It does not matter what university you go to, theft is everywhere. If you talk to senior students, campus security and local police, they will tell you that the crime rate in the area goes up the week before classes start, and the entire first week they are in session. Not only will some other students steal when given the opportunity, there are thieves who know there is a new batch of students coming in with laptops and name brand clothes. A thief can make a fortune during this time just picking up a few things here and there, and since students are walking around everywhere carrying things while they move in, they fit right in. You don’t have to become a victim though. There are a few things you can do to protect yourself from theft in the dorms.

Don’t Leave Your Car Open

It can be tempting to just leave the doors of your car unlocked and the trunk open while you are carrying boxes in your dorm, but this is not a good idea. You are essentially just begging for someone to help themselves. It literally only takes few extra seconds to close the trunk or unlock doors on each trip. If you did hire movers, make sure that someone stays with the moving truck at all times, because they will likely need to leave the door open. Read more…

You may not give much thought to your candle collection, but these are items that can ruin quite easily during a move. Candles are not cheap, especially if you buy the nice soy ones with a lead-free wick, so they are environmentally friendly. The last thing you want is to be forced to replace all of them when you get to your new home because they all ruined. Not to mention, if they melt, they won’t be the only things ruined in the box.

Packing the Candles

You don’t want to just toss the candles in a box with pieces of art or other décor. Ideally, all the candles in your home will go in one box. It is a good idea to gather them all together to see how large of a box you will need. Choose a box that is not all that much bigger than the collection so there is less risk of them moving around. If you have glass jars or large three pillar candles, then you will need a heavy duty box to support the weight. If you have mostly votives and tea lights that weigh next to nothing, they may all fit in that old shoe box you still have stored in your closet for an unknown reason.  Read more…

In a perfect world, you would not have to move at all from the time your baby is born until they are grown up and either on their own or off to college. Packing and moving with children can be challenge, especially younger kids who are old enough to understand what’s going on. You may not believe it, but it does not have to be the headache that you are imagining. Use this guide and you may make it through the move without having a meltdown of your own.

Family Meeting

If you have not already told them about the move prior to reading this, then now is as good of a time as any to break the news. If you are staying in the same city and school district then it probably won’t be a big deal. They will get to stay with their friends and go to the same dance academy and play on the same softball team. If you are moving out of the area then it might take a little work on your part to convince them of how spectacular the new city is. There are even books at the library that you can check out for them to read about moving.  Read more…

It does not matter if you are renting a truck and handling the move with friends or if you hire movers, you don’t want to see anyone injured during the process. Keep in mind that you may know exactly where to step over the uneven sidewalk, but that does not mean someone helping you won’t end up tripping over it while carrying boxes, and become seriously hurt. Following these tips will help ensure that your moving day goes as smooth as possible.

• Weight Check – Just because there is more room in a box does not mean you should keep loading stuff in it. Boxes should not exceed 50 pounds. It does not matter how strong you are, when you are lifting heavy boxes over and over again all day, it will take a toll on your body. Also, if there are a lot of stairs at either location, you may want to make the boxes even a little lighter than this. It is better for someone to make a few extra trips than throw their back out.  Read more…

Moving abroad can be exciting, but it can also be very stressful, especially if you are not fully prepared. When you move down the road, chances are good that your utilities transfer, and without a doubt, your currency will still be good. Plus, you can make a few trips back and forth as needed. When you make an international move you only have once chance to get it right.

Double Check Paperwork

First of all, if you don’t have a passport already that will be your first task to take care of. You are not going anywhere until you get this in the mail, so don’t wait until the last minute. Understand though that you are going to need more than a travel passport. Depending on your destination, you may need to apply for a visa and fill out additional documents to become a resident. You will also need to find out if specific vaccinations are needed. Make sure when you do make the move that you have several copies of everything. Keep one with your belongings, one in your travel bag, and one on you, just in case something happens to the original. You should also have an alternative form of identification on you. Read more…

Whether you are trying to make sure you get back every last penny of your security deposit, or if you are moving into a place that desperately needs scrubbing from top to bottom, you may need a little a little help with stains. You better believe that your landlord will take money off your return for crayon on the wall or oil on the driveway. Not to mention, if the stains are at the new place, it will probably make your skin crawl every time you look at them, not knowing the story behind them.

Carpet

You may not even notice that nail polish, red wine or Kool-Aid stain anymore, but that does not mean that someone else won’t. Unfortunately, a carpet cleaner probably won’t remove it either. Ideally, you will know what the stain is, or you may need to go through a trial and error phase.  Read more…

You’ve moved and left behind everyone you know. You quickly realize just how much you’ll miss them (or how little). But after you’ve unpacked all of your boxes, put your photos on the walls, and made sure you filed your change of address it hits you:  You no longer have access to your favorite haunts. Rectifying that is easy, and can actually be fun, though.

Find the Best Pizza Joint

Sure, we all have our favorite national chain, but nothing compares to the pie that comes from your favorite local pizzeria. They’re all different, and what you loved about your old joint just won’t be replicated anywhere else. But that doesn’t mean you can’t find another pie that you love just as much (or even more). Read more…

Many people move without thoroughly investigating the utilities they’ll be responsible for. In other situations, you may simply have no choice. If you’re moving into a home with oil heat, this could result in a very nasty surprise. Oil heat is expensive.

Sure, we should be doing everything we can to minimize our energy consumption, but it becomes even more important when you have oil heat. With prices approaching four dollars per gallon, it can become terribly difficult to keep up with the expense, especially when you haven’t budgeted for it.

Even a small home can burn though oil at an alarming rate. Use these tips to help that expensive oil last longer, or at least make oil heat more affordable. Read more…

Sharing a house with some roommates seems fun and exciting the first time you do it. It usually doesn’t take long to realize, though, that your friends are much more enjoyable when you don’t see them around the clock. Different habits, living styles, and schedules can make the entire experience less than desirable. Use these tips to help make sure things are as easy to bear as possible.

Avoid Living with Friends All Together

This might not always be possible. Your situation may dictate that you move in with someone you already know, and you might be helpless to change that. If you have the choice, though, opt for roommates that you don’t already know very well. It will make it much easier for you to maintain your friendships, and you won’t feel “guilty” when you have to enforce the house rules. Read more…

When you’re moving, you hope everything goes as smoothly as possible. If you’ve taken your time to find and evaluate the movers you’ve chosen to work with, you might even feel completely at ease. But even the best movers in the world might end up experiencing an accident that causes your things to get lost or broken. That’s what moving insurance is for.

Insurance is always tricky business, though, and that’s particularly true when it comes to moving. There are different types of insurance, and each has its own nuances, limitations, and regulations. Read the rest of this article to find out what you need to know. Read more…