Moving

[yvi]

At some point during the next two or three weeks, I will have the pleasure of moving for the 5th time in less than 7 times, this time further than the previous times (about 3 hours by car away).

So I thought that as a rather big community, we could have a thread where people share their moving tips. Might be helpful to me and others :)

Comments

[alphaviolet]

I have a *lot* of tips on this b/c we moved in December - across the country - with 15 days' notice. (If there's anything that brings out one's inner Type A personality, that would be it.)

1. Get comparison quotes from moving companies. And references.

2. Make sure you have a plan for a place to stay/sleep/eat if you are getting there before your furniture does.

3. Ship book boxes by media mail if needed. It's cheaper than truck transport.

4. Calculate whether the cost of shipping furniture (which is based on the weight) is more or less than the cost of replacing it.

5. Remember the tax deductions - including donations to Goodwill, etc.

6. Label boxes clearly.

7. Keep important things - like box cutters - accessible.

8. Give away (or eat) food rather than bringing it with you.

9. Budget and keep an eye on your expenses.

These last 2 items are the most important:

10. Get a massage - or take a hot shower - when you're done.

11. Make time to deal with the emotional part of moving - saying goodbye to favorite places, seeing friends, etc..