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.

The Types of Moving Insurance

There are a few different types of moving insurance you can purchase:

1. Full value protection
2. Released value
3. Third party insurance

Understanding how each of these work is important if you want to choose the right type of insurance.

Full Value Protection

This type of insurance is offered by the mover, and is the typically the most expensive. If any items are lost or broken, you’ll be reimbursed for them. There is, however, one notable exception: most movers only required to reimburse $100 for items with a value of more than $100. To avoid finding yourself in this situation, make sure you check through the fine print and declare any items of extraordinary value.

With full value protection the moving company will be required to repair, replace, or provide a cash settlement for the lost or damaged goods.

Release Value

Many movers offer this insurance at no cost, but it is extremely minimal. Movers are required to reimburse sixty cents per pound for any items that are lost or damaged. For instance, if your MacBook Air was lost during the move, you would only receive $0.60, even though it cost close to $2,000. If you can afford to upgrade to full value protection or acquire third party insurance, it’s highly recommended that you do so.

Third Party Insurance

Most major insurance providers have options for movers. How the policies work, what your rights are, and how you file a claim varies from one to the next. These policies can be expensive, but they’re also likely to result in a full compensation if something is lost, damaged, or stolen during your move.

There’s also a chance that your homeowner’s insurance policy covers moves, so be sure to check the documentation thoroughly before paying for a new policy. Since the laws governing moves can vary from state to state, be sure to check them out, especially if you’re moving to a new state.

In All Cases, Documentation is Essential

Whether you opt for full value, release value, or third party insurance, it’s important that you list all of your possessions, with special attention paid to the more valuable items. This list might even be required if you’ve opted for third party insurance. Because of the provisions requiring the declaration of items of extraordinary value, no one is going to remind you to list your items when you’ve opted for full value insurance.

If you’re not moving across the country, you might feel it’s easiest to just notify the utility companies and have them transferred. This often involves service charges for disconnecting and reconnecting your utilities, and in some cases can even result in double deposits. There is a better way, though, to transfer your utilities – and they can result in savings, too.

These tips can help you save money on the following utilities:

1. Telephone service
2. High speed internet
3. Television

Step 1: Check on New Customer Discounts

Before contacting your utility provider, hop on the web and search for new customer discounts. Many providers offer services that can be bundled together, allowing you to save a lot of money. Find any that you can, and keep a list. You’ll need this for step three.

Step 2: Check with Competitors, Too

Instead of just sticking with the same old providers you’ve always had, check into the services provided by any competitors. You might find some good deals on the web, but you’ll be better served by picking up the phone and giving them a call. Tell them that you’ve been using the other provider for quite some time, but are moving and interested in their services.

You might be surprised to find out that you’ll receive very aggressive introductory rates and special deals. You might even have any installation fees waived, which can help save a large bit of money. Write down any offers you’re given, just as you did in the previous step.

Step 3: Compare Rates and Make More Calls

Now that you can see what options are available, it’s time to get to work. Start by calling your existing provider, explain that you’re moving, and share the best offer you received from their competitor. Explain that you’ve been happy with their service so far, but have to keep an eye on your finances. Don’t be surprised when they come up with an even better offer than any that you’ve found online.

You’ll make one more call, after this, to the competing service provider. Simply explain that your current provider is fighting hard to keep your business, but you wanted to give them “one more chance.” They may come up with an even better deal than was shared the first time around.

You’ll now know how to get the best possible deal, and may have even had connection and disconnection fees waived in the process.

Step 4: Ask for Freebies

After you’ve found the best possible rates, it’s time to see if you can get anything more out of the deal. All you have to do is ask. Say something like, “I’m really considering you guys, but the other offer is just so similar, and I’m not sure why I shouldn’t just go with that one, instead. Maybe you can throw something extra in there to help me make a decision?”

None of this will work if you aren’t willing to put in a little bit of effort, take good notes, and make a few calls, though. If you’re happy spending more on your utilities than you need to, though, feel free to skip out on the advice!

Unless you’re a “professional mover,” you probably had no idea who to hire to help with your move. You went through the stressful experience of calling various companies, reviewing their prices and policies, and finally making your choice. But even with all of that due diligence, there’s still a chance that you were a bit nervous throughout the entire process.

Moving isn’t easy, whether you decide to do it on your own or hire someone else. You can help others minimize their stress, though, by taking a few minutes to review the company you hired after the move is complete.

Reviews Help Those Moving Find the Best and Avoid the Rest

Imagine if you could have just hopped online and picked the best mover based on the recommendations of others. It would have made it a lot easier for you to know who to contact and who to avoid. While plenty of people are already using online services to review moving companies, far more never even bother. Of those who are compelled to do so, most have had negative experiences.

Review your movers whether you’ve had a great experience or a horrifying experience, and be as detailed as possible. Share your feelings on the level of service you received, as well as the overall value of hiring this particular company.

Good Reviews Help Good Moving Companies

Moving company fraud is such a big deal that the United States government has actually created a website to help educate movers about the problem. But by reviewing the movers who provided a pleasant experience, you’re doing your part, too. If a moving company has 100 or more positive reviews, then it will be rather easy for a consumer to see that they’re probably a good choice. Companies with fewer reviews (especially those fly-by-night operations) are more likely to be overlooked, helping to funnel tons of business to the best movers.

Don’t Forget to Mention Exceptional Employees!

If you had a particularly fantastic experience with a specific employee, be sure to mention them in the review, too. Movers often receive tips, and the best workers should be receiving more opportunities. These mentions may also help them receive a promotion where they work, so be sure to share a positive word if it was earned.

File a Complaint If It Was Really Bad

If you think you’ve been scammed, or feel that the service you received from your moving company was absolutely unacceptable, then you might want to look into filing a complaint with the Department of Transportation (who oversees licensed movers). Most people fail to realize that the option is even available.

If you don’t, you’re simply contributing to the problem of fraudulent moving companies. By taking the time to make the call or file a report online, you’re contributing to a trail of documentation that can help put the bad guys out of business. No one wants to deal with a nightmare move, and if you were unfortunate enough to have done so, then filing a complaint can help spare others the same fate in the future.

Moving with children can be tough. You’re asking them to leave behind everything they’re familiar with and hoping they’ll adapt well to their new environment. It can be even tougher, though, if they’re leaving behind some close friends. It’s also tough on you, too, since everyone you’ve come to know and trust is still “back home.”

But if you have children, it’s a lot easier to adjust to your new neighborhood than you might realize. Setting up a few play dates will not only allow your kids to make some new friends, but you will, too!

Finding Opportunities for Play Dates

Obviously, if your children are in school, it’s easy to set up play dates. If not, you might want to use a site like MeetUp.com, where you can find groups for just about anything you can imagine. If you go this route, check out the details of the group thoroughly and carefully before committing to a meeting. You don’t want to be surprised to find that what you thought was a play date was really just a sleazy attempt to sell you on the latest network marketing racket.

Play Date Awkwardness

One of the strangest things you’ll experience is the awkward feeling you get when it comes time to actually ask another parent about setting up a play date. You’ll have butterflies in your stomach, your palms will start to sweat, and you’ll start rationalizing why it might be a bad idea to proceed. It feels like you’re back in high school, asking that cute boy if he wants to go get a milkshake.

Relax! Just ask, and you’ll be pleasantly surprised to find out that the other parents are just as eager for a play date as you are. It’s good for their children, but it’s also good for them. While the kids are off playing, you get to take a break, chit chat, and relax for a moment.

Where to Meet: Your Place or Theirs?

If you’re new in town, it’s generally considered good etiquette to host the first play date. This might be difficult, though, if you’re still busy unpacking. There are plenty of other opportunities, though, including the local park. If you’re not sure of the best place to host the date, just ask the other parents. They’ve been living in the area and already know.

Also, if you’re still unpacking your fellow parents will understand. Remember, they have kids of the same age as yours and know just how tough it can be to juggle all of your responsibilities.

Take Some Time to Learn Play Date Etiquette

Play dates can be a little weird. You can have vastly different kids and vastly different parenting styles. To avoid any unnecessary awkwardness or uneasiness, check out this guide to play dates, hosted by Berkley. It covers tips on everything ranging from invitations to discipline.

Above all, just remember that you’re on this play date so that you and your child can socialize, have a good time, and get to know someone else in the neighborhood.

Whenever it’s time to move out of a rental tensions can get a little high. You have no idea if your landlord is going to play fair and actually return your security deposit. Seeing as it’s usually equal to a few months rent, there’s a lot of money on the line. With a few simple tips, though, you can significantly improve your chances of receiving it in full.

Document Everything When First Moving In

It might be a little late to do this with your current rental, but keep it in mind for the future. Take pictures of the every square inch of your rental when you’re moving in and document any problems you identify. If possible, ask your landlord to sign off on this statement. It will make it virtually impossible for less-than-honest landlords to pull any funny business if you leave the place in the same condition you found it.

Clean the Place Thoroughly

Not cleaning your entire rental before moving out is a surefire way to have a flustered, disappointed landlord. If they have to hire a cleaning crew to come through and shampoo the carpets, scrub the toilets, and clean the walls, you can be sure that they’re going to deduct the cost from your security deposit. It shouldn’t take more than an hour or two to get the place in reasonable shape, and it’s the easiest way to make sure you get your cash back.

Ask for a Receipt when Returning Keys

Failing to return your keys forces the landlord to change all of the locks in the property, which can get rather expensive. To avoid deductions from your security deposit, be sure to get a receipt when you hand them in. At the same time, ask the landlord to look through your property and also sign off that everything is in good standing. This documentation can prove significantly helpful if your landlord tries to keep any money that they have no right to claim.

Use Certified Mail to Avoid Delays

Unless your landlord returns your deposit on the spot, you’re going to be waiting anywhere from two to four weeks before you get it back. If it isn’t there when you expect it, send your landlord a certified letter asking when it will arrive. This will not only serve as verifiable proof that you’ve been communicating with your landlord regarding the matter, but also show him or her that they need to take action quickly.

Be Polite and Considerate

If you’ve lived in your place for any considerable amount of time, there’s almost certainly something that your landlord could ding you for. How you behave and treat your landlord will determine whether or not they’re willing to overlook the small things. Sure, spite should never be a reason for withholding a portion of your deposit, but it often is. If you’ve been a great tenant and remain polite even after moving out, your landlord will be far less likely to nitpick and try and keep some of your cash.

When you move, you realize just how much stuff you have. Gathering it all up, sorting it out, and packing it in boxes might even make you realize that you don’t need much of it. Parting with some things can be difficult, though, and you’re probably thinking that you should get more organized. Moving provides you with a clean slate that will allow you to master the art of organization. But if you accumulated so much clutter and got disorganized in the first place, you’ll probably need the help of a professional to do so successfully.

Picking the Right Professional Organizer

There are no laws or regulations dictating who can and can’t claim to be a professional organizer. There are certifications and national organizations, though. Look for organizers that are a member of the National Association of Professional Organizers, or the Institute for Challenging Disorganization to be sure you’re working with a real pro.

Additionally, be sure to ask the right questions when hiring a pro. You’ll want to know what they can help you with, how they charge, and if they have any specialties. Picking the right organizer is essential to ensuring a simple, smooth process. Picking the wrong organizer can leave you worse off.

A Professional Organizer Can Help You Downsize

Before you even start packing up, consider bringing in a professional organizer. They can help you figure out what to get rid of, as well as how to pack everything in a way that makes it super simple to unload at your new place. This is far more helpful for people moving into a smaller place, since you won’t have the room to hang on to keep all of your things. It’s also a lot easier to get rid of the things you don’t need when you have someone with an objective point of view.

You’ll Learn How to Get and Stay Organized

We all have our own ways of doing things, including how we organize our stuff. But most of us just aren’t doing it as well as we could. Whether you work with a professional before, during, or after your move, you’re sure to learn techniques that will actually help you stay organized for the long term. This is particularly helpful for someone who has become disorganized because of a disorder, such as ADHD.

You’ll Reduce Your Stress Significantly

Being disorganized can bring a lot of stress into your life. By hiring a professional, you’re nearly certain to eliminate much of that. If you view your move as an opportunity for a fresh start, it can be far more liberating than you first thought.

Committing to getting and staying organized is easy. Actually going through the process can prove to be virtually impossible. Since you’re in the process of packing up and transferring your stuff, there really is no better time to consider working with a professional. Once you’ve got everything in order, you’ll feel a lot better, and you’ll probably even like your new place a lot more than you thought you would.

When you move, the first thing you probably do is file a change of address with the US post office. That will help to ensure that most of your mail will be forwarded to your new address for six months. But after that, you’re on your own. Filing a change of address with the post office is necessary, but certainly isn’t all you need to do.

Use this guide to help make sure you update your address with all of the right places.

Don’t Forget Other Members of the Household

When you fill out the form to register your change of address with the post office, it’s important that you get your old and new address right. But if you only list your name, then no one else will have their mail forwarded. Be sure to list the name of everyone who is moving, including your spouse and children, to make sure their mail is forwarded, too.

Keep a List of All Forwarded Mail

It can be tough to figure out which organizations you need to contact to update your address. The simplest way to do this is by collecting all of the mail that’s forwarded to your new address. Make it a point to file your change of address with each organization as quickly as possible, and then add their name to a list.

If you receive one or two more pieces of forwarded mail from an organization on that list, don’t sweat it. But anything beyond that is cause for concern. Pick up the phone and check to make sure they’ve actually updated your address, and have them correct it if they haven’t.

Don’t Forget Friends and Family Members

Unless you want some stranger buying beer with the $25 granny sent you for your birthday, make sure you let all of your friends and family members know of your new address. While we often remember to do so with the companies that send us bills, we tend to forget to do so with our loved ones.

Contact the DMV Promptly if You Move to a New State

Most states require you to register your address and transfer your license within thirty days if you’re moving from out of state. Failing to do so can result in serious repercussions, not just with the DMV, but with your insurance provider and the financial institution that owns your loan. Be sure to get to the DMV and get everything transferred over as quickly as possible after moving in to avoid any headaches.

Don’t Forget Old Employers

When tax time comes, your old employers will mail out a W2. With the economy being what it is, it’s possible that you’ve had more than one employer in the last twelve months. The last thing you want to find out when filing your taxes is that you never received documentation from one of last year’s employers. Be sure you contact all of them and update your address as soon as you move to avoid a serious headache.

When we move, we often fail to realize just how entrenched we’ve become in our old city. After spending years living in the same area, you’ve come to know and rely on certain professionals, but you probably didn’t even think about how important they are to your life when you planned your move.

Who are you going to call when you find out that your dog just ate a pound of chocolate? What if you want to go out on a date with your spouse – do you have a babysitter available? What if the air conditioner stops working, or the hot water heater gives up the ghost?

When you live in the same area for a long period of time, you accumulate a list of trusted professionals that you can turn to whenever these situations arise. When you move to a new area, though, you’re completely out of luck – you don’t know who to turn to, let alone who to trust.

Print this list out and be sure to document contact information for all of these “need-to-know” people.

• Family doctor (you may need to work with your insurance company on this one)
• Dentist
• Veterinarian
• Plumber
• Electrician
• HVAC technician
• Florist
• Mechanic
• Babysitter

Finding the Right Professionals

You may think you can just turn to the phonebook when you find yourself in need of one of these professionals. That’s a big mistake. You won’t know who you can trust, but you’ll be in a rush to find someone to help with an emergency. Instead of waiting (and leaving yourself vulnerable to shoddy or overpriced service), take the time to find the right professionals to help when the time comes.

There are two approaches you can use to pick the best options in your area:

1. Turn to online services, like Angie’s List, who provide reviews of local contractors
2. Ask your neighbors who they use

Asking your neighbors is probably the better option, though. After all, you’re going to have to get to know them at some point, and asking them who they use for these services is the perfect excuse to strike up a conversation.

You’re also likely to find the best local contractors and service providers by checking with your neighbors. In some cases, it could even lead to discounted services (but don’t hold your breath).

First Contact

It’s a good idea to contact your future service providers before you even need their help. Use this as an opportunity to introduce yourself and learn more about their rates, procedures, and guarantees. This will also give you a chance to ask for more references.

Be sure to mention the name of the person who referred you, and ask if there are any discounts available for new customers or repeat customers. Even if the discounts are only available for existing customers, ask if there’s any way for you to take advantage of them. Most small business owners will be happy to extend these promotions to you – especially since you’re reaching out to them and asking to become their customer.

Whether it’s the first home you’ve purchased, or you hope it will be your last, you’re almost certain to find several things that you’ll want to change. But, remodeling a home that you’re just moving into can be tricky. Follow these tips to make the move and the remodeling project flow together as smoothly as possible.

Painting, Wallpapering, and Tiling the Walls

While this isn’t necessarily a remodeling project, it’s something that most homeowners will want to do when they first move in. Have the movers put all of your things in the middle of the room, leaving the walls free of clutter. Paint the bedrooms first, so you’ll be able to start sleeping in them right away.

After the bedrooms are finished, move on to the kitchen, then the bathrooms, and finally the other areas of your home. Doing them in this order will allow you to start using each area of your new home as quickly as possible. Make sure you pick the right paints for each room, too. They’re not all created the same, and some are easier to clean (and maintain) than others.

Flooring and Carpeting

If you’ve made major changes to the walls, you might also be thinking about making major changes to the flooring. It can be rather difficult to refinish wood floors or replace carpeting while you’re actively living in the home. But, you want to handle these renovations after you’ve painted the walls to avoid ruining them with paint splatters.

Schedule these projects before you complete any large amount of unpacking. This will make it easier to move your belongings between rooms, which will be necessary to complete any changes to the flooring in your home.

Finishing the Basement and Other Major Renovations

When you first move into a new home, you may find yourself with grand dreams of how you can change the place to be perfect for your family. Avoid the temptation to make any major changes to any of the areas in your home until you’ve had a chance to live in it for at least a few months.

You might be surprised to find that things you originally thought you would dislike come to grow on you. Each home has its own unique characteristics. By waiting to proceed with larger renovations, you’ll give yourself an opportunity to understand how the home “flows.”

You might find that the seemingly unbearable layout of the kitchen is far more functional than you first thought.

When it comes to finishing the basement, you’ll want to take your time. It should be the very last remodeling project you undertake, too. Once you’ve unpacked your belongings you’ll have a chance to actually see how much of the basement’s square footage is dedicated to storage, allowing you to plan the basement renovations far more effectively.

Always Consider Curb Appeal

One of the major mistakes made by those new to homeownership is handling renovations that don’t actually increase the value of the home. If your goal is to refurbish the home and eventually flip it for a profit, be sure to learn which remodeling projects actually increase your curb appeal (and therefore, the resale value of your home).

With current economic situations being what they are, many people are looking for opportunities to cut their monthly expenses. While there are plenty of ways to trick the cable company into giving you a discounted fee, most of your utility bills aren’t budging in any direction except upwards. They also tend to comprise the smallest portion of your monthly expenses.

Your mortgage payment or rent probably makes up the largest portion of your monthly outlay, typically ranging from 30% to 50% of your income. While it may prove difficult to sell your home, doing so and downsizing to a smaller place can help you save money each month.

But What About All of My Stuff?

You’ve undoubtedly accumulated a lot of possessions over the years that have sentimental value. Some may even have cash value, as can be the case with precious collectibles. Chances are, though, most of the stuff you’ve got lying around is hardly ever used.

The first step to downsizing is eliminating all of that excess junk that you’re just too attached to. Whatever’s left can be stashed away in an inexpensive, climate controlled storage unit.

Doing the Math to Ensure it All Adds Up

Of course, downsizing your living space involves a lot more than crunching some numbers, but that’s where you’ll want to start. All of the planning and effort that goes into coordinating a move just won’t make sense if it doesn’t result in the reduction of expenses you’re hoping for.

Start by checking out sites like Craigslist.org, or Realtor.com to find potential properties that you can rent or purchase. This will give you a fair idea of how much money you can save on your housing expenses each month.

Next, look into the cost of local storage facilities. Different sized units will have different costs, and sometimes you can get a discount if you’re able to prepay for a one-year agreement.

If the cost of rent (or mortgage payments) at the new space plus the cost of storage is at least a few hundred dollars less than what you’re paying for living expenses now, it might make sense to move.

The Difficulties of Selling Your Home

In some cases, you might find it virtually impossible to sell your home. Even if it’s easy to do so, you might hesitate when it comes to giving up the investments you’ve made in your home.

While we can’t provide any solid advice on helping you with either of these situations, your local realtors can. In some cases, homeowners have opted to rent their property to those who need a larger space to eliminate the expense without actually giving up their investment.

They rent a smaller, far more affordable unit, and when they have enough equity (and a buyer interested in purchasing at the asking price) they finally let the property go. Of course, this is a far more complex process than this article can cover, which is why it makes sense to discuss the entire process with a realtor you trust.