PLAN AHEAD Summer time is the busiest time of the year for movers. In addition, the beginning and end of each month are traditionally busier than mid-month, regardless of the season. If you are planning to move during one of the times, plan well in advance so your mover's schedule will fit yours. Now it is time to contact the movers on your list. Inform them of your destination and the timing of your move. Ask movers to provide you with a written estimate, and have them explain the services listed in the estimate in detail. Carefully compare each estimate to see which company best suits your needs and budget. Check out our Moving Planner to be sure you don't forget anything. PACKING Proper packing by a trained packer using specially designed cartons and materials is crucial to a good move. Schedule packing with the mover a day or two before the moving van is loaded. If you are packing yourself, it is never too soon to start. While packing yourself can save money, movers will not usually accept liability for damage to items packed by owners. Be present when your goods are packed. An inventory of your goods will be made and it is important to resolve any disagreements prior to signing the inventory. Make sure all copies are legible and all items are numbered. Have valuable items listed separately. Some appliances may require servicing prior to the move. Your mover can schedule these services for you. There are several options for insuring your goods. All household goods shipments move under limited liability. However, you may purchase additional liability coverage from your mover. PLANNING YOUR MOVING DAY Your mover may ask you to select several consecutive days during which your goods can be loaded and a second series of dates during which your goods can be delivered to your new home. A spread of days gives you and your mover the flexibility needed to keep your move on schedule. Remember that summer months are the busiest, and some movers offer lower prices between the months of October and April. MOVING DAY · Be on hand when the movers arrive. · Discuss the delivery arrangements fully with your mover. · Have beds stripped and ready to be packed. · Save your energy - let the moving crew disassemble goods. · Read the Bill of Lading before you sign it. · Tell your mover how to reach you at your destination. · Keep in contact with the mover's agent at your destination while you are in transit. DELIVERY Generally, your belongings will be transported in a van along with those of other families in the same general direction. This helps to keep your costs down. Delivery is made on any of the several consecutive days agreed upon before the move began. Make sure the mover knows how to contact you to schedule actual delivery. If you cannot be reached at destination, the mover may place your shipment in storage to avoid delaying other shipments. This can mean additional charges for storage and handling. Upon delivery, check your goods for damage. Do not sign the inventory until you have inspected your furniture and the exterior of the cartons. CLAIMS If any of your household goods are damaged or lost, report the facts promptly and in detail on the van driver's copy (original) of the inventory sheet before you sign it. If you notice damage after unpacking, a claim must be filed within nine months after delivery. However, it is to your advantage to report damage as soon as possible. The mover must acknowledge receipt of your claim within 30 days and must deny or make an offer within 120 days of receipt of your claim. When making a claim or considering a settlement offer, keep in mind the amount of liability that you declared on your shipment. For example, if the value declared on your shipment was $5,000, the mover's maximum liability for loss or damage to the articles in your shipment is $5,000. Claims for more than this amount will be declined because they are in excess of the mover's liability that you declared on your shipment. The following tips often help children adjust before, during and after a family relocates. TIPS *Include the children in making plans for the move. For example, take them house-hunting with you. *Help your child(ren) learn about the new area. *Through play-acting with dolls, boxes and a wagon, children can get a feeling of "moving". *Let the children help decide how their new rooms are to be arranged and decorated. *Encourage children to exchange addresses and phone numbers with their friends. *Prepare a package for each child containing snacks, some clothing, and a few favorite toys for the move. *Take a "family break" as soon as the major unpacking is done. Don't try to do everything when you arrive. *Parents should spend time after the move listening to each child about new schools and new friends. *Follow progress in new schools. Accompanying your child(ren) to school the first few days may ease tension. *Any lingering abnormalities (loss of appetite, insomnia, constipation, diarrhea, menstrual disorder) should be reported to a doctor. *If your move involves suburban to rural, or vice versa, caution children about new situations they will face. Before moving your CD Player, there are certain procedures to follow which will protect your system from mechanical failure or damage due to normal physical shock which occurs during transport. If the following tips are used prior to moving, your CD Player should arrive safely at destination. TIPS *Remember to remove all CDs from your player before packing. *Make sure all CDs are back in their cases. *If you don't have the owner's manual, draw a diagram of the wiring PRIOR TO disconnection. *Some CD Players have a transport screw under the unit. Tighten before packing. *Remove any stacker or multi-play cartridges prior to packing, and wrap individually. *Close CD trays. The best way to move your CD player is in the original box with the original packing. In the event that you do not have the original box and/or packing, use a box big enough to cover the entire unit with enough room for packing material. The packing material should snugly fill the excess room in the box so that the unit will not move around. Plastic bubble sheets make an ideal packing material. Try to stay away from using newspaper. Seal the box with reliable packing tape. Your carrier can provide you with packing containers and materials if needed. If you have a remote control, be sure to wrap it separately, but pack it in the same box with your CD Player. All wiring should also go in the box with the CD Player. Before moving your personal computer, there are certain procedures to follow which will protect your system from mechanical failure or damage due to normal physical shock which occurs during transport. If the following steps are taken prior to moving your computer, your system will arrive safely at destination. FLOPPY DISK DRIVE PREPARATION Make backup copies of your data files and store them together with the original program disks in a sturdy container, preferably a fireproof lockbox. Remove any floppy diskettes from the drives and insert a cardboard disk or an old floppy disk in the drive and close the drive door. HARD DISK PREPARATION To avoid shock to your hard disk, the recording heads should be "parked" before transport. When automatic park and lock systems are powered down, the disk automatically retracts the recording heads from the data area into a safety zone. Other PC systems require the running of a program to activate the park procedure. IBM and most hard-disk clones include the program SHIPDISK.EXE that parks the heads. The program is usually located on the diagnostic diskette that came with the computer. You can run the program from the menu of the diagnostic diskette, or you can copy SHIPDISK.EXE to your hard disk and run it. When SHIPDISK is invoked, the red light of the disk goes on and off, indicating that the hard disk is parked. The hard disk is unparked when the computer is turned back on. Once your drives are secure, you should turn the system to OFF and remove all cables from the back of the unit. PACKING/SHIPPING PREPARATION The original packing box your system came in is the best choice. The rigid styrofoam packing material will hold the system securely in place. In the event your original box is not available, your carrier will provide a sturdy packing container and materials. MOVING A PRINTER The original packing box and material is the best choice for transport because the styrofoam is customized to fit each printer. If you are moving a laser printer, remove the ink cartridge as the ink may spill and contaminate the laser engine. If you are moving a pin printer, you should insert a piece of paper in the platen to secure the print head. AIR CONDITIONERS: Consult your authorized dealer or service man on your particular model. Some sealed units should be bolted down. DRYERS (ELECTRIC OR GAS): Check with your service man. Motors may need to be checked and secured. FREEZERS: These appliances must be completely defrosted one or two days prior to moving. They should be dried and aired to avoid musty odor. Safety of contents cannot be guaranteed, so it is best to empty your freezer and plan meal that will use up perishable contents. Check with your service man to be sure the motor is bolted, if necessary. REFRIGERATORS: Defrost and thoroughly dry your refrigerator before moving. This is very important. The doors should be left open several hours to air after defrosting. All pans, trays, crispers, shelves, or removable parts should be removed and wrapped individually. Have your refrigerator serviced. The motor may have to be bolted down before moving. Do not plug it in at the new home until it has been unbolted. SEWING MACHINES: The do not need special servicing for local moving. For long distance, the driver should stuff paper in and around the machine and place paper between the lid and base to prevent rubbing. STOVES: Stoves must be disconnected prior to pickup. Be sure gas lines are shut tightly and capped. For electric ranges, removable coils (and all other removable parts) must be packed separately. TELEVISION SETS: Some set require that the be checked before moving. Some color TV's must be service both before and after moving. Television antennas should be removed from roof tops and disassembled (if necessary). WASHERS: Washers must be serviced by an authorized service man. Motors should be checked and secured, tumbler action protected and fastened in place. TRANSPORTATION OF PETS Pets cannot be shipped on moving vans. Pets often become frightened and may try to run away. Keep your pet on a leash when outside. Your pet should wear a special identification tag, with its name, your name, and where you can be reached. Except for Seeing Eye Dogs, pets are not permitted on buses or trains. Consider sending smaller pets by air express. Consult with your veterinarian concerning mild sedation of your pet during the trip. ENTRY REQUIREMENTS If your move is across state lines, call or write to the State Veterinarian, State Department of Animal Husbandry, or other appropriate authority. Interstate health certificates must be obtained for dogs and horses prior to entering most states. All but four states require an rabies vaccine for dogs, and many require it for cats. Hawaii requires that cats and dogs be quarantined for 120 days. Some pets must have an entry permit issued by the destination state's regulatory agency. A few states have border inspection of all animals being transported; others have random inspections. LOCAL LAWS Local communities have pet control and licensing ordinances. In some cases, the number of pets is limited. AIR TRAVEL CHECKLIST *Make reservations well in advance. Follow airline instructions. *Obtain a shipping container a week or two in advance. Familiarize your pet with it by placing the pet in it for a few minutes each day. Gradually lengthen the time until the pet seems to be at ease with it. *Carefully schedule boarding and shipping arrangements for your pet to assure that the pet is well cared for until you are able to receive it at your new home. *Feed the pet no less than five or six hours before flight time. Give the pet a drink of water no less than two hours before the flight. *If your pet is accompanying you, arrive at the terminal 45 minutes before normal check-in time. *If shipping the pet, get to the freight terminal two hours in advance of the flight. *Be certain that names, addresses and telephone numbers of persons responsible for the pet at origin and destination are clearly marked on the container and on the pet's identification tag. *Notify the person receiving the pet that is on the way. Give them the flight and waybill number. *Pets can usually be picked up within 90 minutes of flight arrival. CAR TRAVEL CHECKLIST *If your dog or cat is not used to traveling by car, make short trips with the pet a week or two in advance. *Dogs should be taught to lie quietly. Don't let your dog put its head in the wind. It can irritate eyes and cause problems. *Cats are often frightened by car travel, but they usually adjust quickly. *Folding kennels or crates especially designed for station wagons can be very useful. *Accustom your pet to being on a leash and always use it when outside your vehicle or hotel. *If you must stop overnight, check in advance for hotels that allow pets. *Be sure that your pet is properly tagged and its rabies tag is firmly attached. *Pet Travel Kit: food, water, and dishes; can opener (if needed); leash; a few treats; favorite toy; and some type of bedding. *To be on the safe side, ask your veterinarian if a sedative would be appropriate. *Don't forget the scooper and plastic bags for cleanup! SHOCK: Some house plants are susceptible to shock when moving. TEMPERATURE: In Fahrenheit, temps below 35 or above 95 for more than any hour can kill many plants. WATER: Most house plants can survive for a seven to ten days without water with little harm, but they should be moist when placed in cartons. DARKNESS/LIGHT: house plants can tolerate darkness for up to a week, if other conditions are favorable. When first exposing plants to light after prolonged darkness, do so gradually to avoid wilting and sun scald. CUTTINGS: For convenience and space saving, you can take cuttings of your favorite plant (if possible). Most cutting can survive for several days if kept in a plastic bag containing damp vermiculite, peat moss, or perlite. PROFESSIONAL MOVING Most professional movers will accept plants, if not more than 150 miles and/or delivery within 24 hours. If you are moving across state lines, check federal and state regulations for quarantines or other restrictions. Several states require that plants be inspected and declared "pest free". Some states have random vehicle checks, while others inspect all house plants at the border. You must arrange for inspection of your plants by an authorized state department of agriculture inspector. DO-IT-YOURSELF Never carry plants in the car trunk, which can get too hot in summer, and too cold in winter. *Dispose of flammables such as fireworks, cleaning fluids, matches, acids, chemistry sets, aerosol cans, ammunition, etc. *Drain fuel from mowers and other machinery, and discard partly used cans of oil, paint, thinner, or other substances that might leak. *Carefully tape and place in individual waterproof bags any jars of liquid you plan to take with you. *Refillable tanks must be purged and sealed by a local propane gas dealer. Discard nonrefillable tanks. Some carriers and the military do not permit shipment of any propane tanks. Check with your moving company first. *Have rugs and draperies cleaned. Leave both wrapped when they are returned from the cleaners. *Obtain a written appraisal of antique items to verify the value. Avoid waxing or oiling wooden antiques and fine wood furniture prior to moving because some products may soften the wood, making it vulnerable to imprinting from furniture pads. *Think twice before dismantling your outside TV antennae; a new one may cost less than moving the present one. *Third-party servicing will likely be needed before moving such items as hot tubs, large-screen TV's, and some exercise equipment. *Talk to your moving company about PRE and POST move servicing of washer, dryer, refrigerator, dishwasher, grandfather clock, satellite dish, etc. *Good friends to help you move will add additional expenses like pizza and beer. *Do you have children, and are they too young to care for themselves? If you are doing everything yourself you may have child care expenses. *Back injuries can occur when moving heavy articles like furniture. You may want to purchase a back brace to reduce lower back strain. *Can you drive to the new destination in one day, or will you be required to spend one or more nights in a hotel? Who will watch the truck while you sleep? Security may also be a concern. *Tolls for bridges and/or highways may also be applicable. |
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