CAMPBELL, Calif., June 23, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Now that summer is
upon us, households planning a move while school is on break need
to get organized to make the transition easier. To help the 13
percent of all Americans who move every year(2), the experts at
Moving.com, a leading online destination for moving-related
resources operated by Move, Inc. (NASDAQ: MOVE), the leader in
online real estate, released a top 10 list of moving tips today to
help prepare households for a seamless transition.
- Full serve, partial serve or a do-it-yourself move.
Can you do it alone or should you hire a licensed moving
company for a full-service or partial-service move? This is one of
the first and often most difficult questions soon-to-be moving
households face. The answer depends on your lifestyle, household
size, budget and amount of time you have to get everything
accomplished. Get written quotes from at least three licensed
moving companies so you know you're getting the best deal based on
your specific moving needs. Moving yourself or doing a
partial-service move? Packing calculators can make it easier
to estimate the amount of boxes and packing materials needed.
- Plan to unpack BEFORE you pack. Take photos of each room
in the new home before you arrive with furniture, plants,
appliances and family in tow. Write down on a clip board where each
item should go in your next home before packing, and carry it with
you on moving day. List out the major items that need to be
assembled first. As you place each item in its new room, cross it
off the list and you will be one step closer to enjoying your new
home.
- Be strategic about packing. If you have more than
a month to 'pick up and move', start early. Complete a free
change of address and schedule utilities ahead of time at
Moving.com. Start packing early. Whether it's one room, one cabinet
or a drawer at a time, weed through what may be years of
accumulation. As you're going through your belongings, divide
everything into these helpful categories: donate to charity, give
to a friend, recycle, trash, pack now, or keep handy until moving
day. You'll be surprised at how much you can donate, recycle or
give to friends. And, you'll not be overwhelmed with the task
at hand three days before you move.
- Moving is NOT child's play. Plan ahead. Consider daycare
on moving day, or get help from a friend or family member. Provide
lunch or some other appropriate thank you gesture if you do call in
a favor. If that's not an option, prioritize setting up safe places
for your children to play in the new home on moving day so they're
not underfoot. This will help everyone remain happy and calm
on moving day.
- Don't fight with Fido. Sometimes we forget that all the
packing and constant in-and-out of visitors is stressful for
animals. Consider checking your pet into a daycare facility, or
setting up a time for a friend to take them or check them into pet
day care. Don't let your four-legged best friends get lost in the
shuffle and remember to make day-of moving arrangements.
- Keep track of small parts. Some items need to be broken
down into pieces when moving, but do you know what to do with the
small screws and washers that you end up with? Rather than tape
them to the furniture, which can result in losing them, put
everything in a baggie that is clearly marked and sealed. Keep all
of the separate baggies together in one box on moving day and
personally take it with you to your new home.
- Take pictures of electronic hook-ups. Hooking up TVs,
DVRs, home theater systems and computers can be challenging. Before
unplugging any wires for the move, take a photo of the connections,
print them out and label them in detail. This will create fewer
headaches when setting up technology in the new home. Keep track of
all loose wires using baggies or boxes that are clearly labeled,
and personally carry these easy-to-lose items on moving
day.
- Packing cleaning products and toxins. Products such as
detergents, pesticides and paint are heavy and unwieldy to pack.
Dispose of as many as possible before the move in an eco-friendly
way. Call your city's waste disposal department for guidance on
proper disposal. For items that must be transported, pack them in a
small box within a larger box for protection against leaks. Don't
overstuff boxes with these items! Consider marking these boxes in a
different color, and seal them extra tight. Keep them separate from
the rest of the boxes, particularly if you have kids and pets.
- Consider getting full value insurance protection. If
using a professional mover, it may cost a few dollars extra, but it
provides peace of mind and eliminates later annoyances. Investing
in full value protection means any lost or damaged articles will be
repaired or replaced, or a cash settlement will be made at current
market value, regardless of age. It's important to note that the
required minimum coverage of 60 cents
per pound would not cover the replacement cost of more expensive
items such as a flat screen TV if damaged in transit.(3)
- Know your rights. If using a professional mover,
research your rights as a consumer with either the Federal Motor
Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) for interstate moves or
contact the state agency within the state in which you reside for
moves within state. Also, enlist the help of the Better Business
Bureau (BBB) or local law enforcement if the moving company fails
to live up to its promises or threatens to hold your belongings
hostage. FMCSA requires interstate movers to offer arbitration to
help settle disputed claims
For more smart moving tips and ideas visit
http://www.moving.com.
About MOVE, Inc.
Move, Inc. (NASDAQ:MOVE) is the leader in online real estate
with 15.5 million monthly visitors(4) to its online network of
websites. Move, Inc. operates: Move.com, a leading destination for
information on new homes and rental listings, moving, home and
garden and home finance; REALTOR.com®, the official website of the
National Association of REALTORS®; MortgageMatch.com, Moving.com;
SeniorHousingNet; ListHub; and TOP PRODUCER Systems. Move, Inc. is
based in Campbell, California.
This press release may contain forward-looking statements,
including information about management's view of Move's future
expectations, plans and prospects, within the safe harbor
provisions under The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995. These statements involve known and unknown risks,
uncertainties and other factors which may cause the results of
Move, its subsidiaries, divisions and concepts to be materially
different than those expressed or implied in such statements. These
risk factors and others are included from time to time in documents
Move files with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including
but not limited to, its Form 10-Ks, Form 10-Qs and Form 8-Ks. Other
unknown or unpredictable factors also could have material adverse
effects on Move's future results. The forward-looking statements
included in this press release are made only as of the date hereof.
Move cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity,
performance or achievements. Accordingly, you should not place
undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Finally, Move
expressly disclaims any intent or obligation to update any
forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or
circumstances.
(1)
http://www.census.gov/newsroom/releases/archives/mobility_of_the_population/cb11-91.html
(2)
http://www.census.gov/newsroom/releases/archives/mobility_of_the_population/cb11-91.html
(3) AMSA
(4) comScore May2011 Media Metrix, Key Measures Report
SOURCE Move, Inc.