Have any tips on moving?

Hi,
Be sure to be around to supervise the movers, especially if you have
alot of very expensive furniture, breakables, antiques, or items which
have an unusual shape and have to be lifted a certain way. Even
the best moving companies make mistakes, and your presence
when it is actually loading time will make a difference--be there for
the unloading too, of course!--If you are doing the move yourself,
with a U-Haul or friend's help, be sure that things are very carefully
packed and padded for all those bumps in the road! Friends need
to be supervised as well as they are well-meaning but may not know
how to load or pack stuff.

Most moving companies use those plain looking moving "blankets"
for various purposes, and if you have pets, especially dogs,
those blankets make great light-weight dog beds, or good
temporary furniture covers. I don't know if the blankets are
flammable though, so do not give them to children or the elderly
and don't put them near heaters or stoves.

If you are a very organized person, then you already know that
moving time is a good time to sort out your old things, throw
out what you really cannot use anymore, and donate or sell
the rest that you do not want to take with you. However, some
folks have a hard time sorting thru things because of the emotions
connected with making a move. If this move is something which
you are eager for or at least well prepared for emotionally, it
will be easier to sort out your items and to decide what to keep
and what not to keep. Assuming for the moment that that is the
case, be sure to put usable items that you don't want in a donation
box or bin and take them to your local charity, good will, or
salvation army. Or maybe you know of a family in need that could
use a direct donation from you. If the items are in fairly good shape
and clean, it is always nicer to donate than to toss it out in the
trash.

When sorting thru your items which you plan to keep, be sure to
label the boxes and containers. For your first few nights in your
new place, be sure to have the following boxes most available,
ie, at the top of the piles of boxes so that you can get at them
FIRST: Paper plates and plastic utensils (easier than doing dishes
when you are just moving in), toilet paper, paper towels, blankets
and pillows, tooth brushes and toothpaste, other personal hygiene
items, one portable radio if you have one, one small t.v. if you have
one, your computer if you will need it right away, and clothes for the
next few days. A cell phone too if you have one. A few packaged
snacks and bottled water, too, til you get to the grocery store.

Be sure to notify your local post office that you are moving and
that you want all of your old mail to be re-directed (ie forwarded)
to your new address. Be sure to give the p.o. your full new address.

If you are sentimental or have children, you might want to take
a few last pictures of your old home/apartment a day or two before
you move--then you will always remember the last plant blooming in
the back yard, the color of paint on the house when you moved
(from your front yard and front of house photos) and how your old
kitchen looked. This may not seem so important now but five years
from now or ten years from now it will nice for you to have such
photos on hand.

Notify your neighbors that you are moving--exchange phone numbers
with the ones you would like to keep in touch with, and email
addresses. Let them know WHEN the house will be empty so that
they will be on the lookout for vandals who may want to "tag" or
paint graffiti in the house (this happens in all level of income
neighborhoods these days) or who may want to steal something
left in the house. Notify the landlord and/or realtors involved so that
they can keep an eye on things too. Also, abandoned houses
are often a temporary place for gangs, child predators, etc---
another good reason to notify, notify people!!

If you are selling your old house be sure that you are closely
involved with all aspects of the sale so that you make the best
possible profit from the sale.

Lastly, be sure your new place has been checked for the following:
gas leaks (no matter what the weather or where you are moving!)
carbon monoxide leaks, working fire alarms, and other safety-
related items. Check the yard and property for bee hives,
black widow spiders, broken fences (especially if you have kids or
pets) cracked walls and other such things.

Lastly, keep an eye on your kids if you have any and get to
know WHO is in the neighborhood, for your safety and your
kids' safety. The roads could be more hazardous, driveways
could be filled with people in and out and therefore it could
be more dangerous for kids to ride their bikes etc, without
supervision. Safety is crucial.

Let me know how it goes and feel free to email--have to rush
out the door now but I hope this was a help to you!!

Sincerely,
Lisa Shetler, Los Angeles area,
lisashetler@yahoo.com