A New Home Search
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A New Home Search

After several years of diligently saving money, I’m nearly ready to purchase my first home. Because I’ve been thinking about buying a home for so long, I know exactly what I want my house to look like. I desire a place that has three bedrooms and three bathrooms. I also need a quiet space to set up my home office in. I want a massive, walk-in closet in my master bedroom. My master bathroom needs to have double vanities, a tiled, walk-in shower, and a Jacuzzi tub. On this blog, I hope you will discover how to set priorities during your new home search. Enjoy!

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A New Home Search

Five Tasks To Tackle Before Your Moving Crew Arrives

Elli Jokela

Hiring professional movers certainly simplifies the moving process on your end. You don't have to worry about packing everything safely or driving a big truck -- those challenges are left to the pros! However, there are some things you'll still need to take care of on your own before the movers arrive to pack up your things. Here's a list of those tasks:

1. Gather your important paperwork.

Important paperwork is a lot safer with you than in the moving truck. In fact, many moving companies will not transport important documents because, if they were to be lost or damaged, they're tough to replace or repay you for. Before the movers arrive, gather all of your important documents into a folder that you can bring along in your personal vehicle. These documents should include:

  • Birth certificates and social security cards
  • Passports
  • Tax documents
  • Deeds and purchase documents for your home, car, and other large items
  • Any paper copies of wills

It's wise to also scan these documents and save them on a secure cloud server so that, in case something does happen to them, you at least have electronic copies.

2. Take pictures of your most important furnishings and electronics.

If your items become damaged during shipping, your moving company should reimburse you for the damage. Sometimes, however, it is hard to prove that small damage was incurred during the move and was not present before the move. To make filing any possible insurance claims easier, snap some pictures of your most valuable furniture and electronics (like sofas, tables, and televisions). Make sure the pictures are clear and are time-stamped with the current date.

3. Get rid of things you don't need anymore.

The more your movers have to transport, the more they'll charge you. Thus, it is worth your while to spend an afternoon or weekend day going through your possessions and throwing away (or donating) anything you don't need anymore. You don't have to comb through each and every drawer -- transporting a few extra pencils or t-shirts is not a huge deal. However, you do want to make sure any large furnishings or decorations that you don't need anymore are out of the house before the movers arrive.

4. Unplug and clean your appliances.

You really don't want to transport a fridge with crumbs and food debris in it across the state. It will be smelly and unusable after being unplugged for just a day or two. A day or two before the movers arrive, you'll want to unplug your fridge, stove, and other large appliances, and then give them a good, thorough cleaning. In the case of a fridge, wiping it out with a mild bleach and water solution is a good trick to prevent mold. Then, leave the door open so it dries thoroughly before the move. Ovens with a self-cleaning cycle should have that cycle run, and then you can wipe out any lingering debris with dish soap and water.

5. Take the artwork off your walls.

The movers can do this for you if you run out of time, but it really is best to do it on your own. This way, if any big holes are left behind, you have more time to patch them. You can also ensure the art is not dropped or broken as you take it down -- you're more familiar with how it is hung than are the movers, so you're less likely to have an accident when taking it down. Stack the artwork neatly on a table so that the movers can pack it all together.

If you remember to do all of these things before your moving team arrives, your entire moving process should go more smoothly. For more tips, contact a company like Bekins Van Lines Inc.


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