Wheaton’s National Moving Month Tip #12: Receipts

Posted on May 20, 2013 by wemoveyourlife

12. Save your receipts.

There are some people who save every receipt for every purchase they make. Others don’t keep receipts for anything. Then there are those in the middle – they might save a few here and there, mostly for big purchases. During the moving process though, it is important to be in the first category of people: save every receipt for every purchase you make regarding your move.

You will be spending a lot of money during the moving process, whether it’s buying paint to touch up your house, getting new appliances, or purchasing moving supplies. It’s important to save all of these receipts because you never know when someone might want proof that you purchased something, especially if the purchase is being reimbursed.

There are some easy ways to help organize all of these receipts that you will be accumulating. One way is to store all of them in the moving notebook that we blogged about a few weeks ago. Another way is to scan all of your receipts and store them on your computer. There are also some handy apps for smart phones that allow you to store all of your receipts in one place after taking a picture of them.

There are obviously a large variety of ways that you can organize these receipts and make it easy for you to remember where they are stored.

Do you have any organization ideas that could make this process easier?

Be sure to check out the rest of our moving tips!

Moving Estimate 101

Posted on May 17, 2013 by wemoveyourlife

Where do I start?

The moving process can seem overwhelming at the beginning. You’re unsure where to start and everything seems confusing and new. Once you decide you want to use a full service moving company though, you have an ally in the moving process.

The first step to take is to call the moving company. A representative will set up a time for a moving agent to visit your home. This meeting is called an Estimate Appointment. Read on to see what you should expect during this type of meeting.

How to prepare

Just like any other meeting, there should be some element of preparation. According toShellie Law, Director of Sales at Crown Moving & Storage, the consumer should have a clear idea of what items they want to move and what items will be staying. It’s also helpful for the moving agent to have access to the attic and basement or have a detailed list of the items in those rooms. “I can’t stress enough that the consumer should be as accurate as possible when informing me of which items will be moved. The more accurate they are, the more accurate the price will be, and the happier everyone will be in the long run,” Shellie said.

What to expect

The estimate appointment is a good introduction both to the moving company and to the moving process as a whole. Typically, the meeting starts with a conversation about the
details of the move such as where you’re moving to, how big your new house is, what items you will be taking, and what you expect out of your move. After the conversation, you and your moving agent will walk through the house room-by-room and discuss the furniture and other items. The moving agent will take notes and use those notes to determine the expected cost of your move. The amount of time spent talking and walking through the house varies from person to person, but the appointment is usually no more than two hours long.

When will I know?

One of the most commonly asked questions during an Estimate Appointment is “How long until I know the estimated cost?”. In most cases the agent will get back to you within the same day however it might take up to 24 hours depending on the amount of appointments the agent has. Another helpful tip to know is that estimates are valid for only 60 days. If you receive the estimate more than 60 days prior to your move, there’s a chance it could change. These changes are due to the fuel surcharge and various other charges which are not controlled by the moving company.

Now what?

Once you decide which moving company to choose, you will begin coordinating and planning the actual move. Congratulations! You’ve successfully taken the first necessary step towards moving.

Wheaton’s National Moving Month Tip #11: Change locks

Posted on May 14, 2013 by wemoveyourlife

11. Change the locks on your new home.

There’s no doubt that there’s a lot to think about once you’re moved in to a new home. Not only are you trying to rearrange all of your furniture and unpack your boxes, but you’re also hooking up utilities and appliances, navigating new roads, and trying to adjust to your new space. Changing the locks on your new home might be the last thing you think of, but it should be one of the first things done upon arrival.

There are obviously lots of things to worry about when you’ve moved, but your safety in your new home shouldn’t be one of them. Even though the previous tenant or realtor might have changed the locks, it still wouldn’t hurt to do it again. Not only will you get an added sense of security, but you’ll also be able to get as many copies of the keys as you need.

Changing the locks to your house is a relatively easy yet important task. Don’t let it sink to the bottom of your to-do list.

What else is a priority when you move in? Leave us a comment and let us know!

Wheaton has tons more moving tips – we’d love to help educate you so you can have a successful move.

Wheaton’s National Moving Month Tip #10: Pets

Posted on May 13, 2013 by wemoveyourlife

10. Get your pets used to the idea of a move.

Ask any pet owner: people are extremely attached to their furry friends. These pets aren’t just the cats who sleep on the bed or the dogs that have to be taken out for walks. These animals are an integral part of a family. Because people think so highly of their Fido’s and Friskie’s, oftentimes they want to prepare their pets for an upcoming move. Wheaton understands this, and has compiled a whole list of information to help the moving process with a pet go more smoothly.

Here’s just one trick of the trade:
Bring some moving boxes into your house ahead of time so that your pet can get used to the idea of moving.

Animals like to investigate. They like to sniff. They like to feel as if they are in control of a situation. Moves can be traumatic experiences for pets, so make sure you’re getting them acclimated to the idea. Bringing these boxes in ahead of time will allow your pet to grow accustomed to this sight and not be so frightened on moving day. Your pets might even like the boxes so much, they decide to take naps in them!

How else have you helped your pet prepare for a move?

Let us know on our Facebook page or Tweet us!

Wheaton has 9 other moving tips - make sure you check them out!

Wheaton’s National Moving Month Tip #9: Towels

Posted on May 10, 2013 by wemoveyourlife

9. Use towels to stuff any remaining space in boxes.

It can be a challenge to fit items perfectly in to moving boxes. It’s not just a challenge – sometimes it can be near impossible! Wheaton recommends though to not have any empty space in your box and the box also shouldn’t be more than 30 pounds, so what are you to do?

Stuff all the remaining space in your boxes with either towels or light linens.

You’re going to have to pack all of your towels and linens anyway, so you might as well give them a purpose during your move. Packing with these materials is an efficient way to ensure that the boxes are full. Towels and linens are also light, so you won’t be straining your back carrying these boxes out of your house.

If you’ve run out of towels and linens to pack your boxes with, we suggest using unprinted newspaper – printed newspaper can get ink all over your items. Hopefully though, you have a plethora of towels, washcloths, tablecloths, hand towels, dish towels…. just to name a few!

What else could you pack your boxes with?

Check out more of Wheaton’s National Moving Month tips!

Wheaton’s National Moving Month Tip #8: Purge Your Possessions

Posted on May 9, 2013 by wemoveyourlife

8. Get rid of unwanted items

Moving to a new place forces people to do things they might not have done before. This includes a pack-rat’s worst nightmare: getting rid of unwanted items. This is especially difficult for people who have lived in the same place for several years. If you’re like some, cleaning up is really just stuffing items in a closet and shutting the door, pretending like they don’t exist anymore. Stuff just has the tendency to accumulate and stack up and until you’re forced to do something about it, it can remain untouched.

Instead of dreading this purging process, think of it as an opportunity. You’ll have the chance to take a walk down memory lane and discover possessions you’d long since forgotten about. You might even be able to make a little money out of the things that had formerly just been collecting dust on the top shelf of your closet.

There are many options for liquidating some of your junk. You could plan a garage sale, sell to a consignment store, or simply donate to your local Goodwill or other thrift store.

Force yourself to devote a whole Saturday (or any day) to cleaning out your house and objectively go through your items. Think about if you’ll really ever use them again. If you haven’t used them in the last year at least, then they’re probably unwanted items and should be given away. The less your items weigh, the cheaper your move will be.

a box of clothing donations

Check back in to our blog in a few weeks for a post on how to execute a successful garage sale. Until then, you can satiate your appetite with more of Wheaton’s National Moving Month Tips.

Wheaton’s National Moving Month Tip #7: Moving with Electronics

Posted on May 8, 2013 by wemoveyourlife

7. Take pictures of your electronics before you unhook them.

We love our gadgets. Walking through the average home, there are countless electronic devices hooked up and plugged in. You might not think twice about these objects…. until you start the moving process. Moving with electronics isn’t easy, especially when the instruction manuals have long since been thrown away. Knowing how to re-hook these electronics just became a bit trickier. Based on feedback from past moves and helpful tips we’ve heard, we’ve come to this conclusion: take a picture of your electronics before you unhook them.

A visual indicator is always more helpful than straight notes. It’s pretty easy to tell the difference between wires while looking at a picture, but if you’re just reading a description, well, it becomes a bit more difficult. We’re very visual people so taking these photographs could take the headache and stress out of setting up these items.

Wheaton also has more tips on how to move with electronics.

Check out more moving tips that Wheaton has compiled.

What else do you take pictures of before a move? Share your pictures or your tips with us, either by commenting on the blog or posting on our Facebook page. We also love Tweets!

Wheaton’s National Moving Month Tip #6: Cleaning

Posted on May 7, 2013 by wemoveyourlife

6. Clean your new house upon arrival

Think about a house full of furniture. How easy is it to vacuum under that couch or mop under a kitchen table? When’s the last time you swept under your King-size bed? The answer, if you’re like most Americans, is rarely. Not only is it hard to maneuver around big pieces of furniture, but it’s also very time-consuming.

There are, no doubt, many obstacles and hurdles about moving. One advantage about moving though is you get to start fresh. You get a clean slate. When you move in to that new house, there’s no furniture yet. There’s no huge bed or dining room table taking up space. That loveseat hasn’t come through the front door yet either.

Wheaton World Wide Moving is practical and recommends that you quickly clean your house before bringing in the whole kit and kaboodle. You’ll get a head start and it will be easier in the long run. Plus you might feel better knowing the house has been cleaned. After all, you might not know who lived in the house previously to you and everyone might feel more at home after giving the house a good scrub down.

Wheaton has a slew of moving tips that we’d love to share – and we’d love for you to share with us! Do you have a picture or story of a cleaning experience due to moving? Either on your way out of your old house or in to your new house? Feel free to comment on the blog or share via our Facebook page or Twitter.

Wheaton’s National Moving Month Tip #5: Packing

Posted on May 6, 2013 by wemoveyourlife

5. Keep your boxes as light as possible.

It’s tempting to get big boxes and fill them up – that’s fine – as long as they’re under 30 pounds in weight.

If boxes get much heavier than 30 pounds, it’s hard to lift them. You’re more prone to injuries, and the boxes have a great chance of breaking or bottoming out.

Wheaton World Wide Moving has a variety of services to fit your needs including:

Full-service packing, crating and unpacking
Packing only difficult and/or fragile items
Special packing for sensitive home electronics
Advice and quality materials
Full line of materials for DIY packing

To see more of Wheaton’s National Moving Month Tips, click here.

Wheaton’s National Moving Month Tip #4

Posted on May 5, 2013 by wemoveyourlife

4. Don’t forget to drain the oil and gas from all power tools prior to the move.

It’s easy to forget all of the seemingly minute tasks that must be accomplished before a move. While it might not seem like a big deal to drain the oil and gas, imagine what could happen if you forget. Keep yourself and your things safe and remember, anything flammable cannot be moved.

What else could contain oil or gasoline that would need to be drained?

To see all of Wheaton’s National Moving Month Tips, click here.

We Move Your Life

Moving and Storage Blog