Oasis Moving » Moving Tips

The Moving Checklist – It Never Seems To End

admin — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 18:53:49 +0000

We’ve all done this at one time or another made a moving checklist and the darn thing never seemed to end. It’s good idea, but once you start you realize your moving checklist is likely going to run to more than just one page. In fact, everyone in the house seems to feel duty bound to add things to the moving checklist and you’d rather wish they wouldn’t.

Where to start with your moving checklist? As simple as it may sound, start at the beginning and just add things to it that come to mind as you think about them. Everyone’s moving checklist is going to be different, and that’s just life.

Here are a few tips of where to get started that may help you out:

About a month before your move date, start cleaning out closets, basement and the garage. Donate items to charity, have a garage sale, figure out cost of shipping vs buying late

Get your packing supplies
Pack items you don’t use daily books, pictures etc.
Packing for storage? Tape an itemized list on the outside of the box.
Keep a file on all related moving expenses. Some items are tax deductible.
Locate a reputable mover, and get at least two estimates, references and a quote.
Make sure your house insurance is transferred to your new home.

About two weeks before you move:

Arrange for disconnect and reconnect of all your utilities.
Get a new phone number.
Make arrangements to get your mail forwarded.
Close and transfer bank accounts. Get new checks.
Stop newspaper or other home services (recycling etc.)
Tell doctors, dentists, etc of your move, your address and phone number. Ask for any files you may need at the new location.

About one week before your move:

Clean your house, or have a cleaning service do it.
Check in with the movers and confirm date, times, departure and arrival times.
Do the job we all love to hate, defrost the freezer and clean it out.
Return any items borrowed (library books, videos). Clean out school lockers, pick up prescriptions etc.

A few days before your move:

Finish packing and marking boxes clearly
Put important files, documents, insurance, x-rays etc, in a box and put it in your vehicle.
Make up a box marked Open First with things you well need right away.
Leave your keys for the new occupants of your home, label them.
Try and leave them the manuals for your appliances if you are not taking them with you.

As you can see, the list seems to propagate over night. Never mind, it will all come out in the wash when you successfully get to your new home and thank your lucky stars you had had the sense to make a moving checklist.

A post from: Oasis Moving

Moving Tips You Can Use

admin — Sat, 12 Feb 2011 06:33:29 +0000

Everyone needs moving tips when they make the decision they are going to move. Trouble is, where to start? Friends and family with definitely have lots of moving tips, but are they useful to your situation? Well, they might be, but the best idea to find moving tips is to hit the Internet or call your local Las Vegas movers.

Moving companies usually have brochures that have moving tips in them, and so by the way, do your utilities companies, your post office and even your real estate agent. What you want is some great moving tips that will streamline your move itself and help reduce all the stress leading up to it.

Here are some moving tips that will help you along the way:

• Plan ahead of time unless of course it’s a last minute move due to a transfer. The more time you spend planning, the better your move will be.

• Make a list right away of what you will handle and what you will hire out. For instance, will you pack your belongings, or will the mover?

• Plan to hire a babysitter for the actual day of your move, or a pet sitter if necessary.

• Take the time to measure doors, windows, spaces in your kitchen and laundry room area in your new home to make sure your furniture and appliances will fit. What you don’t need is to arrive at your new home and find out the fridge won’t fit into the existing space.

• Try not to work up until the last minute. Talk about high stress levels. See if you can take some time off, or in the alternative, try to move on a long weekend.

• Use a calendar just for your moving plans and mark on it move related tasks – for instance when to give notice to utility companies, when to finalize paperwork with the lawyer etc.

• Label every box clearly with the room you want it to go into when you get to your new home. Along with this, keep a detailed list of what is in each box. Way easier to find things in your new place.

• If you have items you doubt you will use ever again (right, throw it away and the next day you will need it) then don’t move them. Consider giving them away or selling or freecycling them.

• On moving day make sure both locations are open and ready.

• Check to see that you have all the equipment you need – if you are doing the move yourself. If not, then the moving company will likely have all the items you will need – like dollies.

• When you leave your old home for the last time, do an exit inspection and make sure nothing is left behind.

With just a little bit of organizing, and some great moving tips, your moving day will turn out to be one you enjoy, not the move from Hell.

A post from: Oasis Moving

How do I keep my moving quote from going up?

admin — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 18:13:52 +0000

This is the number one question we get asked all the time. The answer is easy if you understand the three factors that can cause your quote to change. Pay attention to the following three things as you plan your move and you can save yourself some money and some trouble in the long run.

Changes to your inventory

Never got the sofa sold on Craig’s list? Decided you like your dining set too much to leave it behind? Started packing and suddenly find you have more boxes than you thought you would. Things change. Don’t worry about it. Just make sure you tell your mover well in advance of pickup. Last minute additions to your inventory made on moving day will cost you more to ship than you would have paid if your mover knew about them in advance. Each truck has a finite amount of space on it and that extra space you need for things you add at the last minute may have been set aside for someone else. This can complicate matters for your mover and cost you more money, so make sure you make any changes you need to make in advance and save yourself and your mover some headache.

Packing materials

Most people plan to do their own packing but few ever get it all done on their own. That’s what the professionals are there for. Any professional mover should show up with extra packing materials on their truck because they know that most of the time customers don’t entirely understand how to pack some items, or they just get into crunch time and they can’t get it all done before the truck shows up. Budget for some packing even if you are planning to do it all yourself and play it safe.

Logistics on pickup or delivery

Moving to a high rise? New building doesn’t have its own parking lot or requires you to reserve a loading bay? Storage facilities don’t have access for a tractor trailer? These and many other logistical considerations can change your price on pickup or delivery and result in fees for stairs, elevators, long carry, or shuttle. Let your mover know about these considerations in advance so that they can plan and that may save you money in the long run. Many movers will discount these fees if they are aware of the logistics in advance. Giving your mover more information ahead of time can save you money and help ensure a smooth move at both ends.

A post from: Oasis Moving