Countdown to Moving Day...One Month Before You Move!

This week, we'll have a series of blogs to help you get organized and make your upcoming move as stress-free as possible!

First, you'll need to decide how you are going to make your move - hire a professional mover? rent a truck to do it yourself?  Our BoxCart representatives are a great resource to discuss your options, give you a quote for a full-service move (and also partial-service moves for those of you who want to complete some of the move yourself), and we'll basically walk you through the entire move process...give us a call at (703) 263-3300 or email us at info@boxcart.com.

As soon as you know your plans, it's best to schedule your mover and/or your rental truck.  The sooner the better...this would best be done at least 6-8 weeks before your move.  When figuring out timing, keep in mind that if you're going to hire a moving company, you'll likely want to receive estimates from several companies, and they will need to schedule in-home estimates to give you an accurate quote.

ONE MONTH BEFORE YOUR MOVE

• Go through your belongings (especially closets, the attic, and garage) to determine what you want to keep, and more importantly, what you can and want to get rid of.  If you have enough time, you may want to have a garage sale, sell items online, or donate to a local charity.  When donating goods, don't forget to keep your receipt for possible tax deductions!
• Check with your insurance company about coverage for your possessions while in transit or in storage.  This will help you decide what insurance coverage you need to acquire from your moving company, as there are many options and each company may provide different levels of coverage...make sure you understand your coverage BEFORE the movers even arrive at your home.
• If you're doing your own packing, acquire all appropriate boxes and packing supplies.  Keep in mind, if you're hiring a mover, most moving companies do not offer insurance coverage on boxes packed by you the owner.  If this will be a source of worry to you, definitely ask your mover for a quote to pack, so you can decide which option will serve you best.
• Arrange cleaning for furniture, carpets, and drapes, especially if any of these goods are going to be put in storage.
• Begin to pack items you won't need before the move.  For example, off-season clothes, seasonal decorations, books/movies.
• Start a folder/binder for all important documents to keep with you during your move.  For example, financial documents, bank checks, insurance information, most recent tax return, vehicle titles, social security cards, contact info for moving/storage and utility companies.
• Put together a box for all valuables you'll want to transport yourself.  For example, irreplaceable photos, jewelry, coin and stamp collections.
• Start a folder/binder to keep track of all your moving expenses.  Some expenses may be tax deductible.  Visit the IRS website to find the most recent moving expense information.

Now that you've got a handle on what to do one month before your move, stay tuned for tomorrow's post as we delve into the tips for 2 weeks before your move!

Ready to get more info on your upcoming move?  Call BoxCart Moving & Storage at (703) 263-3300 or email us at info@boxcart.com.  We're here to help!