10 Things I Wish I Knew When I Moved
These 10 things may slip your mind when planning a move.
- What to Tip the Movers
If you are being moved state-to-state, tipping etiquette is 10% of your total bill. If you are being moved within the state, $10-$20 per mover is adequate. If you are moving yourself, you can often arrange through your truck rental company to have unpackers meet you at your destination.
- Create a Box Checklist
On each box, write a number and the name of the room where the contents belong, then list them on a checklist. For example, "Bedroom: Boxes 2, 3, 4, 15." Keep one copy and give one to the movers. While this may at first sound too Type-A for you, note that oftentimes movers load boxes from several families onto one truck. So if a box is misdelivered, you might not be the only one laughing at your high school yearbook picture.
- Dogs Can Get Carsick
Letting Fido ride shotgun with the window down reduces his nausea.
- Fish Can Also Get Carsick
Sometimes, it seems, fatally. Keep the fishbowl as still as possible, placing it in a box on blankets.
- Wood Flooring Needs Several Days to Acclimate
Wood flooring can't be installed the day it arrives -- or the next day, or the next day. It must acclimate, lying in open containers on the floor for several days. This is a handy thing to know when trying to assure that your floors will go in before your boxes arrive.
- Give a Trusted Neighbor a Spare Key to Your Old House
There is always a chance something will need checking or get left behind.
- Keep Computer Start-Up Disks With You
What if the laptop you have with you crashes while your disks are in transit?
- Hire a Cleaner
A move is stressful enough without tackling the two-foot dust bunnies left in its wake.
- Tape All Sundries to Their Associated Electronic Devices
Did you know that some DVD players won't allow you to play the next episode on your DVD unless you use the arrow key on your remote? To avoid experiencing this phenomena yourself, place all equipment for each electronic device in a ziplock baggie and tape it to the device before boxing.
- How to Pack Green
Instead of paper or bubble wrap, use your own towels and scarves to wrap breakables. This is environmentally conscious and efficient, plus your new basement won't be filled with packing supplies. Note: cockroaches love to play in wads of paper.
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