Successfully Planning a Move

Did you know that the average American will move at least 11 times during (or in) their lifetime? (Between late May and Labor Day is the peak time). And that moving is one of the most stressful things you can do?

Well, fret no more. Help is on the way!

1. Shop Around-Check each company you're interested in with the Better Business Bureau (BBB). Also, ask firms for a copy of their performance report (by law, licensed movers are required to show it). Sometimes you may also get different quotes from within the same company!

2. Pack It Yourself as Much as Possible-If movers do it all (or most), you'll be charged per box (and most likely per hour) then separately for a packing fee! If you do your own packing, you can get your moving costs by at least 50% and keep damages to a minimum.

3. Watch Out for "Weight Bumping"-It's a moving industry ripoff; a mover who's charging you by the pound jacks up your bill by loading equipment onto the truck before weighing your goods. You're entitled to a free re-weighing if this happens.

4. You Don't Have to Pack EVERYTHING-If you have clothes that you haven't actually worn in years, or a set of utensils that you've never opened, perhaps you should just give it away or donate it. What about those extra box of books? Hauling even just one more box cross-county could set you back another $50 to $100.

So you may want to ask yourself if you really need them (before you do any packing, you may want to do a general "clean up" first). And clearly label those belongings that are not to be moved.

5. Have Enough Insurance-Don't count on only the "free" one the movers provide (you'll only get so many cents per pound for damages).

Check with your insurance agent and ask if your homeowner's policy covers your belongings in transit. If not, buy a rider for additional coverage or buy full replacement cost protection from the mover. If the mover asks you to sign a receipt verifying items were delivered in good condition, but you haven't had a chance to look yet, you can write this statement next to your signature: Subject to late discovery of concealed damage.

If you discover broken items late, you can still file a claim.

6. Double-check an "Empty"House or Apartment Before Leaving-You're likely to forget something important if you don't re-check.

If you're moving out of town or relocating cross-country, it's even more imperative that you check for: any dry-cleaning, safe-deposit box items, things that were borrowed by friends or items at the repair shop.

And you may want to take the local phone book, to enable you to tie up (or wrap up) any "loose ends."

Two (Crucial or Important) Calls to Make Within 24 Hours of Moving In

Any relative, acquaintance or friend in the new area(even if you don't know them well). Let them know right away that you're not asking to stay with them or borrow money. You just want their advice for things such as the nearest library or the name of a good restaurant. And get hold of a local church! Besides the obvious, they can also offer a wealth of great information.