Moving is a time-consuming process and it cannot be done overnight. Though it can be emotionally disturbing for some and psychologically unnerving for many; moving actually requires so much of our time, resources and energy. Nonetheless, one should start preparing for their move at least six weeks prior to the moving date, to avoid any last minute hiccups. The clock is ticking away! The countdown has begun. Only six more weeks to go for your move: Things to carry: Choose all those items that need to be carried. Sort out the things to see if you really require those broken items, books in tatters etc. Beware; every item you are carrying is going to affect the bill you are going to pay. May be it's time for you to bid good-bye to them. Hold a garage sale or else give them away to some charity. Moving Folder: Moving involves loads of paper work that needs to be saved for future reference. Create a 'moving' folder where in you can safely place all the bills, statements, contract papers etc. pertaining to your move. When you need to look for any bill, it will be quite easy for you to locate and thus will help you save your time. Tax-cut: Check, if you are entitled to any kind of concession in paying taxes. Moving file can be used not just for filing the bills but also for keeping all those designs, brochures, maps and other such information in tact that will be of great use to you before and after the move as well. Do you have any plans for your new home? Be it the lay out of the room or the list of furnishings you might need to adorn your rooms. A chart displaying beautiful colors, that you would want your rooms to be splashed with or a brochure displaying colorful tiles that you are longing to see in your kitchen; save all of them in that very folder. Do file them neatly in the folder; so that once the items are unloaded you can start making arrangements right away. Relocation charges: In case you are relocating due to professional reasons find out from your employer, if they are ready to offer you any relocation charges. Collect documents: You need to collect various documents before you move like – your kids' school record, your medical record from the doctor etc. Apply for the same and even seek referrals wherever necessary. Four weeks to go: Look for a storage point to store your items safely and find out the charges you need to pay for it.
Intimate your relatives and friends about your move and the subsequent change of address. Change the address for all your magazine subscriptions too.
Check for the insurance coverage at your new place. Talk to the insurance agents over there.
Make necessary transport arrangements for your trip. Book the air tickets for your family and arrange a special kind of transport for your pets etc.
Take your pets to a veterinarian and find out from him about how to prepare your pet for the move and precautions you need to take for your pet's sake.
Arrange to disconnect: Several utilities used by you like electricity, water, cable T.V. etc. needs to be disconnected right after your move. Arrange for connecting the same at your new place before you reach it.
Self-packing: If you are planning to do some of the packing by yourself, then it's the time to start. Start packing all those things that you might not need during the last weeks of your stay. Three weeks before your move: Now that you've entered the third week before you are moving, it's time to gear up and get serious with the things. Move all the packed cartons into a store room or to some other corner of the house where kids won't be able to reach. Enlist the items separately, that need to be unpacked immediately once the truck reaches the destination. Finish the food: Stop stocking things in your fridge and pantry. During the move, it will be difficult to carry too many items along. They might even get spoiled. Buy food items that will last till the moving day only. Bank deals: Transfer all your bank statements to the bank at your new place. In case, if you have any deposits to be transferred, do so without a fail. Two weeks before the move: Only two more weeks to go and you are all excited about the move. Automobile servicing: Get your car serviced in case you are planning to travel by car. New home cleaning: Cleaning the new home will be easy as it is empty. Health check-up: Find out what health policies does the State you are moving to has in place. Get a thorough health check-up and the required vaccinations done by your doctor. Make sure the place you are moving to allows pets and get the certificate of vaccination from the veterinarian. One week before the move: As you are about to move within a few days, there is no time to lose. If there are any hazardous chemicals with you, dispose them off. To carry them would be dangerous and illegal too.
Start packing your suitcases.
Arrange for a baby-sitter to take care of kids on the moving day.
Finish paying all the bills and necessary dues .Do give them your new address for further contact.
Return your library card and the books you have taken.
If you have anybody else's belongings with you, return them without fail.
Two days to go:
Movers would have already initiated the packing process. Inform the truck operator of your new address and give him the necessary guidelines about how to reach the place. Do give him your contact number and ask him to give you a buzz when required.
Give your new address and contact number to the entrants of your old home, so that they can contact you in future.
Remove all the contents from your refrigerator and clean it thoroughly.
Take out the curtains, curtain rods, bulbs etc.
Keep an extra pair of clothing, disposable plates & glasses; some food items and children's games ready for the moving day. Have some extra packing materials at hand. You can use it to pack any left over items in the end.
Moving day:
Moving day is going to be a long and strenuous one and might need all your attention and patience. Prepare yourself mentally for the hectic schedule ahead.
Keep kids and pets out of the movers' way. Explain the importance of this day to kids before hand and give them necessary instructions to conduct themselves. You can even ask the elder ones to take care of the younger kids.
Talk to the movers and get all your queries answered.
Create some space for dumping all those items that need not be moved.
Empty all your cupboards and clean the entire home and garden.
Do not leave any cash or other valuable items outside.
Go through your moving checklist once again.
Before making any payment to the mover, do go through the terms & conditions of the moving contract once again.
Loading:
Loading should be done by the professional crew to avoid mishandling of items.
Be with the loading crew through out the loading process.
Instruct the loading crew, about items that need to be handled with extra care and caution.
Ask your mover to find out, if you have to pay any tips to the loading crew.
Weigh the shipment: The container should be absolutely empty when it reaches your home. Enquire, if the ticket given to you by the shipment people has all your details or not.
Measures to be taken while moving: Spread the floor covering on the floor before moving the things out for loading. Do the same before unloading the things at new home as well.
Right after loading, go and check your home thoroughly. In case, if you have forgotten any items on the attic or so, you can ask the crew to load them into the truck.
If you have any packed items waiting to be loaded, in a separate storage unit, do inform the movers about them in advance. Movers might charge you extra for this kind of loading.
Carry your interstate health certificate and that of your pets. You might be asked to show it during your move.
The day after the move
You have moved into your new home successfully. Now what? Give some rest to your tired body and let everybody settle down.
If there is any final cleaning to be done in your new home, then do it now.
Start unpacking slowly and try taking your kids help for this.
Locate the malls, hospitals and schools near your home.
Check out the availability of service providers like doctors, veterinarian etc.
Usually ten day period will be given for you to notify the Department of Motor vehicles about your move. Do so, by giving your new address to them.
Register yourself in the county clerk's office near by and ask for a new Voter identification card.
Government Offers Renovation Rebate in 2009By: Janice Tibbetts, Canwest News Service 
For a certain sector of consumers, 2009 could become the year of the reno, following the recent announcement of a Home Renovation Tax Credit that lets taxpayers claim 15% of their fixups until Feb. 1, 2010. Canadians who want to sod their lawns or renovate their bathrooms will get a tax break worth up to $1,350 as a key plank of the government's effort to inspire spending. The federal government said the incentive will provide about $3-billion in tax relief to some 4.6 million families. The tax credit, which is available for homes and cottages effective immediately, is designed to boost construction, forestry and other industries. Taxpayers can claim renovations on their 2009 tax returns on costs over $1,000, but not exceeding $10,000. The list of eligible expenses for the tax credit includes: - renovating kitchens, bathrooms or basements
- new carpeting or flooring
- building additions, decks, or retaining walls
- installing furnaces or water heaters
- interior and exterior painting
- driveway resurfacing
Routine maintenance does not qualify. Such things as new furniture, appliances, tools, carpet cleaning and snow removal are excluded. Also on the home front, the government will put an extra $300-million over two years into energy retrofits, raise to $25,000 the amount first-time homebuyers can borrow from RRSPs, and provide up to $750 in tax relief to help with their purchases. |