105 TIPS FOR A SUCCESSFUL RELOCATION:

Top 10 Reasons to Relocate to the North Carolina Research Triangle:

We’ve been moving households into the Research Triangle for over thirty years.  But we’ve begun to notice that increasingly our customers are moving to North Carolina from the Northeast, from states such as Massachusetts, New York, Connecticut, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

Sure, many of you move because of job relocation to Raleigh, Durham or Chapel Hill.  With companies like Cree, Inc., Cisco, SAS, Deutsche Bank and Quintiles International, the Research Triangle consistently ranks among the top ten Best Places for Business and Careers.  (Evidence the 2013 Forbes Report.)  But there is much more to interstate moving to North Carolina than business and industry.

In case you’re on the fence about relocating to the South, we thought we’d take a moment to share with you the top ten reasons Truckin’ Movers staff love calling the North Carolina Piedmont home.

You may move to North Carolina for a good job, but we’re placing a pretty big wager that once you get a taste of the living here — not to mention our exquisite North Carolina Barbeque — you’ll be sticking around these parts for some time to come.

1. Amazing Weather

Sure it gets hot and humid in the summer – but for all of you New Englanders who are tired of getting the winter “bleakies,” our blue skies and temperate climate will lift your spirit.

2. North Meets South

One of the aspects that makes the North Carolina Triangle such a rich cultural place to live is its diversity of people.  Yes, we’re cool with the influx of Northeasterns to the South.  After all, it means you can now get a decent pizza pie below the Mason Dixon — but the waitress will likely still tell y’all to come back, ya hear?  This mixture of Northern chic with Southern hospitality is hard to beat.

3. For the Love of Music

The North Carolina Triangle teems with opportunities to get your groove on.  There is always a song to fill the air spilling out of venues as diverse as the Cats Cradle, the Durham Performing Arts Center or the acoustic marvel, Meymandi Concert Hall, home to the North Carolina Symphony.  Many a festival comes our way too such as the Raleigh Wide Open Bluegrass Festival or the Shakori Hills Music Festival in neighboring Chatham County.

4. Art Abounds

Lovers of painting, sculpture and quieter arts can check out the collections at Duke’s Nasher Museum of Art or at the North Carolina Museum of Art in Raleigh.  There are also hundreds of small art galleries that line downtown Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill and Carrboro.  Many cities offer regular art walks like the Bull City’s Durham Art Walk.

5. An Eco-friendly, Green Mindset

From local Farmer’s Markets to Durham-based Organic Transit’s ELF factory, which manufactures electric car-bicycle hybrids, to Pittsboro’s burgeoning bio-diesel industry, the Triangle is a great place to live green.

6. The Great Outdoors Right Around the Corner

The Triangle offers easy access to Nature’s rivers and forests.  It’s unusual to find such thriving urban centers so close to outdoor escapes such as Durham’s Eno River or the 7,060 acres of Duke Forest that span Durham, Orange and Alamance Counties.

7. Get Your Smart On

The Research Triangle is in many ways defined by its great universities.  North Carolina State University in Raleigh, Duke University in Durham and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill offer top-notch educational experiences from the undergraduate through doctoral levels.  They enrich our area by attracting some of the top research minds of our day.

8. Get Your Game On

The Triangle’s Universities also offer the sports fans among us a chance to cheer for their favorite team. We won’t try to sway you to the merits of say, the Duke Blue Devils, but be prepared soon after your move to North Carolina to declare your allegiance.  We’ll understand if folks relocating from Boston still route for the World Series Champion Red Socks, but we warn you — that March Madness — yeah, it’s catching.

9. Good Eats and Brews

Perhaps we’re partial in Durham, NC, which was voted the Tastiest Town in the South by Southern Living Magazine, but throughout Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill and her environs, there is no shortage of delicious eating.  We make some mean brews too – there are, count ’em, 27 breweries in the Triangle.

10. From the Mountains to the Coast

The Piedmont of North Carolina sits almost smack dab in the center of the state.  From the Triangle area in a matter of mere hours you can be either on the sunny shores of the Atlantic or high up in the enveloping green of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

© Truckin’ Movers Corporation and truckinmovers.com, 2013.

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Where To Get Free Moving Boxes? [Full Checklist]

Oftentimes, moving house is a stress-filled hassle where the successful end of the relocation journey depends on possessing a sizeable moving budget, making the right decisions, and maybe even having a bit of luck too. So, logic dictates that if you can afford to pay for full-service movers and you actually choose to hire their moving services, then even the notorious randomness of luck will tend to favor you and your upcoming residential move.

Selecting a reputable full-service moving company will mean that you’re also getting professional packers who will pack up your household items quickly and safely. The pros are also bringing all the packing materials (especially cardboard boxes!) they will ever need so you won’t have to worry about where to get free moving boxes to lower that final bill. This is the best case relocation scenario for you, of course.

However, if self-packing is what lies ahead of you as a proven way to cut your moving costs, then hopefully you’ll be willing to go a step further and save even more money by looking for free moving boxes. That’s right – obtaining packing boxes in good condition without paying for them is something you should definitely consider doing to strengthen your moving budget. Where are the best places to get free moving boxes? And just how to get free boxes for moving?

In short, the best places to get free moving boxes from are:

• Friends who have just moved house;
• Online: specialized websites such as Craigslist and Freecycle;
• Supermarkets;
• Shopping malls;
• Home improvement stores;
• Home electronics stores;
• Bookstores;
• Local produce stores;
• Liquor stores and bars;
• Copy centers;
• Recycling centers

Each one of those top places to find moving boxes offer slightly different cardboard boxes in size, sturdiness, and cleanliness, so read on to find out the right source of free cardboard boxes for you.

What kind of free moving boxes do you need?

Cardboard boxes are taken for granted now – those convenient and versatile containers are practically everywhere thanks to their unrivaled affordability. With your thoughts focused solely on the fast approaching move, you surely won’t even think about where cardboard boxes came from, who invented them, and why they have become so ubiquitous.

The history of cardboard boxes is truly fascinating! For example, did you know that modern pre-cut boxes of corrugated cardboard were created by accident? In 1890, a paper bag maker from Brooklyn named Robert Gair had a metal ruler malfunction in his factory and was left with more than 20,000 seed bags that had been cut instead of creased. That accident helped him realize that he could produce prefabricated cartons with pre-cut flat pieces that would make great packing boxes.

However, chances are that you won’t have much time for history when there’s a house move in your future.

Read on to learn how to obtain free moving boxes and save a lot of money as a result. Depending on the size of your home, and more precisely on the number and nature of your stuff in it, you will need various quantities of different packing supplies. Naturally, should you choose to purchase them brand new, cardboard boxes will be your biggest expense so it will surely pay off to score free moving boxes.

But here’s the catch: just because you’re not paying for the cardboard moving boxes, it doesn’t mean that you should accept anycontainers that you can get your hands on. The safety of your prized possessions should be your top priority so make sure the boxes you get are:

• 

  You’ll know you’ve found strong cardboard boxes for your move when they survive a 10-minute play with a baby.
  CLEAN. Second-hand cardboard boxes may have been used for storage or transportation of all sorts of things – from fruits and vegetables, through small live animals, to hazardous substances. Minimize any risks or health hazards by inspecting thoroughly the free empty boxes for moving.
• DRY. Wet spots on the cardboard surface can compromise the integrity, strength, and durability of the containers. If you notice any signs of water damage on the boxes, reject them no matter how free they are.
• STRONG. The free packing boxes you will score from the places below should be able to withstand the weight of whatever you pack inside them. Do not risk damaging your household items in order to go as cheaply as possible! Take only sturdy packing containers in good overall condition, preferably with lids.

READ ALSO: 8 tips for moving on a tight budget

How many free moving boxes do you need?

What an excellent question! The first thing to remember when trying to get moving boxes free of charge is that you will definitely need containers of different sizes to cover all your self-packing needs. So, diversity of cardboard boxes does matter. The second thing to remember before you have undertaken the most time-consuming task in your personal moving calendar is that

• small packing boxes are good for holding heavy stuff, like your books, for example, and also your extra fragile items;
• medium cardboard boxes are ideal for clothes, shoes, kitchenware, and electronic equipment; while
• large moving boxes, contrary to popular belief, are designed for bulky yet lightweight household items such as bed linen, curtains, coverings, and so on.

Of course, you will most likely be wondering how many moving boxes you will need for the self-packing job ahead of you. Generally speaking, around

• 10 small boxes,
• 8-9 medium-sized containers, and
• 6 large cardboard boxes

should be enough to fit the content of an average room. Use these values only as reference as you won’t really know the precise number of packing boxes you need unless you take advantage of modern technology.

MoveAdvisor is a cutting-edge mobile app for Android-running devices and iPhones that, among a score of other essential functions designed to facilitate your move, will help you calculate the exact number and sizes of the boxes you will need. Simply inventory your entire home through a fun inventory game-like module and the moving app will give you the magic numbers.

GOOD STUFF: How to save money on a long distance move

Where can you get moving boxes for free?

Now that you know what kind of containers you should be looking for your household move, let’s take a closer look at the best places to get free cardboard boxes for moving.

The hunt for free moving boxes is on!

Your circle of friends

Well, your friends do not constitute a place – rather, they can be an excellent source of used moving boxes which, in most cases, will be yours for the asking.

While it’s true that you will definitely know when a close friend or a family member has moved house (you’ll probably be asked to give them a hand anyway), it may be that some of your not-so-close friends or acquaintances have recently relocated to another address and have scores of no longer needful boxes of corrugated cardboard as a result.

Don’t forget to ask your pals if they know anyone who’s just moved house. Most of the cases, those recently moved persons will be happy to get rid of the boxes, for the latter can take up plenty of post-relocation space in their new homes. Also, it’s surely worth attempting to make social networks work for you – a short Facebook or Twitter post like, “I need free moving boxes. H*E*L*P” could end up being unexpectedly beneficial for your wallet.

SEE ALSO: LET FRIENDS HELP YOU MOVE (the ultimate moving game!)

Online: specialized websites

The Internet may not be your very first guess when it comes to places that offer free cardboard moving boxes, but it’s one that you should unquestionably check out before exploring the rest of your options.

• Craigslist is the number one website to search for free moving boxes online. In reality, the great thing about Craigslist is that you get to search for free cardboard boxes near your location so you won’t need to waste time and pay higher transportation costs to reach the pickup location. A great deal of people offer there all types of packing materials after they have moved, so your chances of getting the best deal possible (free of charge!) are really good.
• Freecycle is another well-known website with more than 5,000 groups in the entire world. The concept behind the Freecycle Network is to keep still usable and practical items out of garbage dumps. Amazingly, the non-profit network has more than 9 million registered users worldwide! Freecycle membership is free of charge and all items are posted for free, but the best part is that anything posted on the website costs exactly ZERO dollars. All in all, Freecycle is a modern way to get local free moving boxes, or anything else you might need. Do a simple search and see what you’ll have to work with.

Retail stores and businesses

Yes, many retail stores have more used cardboard boxes than they could ever need. Get the hint?

Below you will see a complete list of places to find free moving boxes for your next move. But before that, there are just a few essential things you should be aware of before you undertake that unavoidable hunt for free moving boxes in your neighborhood, or even entire city.

Big retail stores deal with cardboard boxes on a daily basis as they get the scheduled shipments of goods delivered to their businesses. The bigger the store, the bigger the quantity of cardboard containers they will have. Such businesses are required by law to dispose of all those boxes of corrugated cardboard in an environmentally friendly way. In other words, they are expected to break down the containers and throw them for recycling at designated places. So, anyone who will save them time and efforts by taking the boxes they no longer need is usually welcome.

Mark down a few big stores in your vicinity and speak with their managers about the possibility of collecting free moving boxes at a time that is convenient for them. You’ve got nothing to lose as the worst that can happen is to get a polite refusal or two. What do you do then? You wish them a nice day and move on to the next local business. Simple as that.

SUPER USEFUL: Packing timeline: what to pack when and how and where and why

Top places to get free moving boxes

• Supermarkets. This is your best bet as large grocery stores receive substantial shipments of articles on a regular basis, sometimes daily. Timing is important – ask the managers of a few retail stores what time they get their deliveries and be there shortly before they have gotten the chance to throw them away.
• Shopping malls. Huge shopping centers can house hundreds of individual stores, mostly for clothes, shoes, and children toys. Keep in mind that shoe boxes are especially sturdy and can be ideal for storing smaller items. Also, the containers from children toys come in all shapes and sizes – exactly what you’re looking for. It’s a good idea to have a quick look in the area behind the malls where they should keep special waste bins for recycling cardboard.
• Home improvement stores. Those superstores overflow with tools, construction products and just about any items for the home you can think of. And yes, many of those articles found in such stores have been delivered in … cardboard boxes of various sizes.
• Home electronics stores. That is where you should be able to find cardboard boxes that are big and clean enough to serve your immediate packing needs. The good news with scoring large-sized moving boxes for free is that even if you end up not using some of them as packing containers, you may as well cut them up and use the large pieces of thick cardboard to protect your home on Moving day.
• Bookstores. Bookstores are the ideal places to find free moving boxes that are stronger than what you’ll normally find in other stores. As you know, books are heavy so they are transported in cardboard containers with thicker walls for extra protection.
• Local produce stores. Keep an eye out for banana boxes because they are smaller in size but are extremely convenient to carry around so you can surely put them to good use. Moreover, if you’re very lucky, you might even score plastic crates for fruits and vegetables – the ultimate moving container that can serve long after you’ve arrived in your new residence.
• 

  Free cardboard boxes for moving just waiting to be picked? Become the Cardboard Master you’ve always wanted to be.
  Liquor stores. Visit local liquor stores and bars and see if they can offer you special strong boxes that have been designed to accommodate the weight of glass bottles and their content. Some of the liquor boxes which you can get free of charge will not have lids – minor inconvenience which you might be willing to discard thanks to the unbeatable price.
• Copy centers. Copy centers are the places where you can find copier paper boxes. Uniform in size and strong enough for most of your packing needs, those containers have convenient lids and sometimes even handles for easier transportation. And because of the uniformed size, stacking copier paper boxes in the back of moving truck is a piece of cake.
• Recycling centers. It’s no secret that many cardboard boxes end their life journeys at recycling centers. If you haven’t had much luck getting free moving boxes from any of places mentioned above, why don’t you pay a visit to a nearby recycling center and see what they got to offer? A word of advice: be very cautious when considering boxes straight out of recycling stations – inspect them closely for signs of damage and possible infestations too.

BONUS ADVICE: Where to buy cheap moving boxes?

To hunt down and find free cardboard boxes for moving will be a great option when it comes to reducing your moving costs and aiding your moving budget at the same time. The real problem here is time – a luxurious commodity you may not have in sufficient quantity prior to the move. Another possible issue with collecting free cardboard boxes is the understandable lack of energy to speak with store managers and negotiate the terms of the deals.

In other words, getting free packing boxes will only work for you if you can spare the time required to get your hands on those cardboard containers without actually paying for them. The good news is that time is something you can learn to manage throughout your household move without having to have an honorary degree in Time Management.

But how? How can you possibly control the time you have until the date of the residential move? Regardless of whether you’re moving across the country to San Antonio, San Jose, or Charlotte, you’ll always have enough time to get 100% ready as long as you follow a high-quality home moving checklist – the only proven way to take full advantage of every hour of every day until it’s time to move out.

So, where can you buy packing boxes cheaply? In such cases, your best bet is to contact a few local movers and get accurate quotes for the services of packing – often, the price of the required packing materials, including all the moving containers, will be included in the quoted cost.

20 Things To Do Before Moving [The Ultimate Checklist]

If moving house is an epic adventure, then moving day is the great culmination of your daring exploits – the single moment that defines your entire moving experience. However, it is not the day itself, but all the preparations and hard work done beforehand that spell success or failure – the meticulous planning and endless chores that need to be completed before the Big Day.

# If you have done everything right, you’re guaranteed to have a safe, smooth, and stress-free relocation experience.

# If you have overlooked an essential moving task (or two), you’re likely to face a nightmare relocation scenario where things go from bad to worse.

But how can you be sure you’ve done everything necessary? How can you be sure you haven’t missed anything important?

Well, it’s easier than you think – just take a closer look at the most essential things to do before moving listed below and complete each and every one of them in due time and with great care. You can track your progress quite easily with the help of our super-handy interactive moving checklist, so that you know exactly what you’ve already taken care of and what you need to focus on in the next days – all you need to do is check off the things you’ve done and you’ll get a clear picture of your moving progress.

So, let the countdown begin!

1. Find the Perfect New Home for You

The most important thing to do before moving into a new home is, quite obviously, to find a new home to move into.

When looking for an appropriate property to buy or to rent, think about the most important features you want your new home to have (a spacious yard, an open floor plan, etc.), consider its ideal location (distance to your workplace and your kids’ school, transportation options, local amenities, crime rate and living standards in the neighborhood, etc.), decide on the size and type of dwelling that will best suit your lifestyle (2-bedroom apartment, large house, etc.), and make sure you choose a property in a good overall condition with a monthly rent or mortgage that does not exceed 25% of your disposable income.

Bonus tip: It may be a good idea to move into temporary housing first, so that you have the chance to explore your new area in person and find the perfect home for you and your family.

2. Pare Down Your Possessions

Sorting out your belongings and deciding their fates will be one of the most physically and emotionally draining challenges you’re going to face when planning a house move. Relocating all your earthly possessions, however, will be not only very difficult and very expensive, but also quite pointless.

What you need to do is find out which of your belongings you’ll be able to use in your new surroundings and which ones won’t be worth taking – create a floor plan of your new home to see which of your old items will fit in, set aside everything you don’t like or don’t need anymore, and assess the practical, sentimental and financial value of every individual article. Take with you only the things you really need and love.

Take with you only the things you really need and love.

3. Make a Moving Inventory

Once you’ve decided what to bring along and what to leave behind, it’s time to create a moving inventory. Make a detailed list of the items you have for moving – include their types and numbers, distinctive features, estimated value, destination room, and, most importantly, a statement of their current condition together with sufficient evidence (photos, warranties, quality certificates, appraisal statements, etc.).

Your moving inventory sheet will help you estimate the cost of your move (based on the weight of your shipment), assess your needs (specialty movers, extra services, etc.), provide proper moving insurance, and keep better track of your possessions.

4. Get Rid of Unneeded Items

Getting rid of useless items (damaged or worn out articles) and unwanted possessions (outdated or outgrown clothes, shoes, toys, games, books, etc.; duplicate items; special equipment no one is going to use anymore; items that won’t fit in your new home, gifts and souvenirs you don’t like; etc.) is among the smartest things to do before you move – it will save you plenty of time and effort and will make your relocation much simpler and cheaper.

You can sell your unneeded belongings that are still in good condition (online or at a garage sale), give them away to family or friends, or donate them to charity.

5. Create a Moving Calendar

Having a list of things to do before moving won’t be of much use unless you set appropriate time frames for the completion of each individual task. What you need to do is break the big moving jobs into mini goals, prioritize them according to their significance and difficulty, and define their deadlines. Personalize your moving timeline, so that it suits your particular relocation needs and requirements and stick to it, no matter what.

A customized moving calendar will help you organize your time, keep track of your progress, and speed up your moving preparations.

6. Set Up a Moving Budget

To get an accurate idea of how much money you will need for your relocation endeavor and find out if your savings will be enough to cover all moving-related expenses, you need to assess your financial situation and create a moving budget.

Figure in all the moving company expenses (movers’ rates, extra service charges, etc.) or DIY expenses (moving truck rental, gas prices, road tolls, parking fees, etc.), the cost of the necessary packing materials, insurance costs, travel expenses, and post-relocation expenses. Set up a contingency fund for emergency situations and make sure you have at least double the amount you estimated as necessary for your move.

7. Decide on a Moving Date

Consider all the relevant circumstances (start of a new job, end of a lease agreement, school year, etc.) and previous engagements and commitments you have and decide on the best time to perform your move.

Keep in mind that moving in peak season will cost you a lot more than moving during the less busy period of the year, but don’t forget the risks that come with the more unfavorable weather conditions from October to April either.

Be as flexible as possible and always have a plan B in case something goes wrong.

8. Solve the Ultimate Moving Dilemma “Move Yourself or Hire Professional Movers”

Deciding on the type of your move – DIY move, self-service move, full-service move – is one of the first things to do when planning to relocate. You need to research your options, weigh the pros and cons of the different moving methods, and choose the one that is most appropriate in your particular case.

Compare the moving costs (don’t forget to take into account the hidden costs of moving on your own) and consider all the other relevant factors as well – time, safety, efficiency, insurance, etc. Make sure you’re well aware of the various risks of moving by yourself and get reliable moving help (trustworthy movers or good friends) for your relocation adventure. Get things organized – rent a moving truck or book a moving company – as early as possible.

9. Choose the Best Movers for You

Unless you have decided to risk a self-move, it will be the professionalism and trustworthiness of your chosen movers that will define your entire moving experience. To ensure a smooth and trouble-free relocation, you need to find experienced and reliable moving partners:

• Ask for recommendations;
• Fill in a moving quote to get in touch with several reputable moving companies;
• Get in-house estimates of the moving costs;
• Compare the rates, services and conditions offered by different movers;
• Research the moving companies that seem to best suit your needs, requirements, and available budget with great care – verify their licensing and insurance information, research their online profiles, read moving reviews left by their previous customers, and check the company’s complain history;
• Examine the moving paperwork in detail and sign a contract with your chosen movers.

10. Inform Family, Friends and Institutions of Your Move and Your New Address

One of the most essential things to do before moving house is to change your address – not only to have your mail forwarded to your new home, but also be able to put in order all the documents that need to be changed or updated after the move.

Do not forget to notify your family and friends, your current employer, your children’s schools, your landlord (if applicable), service providers, bank and credit card company, family physician, family attorney, insurance companies, the DMV, the Internal Revenue Service, and any other organizations you have dealings with about your forthcoming relocation and inform them of your new postal address.

11. Collect Important Documents

Collecting and organizing all the records and papers you’re going to need prior to, during, and immediately after your relocation requires a lot of time and effort, so you’re advised to prepare the necessary documents well ahead of time:

• Gather your personal documents, financial documents and property-related documents;
• Retrieve medical records and school records;
• Make sure you have all the required moving paperwork;
• Sort out your documents, put them in separate folders or envelopes and label them properly;
• Make copies of important documents (photocopies and digital copies) and take appropriate measures to prevent identity theft;
• Keep your important documents with you all the time.

12. Switch Utilities and Cancel Subscriptions

Contact your current service providers and have the utilities in your old home disconnected on the day after your move. Cancel your home phone, cable, internet, and newspaper service (be aware of possible cancellation fees), as well as memberships in local clubs and organizations.

Arrange for the water, gas, and electricity at your new home to be running on move-in day (other less essential services can be connected later on). Keep in mind that there may be installation charges or deposits you need to pay in order to get the utilities turned on.

13. Take Care of Your Pets

If you’re moving locally, it won’t be too difficult to take your pets to your new home – you will be able to transport them in your car and there will be very little paperwork involved.

If you’re moving long distance, however, relocating your pets will be a much greater challenge. There are many things to do before moving across country with your animal friends:

• Check the rules and regulations in your new area concerning pets;
• Take your animal friends to the vet for a full check-up, retrieve their vaccination records and request health certificates;
• Get appropriate shipping containers;
• Decide on the best way to ship your dog, cat, bird, or other kind of pet to your new home – by air (contact your chosen airline for additional information), in your own vehicle (take every possible measure to ensure the comfort and safety of your pets) or with a pet transportation company (choose trustworthy pet movers who will keep your animal friends safe and happy along the way).

Related useful information: Moving with dogs to a new home; How moving affects cats

14. Pack Your Belongings in a Safe and Efficient Manner

Packing tops the list of the most crucial things to do before you move. It’s a laborious and time-consuming process that requires great care and attention to the details:

• Get appropriate packing materials;
• Start packing as early as possible;
• Pack the items that you do not use frequently first;
• Know what not to pack;
• Provide maximum protection to your items – reinforce the moving boxes with packing tape, line the bottoms of the boxes with packing paper, wrap every item individually, provide lots of cushioning, do not leave empty spaces inside the boxes to prevent the items shifting during transportation, do not make the boxes too heavy, seal them tightly, etc.;
• Label the boxes with their contents, destination room, and the necessary handling instructions.

15. Take Care of Valuables and Specialty Items

Pack your valuables separately and with utmost care. Use only high quality packing materials and spare no efforts to ensure the safety of your family heirlooms, expensive jewelry, delicate artwork, sensitive electronics, sentimental possessions and other treasured belongings. Do not entrust them to the movers – keep your valuables with you all the time.

If you cannot relocate a certain high-value item yourself (antique furniture, large pictures, etc.), declare it as such, inform your movers that the object needs special care, and get extra moving insurance.

If necessary, contact specialty movers who have the appropriate equipment and technical know-how to handle special items – grandfather clocks, pianos, pool tables, hot tubs, etc.

16. Set Aside Your Essentials and Pack an Open-First Box

Packing a survival box is one of the most crucial things to do before moving out, so that you don’t end up opening already sealed boxes on moving day in search of something you need or arrive at your new home without even the basic necessities for a refreshing shower and a good night’s sleep.

To avoid such inconveniences, you’re advised to set aside your essentials and pack everything you’re going to need on the last night before your move, on Moving day, and during the first couple of days in your new home in a separate box.

Make sure your first-night box travels with you!

17. Plan Your Trip

Planning the trip to your new home is among the most important things to do before moving to a new city:

• If flying, book your flight well in advance;
• If driving, decide on the route you want to take and the places (or people) you want to visit along the way – relatives, friends, historical sites, attractions, etc. Estimate how long it will take you to get from one location to the other and decide where you’re going to stop for meals and rest. If you need to stay overnight, choose a hotel and make reservations.

18. Say Goodbye to Your Friends, Your Old Home, and Your Favorite Places in Town

Even if this is not strictly a part of the moving process, saying your proper goodbyes is one of the most essential things you need to do before you move in order to be able to start anew after the relocation. Allow yourself enough time to part with the important people (and places) in your life the right way:

• Throw a farewell party to spend some fun with your friends;
• Do something you always enjoyed doing with a special friend of yours one more time;
• Make your friends special gifts that will remind them of your time together;
• Take pictures and make videos of your friends sharing happy memories, making inside jokes, or giving you post-relocation advice;
• Revisit your favorite places in town;
• Create a photo-album of your old home;
• Make a farewell video, going from place to place and retelling your favorite stories or memories associated with that particular location.

19. Organize a Safe and Stress-Free Moving Day

Organizing a successful moving day is the most crucial task on the long list of things to do before moving out. All is well that ends well, you know.

To ensure a trouble-free and stress-free moving day, you need to:

• Be fully ready by the time the movers arrive;
• Reserve a parking place for the moving truck in front of the entrance to your home;
• Reserve an elevator (if applicable);
• Clear obstacles out of the way;
• Cover the floors with protective coverings and take every possible measure to prevent property damage;
• Keep children and pets occupied in a safe and quiet room, away from the moving chaos;
• Prepare some refreshments for your family and for the moving crew;
• Have some cash on you for tips (if you’re happy with your movers) and small expenses;
• Triple-check everything one last time.

20. Clean Your Old Home

One of the very last things to do before you move out of your house is to give it a final, thorough cleaning.

As exhausted as you may be at that point, you will most certainly want to leave your old home in excellent condition, so that you can get your security deposit back (if you’re leaving a rented property) or make your house more attractive to potential buyers (if you’re selling your home). Remove dust and cobwebs, wash the windows, mop the floors, vacuum the carpets, empty the wastebaskets, and lock the door to your old home one last time.

Our checklist of things to do before moving is complete – having completed all these tasks, you’re ready to embark on your relocation adventure. Or do you not agree? Is there anything else to be done before moving out? Share your ideas with us!

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