.

Each moving company has its own policy for the packing supplies that will be

provided, sometimes free, on the day of the move. Make sure to ask and then check the moving contract for the packing supplies included in the estimate.

• For inexpensive, odd-shaped, and fragile objects that you plan to pack yourself, wrap them in cardboard after covering with bubble wrap.

• Remove light bulbs from floor lamps.

• Disconnect washer, dryer, and refrigerator before the moving crew arrive.

• Remove clothes from dresser drawers.

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TIP 7 PACKING PLAN AND SUPPLIES NEEDED

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Here’s what could be the most stressful part: packing! Aside from thinking about how to fit everything, it can feel like it just takes way too long to get everything inside these boxes. Unpacking is slightly easier, but oh what a pain too!

There is no secret here; you just must get organized and have a game plan. This chapter will make you a pro-packer in no time.

First Things First Get your packing gear ready. It will be next to impossible to guess how many boxes you will need, so you might have to go to the supply shop twice or get many boxes and risk having some left over.

Good packing starts with the amount of packing paper used to wrap breakables.

The more paper you layer around dishes and glassware, the less likely things will break.

The second thing to note is a box is not simply a box. And, the box you need has much more to it that you should think about when packing.

Pack china, ceramics, and other fragile items in a “dish pack,” which is a box with thicker lining and a shape that promotes tight placement of these items in the carton.

Wall hangings should be packed in picture boxes. Books go in book boxes.

Clothing needs a “wardrobe" box. Small kitchen appliances, pots, pans, and other items need secure, strong medium-sized boxes. Each of these boxes is specially made for certain items. Using them as they are intended will result in less breakage and damage.

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Movers remove the contents of dresser and desk drawers and pack them in

cartons. This will minimize potential damage to furniture which can occur when these items, if not removed, can cause.

Here are the items you’ll need to get ready to pack up your home: • Boxes You should buy boxes in assorted sizes and according to needs.

Here is a guide on what to buy:

o Small-sized boxes — Use these for books, photo albums, and other heavier items.

o Medium-sized boxes — Mid-sized boxes are suitable for mid-weight items like small appliances and cookware. o Large-sized boxes —Ideal for lightweight items like pillows, linens, and more.

• Boxes with inserts or divisions are perfect for transporting items like liquids or some kitchen ingredients. You can get them at your local liquor shop.

• Specialty corrugated box — Specialty boxes are suitable for items with odd shapes as well as delicate items like framed artwork.

• Tapes and tape dispensers

• Bubble wrap for fragile items • Scissors and box cutters • Permanent markers • Print out labels • Packing tissue • Packing pellets (peanuts) • Foam

Set Goals Make sure to set packing goals and stick to them. For example, Monday is for packing the attic stuff, Tuesday is for the garage, and so on.

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Be “Packing-Smart” One of the biggest mistakes people make is using big boxes for heavy things. It is a misconception that can lead to busted boxes and strained backs.

People tend to fill up the big boxes with heavy items because of the ample space.

This makes boxes too hard to lift and more likely to break! So, keep the heavy

things in smaller boxes and the lighter things in big boxes if you want to make your life easier.

Moreover, use labels. It might take a bit of an effort to mark the items, have an inventory, and color-code, but it will save you a lot of time when you start unpacking.

Here are a few suggestions: • Label by room. You can color-code the boxes based on the room they should go into, or the room they came from if you wish.

• List the items that you have inside the box. Take photos of the items inside and tape it securely outside the box, or take the old route of writing with a marker, or you can also type and print. There are a few apps that you can use also.

• Label by weight or risk. It may seem odd, but labeling by weight (or fragility) can come in handy when you plan a move or when your movers arrive. You don’t want anyone to accidentally place a heavy box on top of a lighter or fragile one.

• To be on the safe side, avoid using labels that suggest high-value items are packed in a box. On the move day, it will be impossible always to keep an eye on all your belongings.

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• Learn how to pack fragile and easy-to-damage items. Some of the most commonly damaged items aside from glassware or dishes are artwork,

computers, electronics, sporting equipment, furniture, and decorations.

So, you must be extra careful when packing them.

Here are some tips that you can use when packing: • Make sure to use some bubble wrap, foam, or packing pellets at the bottom of the box. You should also wrap glassware individually using bubble wrap and tape. You can also look for special boxes with divisions for more protection.

• When placing items into your box, make sure that the heaviest item goes at the bottom, then proceed with the lighter ones. Fill up remaining space

with pellets to prevent the contents from shifting. Make sure to add a final layer of the packing material on top.

• Label, label, label. Labeling is extremely important for very fragile items like porcelain figurines.

• For artwork, mirrors, and similar breakables, use crates, especially if these are high-value items.

• Make sure to put thin items together, separating them using some foam or wraps. Also, apply a star pattern using masking tape in front of the frames.

• For electronics, it would be better to use their original packaging, because they are designed for safe transport and storage. If not available, use bigger boxes to give space for appropriate packing materials.

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• For computers, make sure that you have a backup of all your files.

Sometimes hard drives get damaged in moves, because they have moving parts inside. Use a cloud backup service (Google, Amazon, Dropbox) and plan for it to take a few hours, maybe even days, to finish the backup.

• Aside from labeling the boxes, you should also start labeling your cords and wires, so you know where everything goes.

• When packing, start with the area that you don’t use that much like the basement.

• Do not overpack your boxes. It will not only be too heavy to lift, but the box also might break.

• Use plenty of cushion or safety packaging. You can just recycle this later.

• When labeling your items, you can add what room it should go to (color code). For fragile items, place a label on all sides.

• Don’t forget to pack a suitcase like you would if staying at a hotel. They will help you a lot in your first days in the new place.

Give yourself a pat on the back when you’re done packing and labeling.

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TIP 8 TAKE INVENTORY

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Moving companies place a numbered sticker on every box, carton, and piece of furniture, before loading it on the truck. These are recorded, sequentially, along

with a description of the contents or item. When completed, you will have pages and pages of what the moving business calls an “inventory.”

The inventory serves two primary purposes: First, it constitutes a list of everything loaded on the truck. Theoretically, you can use this to check-off each item as they unload each box or piece of furniture at the new location.

This way you can review items as they are loaded and unloaded, so nothing is lost. However, this is a tedious task and, unless your belongings are placed in storage or you were a part of a “partial load,” your time may be better spent making sure boxes and furniture go to the correct rooms.

Second, the inventory will be used later during the claims process to identify items damaged or lost during the move.

In some cases, your driver may try to mark every piece of furniture as scratched or damaged at origin whether it is or not. The moving company can use this to

deny legitimate claims. So, make double sure that, if your furniture is in pristine condition, it is marked as such.

Think of what you already have that is safe and free of damage. For example, you may have an antique formal dining set which once belonged to your grandparents. It is in perfect condition because you’ve taken excellent care of it and only use it for Thanksgiving and Christmas family dinners.

If the driver tries to code it as scratched or damaged, you’ll know this is incorrect.

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Ask him to show you the damage he has marked. When he is unable to do so, he will change the inventory, and you have established the credibility of your claims while diminishing theirs.

If additional damage occurs during the pack and load process (something is

dropped and broken for instance), be sure to note this damage on the inventory.

For instance, the packers dropped a carton containing a piece of framed art

during our last move, smashing the glass to smithereens. Or they damaged the stairwell wall. They should have no problem noting this on the inventory, making the claims process smoother.

Getting Ready with Your Inventory If you don’t have a recent inventory of all your important possessions, now is the perfect time to make one! Okay, it’s not the perfect time — already have so much on your plate with the move — but it is necessary.

So, tackle this task with a sense of urgency before you forget (and before it ultimately costs you a lot of money, stress, or frustration).

So, what do you need to do?

There are three things that will get you on the right path: 1. Get Appraisals on Any Expensive or Hard-To-Replace Items: • Jewelry • Artwork • Heirlooms and antiques • Electronics

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2. Take Photographs or Video of Everything Today, video is faster and easier in many cases, because you can talk as you record, focusing on objects and describing them and their value.

With photos, you’ll need to take many shots and then process, label, and caption them all.

So, what should you be documenting? In a nutshell: Everything you’d want to be replaced if a total disaster hit your home (or the moving truck carrying everything you own).

Open all cupboards and drawers in each room so you can describe the contents as the camera pans that area.

You don’t need to describe every item. Your goal is simply to document the amount, condition, and quality of items you own, to increase the odds of an insurance adjuster treating you fairly.

Remember to record the contents of all closets, the attic, shed, garage, basement, storage locker, and more.

Also, document specific details about the more expensive items you own: make, model, serial number, insurance policies, and so on.

3. Safeguard Your Inventory and Receipts Be sure to keep your receipts for all the big purchases. It’s a promising idea to follow the steps suggested by your home owner’s or renter’s policy to safeguard your investment.

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Finally, make sure the inventory itself is safe, such as a safety deposit box for physical lists.

If everything is digital, upload it all to your cloud storage. DropBox, Microsoft’s OneDrive, and Apple’s iCloud all offer a lot of free digital storage.

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TIP 9 LABEL EVERYTHING!

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Outstanding packing and labeling are the keys to a successful move.

Your main labeling objectives are to: • Minimize breakage and damage.

• Ensure you can accurately place and locate belongings when they arrive at their new destination.

Good packing starts with the amount of packing paper used to wrap breakables.

The more paper you layer around dishes and glassware, the less likely things will break. Period.

Good Carton Labeling Is Essential Help packers to pack with your new destination in mind. Otherwise, all boxes (and there will be many) will look the same as you wander through the sea of containers unloaded at your new dwelling.

Clearly label each box for quick identification with the following information: • Your name and moving contract number. This especially important if items must go into storage for even a brief period in the new location, or if someone else's personal belongings will be loaded on the same truck.

• Specific contents. Clear, specific descriptions will make it much easier to find what you need when you move into the new place. The crucial word here is 'specific.' A box labeled "Kitchen Dishware" will make everyday dishes so much easier to find, than a box labeled "Kitchen Items."

Similarly, a carton labeled "Master Bed Bedding" is better than "Master Bedroom Linens" or "Bedding."If you’re moving to a new state or region, you may experience something similar. So, always pack and label with the destination in mind.

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Items packed in your spare garage at the current house might need to be labeled “Basement Storage,” for example, if your new home has a basement but no spare garage.

Likewise, you might have a living room in your current home, but there is no living room in your new digs. It is important to sort through living room

treasures and determine in which rooms they would fit best for your new home and ask the packers to label the boxes accordingly.

• "Open Me First" boxes. There are a few things you may want immediately upon arriving at your new destination. Separate these and ask the packers to label the box "Open Me First." For example, you may want quick access

to bedding, bathroom towels and soap, telephones, alarm clocks, toiletries and your favorite breakfast cereal.

Thoughtful, effective carton labeling at origination is the key to a smooth move.

Having ensured that household items are properly packed and labeled is half the battle. Before unloading the truck, label the rooms in the new property (a sticky note on the door will suffice) with the exact wording used on your cartons. This way your possessions will end up in the right place when delivered.

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TIP 10 PROTECT YOUR VALUABLES

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In almost every case, professional movers are incredibly honest and trustworthy.

But, anything can happen. You should sort out and collect things such as firearms,

cash, credit cards, jewelry, silver cutlery, coin collections, baseball card collections, important papers such as wills, and other things you treasure Box these up and place them in the car to transport them to your new location.

Even this can be risky, because, if you must spend a night or two in a hotel en-

route, valuables could be stolen during a break-in. So, don't leave your valuables in your car overnight — take them with you to the hotel. Otherwise, you can try

todrive straight through, stopping only for gas, bathroom breaks, and food. Look for spots offering all three — bathrooms, food, and gas — all under the same roof and sit in a location where you can observe the car while you eat.

Also, you should pack a small box containing your clock, desk keys, extra car keys, TV remote controls, and anything else small and easily lost. These items can

easily slip and hide in boxes, and it is frustrating to have to dig and dig for when you need them right away.

Driver Help The truck driver will likely pack a box containing all the nuts and bolts required to reassemble beds, dressers mirrors, tables, and other items they disassemble to fit them into the truck.

The movers are responsible for reassembling everything they take apart when they

unload it at the new location. If they do not pack a separate box, sometimes labeled "driver's parts," you should pack these items for self-transport.

Make sure your driver knows where this box is before they leave your old home or apartment.

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Tools The final thing you will want to pack in your vehicle is a small selection of hand tools. The garage, where you likely stored tools in your last locale, will be a low priority when it comes time to unpack at the other end.

Here’s what we recommend to open boxes, hang pictures, and much more: • hammer • screwdrivers • a drill • tape measure • box cutters In short: pack and transport small items, valuables, reassembly parts and a few hand tools in your vehicle

Stay/Go Items If you have sold some household items to the buyers, separate these from the rest of your belongings (even if it is just in a small corner of the room) and label them "Do Not Move."

Likewise, you may have decided to donate some furniture to your children and have the moving company drop it off on en-route to your new home. Separate these and label them, "Move to Son's House," or whatever is appropriate.

Pre-Plan Your New Home Schedule work/services for your new location as soon as you can. If you want some additional shelving installed in your new location or you would like to paint rooms or replace flooring, locate and schedule as much of this work as possible to be done before the truck arrives.

Just a reminder. All this needs to be done before the packers arrive. Once there, it will seem like they all have eight arms and they will snatch anything not moving.

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TIP 11 PREPARE A MOVING DAY KIT

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Even though it’s called moving “Day,” most big moves take place over several

days. Even if you’re making a local move just minutes away, you’re likely totally consumed by moving-day madness the entire day before departure, and by massive unpacking the day after the move itself.

To minimize the overwhelming feeling of it all, try to think of yourself as a general planning for the movement of an army from one encampment to another.

Therefore, Moving Day has three distinct stages: 1. Final packing and cleaning at your current home.

2. The departure. Everything that happens in the last few hours at the old place and during the trip, up until the moment you arrive at your new home

3. The arrival. This is everything that happens from the moment you arrive at your new front door and during the first day.

Let’s look at each one in more detail. And, as always, we recommend that you take time while reading to make notes on whatever jumps out at you. That way, you’ll capture what’s most important to you and be able to add any tasks into your trusted system without missing anything.

Final Packing and Cleaning Unless you’re staying elsewhere during your final night at the old place, there will be some things you just can’t pack until the morning you leave. These might include: • Beds • Sheets, pillows, duvets, blankets • Towels and bath mats

• Essential toiletries and medications • Window coverings

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• Food

• Children’s supplies • Pet supplies

• Personal electronics • Some clothes: nightwear, footwear, and outerwear One of the biggest stress-producers is having way too much last-minute packing to do in way too little time. It’s especially true if you end up running out of boxes or packing tape late at night.

Even worse, if the movers are already there, and you’re paying them by the hour!

Ouch! We’ve been there, and it’s nothing but stress.

So, is there any way you can avoid such craziness?

If it works for you, we highly recommend having the movers load up on the day before you travel.

There are going to be plenty of other glitches on the move, so be prepared. You might see the truck your moving company uses have a mechanical breakdown the day before and had to be towed away for major repairs.

Or a late arrival of your moving vans might mean the final cleaning can’t begin until late at night.

Packing Your Own Vehicles If you’re driving to your new home, you’ll probably be taking some of your belongings with you in your personal vehicle(s). So, it’s time to pull out your notepad or fire up the computer and create your Departure Day Planner.

Here are some questions to get you started.

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• Visualize your last night and morning in your old home. Where will you sleep? What can’t be packed until the last minute (bedding, towels, toiletries, food, etc.)? What last-minute cleaning needs to happen? Will you need your checkbook to pay anyone?

• Think about: child care and pet care, the last meals in the old home,

garbage, loading the vehicles (will everything fit?!), your final walkthrough and hand-off.

• If you’re traveling by air or boat, will you need passports? A taxi? A rental car? Help with kids or pets? A hotel room?

• Who will do what before, during, and after the move? Think about what might go wrong. Do you have contingency plans?

• Carefully think through what’s going into each vehicle and how much space it will take up. Measure anything you’re not certain will fit.

You don’t want to have already waved goodbye to the moving van when you suddenly realize you can’t see out the rearview mirror! Or discover that there isno room for your “Pack Me Last!” boxes.

And don’t forget to leave room for any passengers, including pets!

If you are packing wet towels and dirty laundry, slap one of your “Open Me First”

labels on that box or bag. That way, you can get them into the washer right away.

You’ll find this much more pleasant than stumbling across an unmarked box of moldy towels a week later.

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TIP 12 MOVING WITH KIDS

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Moving is a stressful activity; whether it is a move across the country, to a nearby street, or to another country. Many people rate relocation in the top ten most

stressful life experiences, right behind the death of a family member, divorce, or a severe injury or illness.

Every year, as many as 40 million Americans, including 10 million children, move to a new location. Whatever the reasons for the move, the time can be stressful,

but also have positive sides. Moving for a promotion or to be closer to your family can be a big plus for you as a parent. It might not seem such a good thing to your child.

No move is completely stress-free: Furniture breaks, boxes are missing, or you just can’t find any eating utensils or bedding.

But think about a move from the viewpoint of a young child. All his toys are stuffed into boxes; strangers take apart and carry out her bed; he is told to say goodbye to friends; she must face a new school full of strangers.

Children of all ages and all temperaments are affected by moves.

We designed this guide with feedback from parents who have been there and

survived. We have specific tips for parents in this section, but every section was produced to address what the entire family will go through during a move.

Included below are suggestions for helping children of all ages cope with a move, even under difficult circumstances, such as a move brought about by the death of a parent, divorce, or to another country.

Tips for Parents • Remember that a move is also stressful for you. Do everything you can to be relaxed and organized.

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• Your anxiety can be sensed by even the smallest child and may worsen the situation. It helps to be organized, but also be flexible to handle crises that arise. Think ahead about coping techniques you can use as a family:

visualizing a calm scene, listening to music, taking time for a walk, or reading a book.

• If you are leaving a job, turn over your responsibilities as soon as possible.

That way, your replacement can begin to handle the workload, but you will still be able to answer questions. This technique also lightens your stress level so that you can face the moving chores at home.

• Take breaks when needed. It might even speed up your to-do list. “ Susan” was feeling overwhelmed with the many things to do before a move. As her

frustration grew, she yelled at her kids for their lack of cooperation. Finally, in desperation, she loaded up the children and headed to McDonald’s. Everyone got a meal and then she watched her kids in the play area. When they returned home, she said, “Everyone pitched in and the work was done faster than it would have been.”

• Visit your friends and favorite places one more time.

• Point out to older children that you also have people and places that you will miss. Tell them it is okay to miss people, places, and more.

• Older children are often astounded to realize that mom or dad is concerned about fitting in at a new job or in a new neighborhood. Share your feelings and they might tell you what bothers them.

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• Plan an activity in the new town that you will enjoy for yourself.

• Write your feelings and observations in a journal and encourage the kids to do the same.

• Realize that you are not the only parent to feel these conflicts and stresses of moving. If possible, talk to a friend, counselor, or religious leader about your feelings.

• Keep yourself healthy by eating the right foods and getting enough sleep.

Sometimes it is better to leave unpacked boxes and do something fun or take a nap. The moving chores will go faster after a break.

• Don’t feel that you must do everything yourself. Depend on your spouse, friends, and your children to do what chores they can. Your children might surprise you.

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TIP 13 HAVE PETS? HERE'S WHAT TO PLAN

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It can be a challenge to keep pets happy and healthy during a move. To help all our fellow pet owners, we want to provide some brief thoughts to make it easier for you to build a timeline of pet care needed for any move.

Make an appointment with your veterinarian for a full check-up and vaccinations a month before moving day.

Depending on how you are planning to travel, your pets might need mild tranquilizers for the journey. If for example, they are not accustomed to riding in a car, motion sickness could be a problem. A mild sedative could help them avoid the discomfort as they rest calmly along the road.

Ask your vet about the appropriateness of tranquilizers based on your pet’s age and physical condition. However, if you are planning for your pet to join you on the airplane trip, a tranquilizer may not be allowed.

Ask your current vet for a recommendation for a veterinarian at your new location. If they cannot make a suggestion, a bit of online research will help you pick an initial pet doctor. Start by checking the websites of nationally respected organizations. Often, they will have lists of reputable veterinarians in your new area.

Contact the office of the new vet you’ve chosen, and ask what they require to

accept your pet at their location. Of course, you may change your mind once you move and try different veterinarians. But this will give you a starting point to find the right care for your pets.

Get the Paperwork in Order While at the vet’s office, ask for certified copies of all records. These should include health certificates with a list of inoculations.

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Note that health certificates should be dated 10 days before moving. (This will be particularly important if yout pet is traveling by airplane, or over national borders.)

Many states require an up-to-date rabies vaccination certificate, for example, for dogs. And, some require similar records for cats, birds, and exotic animals.

Check with local authorities in your destination municipality to find out if there are specific laws, rules, regulations, restrictions, and other policies that apply to you.

(Note: This is particularly crucial if you are crossing borders between countries.

Complete your due diligence for information, or your pet could face quarantine period at the border. In some countries, your pet could be required to spend

months in the care of officials at the point of entry; other nations will not allow certain types of pets to enter at all. And, no one wants that!)

Also, ask the vet what specific paperwork you might need, and get those official, signed copies while you are there. You will also need this paperwork if you plan on boarding your pet or taking them with you on a flight.

Keep important paperwork with you always. Do not pack it. Rather, carry it in the family “go bag� so it is easily accessed along the trip and at your destination.

ID Tags The importance of clear and complete identification tags for your pet cannot be overstated!

With all the confusion and unfamiliar environments, the last thing you want is for your dog or cat to become lost. However, if there is a problem, they need to be wearing full ID tags.

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You can create a temporary tag using a small luggage tag. On this ID, print your pet’s name, your name, your new address, your cell phone number, and the

phone number of a friend or relative who will know where you are during the moving trip.

When your lost pet is found, and you need to identify them, it’s a clever idea to have pictures of them with you. Take these ahead of time with your phone. This is a straightforward way to document their membership in your family, and your phone is always with you.

Crates and Carriers Regardless of how you are traveling on moving day, it is crucial for your pets to have a comfortable and safe enclosure to stay in during the journey.

The crate or carrier should be large enough for your pet to stand up, turn around, and lie down. The door should have the option for secure closure, but do not

place a lock on it. In an emergency, you want a rescuer to be able to release your pet from the easily.

Stick to Their Routines Pets are very sensitive to changes in their routines. As much as possible, keep the same meal times, exercise schedules, walk times, play times, and so forth.

If a variety of visitors, such as realtors or moving company employees, will be descending upon your home, plan where the pets can stay while your visitors are there; for example, in a spare room or bathroom.

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Again, you should make your pets comfortable with the area by giving them time to acclimate, so avoid just closing them in the room at the last minute. As

moving-day approaches and boxes reach the ceiling, make plans for them to stay with friends or family they are familiar with, board at a kennel where they’ve

stayed before, or reside in a comfortable crate in an out-of-the-way location.

Travel Plans If you’re driving to your new home and your pet has never been in a vehicle, day trips are in order. There are few things more unpleasant than being trapped in a car with a cat twirling, scratching and meowing for hours on end.

Make a pet “travel kit” with several days’ worth of supplies. This should include their regular food, water, treats, favorite toys, necessary medicine, and cleaning supplies in case of motion sickness or other accidents. You should also try to take their usual food and water bowls, if possible.

If space is limited, there are handy collapsible dishes at your local pet supply store. On moving day, pick up their food and water several hours before

departure. Dog families should get a bit of exercise with a nice, long walk before leaving. This will help you and Spot relax during the first leg of the journey.

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TIP 14 ORGANIZE FOR ITEMS THAT NEED TO BE CLEANED

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In an ideal world, you have a regular cleaner you can count on, and you can be confident that they’ll do a great job on the move-out clean.

When that works well, it always makes people happy, because it takes a big load off your plate. And, it’s so lovely to delegate one of the worst parts of moving.

But if that’s not your situation, do your best to clean as you pack. And, please, schedule more time than you think you’ll need.

Some of the worst-ever move-out experiences have involved cleaning, especially if you’re currently in a rental property.

And always double-check appointments in advance. You don’t want your cleaning team falling through, even if it’s just a couple of friends willing to do some work with you.

If possible, secure a backup too. You might need a little emergency help and, trust us, you’ll be grateful for any efforts that come through to lend a hand when you need it most.

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TIP 15 DO THE MOVER'S RESEARCH

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The packers will pack up and box things at your old place in a few days or hours.

If only unpacking and putting the same items away were that easy!

Expect it to take at least five or six times longer to undo the process in your new

home. As you get older and need to downsize, or are simply trying to shoe-horn a previous larger home's contents into a smaller new home, the process could last for months.

We strongly recommend you take a photo of the house right after the moving truck unloads and before boxes are uncrated. Look at this photo from time to

time, especially when you think you'll never finish, so you can see how much you have progressed.

You’ll do great, so resist the urge to give in and give up.

Here Are Some Tips to Help the Unpacking Job Go Smoother Enlist some help.

You may not have 34 friends; however, you probably have a few folks who can lend a hand. If you have children, it’s time to call in those years of favors they owe you.

Give them tasks appropriate for their age, such as making the oldest organize the garage while the youngest can set up the computer and other technology.

Stronger children can help you move, and the careful ones can help wrap delicate things to keep them safe. And, married children are the best because you can enlist husbands and wives for some extra, free labor.

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Hire some help.

Just hiring help to unpack the kitchen can turn a three-day job into a project that only takes an afternoon.

Divvy up the work.

Even if it's just you and your wife, you should split up the tasks ahead. Let your wife be responsible for unpacking our kitchen, master bathroom, and her closet items. She may also want to handle the dishes and china (if she's afraid you might break a something).

You should tackle the office, the garage, storage, and living areas. You may also want to take on the task of scheduling tradespeople and service installers, breaking down and disposing of packing materials, and so on.

Split up shopping too. So, one person will get the home and bath accessories

from towels to curtains. The other will take charge of hardware store items and installation items.

Share responsibility and always talk about you’re doing so no one feels left out, and no big purchase mistakes occur.

Manage the unloading process.

You will have three tasks to perform when the truck is unloaded.

First, make sure the driver puts cardboard, pads, and other protective materials on carpets, floors, and stairwells to protect them from damage.

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Second, tell the guys to shout out the destination room on boxes as they bring them inside, and then make sure they take them to that room. If you took our

advice and placed sticky notes on the rooms in the new house with labels exactly corresponding to what you decided to name these rooms during the packing process, this will be easy.

Say you have four bedrooms in our old home and four bedrooms in our new

home. Try labeling them by the type of bed in the room, so that they are named: Master Bedroom, King Bed Room, Queen Bed Room, and Day Bed Room. Label all cartons containing items in these rooms with the identical names, so the contents follow the beds.

Managing the unloading process is to request (and double-check) that all cartons are in the rooms with matching labels and the content descriptions face outward.

You want to be able to read them without wrestling boxes.

Unpack wardrobe boxes first.

There are two reasons for this. First, wardrobe boxes are the largest moving

cartons and therefore take up the most space. Space is something you will have precious little of, after the truck is unloaded, so the sooner you free some up, the

better. Second, wardrobe boxes are easy to unpack. Thankfully, they contain your clothing hung on hangers.

It will only take a few minutes to remove the clothes from the carton and hang them in their closets providing the cartons are correctly labeled. Clearing out space will give you room to breathe and getting a lot of clothing put away quickly will provide you with a sense of accomplishment, which is good for the psyche.

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Unpack other boxes as your needs dictate.

For instance, you may be anxious to get the kitchen organized so you can stop eating in restaurants. Or you will probably want to unpack the bedrooms and bathrooms to minimize temporary living expenses.

Perhaps it is important your office is organized so you can do some work, or the

TV room is organized quickly so you can watch the big game. It's completely up to you.

Completely unfold all packing paper to make sure that a small object is not hiding inside. A wad of packing paper may seem light as a feather, but it may very well contain a small piece of something larger you will dearly miss if it gets thrown away.

Get rid of packing materials.

You want to eliminate empty moving boxes like a woman wants to get through a bad hair day: quickly.

Again, space is at a premium. Set aside a large area — a garage bay for instance — to store only empty cartons and paper. Be prepared to fill this space floor to ceiling if things were packed correctly.

Break most boxes down by flattening them like a pancake (a good box cutter is also your friend) as soon as they are emptied. Haul them to that empty garage bay or wherever you have decided to place them.

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Leave a few empty boxes inside, not broken down, to fill with packing paper, peanuts and other material. Fill them to the brim. Jam the paper in, by pounding your fist into the corners of the empty boxes — this will allow you to get more paper in a single box. Leave paper boxes open and tape the top lid up at the corners to get even more packing in them.

We also suggest that you save a few boxes for a new round of charity donations.

No matter how hard you tried, there always seem to be a few things that don't fit in the new abode.

Space will be at a premium during move-in, so clear out moving boxes and materials as quickly as possible So, you may purge your goods and find that you still have too much. That’s okay; it’s just time to be flexible and see who may want or need what you can’t take with you.

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TIP 16 PLANNING FOR YOUR NEW HOME

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Now that you have your Moving Binder and plan completed your next steps are getting your new home prepared for you and your family.

With a fresh start now is the time to look at ways to use technology to help cut cost, increase safety, and create ways to make life easy.

Deciding what your what technology should be in your new home feels complicated. Its not complicated at all. Amazon Eco is the core intelligence tostart building your smart

home around. Amazon Echo is a hands-free speaker you control with your voice. Echo connects to the Alexa Voice Service to play music, make calls, send and receive

messages, provide information, news, sports scores, weather, control your thermostat, monitor your security system, and more—instantly. All you have to do is ask.

Next is planning how to use Amazon Eco to cut cost by using Eco and Nest products.

Nest offers two Smart Home Skills for integrating your Nest products with Amazon

Alexa’s voice controls. With the Nest Thermostat skill, you can tell Alexa to change the temperature of your home. With the Nest Camera skill, you tell Alexa to show video from your Nest camera through your Echo Show. It knows when you’re away. It knows when you’re away. 8am, It knows when you’re off to work. The Nest Thermostat can use sensors and your phone’s location to check if you’ve left, then sets itself to an Eco Temperature to save energy. 4:43pm, Wherever you go, you’re home. The babysitter calls to say she picked up the kids from soccer and they’re heading home. You adjust the temperature from your phone so they’ll be cozy.

Okay Im sure we agree that Amazon Eco is very smart. Our next Nest product is a must have. It’s time to expect more from your smoke alarm. The new Nest Protect has been redesigned from the inside out. It has an industrial-grade smoke sensor, tests itself

automatically, and lasts up to a decade. It's also the first home alarm you can hush from your phone without any extra hardware required. And just like the original Nest Protect, it tells you what’s wrong and can even alert your phone.

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Technology is making life so easy. Now we need to utilize technology to ensure your home is secure with Nest cam and Amazon Eco. State-of-the-art smart. Nest Cam IQ has serious processing power, so it can do things like tell a person from a thing. And even

recognize faces with Nest Aware. It stays alert 24/7 so you don’t have to. If someone

breaks in, you want to know right away. Nest Cam IQ plugs into power, so it won’t run out of batteries before it sends an alert. Speaks loudly and carries a big microphone. A

powerful speaker can scare off intruders from afar. And with noise cancellation and echo suppression, you can hear them loud and clear.

Using smart home technology saves you money, improves the safety, and helps monitor your home. Next, rekeying your new home is a must. Alexa, Ask Kevo to Unlock My Door.

With their newest update for your Kevo smart lock, they’ve added a new Kevo skill for Amazon Alexa. Now you can lock, unlock, and check the status of your Kevo locks using only your voice. The smart lock just got smarter. To connect your Kevo to Alexa you’ll need 3 pieces of hardware:

• Kevo Smart Lock (Gen 1 or Gen 2) • Kevo Plus – Learn more here: http://www.kwikset.com/kevo/plus

• Device with Amazon Alexa (for example, Amazon Echo, Echo Dot, or Amazon Tap) That’s it! With those three pieces of smart home hardware, you’re on your way to full voice control of your smart home.

You are almost done with you first phase of your smart home. Okay think about the doorbell….ding dong. That’s not smart….its time to upgrade the doorbell. Home Security Made Easy! Always know who’s at your door with the SkyBell HD Wi-Fi Video Doorbell.

The Skybell app sends you an alert. A visitor presses the doorbell and SkyBell sends a live feed alert to your smartphone. We Create Meaningful User Experiences. Nest Protect: Keep loved ones safe from invisible but deadly carbon monoxide! When Nest Protect

detects fire or carbon monoxide, Skybell HD automatically changes the color of the LED button to warn a visitor that it is unsafe to go inside.

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Amazon Echo & Alexa: Making parents and napping babies happy! Users can tell Alexa to ask Skybell HD to turn off the indoor chime so it does not wake up a sleeping baby!

Your smart home shouldn’t be dumb. When products don’t have to tell them how to connect, or what to do. They just work. In real homes for real people. Leveraging smart home technology should be your first major purchase at Your Home Resource Center. In addition, you might want to think about creating a technology HUB. The Samsung Connect Home PRO is for Wi-Fi power-users who work, play and stream on multiple devices at once. Take ultimate control of your space with this all-in-one Wi-Fi router and SmartThings hub. Not only does it deliver an optimized Wi-Fi signal to every corner of your home, it also works as a SmartThings Hub, connecting compatible cameras, lights, voice assistants, and more to create your smart home. Now you can manage your Wi-Fi and all your smart devices from the palm of your hand.

Amazon just made another really smart home product called Dash Button devices are WiFi-connected devices to place in your kitchen, pantry, or anywhere in your home you use your favorite Prime-eligible products. Simply press the button to reorder when you’re running low, and your products are on their way.

Virtual Dash Buttons are shortcuts to quickly find and reorder your favorite products on

Amazon’s mobile app and website. Virtual Dash Buttons are available for tens of millions of products that ship with Prime, and they’re free, so you can add as many as you want.

Dash Button devices and virtual Dash Buttons are exclusive to Prime members, and Dash Button orders always ship fast and free via Prime shipping.

Getting your smart home set up is now underway. The next area that needs focus is your water quality. Water filters have become being easier to set up and more practical.

Testing numerous filters — every little thing from pitchers to systems for the whole house — located designs suitable for getting rid of a lot of usual impurities.

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So, you have plenty of options and can find one to fit your style and taste.

Some designs that connect to your plumbing are now less complicated to set up. And, most systems’ additional filters now feature electronic signs that indicate when it's time for a replacement.

Risky contaminants such as lead, chloroform, arsenic, nitrate, nitrite, radon, and E. coli bacteria prevail in faucet water. Mineral water, usually marketed as a "pure" and "natural" alternative to faucet water, is safe. But it's, in fact, less controlled by the Environmental Protection Agency compared to community water products. Indeed, some bottled water is merely filtering system tap water.

Thankfully, our examinations of various water filters of found designs ideal for eliminating many such impurities and risks.

Choosing a Water Filter It's essential to know what contaminants are in your water so you can match the filter to the problem. Capabilities regarding contaminant elimination differ from product to product, so read the fine print.

Additionally, consider the amount of water you eat vs. how much effort and disruption to your everyday program you're ready to endure. The more impurities you eliminate, the more complicated the filter; though there are trade-offs.

The Best Ways to Pick a Water Filter Fit the filter to your needs.

If your family uses numerous gallons of water a day, for example, a single carafe-style filter would certainly need consistent refilling.

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Contaminant removal differs based on the filter type, cost, and quality. Match the filter to the real contaminants in your home's supply of water as well as the physical hardware of your home.

You’ll also want to consider the price. Every one of the designs we checked has filters

that need to be occasionally replaced to work successfully. Also, some systems require professional installment, which is an additional expenditure.

The air we breathe into our bodies is just as important as the food and beverages we

consume. Air quality undoubtedly ranks as among the most significant factors on our health, making air purification one of our top priorities. As concerns about the effects of poor indoor-air quality have increased, so has the need for quality air purification. Wholehouse air-cleaning systems are becoming increasingly more popular and can be incorporated into almost any HVAC system.

For those who suffer from severe allergies or asthma and need to drastically reduce allergens, particulates and toxins throughout their entire home, we suggest considering a whole house air purifier. Whole house air purification virtually eliminates allergens,

bacteria, dust and smoke by as much as 100 times more effectively than conventional furnace filter systems.

Your Home Resource Center has partnered with Amazon to find high quality air filters and How exciting you are about ready to move into your new home. Things to think about, smart home technology, security systems, water filter, and now how’s your air quality the best pricing.

How exciting you are about ready to move into your new home. Things to think about, smart home technology, security systems, water filter, and now how’s your air quality?

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CONCLUSION

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You are heading for a brand-new exciting job in a fresh, intriguing location. But the process of moving is daunting. You have a house to sell, a house to buy, and all your possessions are about to be lugged to somewhere hundreds, or even thousands of miles away.

You have heard moving horror stories — or perhaps you have even lived through one. It's no wonder that moving is among the most stressful and strenuous events in life.

Hopefully, we’ve helped you figure out ways to fight that stress and reduce it enough so that your moving experience goes smoothly and is, dare we say it, fun!

Moving into a new house is an exciting prospect, but at the same time, a lot of demanding work and time goes into it. You can make your life easier if you work smart. This requires you to have a plan in mind and not just throw things in the box.

Without a game plan, you will be most likely setting yourself up for a nightmare once you arrive at the new place. That could easily mean missing items, broken furniture, damaged electronics, electricity or water issues, extra bills, and even accidents.

However, the moving “nightmare” is avoidable, if you work smart. Have a moving timeline, declutter, apply packing techniques, and follow the tips in this guide.

Oh, and remember to implement your plan when the time comes. This is not an academic exercise!

Make moving to your new home a memorable time, a bonding moment with the family and friends, and even a learning experience. Avoid stress and commit your energy to making your new house into a home. Good luck with your new house!

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Finally, if you enjoyed this book, then we’d like to ask you

for a favor, would you be kind enough to leave a review for this book on Amazon? It helps more than you think, and we would love to hear your opinion.

Thank you and good luck!

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