Moving Tips for Your New Home in Roseville, Rocklin, Sacramento, and Greater Placer County
Moving Tips
Start by asking yourself this all-important question: Will you be doing the moving yourself or should you hire professional movers to do the job for you? While moving yourself might save you some money, doing so would require much time and effort on your part. If your main consideration is convenience, you can hire a moving company to pack, move and unpack all your things for your. If your aim is to cut on costs, just have a moving truck transport your pre-packed boxes. Whether you hire a moving company or simply a moving truck, it is better to get referrals or references.
Should you decide to do the moving yourself, plan in advance. Prepare a Packing List to assist you in organizing your move and buy your moving supplies well ahead of time. With the high costs of moving, bring only the things you consider necessary and important. As for the stuff you might not want to bring with you, have a garage sale to clear out unwanted items or consider donating them to local charities or organizations.
At least one month before moving day, contact your utility companies (gas, telephone, electricity, cable, etc.) and inform them of the actual date when you would like service to be discontinued. Likewise, contact the utility companies in your new town about service connection start dates. Get in touch with your healthcare and insurance professionals, school, post office, clubs, civic organizations and churches and notify them of your change of address. Ask for referrals and record transfers. Let your friends and relatives know of your planned move.
Organize your packing. Make sure all your valuables are packed separately – remember that all stocks, bonds, currency, jewelry, fur, securities, insurance policies and important papers should not be packed for transit along with your other belongings. Either bring these items yourself or arrange with your bank for their transfer.
You can start with packing unused or seldom used items. Be sure to follow the Packing List you have prepared beforehand. Maximize the use of all your bags and suitcases. You can fill them with clothes and other items you may be bringing with you.
How much packing paper should be used depends on what kind of items are being packed. As a rule, a layer of crumpled paper should be placed at the bottom of the box in order to cushion the impact during transport. Fragile items need to be wrapped individually with packing paper between each item as required. Label each box accordingly using broad-tipped pentel pen and mark which room the carton should go into.
Mark one box “Open First” and fill it with all the basic necessities you might need upon arrival (disposable towels, plates and utensils, flashlight with batteries, trash bags, toiletries, medication/first aid kit, clean linen, phone, radio, cleaning supplies, scissors, bottle opener, towels, etc.) If you have children traveling with you, make special boxes containing photos, stuffed animals, favorite blanket/nightclothes, CD’s, etc.)
On moving day itself, get your tools ready for use in knocking down the furniture and other appliances you will be taking with you. If you hired a professional mover, make sure you have a complete inventory of all your things and that you agree with the condition of the items prior to the move. Do a final check of all rooms in your house, including the attic, basement, garage, closets, front and backyard.
Once you get to your new place and your possessions have arrived, check the condition of the things on the inventory list as they are unloaded. Contact the utility companies and verify the connection dates. Notify the local post office as well as your family and friends that you have arrived – better yet, mail “We Have Moved” cards with your new address and contact numbers to relatives and friends. For security purposes, you may also decide to change the house locks.
