Comments on: Moving long distance doesn’t have to be a pain http://www.themovingplanner.com/long-distance-moving/moving-long-distance-doesnt-have-to-be-a-pain "Moving should be made as simple as possible, with no hidden costs or surprises." Sat, 17 May 2008 07:27:07 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2 By: Alexia Schulz http://www.themovingplanner.com/long-distance-moving/moving-long-distance-doesnt-have-to-be-a-pain#comment-15725 Alexia Schulz Mon, 18 Feb 2008 06:39:27 +0000 http://www.themovingplanner.com/long-distance-moving/moving-long-distance-doesnt-have-to-be-a-pain#comment-15725 Preparing for a long distance move can be daunting, but it is incredibly important to begin planning 3 to 4 months in advance to budget effectively and avoid costly last-minute mistakes. When my family recently moved from California to New Jersey, we executed several stages of planning to make sure we were comfortable while still spending conservatively. Stage One ============ Decide how to accomplish the move, and establish a budget. The first major choice is to decide between a do-it-yourself (DITY) move in a rented moving van, hiring professional movers, or selling everything and buying new stuff upon arrival. The next decision is whether to bring the car(s), or sell them and buy new ones. The third major decision is whether to drive or fly. These three decisions are entangled in terms of the total cost of the move: for example if you drive the cars yourself, you don't need to ship the cars (but you do need gas), and if you rent a moving van you don't need to pay the movers and you can tow the car (but oh yeah, you still need gas). These decisions are the major cost drivers in the move. Don't forget to include details like hotels and meals, and depreciation of the car if you drive it. Also estimate the dollar value of your time spent in a DITY move. Make a grid of all the possible options and estimate the cost of each. In doing so, you will also reach a lower limit on the moving budget. Begin this stage early (as many as 6 months before you move), so as to have an extra couple of months to save up money. Stage Two ============ Make arrangements in advance: Buy airline tickets, arrange to transport any pets (via airplane a week or so after you move), make arrangements with the movers to collect your belongings, and make arrangements to ship or sell your cars. Be sure to shop around, the price of one organization can be 3 or 4 times as expensive as another. We hired movers and saved a lot of money by using California-New York express, who allow you to share a moving van with other people who are moving at the same time. This is a great option if you don't have a lot of stuff, they charge around $5.00 per cubic foot. One important detail if you opt to hire movers: have them pack the dishes and anything else breakable, because they will only insure items they pack themselves. Get insurance, there will be damage. Stage Three ============ Pack up your stuff. If you've hired movers to pack your things, make a list of things that go and things that stay. If you pack most of your own belongings, keep an inventory: number your boxes and keep a list of what is in each box. If you have movers, you can tell them in which room to place each box, which really helps when unpacking later. Also if they lose stuff you can identify what is missing. Throw away or donate to charity anything you are not attached to, the less junk you take the better. Use this opportunity to de-clutter your life. Remember to reserve some clothing and supplies that you will need while traveling or immediately upon arrival, it's difficult to find exactly the right box when all the boxes look the same. Stage Four ============ Leave your old place. After the movers come, throw a goodbye party and use it as an excuse to give away items you no longer need. Put little post-it stickies that say "Take Me Home" on everything you don't want anymore. Then take whatever remains to your favorite charity. Travel safely, and read a good book. It'll be your last chance to relax for a while! Stage Five ============ Unpack and settle in. After you've arrived, make sure to leave at least a week to unpack fully and buy supplies before jumping into your new life. It is much easier to get organized and unpacked all at once, rather than let it drag out over weeks and months while simultaneously juggling your new job(s). Be sure to include in the budget an allowance for initial expenses: we referred to this as the soy sauce fund. Lots of items such as cleaning supplies, bath mats, kitty litter, spices, shampoo, etc. will likely be needed right off the bat. We budgeted around $1000 for this, spent more like $2500. That's a lot of soy sauce, but for a family of 4 (plus 1 cat) I learned it can't be done for much less. Plan for this ahead of time to avoid accumulating credit card debt. Stage Six ============ Get Social! Throw a house warming party and invite your new neighbors and coworkers. What better way to get to know your new environment? Throughout the moving process remain flexible, plan ahead, stick to a budget, and maintain a sense of perspective: it will all be over in a few more months. Good luck! Preparing for a long distance move can be daunting, but it is incredibly important to begin planning 3 to 4 months in advance to budget effectively and avoid costly last-minute mistakes. When my family recently moved from California to New Jersey, we executed several stages of planning to make sure we were comfortable while still spending conservatively.

Stage One
============
Decide how to accomplish the move, and establish a budget. The first major choice is to decide between a do-it-yourself (DITY) move in a rented moving van, hiring professional movers, or selling everything and buying new stuff upon arrival. The next decision is whether to bring the car(s), or sell them and buy new ones. The third major decision is whether to drive or fly. These three decisions are entangled in terms of the total cost of the move: for example if you drive the cars yourself, you don’t need to ship the cars (but you do need gas), and if you rent a moving van you don’t need to pay the movers and you can tow the car (but oh yeah, you still need gas). These decisions are the major cost drivers in the move. Don’t forget to include details like hotels and meals, and depreciation of the car if you drive it. Also estimate the dollar value of your time spent in a DITY move. Make a grid of all the possible options and estimate the cost of each. In doing so, you will also reach a lower limit on the moving budget. Begin this stage early (as many as 6 months before you move), so as to have an extra couple of months to save up money.

Stage Two
============
Make arrangements in advance: Buy airline tickets, arrange to transport any pets (via airplane a week or so after you move), make arrangements with the movers to collect your belongings, and make arrangements to ship or sell your cars. Be sure to shop around, the price of one organization can be 3 or 4 times as expensive as another. We hired movers and saved a lot of money by using California-New York express, who allow you to share a moving van with other people who are moving at the same time. This is a great option if you don’t have a lot of stuff, they charge around $5.00 per cubic foot. One important detail if you opt to hire movers: have them pack the dishes and anything else breakable, because they will only insure items they pack themselves. Get insurance, there will be damage.

Stage Three
============
Pack up your stuff. If you’ve hired movers to pack your things, make a list of things that go and things that stay. If you pack most of your own belongings, keep an inventory: number your boxes and keep a list of what is in each box. If you have movers, you can tell them in which room to place each box, which really helps when unpacking later. Also if they lose stuff you can identify what is missing. Throw away or donate to charity anything you are not attached to, the less junk you take the better. Use this opportunity to de-clutter your life. Remember to reserve some clothing and supplies that you will need while traveling or immediately upon arrival, it’s difficult to find exactly the right box when all the boxes look the same.

Stage Four
============
Leave your old place. After the movers come, throw a goodbye party and use it as an excuse to give away items you no longer need. Put little post-it stickies that say “Take Me Home” on everything you don’t want anymore. Then take whatever remains to your favorite charity. Travel safely, and read a good book. It’ll be your last chance to relax for a while!

Stage Five
============
Unpack and settle in. After you’ve arrived, make sure to leave at least a week to unpack fully and buy supplies before jumping into your new life. It is much easier to get organized and unpacked all at once, rather than let it drag out over weeks and months while simultaneously juggling your new job(s). Be sure to include in the budget an allowance for initial expenses: we referred to this as the soy sauce fund. Lots of items such as cleaning supplies, bath mats, kitty litter, spices, shampoo, etc. will likely be needed right off the bat. We budgeted around $1000 for this, spent more like $2500. That’s a lot of soy sauce, but for a family of 4 (plus 1 cat) I learned it can’t be done for much less. Plan for this ahead of time to avoid accumulating credit card debt.

Stage Six
============
Get Social! Throw a house warming party and invite your new neighbors and coworkers. What better way to get to know your new environment?
Throughout the moving process remain flexible, plan ahead, stick to a budget, and maintain a sense of perspective: it will all be over in a few more months. Good luck!

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