Moving can be stressful. When you add long-distance to the equation, it can seem overwhelming. The good news is that you can do it with a little planning, organization and a reliable, professional moving company. Take a breath, follow the steps below, and, before you know it, you’ll be settling into your new home.
1. Get Professional Moving Estimates
Before you can make a plan for your move to or from Florida, you need an idea
of the kind of timeline you have. When you are getting estimates from
highly-rated professional movers, there are a few questions you need to ask:
• How many years have they been in
business?
• Do they do in-home estimates, or do you have to provide a room-by-room
inventory?
• Do they pack as well as a move? What packing materials are included, and
which are extra?
• Are they licensed, bonded and insured?
• What does the liability insurance cover, and what does it cost?
• Do they offer storage (if necessary)?
• Do they have availability for the date(s) you need?
• Is the total cost estimate binding or non-binding?
Binding estimates guarantee the cost and have clear rules on how and why it
could vary. A non-binding estimate is just a temporary calculation until they
get the actual weight of the load. Your total cost could go up or down based on
the final weight.
2. Hire the Best Moving Company
It may be tempting to go with the cheapest estimate, but don't be
fooled. Sometimes it is true that you get what you pay for.
When you’ve narrowed down your choice, you’ll want to get some details like:
• How much time do you need to allow
for the packing and loading?
• How long will it take for them to get to your new place?
• How much time will you need to plan for unloading?
3. Make a Schedule
Now that you have some of the pertinent details, you can make your moving plan
and timeline for your move. Start listing all the things you know you need to
do to prepare the house for moving. Then add the things you need to do to move
into your new home. Finally, add all the housekeeping items like cleaning the
old house, doing a walkthrough of your new house and turning on utilities, and
slot them in based on how much lead time you need to complete them.
4. Pare Down
Paring down is possibly the hardest thing for most people to do, yet one of the
most satisfying to
complete. It is time to decide what you need to move and what it is time to
part with. Don’t forget that there are many things that movers can't
transport. Whether your move is in Fort Lauderdale, Pompano, Deerfield Beach or
another city outside of Florida, there should be an online drop-off center for
things like batteries, chemicals, and other prohibited items.
Get the prohibited item list in plenty of time from your movers to make plans
for those things. Among the items are explosive, corrosive or flammable items.
Perishable, irreplaceable items, pets or plants are also not allowed by
interstate movers, either. If you have any of these items, you need to make
alternative plans if you plan to keep them.
Donate
Those cute shoes that you bought on sale but only wore once because they hurt
your feet after two steps? It is time to say goodbye. Jeans that fit like a
glove, or did fit like a glove 15 pounds and 10 years ago? Wish them well and
set them free.
Sell
If your kids are out of high-chairs, strollers and car seats, but you still
have them hanging around,
consider taking them to one of the many great resale shops in your area.
Parents, grandparents or
caretakers will love to get good quality items at a reduced price, and you’ll
make some money from something you no longer need. If you have any furniture
that won’t fit in your new place or no longer fits your style, consider listing
them for sale online, having a garage sale or even an estate sale before you move.
Pitch
Go through your drawers and closets. If you have anything torn, stained or worn
out, throw it away. Look through your cabinets and get rid of out-of-date
items. Toss the socks that have no mates.
5. Label Boxes
You will thank yourself when you get ready to unpack at your new place if you
do some strategic labeling. First, you need some markers, labels and clear
packing tape. Then, you’ll want to clearly label the items you will need
immediately, like master bed sheets and blankets. Finally, label the boxes by
room and type of item, putting labels on top and sides and then
covering them with the clear tape to prevent them from falling off.
6. Schedule Utilities
Now that your move is scheduled, you’ll want to notify your current utility
company that you’ll need service discontinued. Consider scheduling the cut off
for the morning after the move, if possible, in case the packing goes later
than expected. you’ll want to make sure that your service at the new place is
set up for the day before you are planning to move in, then plan to arrive
early to make sure there aren’t any problems.
7. Change Your Address
You need to change your address with the post office. You can do it online for
a small fee or put the change of address form in the mail. If you do it by
mail, you'll need to allow at least two weeks for it to go into effect.
Now may also be an excellent time to consider going paperless to cut down on
lost mail and waste.
8. Check Your Items
Finally, you have arrived at your new home. Make sure to check your furniture
and boxes for damage before the movers leave. They should leave you with a loss
or damage inventory for missing or broken items discovered after unpacking.
You’ll want to read the instructions and ask questions, as there are usually
time limits to turn in a loss or damage claim.
Whether you are preparing for a local move in Margate, Plantation or Weston, or
a long-distance move you need a professional moving company to ease your moving
issues and get you moved seamlessly.
Direct Relocation has the reputation, experience, integrity, and commitment to customer service that you need for peace of mind in your move. They believe in making your move stress-free while providing the highest quality relocation services. To get help with your upcoming move, give Direct Relocation Services a call at 855-378-3110, or contact us online.