I've moved more times than I can count with the longest move at 2,000 miles. Organization is key and getting a reliable mover. If you are not an organized person all major moving companies have booklets with check lists of what to do when.
I've always used a brand name mover and have had things broken or damaged along the way yet always carried replacement insurance so things were repaired as needed.
Moving is a very stressful time yet always remember you are the customer and are footing the bill. I always used my moves to clean things out and that has helped me minimize the stuff I have.
Remember the less you pack the less you have to unpack.
I've always used a brand name mover and have had things broken or damaged along the way yet always carried replacement insurance so things were repaired as needed.
Moving is a very stressful time yet always remember you are the customer and are footing the bill. I always used my moves to clean things out and that has helped me minimize the stuff I have.
Remember the less you pack the less you have to unpack.
The author didn't give that much advice on how to avoid stress while moving but told a narrative about her problems while selling her home, closing, and moving.
I have moved myself numerous times and you do learn what needs to be done when, etc. It is a good idea to make a checklist of items that need to be taken care of and in what order. I am sure you can find one online.
I learned to purchase disposable dishes so that you can pack away most of the dishes. A day before moving, we ate on fast food but I left my coffee pot to near the last as I had to have my coffee though you can get that easily now as well.
So, I would say most of the stress can be alleviated by pre-planning down to the smallest detail and this is where that list comes in handy. Write down items to do or to pack when you think of them so you won't forget.
And, yes, if you are buying or selliing a home, a good realtor and competent mortgage loan office can reduce the stress considerably by walking/talking you through the process.
I have moved myself numerous times and you do learn what needs to be done when, etc. It is a good idea to make a checklist of items that need to be taken care of and in what order. I am sure you can find one online.
I learned to purchase disposable dishes so that you can pack away most of the dishes. A day before moving, we ate on fast food but I left my coffee pot to near the last as I had to have my coffee though you can get that easily now as well.
So, I would say most of the stress can be alleviated by pre-planning down to the smallest detail and this is where that list comes in handy. Write down items to do or to pack when you think of them so you won't forget.
And, yes, if you are buying or selliing a home, a good realtor and competent mortgage loan office can reduce the stress considerably by walking/talking you through the process.
8
I'd only add to Penguin: I got stressed reading this article.
2
We could probably ditch most of our furniture and take it in stride. But our books? We know we will pay dearly to move them, even if we divest of half. As David Sedaris remarked, books (and their owners) are heck to move, it's the plush toy people who are easy.
5
I want to repeat 1 thing: if moving 50 mi for work, moving expenses are tax deductible. Even on a 2-p 1040A w no schedules. This is over & above your standard deduction. So, always move useful stuff instead of tossing & spending on new items.
Personally, I want my home un-disrupted until the last possible day before I move. When I arrive, I don't stop until *everything* is unpacked & as close to feeling like my new home as possible.
Taking my furniture, rugs, etc., from one state to another as I changed jobs on avg each year was a huge source of reassurance for me. It also meant I could get that functioning, comfy, "I'm home now" feeling in under 24 hrs (for a 1 BR apt).
Moving is good for preventing hoarding. But I strongly disagree w the super-minimalists here. Not that that approach isn't good for them - rather, for some of us, the opposite works best.
I've been in my present apt 10 years. Still have & love the (weird, I know) brilliant futon sofa I bought in Northampton Mass in 1999. V glad I moved it 7 times, ultimately all the way across the country.
I don't plan to leave this apt any way but lying down, feet first, in a box ;)
Personally, I want my home un-disrupted until the last possible day before I move. When I arrive, I don't stop until *everything* is unpacked & as close to feeling like my new home as possible.
Taking my furniture, rugs, etc., from one state to another as I changed jobs on avg each year was a huge source of reassurance for me. It also meant I could get that functioning, comfy, "I'm home now" feeling in under 24 hrs (for a 1 BR apt).
Moving is good for preventing hoarding. But I strongly disagree w the super-minimalists here. Not that that approach isn't good for them - rather, for some of us, the opposite works best.
I've been in my present apt 10 years. Still have & love the (weird, I know) brilliant futon sofa I bought in Northampton Mass in 1999. V glad I moved it 7 times, ultimately all the way across the country.
I don't plan to leave this apt any way but lying down, feet first, in a box ;)
2
I have had the pleasure of moving home, almost single handed, three time in two years. This was in Scotland. The moves were from Home to Storage to another home to storage and then to a third home (the final destination).
My advise - find a 24 hour storage operation. Rent the biggest vehicle you can to drive the stuff. Keep individual boxes no more than about 70 pounds, anything more will tend to wear an individual out. A vehicle with a tail lift can be a life saver. Pack your van or lorry to the rafters and go for it!
There will be final bits that use up a lot of time when the major stuff has been done. Get plenty of rubble bags and cable-ties. Simply dump the stuff into rubble bags, and stack them up in the vehicle. That's the most efficient way.
Investing too much time in planning and method is futile and infuriating. Don't.
My advise - find a 24 hour storage operation. Rent the biggest vehicle you can to drive the stuff. Keep individual boxes no more than about 70 pounds, anything more will tend to wear an individual out. A vehicle with a tail lift can be a life saver. Pack your van or lorry to the rafters and go for it!
There will be final bits that use up a lot of time when the major stuff has been done. Get plenty of rubble bags and cable-ties. Simply dump the stuff into rubble bags, and stack them up in the vehicle. That's the most efficient way.
Investing too much time in planning and method is futile and infuriating. Don't.
2
The most awesome move I know of: a friend sold his house fully furnished; they moved south in just a car. Anything that did not fit in that one car they did not take.
I could numerous moving hints having been through a dozen micro moves (moving from one place to another while building one house). Probably the most significant is: observe what you use during a typical week. Anything you don't use, you don't need, except for personal records like birth certificates.
Another observation: don't rent storage facilities long term, the per square foot price quickly pays to replace almost anything you are likely to store in those places. Everyone I know who stores long term convinces themselves it is worth it, but objectively it is rarely the case. Subjectively, its your money, spend it however you want to.
Don't underestimate how much stuff you have to move. I helped move a friend-- he wanted to rent a small box truck. I said rent at least a 24' box and we crammed it full to the ceiling. He was sharing a 3br with two other singles, you'd think he would have less stuff.
Finally, the last 20% of stuff to move takes 50% of the time if you move yourself. Space runs out, boxes run out, mental and physical fatigue sets in. As others have said, however long you think it will take, at least triple the number and expect that to be optimistic.
I could numerous moving hints having been through a dozen micro moves (moving from one place to another while building one house). Probably the most significant is: observe what you use during a typical week. Anything you don't use, you don't need, except for personal records like birth certificates.
Another observation: don't rent storage facilities long term, the per square foot price quickly pays to replace almost anything you are likely to store in those places. Everyone I know who stores long term convinces themselves it is worth it, but objectively it is rarely the case. Subjectively, its your money, spend it however you want to.
Don't underestimate how much stuff you have to move. I helped move a friend-- he wanted to rent a small box truck. I said rent at least a 24' box and we crammed it full to the ceiling. He was sharing a 3br with two other singles, you'd think he would have less stuff.
Finally, the last 20% of stuff to move takes 50% of the time if you move yourself. Space runs out, boxes run out, mental and physical fatigue sets in. As others have said, however long you think it will take, at least triple the number and expect that to be optimistic.
1
I used to move people and here is a good tip. Sometimes people were unprepared when we came for whatever reasons. After the big stuff was moved, and whatever boxes they managed to fill, there was usually a lot of small stuff left, as well as clothes.
I would ask them for blankets. We laid out the blankets in the middle of the rooms and put all the loose stuff in it- clothes, pictures, trinkets, etc. We would then duct tape the four corners together and take the large bundles out to the van.
At their new house or apartment, dealing with the bundles was their problem!
I would ask them for blankets. We laid out the blankets in the middle of the rooms and put all the loose stuff in it- clothes, pictures, trinkets, etc. We would then duct tape the four corners together and take the large bundles out to the van.
At their new house or apartment, dealing with the bundles was their problem!
3
I'm lucky. My moving plans include paying for the home I'm leaving and the home I'm moving into for 6 week span. Don't get me wrong, I've worked for 50 years to reach this point financially, (and I'm not now, nor ever will be, rich except in memories) but in my 60's there is no way I will ever move again under the stresses so many people end up buried beneath.
I realize that most people cant' afford to do it this way, but my point is: it's worth a few thousand dollars to me just to avoid what Jen went through.
I realize that most people cant' afford to do it this way, but my point is: it's worth a few thousand dollars to me just to avoid what Jen went through.
4
"look them up on consumer review websites like Angie’s List ..."
Angie's list? Not in my experience.
Angie's list? Not in my experience.
2
Agree!
There is a wide array in the meaning of "great job!" People's standards vary.
I've hired several people with A ratings on AL and all have been C to F in meeting my expectations.
Also, don't ask stores for recommendations unless you know the staff well. They just want to sell their inventory, and if you have to have the work done over that's more sales for them.
Ask friends and insist on seeing license and insurance papers.
Also do background checks. My Realtor recommended a handyman who made inappropriate comments. Google quickly showed he was just out of prison after a 30-year term for rape with a weapon. (My Realtor was horrified.)
You really do have to be careful in today's world.
There is a wide array in the meaning of "great job!" People's standards vary.
I've hired several people with A ratings on AL and all have been C to F in meeting my expectations.
Also, don't ask stores for recommendations unless you know the staff well. They just want to sell their inventory, and if you have to have the work done over that's more sales for them.
Ask friends and insist on seeing license and insurance papers.
Also do background checks. My Realtor recommended a handyman who made inappropriate comments. Google quickly showed he was just out of prison after a 30-year term for rape with a weapon. (My Realtor was horrified.)
You really do have to be careful in today's world.
1
The best piece of advise I ever received regarding the entire moving, packing and not knowing what to keep vs. what to pitch process was this - don't allow sentimentality to get in the way. Remain focused and keep moving forward, otherwise, in no time at all, you will be overwhelmed with memories, guilt, indecisiveness, and another sleepless night. If am item has not been used or worn in the past 5 years - pitch it in the trash bin or recycle bin or Salvation Army pick up. Getting attached to one's own junk never ends well.
5
The last time I moved I stumbled on a brilliant solution to 'letting go' of 'the good stuff'. I lived in the Seattle area and discovered there was a sort of 'halfway house' for homeless women that accepted good quality clothing to be arranged in a store-like setting where residents 'shopped' (for free) for clothes suitable for new jobs or just a life not lived on the streets. After visiting the residence and seeing how donations were handled I had no problem letting go of some rather expensive stuff, including a gorgeous hand woven wool poncho that I hadn't worn in years, because I could visualize another woman wearing it who would love it. Then I found a place that would pick up all sorts of household goods and furniture and warehouse them for furnishing homes for newly arrived refugees. I'm telling you I've never had so much fun, or felt so good, about giving stuff away!
10
Moved 26 years ago and will most likely be moving again in about 2-3 years. This is what I remember: Use only a nationally recognized name brand moving company - they're expensive but they'll do what they promise. If you can afford it, have them pack, everything. Married to a pack rat, we took it ALL, including the charcoal for the grill. Not worth fighting over. Some of the boxes we moved with, because said 'pack rat' wouldn't give them up, are still in the attic, unopened. I'll do it one more time, just like the last time (stuff is not worth fighting over) and I'll die in the next house. This is my plan. Maybe it'll work out just like that.
8
My much moved, much traveled niece's cliff notes version of how to avoid stress, especially if you are not using a mover service: start with selling, that can take the longest. Don't have to start packing too early. Meditating helps with having dispassion and energy with everything through the whole process. And make sure you have lots of water and a food plan on moving days, otherwise the day becomes so much longer.
3
Start throwing things away (or giving them away) months in advance.
Let go of half of what you own.
Box and label the rest, designating the room where it should go.
Keep important papers with you--not with the movers.
Move the fragile things yourself, insofar as you can.
Take a last walk around when everyone has gone. Say goodbye to the place; it helps, a little.
Let go of half of what you own.
Box and label the rest, designating the room where it should go.
Keep important papers with you--not with the movers.
Move the fragile things yourself, insofar as you can.
Take a last walk around when everyone has gone. Say goodbye to the place; it helps, a little.
9
Absurd. One has to be more deliberate than the random chaos this cutesy-bougie piece presents.
6
One of the best pieces of advise I ever received come to me almost 30 years ago. I was becoming overwhelmed and started to cry. I did not know where to begin. A friend stopped by and told me that the first thing I need to get rid of is sentimentality - it has no place in the moving process. It's only keeps one from moving forward, renders one practically catatonic with doubt and fear, and prevents one from getting a good night's sleep. Also, all of the things near and dear to one's heart has already been safely packed. I always ask myself (when in doubt or on the fence about keeping vs. pitching something) - just how often am I really going to use that pink toaster and blender gift set? I usually have my answer soon after.
Another piece of advise my husband and I live by is this - if we have not worn a piece of clothing in 5 years, it's time to donate these items. Also, we are coat hounds. At one point, we had so many coats, we each gave 5 away to a coat drive before even looking for a new one.
Sentimentality - has absolutely NO PLACE in the moving process.
6
A useless article, but great comments. I haven't moved often, but did relocate from NY to NC 24 years ago. I moved both a SOHO loft and an upstate cottage in Woodstock into an old family home full of my parents' furniture and heirlooms and junk. I was fortunate (and I planned): I made schematics while still in NYC, planned which of my furniture and theirs to keep and which to get rid of, even down to consolidating my collections of art and pottery with theirs, and my grandparents' Chinese Export from the last century, and determined in advance what paintings would hang on what walls ...
The only real problem was the movers. Most now have arbitration clauses that prohibit you from challenging their offer to settle any claim, so when they broke the leg off a Queen Anne-style drop-leaf desk, and I got an estimate to repair it for $850 (in 1993), they offered $250 and wouldn't budge. So I will never use those two guys with their truck again.
Now I'm planning to downsize, locally, from my 4-bedroom house with a full basement to a 2-bedroom condo ... and I'm doing what I call "Household Triage." It's actually kind of fun to get rid of stuff, find friends who want a particular chair or artwork, sell things through consignment shops, give stuff to Habitat for their store or to a nonprofit for its annual auction, even to imagine other families enjoying what I can no longer use. And really ... it shouldn't be a nightmare if you plan well.
The only real problem was the movers. Most now have arbitration clauses that prohibit you from challenging their offer to settle any claim, so when they broke the leg off a Queen Anne-style drop-leaf desk, and I got an estimate to repair it for $850 (in 1993), they offered $250 and wouldn't budge. So I will never use those two guys with their truck again.
Now I'm planning to downsize, locally, from my 4-bedroom house with a full basement to a 2-bedroom condo ... and I'm doing what I call "Household Triage." It's actually kind of fun to get rid of stuff, find friends who want a particular chair or artwork, sell things through consignment shops, give stuff to Habitat for their store or to a nonprofit for its annual auction, even to imagine other families enjoying what I can no longer use. And really ... it shouldn't be a nightmare if you plan well.
6
Some years ago, I researched a local move and selected the movers who advertised that they moved the Norman Rockwell Museum to its new location in Stockbridge, Mass. These movers were a disaster, losing antiques and paintings and damaging others. They had not offered me insurance equal to the value of my furnishings, and I had neglected to ask.(I know, I know.) The company rep's only response when I asked where all my missing possessions were was to yell at me about my lack of insurance! I want to move again and I have been putting it off, literally for years because of this experience.
1
I'm learning more about stress free moving from the Comments section than from the article!
25
Our nearby U-Haul has a free take it or leave it box swap. Others may also. Best Buy took our old electronics for recycling, at no charge. A lesson learned the hard way: a favorite floor lamp had a heavy glass "plate" near the bottom to make it more stable. It broke in half. The mover "kindly" offered to take the pieces and have a new one made. Turns out he just wanted to get rid of the evidence as he didn't follow through - even after several phone calls over a year! Our move was 1500 miles and we had to rush to be at new site to meet movers. It helped that we made hotel reservations ahead at 2 strategic locations on the way. We made the middle day the longest drive.
4
I'd let the moving company pack the valuables and spend my time on boxing non-breakable
9
I moved into my current space about 25 years ago. Before then, I moved over a dozen times as an adult. The first ones were easy - basically a single, small u-haul truck, and friends I could get to help. Once the stuff accumulated then the professionals were needed. Given horror stories I have heard about professional companies, I guess I lucked out each of the 4 times, but I never had a stress-free move. It's never easy to have to look at *every single thing you own* and figure out what to do with it. My packing strategy was to start with all the "hidden" things and to stack boxes in a place I could avoid so that I didn't have to contend with a chaotic space, conscious of all the things that weren't there, until the very end.
5
The best advice I can give anyone moving is to leave about 50% of your belongings packed away so you don't have to repack the next time.
11
Leave it to the New York Times to give us the slightly unhinged, literary treatment that is of utterly no practical help. Thanks for nothing.
29
But the readers comments are pretty cool!
11
Or light a match and have a fire, like the John Sayles "Lone Star" character Bunny did.
Its not fun, but number all the boxes, write down what is in each box; make sure all the boxes arrive at the destination. Label where the boxes need to go (bedroom 1, 2; living room; kitchen, etc.). Someone else had the great suggestion -- keep a box of stuff you will need immediately in the new place; saves having to go shop to replace it all (this is the time to use the stash of takeout forks, etc.). Also keep some tools handy (wipes, batteries, scissors, packing tape, marker). Hiring packers is expensive; it is possible to hire for only partial packing (do some/valuables yourself; hire out the rest). If packing yourself, its worth the investment in proper boxes (dishpack, etc.) to help ensure your things get where they are going undamaged. Purge/clean out your house; don't pay or move stuff you don't need.
20
I wrote directly on each box with permanent marker - both a number and a general list of contents. I used my smartphone and photographed each box after taping it shut. Then, in the new home, I deleted each photo as the box got unpacked. At the end if there were any photos left I would have known what was missing.
32
What Maran said! I'm makign an international move in 4 weeks. I was looking for tips. Instead, I have a headache from this--another instance of NYT's recent rash of click bait.
16
We have made 4 international moves. My recommendations:
1. Pack your children's most priced possesions yourself. Packers do not necessarily understand their value. One packer wrapped packing tape around my son's comicbook collection, before putting them in a box.
2. Pack and carry with you any small, valuable ítems, like coin or stamp collections, jewelry, a wooden box of family recipes, etc. These are things that are easily stolen by packers or unpackers, or lost.
3. If possible, have 1 friend or family member to shadow each packer on packing day(s), to make sure that ítems are not stolen or broken. I could not supervise 4 packers at a time.
4. If posible, go with the packers to the warehouse and watch that ALL of your boxes are placed into a crate and sealed. The packers have a copy of the list of all numbered boxes with their contents. They can choose what to steal.
5. I always have sandwiches, softdrinks and water available for the packers. They greatly appreciate it, and are more cooperative. Most are honest, but it only takes one thief to steal something of value to you.
6. Make sure that all pets are in a safe place, preferably with a friend elsewhere. Packers will not close doors to keep pets inside. I heard of someone's cat who was accidentally packed in a box. The cat's body was found several months later.
7. I let the company unpack the large ítems like furniture. I unpack everything else, so that small ítems (ex. wheels) are not thrown with the paper.
1. Pack your children's most priced possesions yourself. Packers do not necessarily understand their value. One packer wrapped packing tape around my son's comicbook collection, before putting them in a box.
2. Pack and carry with you any small, valuable ítems, like coin or stamp collections, jewelry, a wooden box of family recipes, etc. These are things that are easily stolen by packers or unpackers, or lost.
3. If possible, have 1 friend or family member to shadow each packer on packing day(s), to make sure that ítems are not stolen or broken. I could not supervise 4 packers at a time.
4. If posible, go with the packers to the warehouse and watch that ALL of your boxes are placed into a crate and sealed. The packers have a copy of the list of all numbered boxes with their contents. They can choose what to steal.
5. I always have sandwiches, softdrinks and water available for the packers. They greatly appreciate it, and are more cooperative. Most are honest, but it only takes one thief to steal something of value to you.
6. Make sure that all pets are in a safe place, preferably with a friend elsewhere. Packers will not close doors to keep pets inside. I heard of someone's cat who was accidentally packed in a box. The cat's body was found several months later.
7. I let the company unpack the large ítems like furniture. I unpack everything else, so that small ítems (ex. wheels) are not thrown with the paper.
2
I wish the writer didn't have to move so soon following the death of her beloved dog.
That's a lot of stress and big changes in a short amount of time.
Good luck to you, Miss Miller -- all the best.
That's a lot of stress and big changes in a short amount of time.
Good luck to you, Miss Miller -- all the best.
18
I almost cried reading that--my beloved dog died while I was in the midst of a seriesof surgeries...made everything worse.
7
I really feel for this writer. Not only is she overwhelmed by her move and numb with grief over her dog's death, she is now dealing with blowback for the misleading title on her hard work. Just to be clear, readers: the writer doesn't come up with the headline. You can thank (or in this case, not) an editor.
30
Garden Girl: PODS! Thank you. would never have thought of this.
3
Hey, I'm moving, and I have a dynamite crate, too. What are the odds? :) thanks for the info.
4
Having just moved house on Friday and now sitting amongst towers of boxes I'd offer myself this "stress buster" advice.
You won't be able to control everts 100 percent so concentrate on what's most important to you. Pack those irreplaceable things yourself to avoid worry. Take as much valuable irreplaceable stuff as possible with you.
Eat well before, during,and after. The move was much more strenuous than I realized even though I had a moving company. Keep snacks, drinks, and medication on hand.
Do a " desert island " box. This means having one box that contains things you might need immediately. Your laptop, cables, batteries, work clothing, cooking utensils, clean towels etc. At least you'll be able to function with some normalcy for a day or two before unpacking. This helps reduce stress
Be kind to the movers. They can make the move go smoothly or bumpy.
Don't forget to breath.
You won't be able to control everts 100 percent so concentrate on what's most important to you. Pack those irreplaceable things yourself to avoid worry. Take as much valuable irreplaceable stuff as possible with you.
Eat well before, during,and after. The move was much more strenuous than I realized even though I had a moving company. Keep snacks, drinks, and medication on hand.
Do a " desert island " box. This means having one box that contains things you might need immediately. Your laptop, cables, batteries, work clothing, cooking utensils, clean towels etc. At least you'll be able to function with some normalcy for a day or two before unpacking. This helps reduce stress
Be kind to the movers. They can make the move go smoothly or bumpy.
Don't forget to breath.
28
Have you looked at digital platforms that help with moving? www.moveassistonline.com is one example where you can get a custom checklist along with list of movers, utilities, schools, doctors, vets, relevant to your move.
7
"The only thing a broker should not give, Mr. Brown said, is legal and accounting advice."
As an expert witness who helps buyers and sellers caught up in litigation, I will fill in a few blanks left by Brown.
1. Brokers should not discourage buyers or sellers who wish to seek legal or accounting advice. Juries despise such conduct.
2. Brokers must never anoint themselves as property inspectors by declaring the property and/or fixtures and/or roof are in good condition. Who knows what lurks behind those walls, above those ceilings?
3. Without the benefit of a survey, brokers must not guesstimate, for example, that "the property line goes to the middle of the stream". We are not surveyors! Or, in a similar doozy, "There's room to dock a 75-foot yacht on the water."
These admonitions are based upon genuine lawsuits that turned out poorly for the brokers. They are hard lessons, but all brokers reading this can learn from them.
As an expert witness who helps buyers and sellers caught up in litigation, I will fill in a few blanks left by Brown.
1. Brokers should not discourage buyers or sellers who wish to seek legal or accounting advice. Juries despise such conduct.
2. Brokers must never anoint themselves as property inspectors by declaring the property and/or fixtures and/or roof are in good condition. Who knows what lurks behind those walls, above those ceilings?
3. Without the benefit of a survey, brokers must not guesstimate, for example, that "the property line goes to the middle of the stream". We are not surveyors! Or, in a similar doozy, "There's room to dock a 75-foot yacht on the water."
These admonitions are based upon genuine lawsuits that turned out poorly for the brokers. They are hard lessons, but all brokers reading this can learn from them.
Dear Jen Miller and the New York Times Editorial Board - Thank you for this story! And please make it a series, "How to Keep Your Stress Levels Down When...." Some of the obvious topics are: Planning a Wedding, Expecting a Baby, Getting Divorced, Planning for Your Own Demise (as a favor to your loved ones.)
But the one many of us need right now is "How to Avoid Stress When Resisting the Trump Agenda."
But the one many of us need right now is "How to Avoid Stress When Resisting the Trump Agenda."
20
In November, I got a Trump therapy puppy. And a brand new bottle of tequila.
19
That idea should empty an animal shelter or two! Good one.
10
Can we ever have a story on any topic without a stupid Trump comment?
The comments were more helpful than the essay.
40
Moving is right up there with looking for a new job.
11
I started getting ready to move a year before I listed my house with the understanding that if I list my house for sale, it will most likely sell. After tossing stuff and fixing things in the house I hired a real estate agent 3 months before I planned to sell so she could tell me what else needs to be fixed or removed. I found an apartment complex where I wanted to live and finished all that paperwork so I had a place to go. By the time my house was listed it was packed up, cleaned up, and fixed up. It sold in 2 days and I was out in 3 weeks. My only snafu was shifty movers but I found another company to move me the next day at the same quote.
I have been living with my boyfriend for 6 years in a house he has owned for 20 years. We are already planning for the sale of this place in 4 or 5 years. We plan to give away all the furniture the new owners won't want and toss the rest. My next move will be with a suitcase and a box - I hope!
I have been living with my boyfriend for 6 years in a house he has owned for 20 years. We are already planning for the sale of this place in 4 or 5 years. We plan to give away all the furniture the new owners won't want and toss the rest. My next move will be with a suitcase and a box - I hope!
9
Moved from a 12-room, 1885 Queen Anne to a 5-room Chicago bungalow.
LOTS OF STUFF! Adult children no help. We're both widowed, only children.
Overloaded with heirlooms one of our two dogs died during the move: very elderly adopted pet, but still a loss. We're still in the moving-in process after three years. That's OUR tale of woe.
LOTS OF STUFF! Adult children no help. We're both widowed, only children.
Overloaded with heirlooms one of our two dogs died during the move: very elderly adopted pet, but still a loss. We're still in the moving-in process after three years. That's OUR tale of woe.
13
Foolproof solution: give yourself seven days to finish the job. Whatever remains goes immediately to Goodwill or Salvation Army, or whatever charity is willing to pick it up.
Voila!
Voila!
9
Or for an almost instant removal--try the FREE section of Craigs...I have had people come in half an hr.
10
I moved last year from Flagstaff to Santa Fe. It was the single most stressful experience of my adult life. Probably, the longer you have been living in one place, and the more you have accumulated, the more difficult the process. Having to rush the process, as the writer describes, and as I experienced, definitely compounds the stress.
Doing the actual packing of the belongings into boxes, and loading them into the truck, and driving the truck yourself all saves money, but it is not without a cost. I was so exhausted the day we moved, that I could barely keep my eyes open on the road. I had to stop for a much-needed nap.
One of the biggest hassles seems to be finding local people to help load the truck. U-haul offers a referral service for this. But it is hardly a full-proof system. You are referred to "companies" that are really usually just groups of guys who may or may not show up, and may or may not be up to the task.
Our experience with this turned out OK, but there are lots of horror stories. You would think that U-Haul might have its own trained crews to help with moving in every city. This might be an opportunity for some venture-capitalist to set up a nationwide company of trained and vetted moving helpers. Of course, if you can pay the big bucks and hire one of the big moving companies to handle the move, then you probably don't have to worry about this.
Moving has never been easy, but it has never been more complicated than it is in today's complex world.
Doing the actual packing of the belongings into boxes, and loading them into the truck, and driving the truck yourself all saves money, but it is not without a cost. I was so exhausted the day we moved, that I could barely keep my eyes open on the road. I had to stop for a much-needed nap.
One of the biggest hassles seems to be finding local people to help load the truck. U-haul offers a referral service for this. But it is hardly a full-proof system. You are referred to "companies" that are really usually just groups of guys who may or may not show up, and may or may not be up to the task.
Our experience with this turned out OK, but there are lots of horror stories. You would think that U-Haul might have its own trained crews to help with moving in every city. This might be an opportunity for some venture-capitalist to set up a nationwide company of trained and vetted moving helpers. Of course, if you can pay the big bucks and hire one of the big moving companies to handle the move, then you probably don't have to worry about this.
Moving has never been easy, but it has never been more complicated than it is in today's complex world.
5
But! You ended up in Santa Fe, one of the loveliest places to live in the world. I once spent a week there and have never forgotten the beautiful scenery and that fresh, fresh air. It felt like being on another planet!
4
get at least 3 quotes and make sure the rider on your current homeowners' insurance lists your many possessions and prices correctly.
take pix of everything you're entrusting to the moving co before you move,
realize their truck may not be able to take the same route, or make the same time as you can driving a car, and get estimates from the on mileage, if it's a separate charge.
pack and move EVERYTHING that you can and bring it to the new place yourself. when the rest arrives with the movers, you will have a nice head start on putting things where you want them - of course, if you keep many things in case pieces, leave those boxes packed in the appropriate room[s] until the cabinets arrive and the movers place them where you want them.
it's all just a matter of being organize......
take pix of everything you're entrusting to the moving co before you move,
realize their truck may not be able to take the same route, or make the same time as you can driving a car, and get estimates from the on mileage, if it's a separate charge.
pack and move EVERYTHING that you can and bring it to the new place yourself. when the rest arrives with the movers, you will have a nice head start on putting things where you want them - of course, if you keep many things in case pieces, leave those boxes packed in the appropriate room[s] until the cabinets arrive and the movers place them where you want them.
it's all just a matter of being organize......
4
Your home is NOT where your house is!! Keep that firmly in mind when moving. Do not become attached to the physical house you are in. Home is where you are! Your house is just the physical container of your home. You should be attached to your home and not your house. Looking at life this way minimizes the stress of moving. Yes, moving is stressful, things do have to be packed up and into a moving van. But, it is you and your family that forms the home.
33
Brilliant comment RedRat.
8
Double ditto what mjb and RedRat posted. Bravo!
1
Moving takes some planning and grit. Then you do it and fugetabout it. Good lord psychotherapists are busy enough without a new DSM to contend with: Moving Related Stress and Anxiety for Middle Class Jerks With Nothing Better to Complain About.
I wonder how Iraqis or Syrians feel when a murder of American made hellfire rockets rains down on their village. That''s not called moving. It's called being moved.
I wonder how Iraqis or Syrians feel when a murder of American made hellfire rockets rains down on their village. That''s not called moving. It's called being moved.
7
How warm and sunshiny of you!
6
We just moved from DC to Denver. Twice. One with a container (company called Packrat). The other in a Penske. Don't want to be as harsh as WER with his "get over yourself" comment, but he is right that there's not much you can do if less stress while moving is your goal. It's hard. It's extra work. It's emotional. It's inconvenient and scary. The only thing we did that relieved stress was use Closetbox (https://www.closetbox.com/) when we got to Denver to come pickup and store the stuff that didn't fit in our new apartment. That saved me the stress and time of having to move yet again to a storage unit. Other than that, know that it will be over soon, but it's tough while you're in it.
2
We had a big glitch too when we moved. The movers were using storage pods but were late picking them up. They said; "we will be there in two hours". Two days later they were still saying the same thing because their truck was in the shop being repaired. We closed escrow with a large storage container in the driveway of a house we did not own any longer. We called our broker and he spoke with the new owner's broker who were understanding and on a trip so were not expected to move in right away. Finally, the movers showed up a day later. We should have been more careful and checked the Yelp reviews. That was our mistake.
6
We're in the process of moving right now. The real estate market here is exceptionally hot...that means making an offer on the one you want and prepping/listing yours, all in less than two weeks. The advice to book movers months ahead of time in this article is ludicrous in this market or, I suspect, in any other. How do you book movers when you don't know what your move date is?? You were fortunate indeed. Unfortunately, I have yet to find anywhere in Canada that rates movers, so we're going with friends' recommendations. Pray for us. ;-)
3
The title of this article is does not align with the content.
46
Having moved 16 times in 33 years - my response is get over yourself! Avoiding stress in moving is like avoiding stress in childbirth. Impossible. The best you can do is write everything down in a spiral notebook, and keep checking things off or adding new things until the move is done. The hard part is three months after the move, when the things are put away and you have to go out and make a new life. And the only way to do this is to put on a smile, be friendly and - I'll say it again - get over yourself.
17
(This is #3. I don't know if these will appear. If not, NYT, pls re-use my info & others' to print a proper column on this topic. I hereby assign the NYT Corp. all rights, etc.)
Anyway despite all relevant advantages, my friend - we were in our 20s then - lost out to the giant natl moving co that lost 3 boxes of her stuff. By comparison, acquaintances 10 years later who'd done their research had such a positive experience I almost want to call it "joyous." (I'd name names, but we're going back decades here; the 2nd-named couple, however, were clearly Good At Life, since they also adored their car ins provider.)
How then to choose a natl moving co? Look at the Better Business Bureau site (they're also an incredibly powerful tool for consumers seeking to resolve conflicts with major cos, believe it or not); Google for good & bad stories; understand state law at your origin & destination (great tip from NJ reader!); and, from my personal experience, if a local moving co w a 100-yr rep is the affiliate of X natl co, well, it could work out perfect... :)
(4) Tips for small moves on a tight budget:
If you aren't getting a discount for sleeping with your mover (I didn't, but some movers are pretty hot...), still consider hiring pros to pack & load your stuff. You'll need to find a small, hungry co willing to send out 3 guys and an (unnecessary to you) truck, but this can turn a week of misery into 3 hours of sitting & waiting. If moving heavy stuff from an urban walk-up...
Anyway despite all relevant advantages, my friend - we were in our 20s then - lost out to the giant natl moving co that lost 3 boxes of her stuff. By comparison, acquaintances 10 years later who'd done their research had such a positive experience I almost want to call it "joyous." (I'd name names, but we're going back decades here; the 2nd-named couple, however, were clearly Good At Life, since they also adored their car ins provider.)
How then to choose a natl moving co? Look at the Better Business Bureau site (they're also an incredibly powerful tool for consumers seeking to resolve conflicts with major cos, believe it or not); Google for good & bad stories; understand state law at your origin & destination (great tip from NJ reader!); and, from my personal experience, if a local moving co w a 100-yr rep is the affiliate of X natl co, well, it could work out perfect... :)
(4) Tips for small moves on a tight budget:
If you aren't getting a discount for sleeping with your mover (I didn't, but some movers are pretty hot...), still consider hiring pros to pack & load your stuff. You'll need to find a small, hungry co willing to send out 3 guys and an (unnecessary to you) truck, but this can turn a week of misery into 3 hours of sitting & waiting. If moving heavy stuff from an urban walk-up...
2
Moving used to be easy. I did it a lot. No problems.
Then I acquired a spouse with a lot of stuff and things got complicated.
Then I acquired a spouse with a lot of stuff and things got complicated.
13
I used to be a "happy camper" when it came to moving but no more. The last time I moved with my now ex-husband, I had to pack up all of his junk: Geology textbooks from the 1970's. Consumer Reports from the early 1980's. Long-sleeved, thread bare t-shirts. A plethora of shoes: Nikes. New Balance. Keds. Scuffed up loafers with holes in the soles. Hippy-dippy Berkenstock sandals and a vast array of penny loafers that he hadn't worn in years. What a drag! Now that I'm divorced, I live simply and sparingly. Now when I move, I can fit all my belongings inside my car and I drive a volkswagen!
3
This article enticed MORE stress than less! The whole piece is riddled with horror stories. For someone who purchased her first home and is closing in less than two weeks, this piece instilled fear and provided little advice.
6
Sorry you lost your dog. I am moving in 4 weeks and excited because my golden will have a fenced in back yard. If something were to happen to him, I too would be paralyzed with grief. Ignore all of the snarky comments people are leaving. Hopefully none of them will be your new neighbor.
33
After 25 years in the same house (moved to our brand new retirement home 3 hours away): engage realtor, undertake selective home improvements, purge/donate/toss (be brutal), stage/store nonessentials off site/list, sold! Pack everything yourself investing in good boxes and lots of newspaper and bubble wrap. FRAGILE marked as appropriate. All valuables in the car. Movers recommended by coworkers...not a single item lost, stolen, or broken...no damage to house either moving out or in. Left sold house immaculate. Take your time unpacking, continue to purge/donate/toss. Exhausting. Drink wine.
32
(5) on natl moves, cont & almost done:
*A moving estimator may not be able to answer all your questions: he's there to gauge the man-hours, packing supplies, & eventual weight, involved in your shipment, not to price your move as a whole. Plus one can only assume that these folks work on a schedule. So don't panic if you need to negotiate all imaginable costs w someone else. (Sorry I keep using male pronouns: movers happen to be disproportionately male, but that's no foregone conclusion.)
In response to a commenter's note that natl carriers are only required to insure your stuff for a tiny amt: yes, but you can also purchase insurance - AFAIK, the sky's the limit. And my impression is that any credible possibility of payout means ins = better handling.
(The moving co owner I briefly dated - v nice guy, we weren't a match, etc - handled fairly high-end NYC local moves, including valuable artwork either indiv or as part of a domestic move. Others (?) move priceless art transcontinentally. The implication: you want your boxed china treated carefully - for a price, it will be. IIRC, I purchased extra ins for my costly books during my last interstate move: everything arrived fine. Obv, don't ship anything more valuable than the job is to any person handling it that you could hand-carry.)
(5.5) Remarks on intl moving:
This is a whole other level. My solution was to cheat. It helped I had to keep my (fully furnished 1600-sq-ft) SF apt anyway. My experience may be relevant to..
*A moving estimator may not be able to answer all your questions: he's there to gauge the man-hours, packing supplies, & eventual weight, involved in your shipment, not to price your move as a whole. Plus one can only assume that these folks work on a schedule. So don't panic if you need to negotiate all imaginable costs w someone else. (Sorry I keep using male pronouns: movers happen to be disproportionately male, but that's no foregone conclusion.)
In response to a commenter's note that natl carriers are only required to insure your stuff for a tiny amt: yes, but you can also purchase insurance - AFAIK, the sky's the limit. And my impression is that any credible possibility of payout means ins = better handling.
(The moving co owner I briefly dated - v nice guy, we weren't a match, etc - handled fairly high-end NYC local moves, including valuable artwork either indiv or as part of a domestic move. Others (?) move priceless art transcontinentally. The implication: you want your boxed china treated carefully - for a price, it will be. IIRC, I purchased extra ins for my costly books during my last interstate move: everything arrived fine. Obv, don't ship anything more valuable than the job is to any person handling it that you could hand-carry.)
(5.5) Remarks on intl moving:
This is a whole other level. My solution was to cheat. It helped I had to keep my (fully furnished 1600-sq-ft) SF apt anyway. My experience may be relevant to..
1
(Will it be posted? I probably won't check... anyway this is 4 cont., on small moves & saving money)
...do not fold, spindle, or mutilate your sturdier acquaintances, when a petite-but-solid looking pro can tote your fridge or washing machine down 5 flights of narrow stairs in a few minutes, using the correct posture & arrangement of straps.
I note: no ref to *tipping movers* in these comments. Well, readers, movers everywhere - and esp in NYC of course - expect an individual cash remuneration after loading the vehicle. (For a local move w the same crew, after unloading / unpacking at your new home.) For those on a tight budget, include a minimum of $20 cash per (hu)man. For anyone not visibly broke, think in larger notes. Frankly it shocks me no-one has mentioned this yet. And it hardly seems to explain my last 6-10 basically fine moving experiences, since tipping the guys in Montana surely doesn't communicate to the guys in SF...
(5) Last thoughts on interstate moves, first warnings on intl moves:
As others have noted, there are a lot of charges associated with a move that might seem unexpected. E.g., for moving into & out of a mover's warehouse. Some are completely legit; others (or other versions of same) are bogus. Key is to get an as-binding-as-your-jurisdiction-allows estimate, based on an in-person inspection of where you're moving from, pref before anything is disrupted. While the estimator is there, or later if he's rushing,* ask repeatedly re: all other costs.
...do not fold, spindle, or mutilate your sturdier acquaintances, when a petite-but-solid looking pro can tote your fridge or washing machine down 5 flights of narrow stairs in a few minutes, using the correct posture & arrangement of straps.
I note: no ref to *tipping movers* in these comments. Well, readers, movers everywhere - and esp in NYC of course - expect an individual cash remuneration after loading the vehicle. (For a local move w the same crew, after unloading / unpacking at your new home.) For those on a tight budget, include a minimum of $20 cash per (hu)man. For anyone not visibly broke, think in larger notes. Frankly it shocks me no-one has mentioned this yet. And it hardly seems to explain my last 6-10 basically fine moving experiences, since tipping the guys in Montana surely doesn't communicate to the guys in SF...
(5) Last thoughts on interstate moves, first warnings on intl moves:
As others have noted, there are a lot of charges associated with a move that might seem unexpected. E.g., for moving into & out of a mover's warehouse. Some are completely legit; others (or other versions of same) are bogus. Key is to get an as-binding-as-your-jurisdiction-allows estimate, based on an in-person inspection of where you're moving from, pref before anything is disrupted. While the estimator is there, or later if he's rushing,* ask repeatedly re: all other costs.
8
When possible, try to leave an overlap of a week or so between moving dates so that you can be more casual about the stresses of leaving one property for the next. Stuff happens with weather, bank screw-ups, movers, the new property's condition, etc. which can be calmer with a few extra days to figure out solutions.
8
2nd installment: moving when it's routine
(2) cont: Once you've found a good moving company, *have them do everything*, to the extent your budget allows.
(If you're moving to take a new job, ask for a moving allowance that will cover this, to the extent your industry / position allows. Since this is a one-off expense for your new employer - distinct from a higher starting salary or other recurring benefit - it's almost always worth asking. Even $250 is better than nothing. And I've gotten $5000 just bc I asked for it. NB this counts against your moving deduction, so spend it on moving.)
Most crucial, once your budget allows for it, have your movers pack your home for you, supplying their own boxes & other packing materials. Even if you'll be driving the truck containing your worldly possessions (and your car on a trailer) cross-country yourself, have professional movers pack & load at the start of the move.
Movers can easily empty a *very* fully-furnished 1-2 bedroom apartment & load the contents on a truck anyone who's driven an SUV without a rollover can handle, all in the space of one full day. Meanwhile, packing is the slowest, most exhausting, and most high-skilled element of moving. Further, you won't save money providing your own packing materials, since you'd pay retail for the quality materials a good mover buys at minimum wholesale prices.
That said, if you have fragile items you'd never get over having broken, carry them with you (in a suitcase?).
(2) cont: Once you've found a good moving company, *have them do everything*, to the extent your budget allows.
(If you're moving to take a new job, ask for a moving allowance that will cover this, to the extent your industry / position allows. Since this is a one-off expense for your new employer - distinct from a higher starting salary or other recurring benefit - it's almost always worth asking. Even $250 is better than nothing. And I've gotten $5000 just bc I asked for it. NB this counts against your moving deduction, so spend it on moving.)
Most crucial, once your budget allows for it, have your movers pack your home for you, supplying their own boxes & other packing materials. Even if you'll be driving the truck containing your worldly possessions (and your car on a trailer) cross-country yourself, have professional movers pack & load at the start of the move.
Movers can easily empty a *very* fully-furnished 1-2 bedroom apartment & load the contents on a truck anyone who's driven an SUV without a rollover can handle, all in the space of one full day. Meanwhile, packing is the slowest, most exhausting, and most high-skilled element of moving. Further, you won't save money providing your own packing materials, since you'd pay retail for the quality materials a good mover buys at minimum wholesale prices.
That said, if you have fragile items you'd never get over having broken, carry them with you (in a suitcase?).
9
Final comment
As others have noted the original story is of limited use. It contains a few useful tidbits (but don't worry, if you're moving out of a normal rental in NYC, it's unlikely you'll need a lawyer), but mostly it's about how miserable the author is.
Not having lost a pet I'd had for more than a year (FELV-pos rescued kitten) I won't presume to judge.
The comments, however, have some really useful info.
The distinction betw local & natl movers is why I've paid for loading & unloading at each end, but driven 100s (probably not 1000s, but w a 2nd, pref non-female, driver & during summer, I'd do it) of miles in a rental truck in between.
NB, rent from Penske. At all costs (usually, just the cost of knowing the names of other cos in the business), do not use U-Haul. My.personal lesson about movers who hold your stuff hostage for more $$ than agreed came via a U-Haul affiliate in western Mass. Plus, their trucks are maintained like Rent-a-Wrecks (check the maintenance schedule sticker behind the driver's seat for evidence). Penske et al., by contrast, cost the same & provide something more like renting a car (e.g., has a functioning speedometer...).
If you need (and can choose: I feel for the military movers, since it sounds like they don't get to pick the company) an interstate mover, that co needs to be evaluated & chosen first. They are not equal. A rich, extremely well-connected (as in, fam has high-end lawyers on retainer) friend of mine was moderately...
As others have noted the original story is of limited use. It contains a few useful tidbits (but don't worry, if you're moving out of a normal rental in NYC, it's unlikely you'll need a lawyer), but mostly it's about how miserable the author is.
Not having lost a pet I'd had for more than a year (FELV-pos rescued kitten) I won't presume to judge.
The comments, however, have some really useful info.
The distinction betw local & natl movers is why I've paid for loading & unloading at each end, but driven 100s (probably not 1000s, but w a 2nd, pref non-female, driver & during summer, I'd do it) of miles in a rental truck in between.
NB, rent from Penske. At all costs (usually, just the cost of knowing the names of other cos in the business), do not use U-Haul. My.personal lesson about movers who hold your stuff hostage for more $$ than agreed came via a U-Haul affiliate in western Mass. Plus, their trucks are maintained like Rent-a-Wrecks (check the maintenance schedule sticker behind the driver's seat for evidence). Penske et al., by contrast, cost the same & provide something more like renting a car (e.g., has a functioning speedometer...).
If you need (and can choose: I feel for the military movers, since it sounds like they don't get to pick the company) an interstate mover, that co needs to be evaluated & chosen first. They are not equal. A rich, extremely well-connected (as in, fam has high-end lawyers on retainer) friend of mine was moderately...
2
I love moving. Putting things in boxes. Moving the boxes. Talking things out of the boxes. I love all of it. Except carrying the boxes. That is no fun.
9
(5.5 & final)
...relevant to others moving small households (1-2 adults - family of 4 w small children) & temporary relocations. Otherwise, I hope you work for the Dept of State ;)
First: the tax implications of a foreign relocation are totally different. Look it up (or if tax pubs give you migraines, consult an expert / surf the web). Bottom line: for a short-term move, if you can maintain a US primary residence, the priorities I gave above (move everything, buy nothing) may be reversed, in spades (i.e. household items > business expenses). But I'm neither an accountant nor an attorney so I won't get more detailed.
My solution was to rent an unfurnished apt (fortunately, equipped w a dodgy but minimally working stove & fridge - these aren't supplied in German apts); buy 400kg of IKEA furniture in 2 trips to the store, and also a used but good quality washing machine; then sell everything - including the fridge, which in fact belonged to a previous tenant - using eBay kleinanzeigen (classifieds) during the 4 weeks before I left. A few things that wouldn't sell I had to conscript friends into moving to the new homes of other friends (e.g. my bed). W better German, I'd've hired people.
So, min content above: yes, it can be done; no, I didn't lose money; no, the suffering wasn't excessive; no, there aren't (weren't) good insta-home alternatives in Germany; yes, used appliances are avail & like G cars (or Hondas) keep their value. NB I was in a 5th floor walk up. Key info...
...relevant to others moving small households (1-2 adults - family of 4 w small children) & temporary relocations. Otherwise, I hope you work for the Dept of State ;)
First: the tax implications of a foreign relocation are totally different. Look it up (or if tax pubs give you migraines, consult an expert / surf the web). Bottom line: for a short-term move, if you can maintain a US primary residence, the priorities I gave above (move everything, buy nothing) may be reversed, in spades (i.e. household items > business expenses). But I'm neither an accountant nor an attorney so I won't get more detailed.
My solution was to rent an unfurnished apt (fortunately, equipped w a dodgy but minimally working stove & fridge - these aren't supplied in German apts); buy 400kg of IKEA furniture in 2 trips to the store, and also a used but good quality washing machine; then sell everything - including the fridge, which in fact belonged to a previous tenant - using eBay kleinanzeigen (classifieds) during the 4 weeks before I left. A few things that wouldn't sell I had to conscript friends into moving to the new homes of other friends (e.g. my bed). W better German, I'd've hired people.
So, min content above: yes, it can be done; no, I didn't lose money; no, the suffering wasn't excessive; no, there aren't (weren't) good insta-home alternatives in Germany; yes, used appliances are avail & like G cars (or Hondas) keep their value. NB I was in a 5th floor walk up. Key info...
5
Between 1990 and 2005 I moved five times; sold three houses in three states and rented two. In every single move, except one, I hired national moving companies. In every move, items were stolen. (*disappeared*) I have used storage units and hired local people to help me move out of them and twice items were stolen. I have had house sales and nice looking people stole.
Realize that you can not prevent all the theft. These people are skilled at stealing. However, you can take steps to minimize the loss.
1. Never label the contents of a box on the outside of the box. Use a code only you know. Securely tape the boxes you pack yourself and mark the tape so you will know if it is removed.
2, Have at least two friends with you when you move so they can monitor the movers and be certain no items leave the house without a mover's number on it. The friends should understand their duties and not be distracted. They should watch to be certain items are not put in car trunks.
3. Use real estate brokers. It is a false economy to sell a house yourself. In a state that uses lawyers for closing, use one. In states that use escrow companies for closings, negotiate the fees. There will be charges that are unnecessary.
4. Always get tittle insurance on any property you buy.
5. Estimate the time it will take to pack up your house contents and triple it.
6.Always clean, repaint and repair a house before you put it on the market.
7. Never buy property that is *quaint*.
Realize that you can not prevent all the theft. These people are skilled at stealing. However, you can take steps to minimize the loss.
1. Never label the contents of a box on the outside of the box. Use a code only you know. Securely tape the boxes you pack yourself and mark the tape so you will know if it is removed.
2, Have at least two friends with you when you move so they can monitor the movers and be certain no items leave the house without a mover's number on it. The friends should understand their duties and not be distracted. They should watch to be certain items are not put in car trunks.
3. Use real estate brokers. It is a false economy to sell a house yourself. In a state that uses lawyers for closing, use one. In states that use escrow companies for closings, negotiate the fees. There will be charges that are unnecessary.
4. Always get tittle insurance on any property you buy.
5. Estimate the time it will take to pack up your house contents and triple it.
6.Always clean, repaint and repair a house before you put it on the market.
7. Never buy property that is *quaint*.
20
Glad to read article and the comments, suggestions even more so. Will be having to do this in coming months. I have been weeding out stuff I either do not use much plus stuff don't want, need or like. Donate books (and magazines if not too old) to local library. I give unwanted items to a mission store in San Diego. Keep jewelry and things precious to you with you; not with movers. Helpful to read moving advice from readers. I have a 14 year old dog and praying she makes it with me; fortunately a local move.
5
I sit here in my apt in NJ, mostly packed for my move 531 miles, which I'm hoping will happen in the next two weeks. Three & a half years ago, I did just this move, in the opposite direction. I'm doing this by myself for the most part, and don't let anyone tell you it isn't overwhelming. However, as another commenter said, you got to grow up & make it happen. Best part of moving is unpacking; it means you've arrived to your next home & you can take your time UNpacking. Can't wait.
7
This article might have more accurately been titled "What Happened to Me When I Moved". Still compelling as moving stories often are, but aside from the great advice on thoroughly checking out moving companies, a little light on how to avoid stress. Sad to hear about your dog. That is stress and sadness beyond moving.
A few actual tips from someone who just moved:
1. Take as much time as you can organizing and deciding what to take. If you are moving from a place you've lived for a long time you've likely accumulated a lot of stuff you no longer want or need. It is cheaper to purge before you move than to move all that stuff. Suggested reading: "The Life-Changing Magic if Tidying Up" by Marie Kondo
2. Give away what you can to family and friends, hold a tag sale if you have time and energy or call a charitable service that will come with a truck for free and take what you no longer need for good karma recycling and a tax deductible receipt.
3. Label all boxes by room with specific contents. "Kitchen" will at least get the box to the correct room of your new place. "Kitchen - Coffee Maker" will help you find exactly what you need fast
4. If your things are going into storage, take photos of what is in each box. Moving is stressful and your memory will fail you.
5. Do not lift anything heavier than you should. The last thing you need is to sustain an injury.
6. Try to retain your sense of humor and know that this too shall pass.
A few actual tips from someone who just moved:
1. Take as much time as you can organizing and deciding what to take. If you are moving from a place you've lived for a long time you've likely accumulated a lot of stuff you no longer want or need. It is cheaper to purge before you move than to move all that stuff. Suggested reading: "The Life-Changing Magic if Tidying Up" by Marie Kondo
2. Give away what you can to family and friends, hold a tag sale if you have time and energy or call a charitable service that will come with a truck for free and take what you no longer need for good karma recycling and a tax deductible receipt.
3. Label all boxes by room with specific contents. "Kitchen" will at least get the box to the correct room of your new place. "Kitchen - Coffee Maker" will help you find exactly what you need fast
4. If your things are going into storage, take photos of what is in each box. Moving is stressful and your memory will fail you.
5. Do not lift anything heavier than you should. The last thing you need is to sustain an injury.
6. Try to retain your sense of humor and know that this too shall pass.
19
I moved over 20 times in 8 years, including living in 7 different US states. More recently, I've moved once within SF, and spent 14 months in Frankfurt, requiring me to set up & dissolve a (small) household there. I *do* have a routine for this stuff. Here are my basic recommendations:
(1) Remember that moving expenses are fully tax-deductible (if you move more than 50 miles & take a new job). This means spending on moving your existing stuff is deductible, while throwing stuff away & replacing it is not. For most of us, that's a 30-50% discount - not to mention the effort saved shopping on arrival. So, move everything that isn't actually garbage / stuff you needed to get rid of anyway. Also, spend on travel as needed: a night in a hotel en route to your new location (and your meals while traveling, at 50%) are deductible. A night in a hotel waiting for your new home to have actual beds in it is not.
(2) Moving companies seem to come in 2 kinds: bad and good (I'm being euphemistic for the sake of the NYT). Obviously, it behooves you to find a good one. (I would recommend my own strategy of dating the owner of an excellent company, if it didn't seem hard to replicate. Having a young male member of your family find employment as a mover would work almost equally well, while requiring a little less personal involvement.) More prosaically, Yelp & the Better Business Bureau will do just fine. For long-distance moves, it's extremely useful to get other's recent..
Maxed out...
(1) Remember that moving expenses are fully tax-deductible (if you move more than 50 miles & take a new job). This means spending on moving your existing stuff is deductible, while throwing stuff away & replacing it is not. For most of us, that's a 30-50% discount - not to mention the effort saved shopping on arrival. So, move everything that isn't actually garbage / stuff you needed to get rid of anyway. Also, spend on travel as needed: a night in a hotel en route to your new location (and your meals while traveling, at 50%) are deductible. A night in a hotel waiting for your new home to have actual beds in it is not.
(2) Moving companies seem to come in 2 kinds: bad and good (I'm being euphemistic for the sake of the NYT). Obviously, it behooves you to find a good one. (I would recommend my own strategy of dating the owner of an excellent company, if it didn't seem hard to replicate. Having a young male member of your family find employment as a mover would work almost equally well, while requiring a little less personal involvement.) More prosaically, Yelp & the Better Business Bureau will do just fine. For long-distance moves, it's extremely useful to get other's recent..
Maxed out...
5
By "tax deductible," I mean on p. 1 of even a simple return. You enter moving expenses on a line before calculating your AGI, then subtract the total from your income. The moving deduction does NOT require itemizing or anything else an ordinary wage earner wouldn't do. I've used it when my income was 28K: i.e. it's not just for rich people w accountants.
2
I twice used a mover that my extended family has used for 45 years. Great to be able to trust them. I'll never forget my grandmother tell of movers ripping off my mom in the early 60's. It's a shame.
4
(5.5.2) ok I said that was my final post - this really is
Last bit of advice for those making a short-term / temporary intl move:
USE AIR FREIGHT
This may seem insane. However, if you can - legit or otherwise - ship the stuff you really need (up to hundreds of kg) by air freight, you save enormous time, money, risk, and hassle. E.g., shipping 500 kg in < a week for < $1000, door-to-door, via UPS.
The secret is: (1) you have to be a commercial shipper; (2) you can only ship stuff that fits in boxes that fit in std air freight units; (3) your shipment can contain only business-related material - BUT, there are categories for business records & papers, and for "technical literature" (in my case, books). That is, your clothes & linens will still have to go in baggage (unless repurposed as packing material).
Last key bit: to be a commercial shipper, the minimum you need is an EIN. Get one on the IRS site in under 30 sec.
And a final endorsement: U-Line double-wall 12x18" boxes can handle multiple round trips FRA-SFO loaded - correctly - w hardcover books. (I wouldn't recommend any inferior - or larger - box for domestic or intl shipping of anything, anywhere: this is my minimum standard, unless you can afford a 30% loss rate.)
So, that's it. Now, will any of this appear? if so will it be useful? so many questions...
Last bit of advice for those making a short-term / temporary intl move:
USE AIR FREIGHT
This may seem insane. However, if you can - legit or otherwise - ship the stuff you really need (up to hundreds of kg) by air freight, you save enormous time, money, risk, and hassle. E.g., shipping 500 kg in < a week for < $1000, door-to-door, via UPS.
The secret is: (1) you have to be a commercial shipper; (2) you can only ship stuff that fits in boxes that fit in std air freight units; (3) your shipment can contain only business-related material - BUT, there are categories for business records & papers, and for "technical literature" (in my case, books). That is, your clothes & linens will still have to go in baggage (unless repurposed as packing material).
Last key bit: to be a commercial shipper, the minimum you need is an EIN. Get one on the IRS site in under 30 sec.
And a final endorsement: U-Line double-wall 12x18" boxes can handle multiple round trips FRA-SFO loaded - correctly - w hardcover books. (I wouldn't recommend any inferior - or larger - box for domestic or intl shipping of anything, anywhere: this is my minimum standard, unless you can afford a 30% loss rate.)
So, that's it. Now, will any of this appear? if so will it be useful? so many questions...
5
I have always moved myself from apartments to houses with family members and friends. Always stressful even when it is your doing. The last move was an emergency so I moved across the street from one apartment to another with half the belongs from my house. I used a wheel barrow and moved all the books....then the book shelves....then put them away. Then I hung all the art. Next came the curtains. It did take a week and a half in blistering Florida hear but I finished with a friend here and there and my son. We even wheeled a piano down the street.
4
One bit of advice, whether helped by professionals or not, buy yourself a sturdy hand truck to save your back. It will come in handy for the rest of your life.
16
A year ago I moved cross-country leaving a decent sized rented house (3 floors 3 bedrooms ) in one expensive area and later renting a studio apartment in an even more expensive area. The move was to be closer to my child and grandchildren. I brought no furniture just clothes jewelry books and paintings. No one would take the old furniture, etc. So I hired a junk company for the discards and another company to transport the books and paintings. I sold the old car and leased a new one upon arrival. My advice - do not be a hoarder. I am not and was not a collector but there was still a lot of stuff. If you don't clean out now your spouse or kids will be doing it later.
11
I get it: moving and selling a home is stressful. But these small pieces mentioned here are a small sliver of the moving pie. School years, daycare availability, shipment of vehicles, pet relocation, new employment... the author didn't mention any of this at all and it's really too bad.
I often pass along words of wisdom from an older sister (multiple mover): When you think you're almost done, you're halfway there.
I have one word when it comes to moving: PODS. Gives you complete flexibility with the amount of time needed for packing and unpacking, the quoted price never changes (and is reasonable), and no one ever touches your things other than you or people you hire to help pack and load. Best option for moving.
15
How soon is too soon to start packing and going through things? I'm 60 and plan on moving 300 miles in the next 2 years.
I believe my home will sell quickly, it's in good shape, but I wouldn't be able to handle the time schedule that the author had, that's for sure, been dug in here for 30 years...
I believe my home will sell quickly, it's in good shape, but I wouldn't be able to handle the time schedule that the author had, that's for sure, been dug in here for 30 years...
4
Purge relentlessly, starting now. Then you won't have to pack nearly as much. Get Marie Kondo's books, especially, Spark Joy. You will be thrilled and proud of yourself as you enact those ideas which make sense to you. And a LOT of them will.
Get in the habit of storing like things together. Then, it makes it easier to purge. Start now. Garage sales? Good to do, but a hell of a lot of work. Don't expect a huge yield if you don't have high quality stuff to sell or collectibles. I made once $1600 on a garage sale, and had many things stolen from it which were small. Husband didn't help; now he does after seeing that happen and me really upset with him afterwards. I hear people making $80 on a garage sale; I cannot figure out what they were trying to sell. Having said that, I do not think people attend garage sales like they used to. The best time? before christmas season, and at the end of August/beginning of Sept if you are in a college town.
If you are comfortable doing Ebay, you can try that for small collectibles.
If you have a lot of very interesting, well kept stuff, art, furniture, small appliances, collectibles, check with an estate sale specialist. They take 30% in my town, but handle EVERYTHING and know how to price. Get it done in one fell swoop. But this is for right before moving. If you go the garage sale route, you will be purging things and may not need an estate sale.
Good luck. Start by going to Barnes and Noble for Marie Kondos books.
Get in the habit of storing like things together. Then, it makes it easier to purge. Start now. Garage sales? Good to do, but a hell of a lot of work. Don't expect a huge yield if you don't have high quality stuff to sell or collectibles. I made once $1600 on a garage sale, and had many things stolen from it which were small. Husband didn't help; now he does after seeing that happen and me really upset with him afterwards. I hear people making $80 on a garage sale; I cannot figure out what they were trying to sell. Having said that, I do not think people attend garage sales like they used to. The best time? before christmas season, and at the end of August/beginning of Sept if you are in a college town.
If you are comfortable doing Ebay, you can try that for small collectibles.
If you have a lot of very interesting, well kept stuff, art, furniture, small appliances, collectibles, check with an estate sale specialist. They take 30% in my town, but handle EVERYTHING and know how to price. Get it done in one fell swoop. But this is for right before moving. If you go the garage sale route, you will be purging things and may not need an estate sale.
Good luck. Start by going to Barnes and Noble for Marie Kondos books.
6
Moving can be liberating. The best things in life are not things, I discovered when living on a houseboat the width of Thoreau's cabin. With no room for stuff, I collected experiences. More recently, when my mother and dog died in the same week in 2014, I downsized accumulations in my Harlem apartment to boat size, put a few things in storage, and have been living out of a single suitcase since. From Liverpool to the Pyrenees I became a dog sitter in demand, seeing the world not as a tourist but a resident with a dog who knows the way home.
13
In 2008, I moved from Irvine, CA to Durango, CO at the invitation of an old friend who had suffered a serious skiing accident and needed to rent out a bedroom. With the economy collapsing and clients taking their sweet and hideous time paying the invoices I sent them for my work, leaving Orange County seemed like a scrumptious idea.
This meant, at my tender age of 64, it was time to get rid of a lot of stuff that would be of little, or no, use at my destination, 9,000 ft above sea level and two miles from the Purgatory Ski Resort.
Along with a lot of furniture I would not need, there were potted plants, TV's and audio gear. Then, with the plan to move to a town known for outdoor sports and the farm and ranch community, I took a large collection of business attire to a non-profit known as Working Wardrobes where they give clothing to men and women in need of business attire to seek work or, to wear at work. Much of it I had purchased in Westport, CT where I had lived during the 1990s. New York City was, after all, known for business fashion among other things.
An old friend helped me make the move with that 16 hour drive to Durango. It was June 1, and there was snow on the ground. Shedding a lot of stuff felt great as I started a new life in the town designated many years ago as, "the worst-dressed town in America."
At any rate, a few months after arriving in Durango, I got a job as a magazine editor at The Durango Herald. I was happy again. Very happy.
This meant, at my tender age of 64, it was time to get rid of a lot of stuff that would be of little, or no, use at my destination, 9,000 ft above sea level and two miles from the Purgatory Ski Resort.
Along with a lot of furniture I would not need, there were potted plants, TV's and audio gear. Then, with the plan to move to a town known for outdoor sports and the farm and ranch community, I took a large collection of business attire to a non-profit known as Working Wardrobes where they give clothing to men and women in need of business attire to seek work or, to wear at work. Much of it I had purchased in Westport, CT where I had lived during the 1990s. New York City was, after all, known for business fashion among other things.
An old friend helped me make the move with that 16 hour drive to Durango. It was June 1, and there was snow on the ground. Shedding a lot of stuff felt great as I started a new life in the town designated many years ago as, "the worst-dressed town in America."
At any rate, a few months after arriving in Durango, I got a job as a magazine editor at The Durango Herald. I was happy again. Very happy.
21
If you're running out of time to sell things, donate, donate, donate. Some items like furniture were taking longer to sell, and in Boston I didn't posses a vehicle to take them myself to donate, so I simply put them on Craig's List and quickly got rid of them. If you live in a college town, keep an eye out for these type of bargains!
I've moved 5 times in less than 6 years and fortunately for me it's never been an issue of worrying about what it would be like to live in those places, three of them were relatively in the same area (free housing for 6 months couldn't pass that up) transcontinental on two of the moves. I would offer that if you can, consider shipping some key items via Fed Ex or UPS. Always ask yourself if you can live with something breaking or being lost/stolen and if you can't then take that with you. You'd be amazed how much stuff can fit inside a Toyota Sequoia.
I self-moved on all of my moves, except one, but I no longer have my daughter's male friends to lean on, so after a few weeks of settling in I met this waitress (totally non-platonic) and her teenage son and he helped me move into my place, that really saved my back. I realize that even being in fantastic shape helps but also get some young backs into the game if at all possible why increase the possibilities of injuring yourself? Safe travels!
I've moved 5 times in less than 6 years and fortunately for me it's never been an issue of worrying about what it would be like to live in those places, three of them were relatively in the same area (free housing for 6 months couldn't pass that up) transcontinental on two of the moves. I would offer that if you can, consider shipping some key items via Fed Ex or UPS. Always ask yourself if you can live with something breaking or being lost/stolen and if you can't then take that with you. You'd be amazed how much stuff can fit inside a Toyota Sequoia.
I self-moved on all of my moves, except one, but I no longer have my daughter's male friends to lean on, so after a few weeks of settling in I met this waitress (totally non-platonic) and her teenage son and he helped me move into my place, that really saved my back. I realize that even being in fantastic shape helps but also get some young backs into the game if at all possible why increase the possibilities of injuring yourself? Safe travels!
3
UPS seems to break or lose half what they ship. I would not send anything irreplaceable, fragile, or of significant cash value w them.
(But then, when I fly, I *assume* that if I check any jewelry, electronics, etc., those items *will* be stolen. Look up theft rings at JFK if you think I'm paranoid...)
Now, this may be based on a misleading experience: I didn't spend enough for quality packing materials & overloaded my boxes. That was 15 yrs ago & I've learned my lesson. But at the time it did seem like all the boxes I'd packed with breakable items had been tossed off a roof. Essentially nothing arrived intact. I also lost a box of expensive hardcover books (~$1000 est cost - one ref book was $300), & another box arrived with the corner torn off.
NB air freight shipments are handled very differently from US ground shipping. A truck comes specifically to pick up *your* shipment; it goes to the airport; there it's loaded in standard air freight containers (like large-ish metal lockers, standardized to fit in passenger planes' cargo holds). At destination, your shipment is also handled separately, as a single unit, with delivery scheduled specifically for you - not mixed w other boxes.
Maybe they roof-test it anyway. That's where the U-Line double wall boxes come in ;)
NB if shipping lots of books, I found an excellent, totally non-intuitive method for packing them described online. Worked like a charm.
(But then, when I fly, I *assume* that if I check any jewelry, electronics, etc., those items *will* be stolen. Look up theft rings at JFK if you think I'm paranoid...)
Now, this may be based on a misleading experience: I didn't spend enough for quality packing materials & overloaded my boxes. That was 15 yrs ago & I've learned my lesson. But at the time it did seem like all the boxes I'd packed with breakable items had been tossed off a roof. Essentially nothing arrived intact. I also lost a box of expensive hardcover books (~$1000 est cost - one ref book was $300), & another box arrived with the corner torn off.
NB air freight shipments are handled very differently from US ground shipping. A truck comes specifically to pick up *your* shipment; it goes to the airport; there it's loaded in standard air freight containers (like large-ish metal lockers, standardized to fit in passenger planes' cargo holds). At destination, your shipment is also handled separately, as a single unit, with delivery scheduled specifically for you - not mixed w other boxes.
Maybe they roof-test it anyway. That's where the U-Line double wall boxes come in ;)
NB if shipping lots of books, I found an excellent, totally non-intuitive method for packing them described online. Worked like a charm.
Moved 14 times over a 27 year Foreign Service career, with distances ranging from literally across the street to halfway round the world. I've been lucky that 99 percent of what I own has come through the moves unscathed and not MIA. Foreign moving companies were as good if not better than American ones; an African moving company actually built custom-sized wooden crates to hold some very fragile balsa wood handicrafts (still have those crates).
My only two pieces of advice:
-- If you have flexibility in the timing of your move (a luxury, I realize), avoid moving in summer, which is peak season and when moving companies may be hiring lot of temporary (i.e., not the most experienced) help.
-- If you are moving locally and driving to your next home, a day or two before your move pack up your survival kit -- important personal papers, cherished mementos and photos, a small start-up kit of kitchen and bedding basics -- and store it in the locked trunk of your car. No way these items will then go "missing" or require digging through countless cartons to find.
And yes, decluttering should be a continuous exercise, or if not, one that's started in all seriousness at least six months before a planned move.
My only two pieces of advice:
-- If you have flexibility in the timing of your move (a luxury, I realize), avoid moving in summer, which is peak season and when moving companies may be hiring lot of temporary (i.e., not the most experienced) help.
-- If you are moving locally and driving to your next home, a day or two before your move pack up your survival kit -- important personal papers, cherished mementos and photos, a small start-up kit of kitchen and bedding basics -- and store it in the locked trunk of your car. No way these items will then go "missing" or require digging through countless cartons to find.
And yes, decluttering should be a continuous exercise, or if not, one that's started in all seriousness at least six months before a planned move.
10
No matter how carefully I chose , the moving people always found a way to pad the bill at least 2X. The last time I moved, (from the old country, NJ, to Colorado) they didn't even follow direction to the house. I got a call to pick out a storage facility for them to drop everything off at. They had to get to the next location right away !
The big truck had several house fulls of items stuffed inside, worse than a Japanese subway car. Terrible ordeal to go through. Bring Dramamine and aspirin.
The big truck had several house fulls of items stuffed inside, worse than a Japanese subway car. Terrible ordeal to go through. Bring Dramamine and aspirin.
2
I have made several cross-country moves. About the mover, get recommendations from recent clients. About the stuff ... my philosophy ... if you haven't used a fork in 6 months, get rid of it. If you are anticipating a move in the future and have 'too much stuff', box up the clutter and see, in 3 or 4 months if you can remember what is in those boxes. If not, sell or donate. Finally, splurge and have the movers unpack and haul away the boxes/wrapping. Worth every penny!
2
1. Mark one box as "OPEN THIS FIRST!" Put coffee maker, sheets, blanket, towels, pillows, toilet paper, paper towel, soap and basic kitchen tools inside, perhaps a change of clothes too.
Find it first, unpack and then worry about all the other boxes later. You basically want what a long term hotel would supply. It will get you started if you have only enough energy to wash your face and go to bed. You can start first thing in the morning with coffee. (Powdered creamer and coffee are a bonus if you can't see getting to a store right away.)
2. Put all valuables, papers and irreplaceable items in your car and out of the house completely. This includes the clothes you will need until your boxes are received and unpacked. Do not leave anything for the movers to take or pack accidentally. No exceptions. This includes your house and car keys because they will pack everything which is not nailed down.
Military spouse, moved 6 times in 13 years around USA and overseas.
Find it first, unpack and then worry about all the other boxes later. You basically want what a long term hotel would supply. It will get you started if you have only enough energy to wash your face and go to bed. You can start first thing in the morning with coffee. (Powdered creamer and coffee are a bonus if you can't see getting to a store right away.)
2. Put all valuables, papers and irreplaceable items in your car and out of the house completely. This includes the clothes you will need until your boxes are received and unpacked. Do not leave anything for the movers to take or pack accidentally. No exceptions. This includes your house and car keys because they will pack everything which is not nailed down.
Military spouse, moved 6 times in 13 years around USA and overseas.
12
If I had to move across state lines I would probably just get rid of most or a lot of my belongings and replace them with new stuff from IKEA. If you own too many nice things they end up owning you. Owning just a few nice items makes moving more manageable.
7
Tammy; that phrase, if you own too many nice things they end up owning you...describes my family of origin's values. Own experiences. They own you, but you don't mind at all. And you take them with you without paying a mover, ever.
2
Moved 6 times in 9 years. From NJ to NE to Denver to LA to Jacksonville and back to NJ. Along the way went from one baby to four with cats and dogs in tow. Each move involved selling and buying a single family home.
Now that's moving.
Now that's moving.
4
I recently took a job in Detroit after living in NYC for 12 years with my wife. I have valuables and had heard horror stories about movers, plus I couldn't be available in the large windows of time that the interstate movers needed. So I rented a U-Haul van and hired movers in Brooklyn and Detroit to load and unload the truck. The loading and unloading only took an hour on each end. The total cost was about $2,000, which I believe is a premium over the interstate movers. But this gave us a large amount of control over the process and nothing was bashed, dinged, or left in a hot truck. It should be noted that moving expenses in a case like this (moving for job) are tax deductible, so there's some justification for paying more to get the job you want.
5
When I moved, I had a six-month overlap where I owned two places (well, three places).
First I bought the new place, and moved the furniture from my mother's estate there. I moved the paintings, china, and glassware myself, and had the movers move the furniture and boxes of other items. Even though they were careful, some things were broken, but I learned from this first move. I then had two habitable places, and could put my NYC coop on the market.
In the following six months, I gradually moved stuff. I went through my record collection and took all records worth more than $100 and moved them. I moved all the audio equipment myself except for my 135 lb speakers. On moving day, my tiny studio in Manhattan yielded 35 boxes of records, 25 boxes of books, 15 other boxes, and the furniture (mostly bookcases and record racks!). The movers showed up an hour late - it happens. I told them they would get a nice tip if nothing was broken.
The second move went very well, and I was most impressed when one of the movers carried two 62-lb boxes of LPs up the stairs at once.
One thing I didn't do is throw anything out. This gave me time to go through everything carefully at my new place over a period of months, and decide what should be discarded or sold.
First I bought the new place, and moved the furniture from my mother's estate there. I moved the paintings, china, and glassware myself, and had the movers move the furniture and boxes of other items. Even though they were careful, some things were broken, but I learned from this first move. I then had two habitable places, and could put my NYC coop on the market.
In the following six months, I gradually moved stuff. I went through my record collection and took all records worth more than $100 and moved them. I moved all the audio equipment myself except for my 135 lb speakers. On moving day, my tiny studio in Manhattan yielded 35 boxes of records, 25 boxes of books, 15 other boxes, and the furniture (mostly bookcases and record racks!). The movers showed up an hour late - it happens. I told them they would get a nice tip if nothing was broken.
The second move went very well, and I was most impressed when one of the movers carried two 62-lb boxes of LPs up the stairs at once.
One thing I didn't do is throw anything out. This gave me time to go through everything carefully at my new place over a period of months, and decide what should be discarded or sold.
22
Records and books. Nice.
5
I have done numerous military moves and have been robbed by the movers more often than not. It's like a shopping spree for them. Finding you've been ripped off is a real bummer on top of the stress of moving. they do up the paperwork to hide the theft and it's almost impossible to prove.
I heard a story where at their new house a family discovered their cat dead in the dresser drawer where it had been hiding to escape the commotion of the move. Another kitty survived a move hiding inside the sofa, but only bc the move took just a day or two. This is obviously not an issue w dogs, but be sure to secure cats well before movers arrive.
I'm getting ready to move my own self in the near future and appreciate the great advice in this very relevant article.
I heard a story where at their new house a family discovered their cat dead in the dresser drawer where it had been hiding to escape the commotion of the move. Another kitty survived a move hiding inside the sofa, but only bc the move took just a day or two. This is obviously not an issue w dogs, but be sure to secure cats well before movers arrive.
I'm getting ready to move my own self in the near future and appreciate the great advice in this very relevant article.
22
Leo,
In your move in the near future, be careful not to take a nap anywhere in your house or apt., lest you end up in the sofa or chest of drawers!
Sincerely, JM.
In your move in the near future, be careful not to take a nap anywhere in your house or apt., lest you end up in the sofa or chest of drawers!
Sincerely, JM.
2
I did an interstate move in September (Tucson to Milwaukee) and chose a moving company that uses smaller trucks, as needed by the particular load, so my stuff was alone on the truck. The truck pulled away about an hour before I did in my car. We arrived in Milwaukee within a few hours of each other, about 2 ½ days later. This may he somewhat more expensive than a company that combines loads, but I was very happy to avoid all of the uncertainty. (Two Men and a Truck). Also, I did most of the packing myself using great boxes and packing materials found at Home Depot.
28
This may be obvious advice (I wouldn't need it) but my sister-in-law recently moved from NYC to Portland and her jewelry never made it to the other end. She used professional movers but it's apparent one's belongings are gone through and are not safe. Jewelry and other items of similar value should not be moved this way.
37
I've always carried my jewelry and sent any personal papers via a secured service. This was recommended by both movers and the relocation companies who moved us.
26
Several years ago, we made the mistake of labeling our boxes with the contents, making it oh so easy for the movers to purloin half of our CD collection. I recommend numbering the boxes (only) and if possible having someone check them onto and off the truck.
1
I have moved many times, and have always carried jewelry, financial docs, and silver. I've sweated going through customs a few times, but would never let a mover handle any of that.
4
I packed three boxes which looked markedly different from the boxes used by the moving company - one for the kitchen, including a mug, plate, one set of utensils, a sharp knife, a pot and some non-perishables; one with cleaning supplies; and one with bedding, towels, soap, toothbrush/paste and a very minimal change of clothing - and brought them to my new residence a day or so before I moved. It meant I didn't have to figure out how to live while I unpacked.
If you can afford it, definitely have the movers supply packing material and do the packing. When I moved out of my apartment of 35 years, I sat in a rocking chair while four men packed my entire apartment in less than 3 hours the evening before my move. Other than the three boxes mentioned above, I packed not so much as a nail file. Nothing was broken or damaged.
About as stress-free as you can get.
If you can afford it, definitely have the movers supply packing material and do the packing. When I moved out of my apartment of 35 years, I sat in a rocking chair while four men packed my entire apartment in less than 3 hours the evening before my move. Other than the three boxes mentioned above, I packed not so much as a nail file. Nothing was broken or damaged.
About as stress-free as you can get.
48
I hate to be cold but someone who was "paralyzed with grief" over losing their dog - check out the link to her dog story, it's truly bizarre - cannot be taken seriously.
12
I have an easier time understanding a person "paralyzed with grief" over losing a pet than your comment, and the fact you felt compelled to make it. I think you nailed it: cold.
66
Guess you've never lost a pet you've loved with all your heart.
12
"He spoke with tears of 15 years of how his dog and him but just travelled all about.
His dog up and died, he up and died, and after 20 years he still grieves.
Mr. Bojangles, Mr. Bojangles, dance." --Bob Dylan
His dog up and died, he up and died, and after 20 years he still grieves.
Mr. Bojangles, Mr. Bojangles, dance." --Bob Dylan
13
We are selling our house and in the meantime I have been purging and packing, probably for 6 mos. Since we are getting up in years we are doing no moving except jewelry and a few small mementos to the new house. The movers will take 2 rooms and then an auctioneer will come in and sell the rest. We just leave it all behind and he and his wife sort it, sell it and clean up after. Anything left is picked up by Goodwill. We did this with a relatives house and he sold everything and handed us a check. Amen. Couldn't have been easier!
Sorry about your dog, it is so painful.
Sorry about your dog, it is so painful.
40
I have moved 6 times in the past 10 years, all interstate moves except 2. Big deal. You do it. I packed all my own stuff into a U-Haul each time. No outside help, though there are plenty of companies that will help if you have the money to pay them. I remember reading about a Buddhist priest who said she almost had a nervous breakdown doing an interstate move, which was not a good endorsement for her faith. As NIKE says, Just do it.
17
My #1 piece of advice is finding people to help you unpack. If you have the pros pack your stuff, you're still on the hook to unpack it. Bend, lift, bend, put down. Bend, lift, bend, put down. If you're over 30, this will tell on your back. I've hired friends teenage sons and their pals on local moves, but long-distance moves are tougher. Maybe new colleagues' kids? Craigslist?
7
We've arranged with movers to unpack. Long distance movers will have crew on the receiving end. Another option is cleaning services will often send a crew to unpack.
8
Here is where a life time of yoga helps. I moved myself at age 63 last time...across the street with a wheel barrow.
7
What I wish I'd known about movers is that they are only required to carry a very minimal 60c per pound value on contents. That means if there is damage to your belongings, you will receive a pittance. Our company plain old lost our air conditioner, and gave us a check for $18 to cover replacement. Thankfully it was only an air conditioner, and I was glad I moved the oil paintings myself!
11
Your home insurance may cover it; I checked with my agent, and we were apparently covered for everything that got damaged by the movers during the move.
1
I have moved too many times but each recession since college graduation in 1970 has forced me to find work in far-flung cities, far from my home in West Los Angeles. When I moved to Westport, CT from Los Angeles in 1992, I took the advice from a Phil Donahue show about movers and chose the top rated company for my cross-country move: Paul Arpin Van Lines. It went like clockwork just like the journalist on Donahue said it would. The only damage at the destination was to two stereo speakers. The driver gave me a form and a phone number to call Arpin about compensation. I called the number; the customer service rep for damage claims told me to get an esimate for repairs; I went to the best in Westport, and send it to her by fax. I did. Two days later, I had a check for the full amount with a sincere apology via FedEx. When I moved back to California many years later for family reasons, I chose Arpin again. Another great job. Not cheap but no stress either.
Just the thought of moving is stressful so picking the right mover makes a big difference when you arrive at your new home.
Just the thought of moving is stressful so picking the right mover makes a big difference when you arrive at your new home.
1
Years ago when buying our current home the seller had put in the contract that a new roof was to be put on before closing. But on the day of closing the roof had only been started. At the closing our attorney didn't seem to be advocating for us on the roof matter, so we were fortunate that our savvy realtor chimed in with "why not put the cost of the roof into escrow"? Her initiative was a godsend. The closing proceeded smoothly and the roof was completed promptly. We shuddered to think of the less optimal outcome that might have occurred without the realtor stepping in!
33
We're moving from VA to NY. Our 7th move in 8 years. We have 3 little boys 7, 3, and 1. Wife's Dad comes down from MA to help!!
My wife by now is absolutely the best packer in the world. Her Dad has one job, keep an eye on the kids. You know the ramp the movers place between the truck and front steps, well wife looks out the window and the middle one is riding down the ramp having a good old time. Where's Dad, of course, shooting the breeze with the movers. Oh, and her Dad knows everything about moving having moved once from the tenement to a house two blocks away.
Movers are gone and we stay at a local hotel. Later that evening her Dad looks over at her and says I forgot my glasses, think their at the house. Sure enough they were left on a window sill.
Now thinking about moving and stress, 2 men, 3 little boys, and 1 wife/daughter. It's a wonder she maintained her sanity. This took place in 1972.
My wife by now is absolutely the best packer in the world. Her Dad has one job, keep an eye on the kids. You know the ramp the movers place between the truck and front steps, well wife looks out the window and the middle one is riding down the ramp having a good old time. Where's Dad, of course, shooting the breeze with the movers. Oh, and her Dad knows everything about moving having moved once from the tenement to a house two blocks away.
Movers are gone and we stay at a local hotel. Later that evening her Dad looks over at her and says I forgot my glasses, think their at the house. Sure enough they were left on a window sill.
Now thinking about moving and stress, 2 men, 3 little boys, and 1 wife/daughter. It's a wonder she maintained her sanity. This took place in 1972.
19
Avoid moving stress, easy, just do what my wife did, marry a guy in the moving business!
35
3 moves with family as a youngster.
19 moves, 4 states, as an adult.
I'm tired just thinking about packing & unpacking...
19 moves, 4 states, as an adult.
I'm tired just thinking about packing & unpacking...
13
I just moved 10 days ago from 15 years in Scottsdale to Austin. We listed the house early Feb thinking we would have time. The house sold a week after we listed it, and a week after I had knee replacement surgery. This was our 7th move in 37 years. I was initially so freaked out I thought I would croak, but as time went on (with sleeping pills...) I realized it was happening regardless of what was going on with me, so I just made lists and packed according to a schedule, also using movers. My dog and I drove 1250 miles, but we made it!
13
I've moved a number of times - some local, some a 100 miles away and the most recent, transcontinental. The older you are, the more stuff you accumulate. At some point, the friends and pizza means of moving will no longer work, for you or your friend.
The most stressful move was the one a few years ago - 7 houses down the street. I had 15 days to move out of the house and thought I could move all the little stuff by myself (in my Chrysler Sebring). The movers would just move the big stuff. The night before the move I was up until 1 am, packing, and got up at 6 am to do more. At 8 am, the movers showed up, look around the house and said, "We thought you would have been more organized." Fortunately, the kitchen knives were packed.
Find a good, reliable moving company. Research on line and ask friends. Have them do the packing of fragile items, like glasses, lamps, pictures, etc. if something is broken in the move, they won't be able to claim that the item was not properly packed. They also know how to fill boxes properly.
Get rid of stuff - clothes you haven't worn in years, books (except for ones you can't find on line), cheap souvenirs from trips - be brutal. Digitize your photos.
Hire cleaners to clean the house after you leave. It is painful to return to the old digs for cleaning, when you have a pile of boxes to be opened in the new place.
And if you are buying or selling, find a real estate agent, who is interested in you and the commission.
The most stressful move was the one a few years ago - 7 houses down the street. I had 15 days to move out of the house and thought I could move all the little stuff by myself (in my Chrysler Sebring). The movers would just move the big stuff. The night before the move I was up until 1 am, packing, and got up at 6 am to do more. At 8 am, the movers showed up, look around the house and said, "We thought you would have been more organized." Fortunately, the kitchen knives were packed.
Find a good, reliable moving company. Research on line and ask friends. Have them do the packing of fragile items, like glasses, lamps, pictures, etc. if something is broken in the move, they won't be able to claim that the item was not properly packed. They also know how to fill boxes properly.
Get rid of stuff - clothes you haven't worn in years, books (except for ones you can't find on line), cheap souvenirs from trips - be brutal. Digitize your photos.
Hire cleaners to clean the house after you leave. It is painful to return to the old digs for cleaning, when you have a pile of boxes to be opened in the new place.
And if you are buying or selling, find a real estate agent, who is interested in you and the commission.
23
I've lost track of how many moves I've made, domestic and international. I learned early on to not keep anything that I don't use regularly. Do I want my ex's favorite painting she gave me? Old, unstylish clothes? Out!! They love me at Goodwill. Uncluttered living also produces an uncluttered psyche. And yes, I'm planning to buy a house and move from my condo of 10 years, and truthfully it won't bother me.
26
I have moved my office three times in the last 7 years. My best advice is to start packing as soon as possible, to eliminate as much stuff as possible. Also get a PO box ahead of time, to change your mailing address.
12
My last move, which should have been the most stressful (breakup related), was actually the least. As I packed I gave several carloads of things to Goodwill, then put all my non essential keepers in a storage container to prep the house for sale. When the house sold all that was left to pack and move were the most needed items. On the other end I unpacked all the essentials then had the storage container delivered and unpacked those boxes at more my leisure. Highly recommended. Helps if your life is not in such flux that you don't have a plan for two months down the road.
30
More useful advice here than in the article! This is a great plan.
This wasn't an essay on avoiding the unavoidable stress of moving but a catharsis. Hope the author stays in his new digs for another ten years. Alternatively, he can start planning his next move now to avoid stress.
9
Completely agree. The article failed to live up to the promise of the headline.
59
Did you look at the byline or the accompanying photo? The author is a woman.
19
Have to disagree. The provided links are particularly helpful for choosing a moving company. It reflects the author's frustrating experiences and how to avoid making the same mistakes. Oh, and just a footnote - it was written by a "she" - not a he. Reading comprehension, like moving, involves quite a bit of detail.
10
My 30 year old niece has moved at least a dozen times, 3 countries and many states within America. She can write a book about moving. To her, its painful and tedious no matter how you do it. And her lesson is to keep things simple, live with less "stuff" and not get too attached to any place. In contrast we have lived our married lives in one state, for all of 30+ years, moving within state of MA. We helped our niece store her stuff while she was in transit and we gave her furniture to set up her temporary home in MA while she lived here. As much as we would have helped our own kids in her situation.
11
It always amazes me this bait and switch that happens with some NYT lifestyle articles where the title professes information on one thing and the article, while tangentially touching on what is mentioned in the title, really is just another clueless humble brag for really well off people to try and elicit sympathy for their truly non problematic lives.
It would have been helpful to mention the names of the moving companies that didn't deliver so at least we could know to be wary of them.
Some people would love to have a move where at the end the "major problem" to overcome could be solved with a dustpan, some refuse removal which the homeowners could afford and a 300 dollar piece of art is found.
It would have been helpful to mention the names of the moving companies that didn't deliver so at least we could know to be wary of them.
Some people would love to have a move where at the end the "major problem" to overcome could be solved with a dustpan, some refuse removal which the homeowners could afford and a 300 dollar piece of art is found.
139
Well, the fasle advertising o fthe headline doesn't help. And we know there is a backstory of a huge payout making this painful move very profitable!
3
Before I moved from Irvine, CA to Westport, CT in 1992, I happened upon a Phil Donahue episode about relocation. Phil's guest noted the top-to-bottom list of movers. Paul Arpin was far ahead of all other movers at #1 followed by United Van Lines (distant second at the time); Allied was a very distant third place.
I went with Paul Arpin Van Lines and could not have been better served. Not the cheapest estimate and invoice but, the lack of stress for a cross-country move counted big time.
I went with Paul Arpin Van Lines and could not have been better served. Not the cheapest estimate and invoice but, the lack of stress for a cross-country move counted big time.
The author and the New York Times would be inviting lawsuits if they named the moving companies who had performed poorly for people. That makes perfect sense. That is why the author advises you to get three bids from movers, and to check with the Better Business Bureau and the agency that regulates interstate transportation.
1
I suppose I am just lucky. I was able to buy a new house first and move before putting my old house on the market. That said, I had to triage 20 years of stuff, be brutal about what to get rid of, freecycle most of that, and then pack a full box truck's worth of what was left -- by myself -- my husband having died two years earlier. And no, your friends won't help you pack to move 500 miles away. I also lucked into a great moving company that doesn't subcontract and had fixed-rate pricing. And found a friend who was willing to make the drive with me with two cat carriers in the car in exchange for food and a flight home.
The most important thing one can do while moving is to keep in mind that stuff is just stuff. Be brutal with yourself when evaluating what you really and truly want and need. If it doesn't speak to you, toss it or Freecycle it and let someone else treasure it or let it clutter up THEIR house. (Freecycle.org is your friend. Find one in your area.) Moving is a fresh start. Make it as fresh as you can.
The most important thing one can do while moving is to keep in mind that stuff is just stuff. Be brutal with yourself when evaluating what you really and truly want and need. If it doesn't speak to you, toss it or Freecycle it and let someone else treasure it or let it clutter up THEIR house. (Freecycle.org is your friend. Find one in your area.) Moving is a fresh start. Make it as fresh as you can.
58
Very weak article and waste of time reading it. A lot of comments recommend drastic decluttering. First of all, one can use storage to sell the stuff, while the broker stages the home. One should always assess ones belongings regularly. However the author doesn't talk about family and friends who should have first dibs. If one has grandkids what is left from them, just photos?. I can see college kids donating IKEA garbage, but garage sales of good stuff or craigs list or even short term storage till one sorts things out is better. So, I don't suggest being brutal about what to get rid of. Traveling light is a good idea but decluttering meaningfull memories is not, unless one is too old to remember or miss them. There are buyers out there who think one man's garbage is another mans treasure.
7
I'd read a column about driving a long way with a dear friend and 2 cat carriers. Traveling with cats is dicey. My 2 Abbyssinians once yowled, shreiked and punched the bars on the carrier the whole way.
2
Pets are not always keen on being cooped up in a car for many hours on end. But, in my move from Irvine, CA to Durango, CO in 2008, my cat was quite comfortable snoozing on a pillow next to a window in my Honda CR-V for the entire 900 mile trip. While the litter box added a certain "dynamic" to the interior of the car, my cat was otherwise quite mellow about the whole adventure.
4
Appreciate the advice as I'm just getting ready to do this.
I'm sorry about your dog.
I'm sorry about your dog.
26
Do the research on interstate movers, there are some really bad ones out there. If you do the packing, get the best boxes you can and the bubble wrap which should be used liberally. Remember, your belongings may be loaded and unloaded 2-3 times from a truck to a dock to a truck and the loaders assume the contents are packed well. Moving grandma's china? The movers may not insure the china unless they pack it. The box with your daughters favorite dolls? It may be in a box on the bottom of 10 boxes, pack accordingly. Assume your belongings will be late. We lived in an empty house and slept on a borrowed air mattress for three weeks. There are government policies movers must follow, learn them and what claims you can make, not only for your belongings but for the movers being late. Obviously, get everything in writing and only deal with reputable, time tested ,moving companies.
45
Great advice and consistent with my experience.
2
My move from Irvine, CA to Westport, CT was about as stress-free as possible after choosing top-rated Paul Arpin Van Lines. I used them again for the return move to California eight years later. I have no idea their rating today but they were to best of the best back then.
3
Wow! Thanks for that great tip, re government policies.
1
Having moved numerous times, I have never had an issue with a mover as described in this article. Lucky? However for me the real stress of moving is not even mentioned; settling in longer distance moves- new doctors, new neighborhood, new schools, new connections to make, new geography, new everything. I've read it takes two to three years to feel at home in a new environment. That's if you're lucky. Some never fit.
76
I've moved many times, mostly within one town (so I don't have to find a new market, job and to get used to the map.) The two parts, however, which are the hardest for me are the limbo, where the pictures are off the walls, most comfortable things (blankies) are packed and no home exists anywhere -- and getting there and not being able to find things for weeks.
I like the suggestion in which you put one of each dish, mug, pot, cutlery, toothbrush, toothpaste, cooking pots, in a box; bedclothes and nightclothes in another and change of clothes in another, and you're all set! -- Add tea and coffee and nutrition bars.
The ideal, of course, is to have the moved-to house available in the same town for setting up in while breaking down in the other.
I like the suggestion in which you put one of each dish, mug, pot, cutlery, toothbrush, toothpaste, cooking pots, in a box; bedclothes and nightclothes in another and change of clothes in another, and you're all set! -- Add tea and coffee and nutrition bars.
The ideal, of course, is to have the moved-to house available in the same town for setting up in while breaking down in the other.
2
perhaps they'll post my comment arguing for moving all your stuff & unpacking in a frenzy - then you can collapse, comforted by your familiar furnishings, etc., in a new configuration ;) but otherwise silently telling you you're already "home"
I can really relate to this. I think no matter what it's stressful. The best advice I can give though is to downsize and eliminate clutter even prior to thinking about selling your home or moving from a rental. The less you have to pack and haul (and maybe pay to store) the easier and cheaper it will be.
I'm planning on moving out-of-state after my next upcoming home sale. After checking costs for even a small rental truck I've realized it doesn't pay to haul any furniture or stuff that can't fit in my car or be shipped in a box by mail. I figure that when I'm settled in my new location I'll just pick up stuff cheap from others doing the same thing; many of my things here are going to others who relocated with just what fit in their car so somehow it seems to be a fitting karmic process! At the end of the day though, it's mostly just stuff. Very little save precious photos and the like are truly irreplaceable or worth hauling long distances.
As long as I know where my coffee brewing stuff is, I'm good.........
I'm planning on moving out-of-state after my next upcoming home sale. After checking costs for even a small rental truck I've realized it doesn't pay to haul any furniture or stuff that can't fit in my car or be shipped in a box by mail. I figure that when I'm settled in my new location I'll just pick up stuff cheap from others doing the same thing; many of my things here are going to others who relocated with just what fit in their car so somehow it seems to be a fitting karmic process! At the end of the day though, it's mostly just stuff. Very little save precious photos and the like are truly irreplaceable or worth hauling long distances.
As long as I know where my coffee brewing stuff is, I'm good.........
31
Amen. French press travels well.
6
I was tempted to share this article with a friend who has recently moved, but I realized that to read it now might be, for her, like locking the proverbial barn after the stolen horse. While her move seemed relatively straightforward to me(her building has an elevator and she could afford professional movers to transport her stuff to a much bigger house) this change is always traumatic. And the fact that people move so infrequently almost guarantees a preponderance of bad actors in the industry. I mean, it isn't as if movers rely on repeat business.
12
As a young academic, I was a frequent mover, and one move taught me the best lesson of all about the stress of moving - to go with the flow as best as you can. A cross-country move to Vancouver did not go at all smoothly, and I was without most of my belongings for well over a month. I lived in a sparse apartment, with a suitcase-worth of clothes, a futon, a plastic patio table and two chairs, a phone, a radio, a coffee maker, and my favourite coffee mug. And I still remember that month vividly and fondly. I was thrown out of my comfort zone, and learned about myself and my relationship with material things. The simplicity gave me the mental space and quiet to slow down and think about life in a new way. I've moved several times since, and have been able to draw on the positives of that experience when the stress inevitably began to build.
61
Wonderful response! As a military kid, I remember the difficulties, and the fresh starts, involved in transfers-of-station. As an adult, I still seem to itch every five years for new horizons and a mental readjustment. It doesn't get easier as you age, but (sitting with packing boxes around me) I'm still trying. Working full-time while trying to close up a house is no fun, I just want to have a drink in the evening and read a good book. Both pretty good for stress, if not for moving.
10
My advice, especially if you are older, is bypass the moving company and rent a dumpster.
108
I have moved 19 times including cross country and to Europe. It helps to have very few possessions and to get rid of furniture on cross country moves. Most of my furniture comes apart, folds or otherwise can be consolidated into a smaller shape (so nesting storage boxes). In my experience you pack everything way ahead starting the day you call the movers and set aside critical papers and valuables in colored boxes which you alone handle. The worst move was within the Boston area where finding a short term rental was nearly impossible and leases are 12 months following the student year. The solution to that move was very costly and it would have been cheaper to put things in long term storage.
15
I read this while standing outside the door to my apartment which, currently, has four movers packing up the life I love for one I don't know anything about. Thank you for making me feel less alone in my stress.
48
I'm not clear what the promised ways to avoid stress are? I think this should have been headlined "Moving can be hard - my example".
191
This happens when the person who writes the headline isn't the one who writes the story.
3
She did offer some constructive advice: how to go about getting a mover. The mover is hands down the most stressful part of the process: so many are sloppy, shysters and worse, and you are trusting them with a lifetime's worth of your stuff.
You are otherwise correct, though. Not much else here.
You are otherwise correct, though. Not much else here.
We are interviewing 3 different well-known NJ interstate movers right now. 2 offered a legally binding quote (its a state law that movers can offer a binding quote or a nonbinding quote). I asked the 3rd mover if his quote was binding and he scoffed and said no. But I had to ask the question to get the answer. Most folks wouldnt know about any of that. Obviously the binding quote offers considerable peace of mind, especially if the moving company is established. Get it all in writing and read it carefully.
Over the phone quotes are a HUGE mistake. Make them come and inventory your stuff.
Yelp reviews for movers will get you nowhere. Even the larger moving companies involve affiliates and franchises so the reviews you see dont apply to your actual mover.
Throw out or give away cheap stuff BEFORE you move. Why move stuff that is cheap and easily replaced? Less boxes to move simplifies everything.
Over the phone quotes are a HUGE mistake. Make them come and inventory your stuff.
Yelp reviews for movers will get you nowhere. Even the larger moving companies involve affiliates and franchises so the reviews you see dont apply to your actual mover.
Throw out or give away cheap stuff BEFORE you move. Why move stuff that is cheap and easily replaced? Less boxes to move simplifies everything.
35
Nice essay... yet here I sit, five minutes after reading it, still wondering how the heck she happens to own a dynamite crate!
52
Well written, but I wish there was a little more preparation-based substance. When my mother moved from Iowa to Tennessee, I sent her a two page bullet list guide that included what to pack in the "first to open" boxes (TP is on top), how soon to finalize movers, how to pack (shake the box once it's packed - if it clinks, re-wrap it), etc. She told me after they got settled in that all the preparation saved them tons of stress.
38
Cute. Made me laugh! When we moved to VT in 1969 people could buy dynamite at the furniture store of all places!
15
In the meantime, I have engaged an organizer to help me downsize. I have already decluttered all closets and the bedroom. Saving kitchen for last.
I will use a real estate agent instead of doing this myself.
But I am sure there are more things to know, so I will have to find the time to peruse 178 comments when one good article would have sufficed.
btw are you the same writer who wrote about losing her dog? If so I was also looking for what would have been the best thing to say to people instead I got a list of what not to say, so I will just hug and say sorry. You seem to follow a pattern that doesn't match the title of your pieces.