No matter how many times you’ve moved, you’re bound to make mistakes here and there. Moving is one of the most stressful and exciting times in someone’s life and it’s easy to overlook essential details or rush to do things last minute.

Luckily, people who came before you have made these mistakes so you don’t have to. If you’re one of the countless people who are planning to move into a new home this year, here are some mistakes to avoid at all costs.

1. They don’t protect their valuables

When it comes to valuable goods, some things are simply irreplaceable. Even if you don’t have antique jewelry left from your third aunt twice removed, keeping your important documents and materials safe during a big move is essential.  

Getting a watertight safe is the best way to ensure your valuables are protected. After all, you wouldn’t want these items to get into the wrong hands. You might want to put some of the following materials in your safe:

• Passports
• Social security cards
• Small, luxury items like watches and jewelry
• Valuable coins
• Stamps
• Prescription medications

2. They pack up everything — and we mean everything

Moving is the perfect time to declutter your home and perform a little “spring” cleaning. If you catch yourself wondering about the purpose of an item or document, your best bet is to throw it in the trash or feed it through a paper shredder. If you’re struggling to decide whether or not to kick it to the curb, keep this in mind: have you used it in the last two years? If not, don’t hesitate.  

For items that are still in great shape, however, you can always make an event out of it. Throwing a yard sale is the perfect way to save time and effort while making a couple extra bucks for your trip. You’ll be able to streamline your move with fewer items to pack and your new home will benefit from a less-cluttered space. Donating to charity is a great option for items that didn’t sell well. If you can’t use them, someone else can certainly benefit from your donation.

3. They do it all alone

Sometimes people think that doing things on their own will save them time and money. Why would I need a mover, a professional organizer or moving coordinator when I have two perfectly good hands, myself?

Professional movers, organizers, and relocation specialists are trained and experienced.  They know how to coordinate a move properly so that your goods will remain safe and arrive undamaged to their destination.  They’ve dealt with hundreds of moves and know the best strategies for packing up your home in a manner that makes the most sense. Boxes may be labeled and inventoried so items are unpacked with ease.  Experienced movers will know how to disassemble and reassemble furniture and maneuver around corners and through doorways. Moving coordinators and professional organizers understand how to efficiently unpack the contents of your home and settle you in with as little stress as possible. You’ll be delighted when you see how simple and fast your boxes will be emptied and for your belongings placed in your new home in a tidy, logical and well-organized manner.

Related: How to Choose a Moving Company

4. They procrastinate

Moving takes a lot of time, patience, planning and effort.  If you wait until the last minute to get started, you’ll likely lose things, pack items incorrectly, or break valuable items in the process.

Beat back procrastination by following a daily packing routine. Instead of doing a bunch of packing at once, intersperse is throughout your day or follow a routine to ensure each room of the house gets done. On Monday, focus on items adorning your shelves and surfaces. Tuesday, pack up your kitchen appliances. Wednesday, do the guest bedroom. By starting to plan your move in advance, you’ll prevent procrastination. You’ll also feel great ticking off each item on your checklist.

The relocation specialists and professional organizers at In Order to Succeed have created a comprehensive home moving checklist that you can download to make your move easier.

To Download In Order to Succeed’s Relocation Checklist  Click Here

5. They don’t forward their mail

You think you’ve done it all: you’ve canceled cable, dismissed the electric company, sent in your two weeks to the job you hate, and finally told off your landlord (okay, maybe not the last one).

However, many people forget to forward their mailing address. Not only can you be missing out on important documents, you might also be putting your personal information at risk. When no one is available to pick up your mail, it might end up in the wrong hands. Don’t forget this vital moving step.

Relocating to a new home may be an experience of a lifetime, but it can be overwhelming if you’re prone to stress. To streamline your packing process, avoid these common mistakes people make while moving. Give yourself sufficient time and enlist the help of a solid team so you can sail through your transition with calm and ease.  

Don’t make these same mistakes when moving. Hire our professional moving concierge in the Hamptons, New York, New Jersey, Saratosa, Minnesota, or Connecticut. Contact us now to learn more.

This article was written by Casey Ribek of Colonial Van Lines.

In a few short weeks, holiday gluttony will give way to guilty feelings and itchy fingers.  That’s when we will all sit down to write a set of aspirational goals for 2018.  Working out more and spending more time with family are commendable objectives, but if you are disorganized, you often mismanage the time necessary to achieve these new goals.  Amy Esper, professional organizer, move manager and co-head of In Order to Succeed’s moving services in Sarasota, FL will let you in on five new habits that will improve your life quality and make the time it takes to get to the gym and play with your kids.

1. Don’t Let Guilt Hold you Captive to Things.

Being sentimental is commendable.  Holding onto everything that is sentimental is a slippery slope.  Throw away that shredded duck pillow that your mother had on her couch 20 years ago.  Your memories are with the person, and not the thing.  Share your stories of the fun you had on the couch chatting with your mom as you laid your head on that pillow.  It is not enough to put it in your basement or attic.  Get rid of it!  Slowly go through items that you stored and part with them.  Your loved ones will be so proud that you did!

2. Don’t Bargain Hunt for High End Moving Companies!

Frank Woolworth opened America’s first discount variety store in Lancaster, Pennsylvania in June 1879.  Today there are over 250 discount chains worldwide and countless online stores constantly advertising sales.  Saving money on things you need is smart.  Buying things on sale that you don’t need is not.  Practice smart shopping.  Don’t go to the store without a list- even if it’s just in your head!  Resist the temptation to go off list.  You will have more money in your pocket and less clutter in your home to clean around.

3. Get your Children on the Chore Train.

It’s never too late to teach your kids to do for themselves.  Tired of making four beds in the morning or packing three lunches at night?  Me, too.  Start small and give your kids incentives.  For toddlers, get a jar and let them fill it with pennies after each completed task.  If your kids are older, increase their bedtime or curfew for chores well done.  New research shows that it takes 66 days to create a habit, so get going!  The kids will feel proud and you will have more time to do fun things with them. Check out our other tips on the Five Ways to be More Organized Parents.

4. Don’t Wait to Put Everything in its Place.

Stop putting things in temporary spaces.  When you walk in the door of your home or office, put everything in its place.  Your keys go in the dish or on the hook.  Your briefcase goes on your desk. Your coffee mug goes in the dishwasher.  Your shoes belong on their shelf and your clothing goes in your closet or in the dry-cleaning bin.  Why wait?  It’s only going to accumulate.  Keeping things in their place avoids the large clean ups that occur on the weekends when we want to relax and enjoy each other’s company.

5. Sell It!

Those kindles your kids bypassed for iPads?  The jeans you can’t quite squeeze into?  Don’t let them clutter your surroundings.  Recoup some money for them and make way for new hobbies you can share with your loved ones.  Facebook marketplace has replaced Craigslist as the best place to sell your goods locally.  You can post anything from an old camera to a car in less than five minutes.  It feels so great to free up space and get your items to people who will use them!  There is also a new game in town when it comes to clothing sales.  Move over eBay, the Poshmark app is here. Place your item for sale with a few clicks and when it sells, print the emailed label, package your item in envelopes (available for free at your post office) and place it in your mailbox.  The best part?  Poshmark allows you to transfer your earnings to your bank account in minutes!

Here at In Order To Succeed we’ve moved countless clients from state to state. We are at a point where not much surprises us – but every once in a while we encounter something new & add it to our arsenal of “learning experiences”.

Below five tips before you move that may not be at the top of your list, but preparing for them before an out-of-state move will save you time and ease your transition. Get these items out of the way so you can spend your time finding your favorite coffee shop, settling into to work, and enjoying your new home.

1) Utilities. Call your utilities companies at least a week ahead of your move-in date and find out what they need to make the switch. In one very significant learning experience, our client learned too late that they needed to visit the water provider IN PERSON (to get it switched on since it was a new account. The water company was a 45 minute drive away and they had no running water! Adding to that, it was 90 degrees and we had six movers, two toddlers, one babysitter, our team, and NO water which means…no operating toilets. We hope this never happens to you, or anyone.

2) Budget. Add an extra $3000 to your moving budget for the first few weeks of the move and just call it “unexpected costs”. You anticipate the big costs (moving trucks, flights, etc) but the little things add up too: tips for the movers, frequent take-out meals, babysitters while you decorate/unpack/run errands, start up fees for utilities, dump fees for garbage removal, first big grocery shop, etc. The list goes on.

3) DMV Requirements. You know you have to either drive or ship your car, but what about registration, licensing, etc. when you get there? Find out the DMV requirements ahead of time and make a plan for when you arrive. States have different requirements for registration transfers (i.e. you must change your registration within as little as 10 days upon establishing residency) so just google your local DMV and/or Tax Collector and make a plan.

4) Purge. In weeks before before you move – spend the time purging the things you don’t need: clothing you haven’t worn in years, old books, games, toys, electronics. If you aren’t using it now, you will not want to unpack it. Hire a professional organizer to help you do this. Their fees will be less than the cost to move all the items that will just to go back in storage. Unpacking is not fun for most people. The knowledge that you are unpacking only what you need and/or love is priceless.

5) Network. Join a local Social 5  prior to the move and don’t be afraid to put yourself out there. This is a great way to find like-minded individuals. Be specific and you will be surprised at what’s out there (such as: New Moms, Tennis Groups, Dog Walking Clubs, Wine Lovers, Alumni Groups) and how willing people are to connect. If you don’t find what you are looking for – create it!

Finally, I’ll dispel a piece of advice I received when I left for college and that I’m still using. Say yes to everything for a while. Try new restaurants, make plans with new friends, take out that bucket list, talk to everyone, force yourself to get out there. You will make a new happy home for yourself, – you just have to say YES!

If you’re getting ready to move, you have some big decisions to make. One of them is figuring out which items to take with you and what to leave behind or sell. These tips can help you decide what to keep when moving:

Appliances

There is no broad-brush explanation as to when major household appliances should be replaced. The 5-10-15 rule, by Stanford University doctoral candidate Rachel Adams, is a good starting point:

Keep any refrigerator, washer or dryer that is less than five years old.
Consider replacing 10-year-old appliances after calculating their daily energy consumption. Refrigerators, for instance, can account for up to one-fifth of monthly electric bills. Replacing an old refrigerator with a newer model that is Energy Star-compliant could drop your monthly electric bills substantially and pay for itself within a few years. EnergySavings.com features four steps to estimating energy usage.
Replace any appliance that is more than 15 years old.
Another factor to consider is storage costs. The more appliances you keep, the larger storage facility you’ll need while between homes. A 10 X 10 unit costs around $70 per month (depending on where you live), whereas a 10 X 20 will be double that amount. But if the items you’re storing are worth keeping, then the price difference doesn’t matter.

The best time to buy new appliances is late September and October when retailers are introducing the latest models and slashing prices on last year’s merchandise. Holiday deals, particularly Black Friday and the days following Christmas, are also good times to find bargains.

Furniture

We typically buy furniture based on the space in which it will be placed, and your old furniture may not fit physically or aesthetically in your new home. But you can always make current furnishings feel new to you.

First consider the quality and sentimental value of your furniture before deciding to reupholster. The labor and materials that go into reupholstering can equal the cost of buying new furniture in some cases. If it’s the couch that you and your spouse had your first kiss on, then perhaps you’ll want to keep it. The same goes for a comfortable bed that you fall asleep on as soon as your head hits the pillow.

But don’t reupholster a couch or chair with wobbly legs and a cheap wood frame. Vitian Robinson, who owns a reupholstery business in Indianapolis, told Angie’s List that many furniture manufacturers have lowered their wood standards in recent years. Today they use materials that would have been deemed garbage for furniture 20 years ago. In other words, if your furniture is relatively new, it’s usually better to replace it than restore it.

New Additions

Moving to a new home usually means more space. Now is the time to decide on some new items you’ve always wanted, but never had the square footage to make happen. Hot tubs are not only great for relaxation and pain relief, but are also conversation and party starters. An exercise bike or elliptical trainer can help you take control of your health and eliminate gym membership fees.

Moving can be a stressful, drawn-out process. But having a picture in your mind as to what your new home will look like when finished is a great motivator.

“Domestic migration” is on the rise and has been the highest in five years. In 2012, about 16.9 million people moved to a new county. As the nation’s economy recovers, more Americans are on the move. Home prices are lower, and the number of people moving within the U.S. is up 5 percent from 2010, reports USA Today. Whether you’re moving to a new town or across the country, moving (and packing!) is a taxing undertaking. If you’re headed to a new home, be prepared and stay organized with these packing tips to ensure a stress-free moving experience with as few disasters as possible.

Plan Early

Waiting until the last minute to pack is easy to do, but if you start early, you’ll be less rushed and stressed. And on a tight deadline, you be less likely to strategically categorize items. Items can get misplaced, or lost forever, at the new house. Martha Stewart’s Website offers moving and packing checklists that can map out the packing process, keeping you organized and on track even months before the move. At least two months before moving, start to sort, organize, de-clutter and downsize. Then create an inventory and gather the moving materials — even ship discount moving boxes directly to your doorstep to conveniently collect the essential moving supplies.

Clean Before The Move

Without proper packing, unpacking can turn into a miserable experience. Simplify the unpacking process and ensure all items are clean and dust-free before they’re boxed. It may be faster to pack everything as-is and worry about cleaning dirty things later. But you’ll be happy, and less stressed, to unpack clean items in your new home. Also, try to visit your new home a few days before you move-in for a preliminary clean in the bathroom, kitchen, and bedrooms. Dust, dead bugs, and cobwebs are common in vacant homes, and it can become overwhelming to clean as you are trying to unpack and get settled.

Prepare Large & Delicate Items

Your over-sized belongings like mirrors and televisions are bulky and easily breakable. Maneuvering these items throughout your move can be complicated and time-consuming. Use quilted furniture pads to wrap and safeguard these large items, recommends Real Simple. Special wooden crates can help you safely and efficiently ship televisions and other large breakables as well. For extra padding, use heavy blankets or fill large trash bags with soft items like stuffed animals, towels and pillows to help protect your delicate belongings and keep them clean.

If you’re moving large electronics, landscaping tools, and equipment or vehicles, such as a motorcycle or ATV, that need a new part or to be repaired, wait until you arrive at your new home to mitigate extra hassle. Your lawn mower or dirt bike is susceptible to damage during the move. You can even order parts or accessories online before you move and have the components delivered to your new address.

Label & Organize Boxes

Take the time to label and create an inventory of your boxes. The organization is a time-saver for when you’re unpacking and can’t find a television cable or drinking glasses. Inventory helps track smaller items likely to get lost. Also, label and organize boxes by room and categories to help make unpacking more efficient. Right before moving day, pack belongings that you’ll need immediately in a clear plastic container so you can see and access these essentials quickly.

Freight forwarding company is a firm or a corporation that provides freight services for clients. They specialize in making arrangements for storage as well as shipping the goods for their clients. There are a number of services that are provided by these companies, including freight consolidation, warehousing and shipment insurance. They also file insurance claims on behalf of the client. They sometimes negotiate the freight charges and even book cargo space. Other services that they provide include tracking inland transportation, preparing import or export documents and preparing the shipping of goods. Because of this, they play a big role in the export and import industry. They ensure that the goods are shipped and transported efficiently throughout the world. Because of their role, very many companies are now offering these freight forwarding services. A client who wants to get the best company should look for these qualities.

Organization

This is one of the most important qualities in a freight forwarding firm. They have to be organized in the way that they handle all the documentation for shipping. They have to be able to organize themselves so that they can provide all of their services efficiently. This is because making a mistake due to disorganization will be very costly to the client. Disorganization could lead to unfortunate circumstances such as goods being transported to the wrong country. There is insurance for such issues, but processing them is a waste of precious resources and time.

Proper packaging

There are different shipments modes, including water, air and road. Regardless of which type of shipment a person chooses, their goods can be damaged if they are not packed properly. A good firm should have the proper packaging for the different types of goods. It is therefore important to choose a forwarder who has information on how to handle the different types of goods during shipping.

Reliable network

This is especially important in international shipping. The company should have contacts in the home country as well as the destination country. They should know custom brokers as well as forwarding agents in various countries. This way, they will be able to get information on the status of a package. This will also reduce the instances of packages delaying in ports. This is because such delays could be very expensive for the client.

Proper communication and tracking

During shipping, it is ideal to have good communication between the shipper and the forwarder. This will help the client to always know the real time status of their package. Knowing the progress and location of a package will give the client assurance and peace of mind. They will be sure that their package will arrive safely and on time. For eBay freight, payment depends on whether the goods were properly tracked and whether they arrived safely. It is therefore important for such cargo to be tracked in order to know where it is at a particular point in time.

Good insurance

Accidents and unfortunate events can happen even with the most efficient forwarding agent. That is why the proper insurance is always necessary. This will ensure that the client will be compensated in case of damage to goods during shipping or warehousing.

About the Author

Mark Long has his own freight forwarding company that has all the qualities of an efficient freight forwarding firm. He deals with all types of cargo and shipments, from international shipping to eBay freight on behalf of his clients. 

The logistics of moving out of state can be daunting. Make the entire process smoother with these 7 tips.

Switch Your Utilities

When you get to your new home, you’ll want the lights to be on and water heater working as soon as you arrive. Also, call your utility company to disconnect the gas, electricity, and phone service of the unit you are leaving. Request a final reading of the meters and keep a copy of the last bill to ensure that your accounts are fully settled.

Fill Out a Change of Address Form at the Post Office

It takes a while to change your address with the variety of banks, credit cards, and magazines that send you mail. To ensure continuity of mail service, fill out a change of address form at the U.S. Post Office. If you need assistance with this process, consider getting help from a professional service like hausarbeit schreiben lassen. For just a $1 processing fee, you can change your address online. After filing out the form, the postal service will forward your mail for one year.

Call Your Insurance Agent

Rules for minimum auto insurance coverage vary by state, so look at your new state’s Department of Motor Vehicles website to find out the relevant laws. For more information, contact your current insurance agent to arrange an insurance transfer and find you an agent in your new state.

Get Your Car Fully Serviced

That old car of yours needs some tender loving care to survive the long drive to your new home. It can be challenging to establish a relationship with a new mechanic, so it’s best to get repairs taken care of before you leave. Schedule an appointment for your car to receive full service, including an oil change, tire rotation, new brake pads, topping off fluid levels, and even considering the masterarbeit schreiben lassen kosten

Change Your Car Registration

The laws regulating car registration vary by state. Regardless of where you move, it’s important to change your driver’s license and car registration shortly after moving. AAA maintains a list of relevant traffic laws, license rules, and titling and registration rules that differ by state. Head to the DMV within a week of moving to ensure that you comply with local laws.

Check on Pet Regulations

Most states have legal requirements for pet owners to stay up-to-date on rabies vaccinations and other services, including ghostwriting. Your local humane society is a good place to inquire about the rules in your area. Ask about the need for a pet license, the number of animals you can legally keep as pets, and any required veterinary services.

Establish a New Bank Account

If your checking account and credit cards are through a large national bank such as JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, or Wells Fargo, there may be branches available in your new area. If not, prepare to close your accounts before you leave. Then, reopen relevant accounts once you move. Local credit unions provide strong customer service and competitive rates on loans or savings accounts.

Visit In Order to Succeed on Facebook and on Twitter.

The logistics of moving out of state can be daunting. Make the entire process smoother with these 7 things to remember before you move out of state.

Switch Your Utilities

When you get to your new home, you’ll want the lights to be on and water heater working as soon as you arrive. Also, call your utility company to disconnect the gas, electricity, and phone service of the unit you are leaving. Request a final reading of the meters and keep a copy of the last bill to ensure that your accounts are fully settled.

Fill Out a Change of Address Form at the Post Office

It takes a while to change your address with the variety of banks, credit cards, and magazines that send you mail. To ensure continuity of mail service, fill out a change of address form at the U.S. Post Office. For just a $1 processing fee, you can change your address online. After filling out the form, the postal service will forward your mail for one year.

Call Your Insurance Agent

Rules for minimum auto insurance coverage vary by state, so look at your new state’s Department of Motor Vehicles website to find out the relevant laws. For more information, contact your current insurance agent to arrange an insurance transfer and find you an agent in your new state.

Get Your Car Fully Serviced

That old car of yours needs some tender loving care to survive the long drive to your new home. It can be challenging to establish a relationship with a new mechanic, so it’s best to get repairs taken care of before you leave. Schedule an appointment for your car to receive full service, including an oil change, tire rotation, new brake pads, and topping off fluid levels.

Change Your Car Registration

The laws regulating car registration vary by state. Regardless of where you move, it’s important to change your driver’s license and car registration shortly after moving. AAA maintains a list of relevant traffic laws, license rules, and titling and registration rules that differ by state. Head to the DMV within a week of moving to ensure that you comply with local laws.

Check on Pet Regulations

Most states have legal requirements for pet owners to stay up-to-date on rabies vaccinations and other services. Your local humane society is a good place to inquire about the rules in your area. Ask about the need for a pet license, the number of animals you can legally keep as pets, and any required veterinary services.

Establish a New Bank Account

If your checking account and credit cards are through a large national bank such as JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, or Wells Fargo, there may be branches available in your new area. If not, prepare to close your accounts before you leave. Then, reopen relevant accounts once you move. Local credit unions provide strong customer service and competitive rates on loans or savings accounts.

Visit In Order to Succeed on Facebook and on Twitter.

The way we go about planning for moving has changed drastically over the last decade.

What used to require a trip to the local AAA, and lots of highlighters on fold-out maps larger than your average 10-year-old, can now be accomplished in less than five seconds on a device that fits snugly in the palm of your hand. A smart phone with built-in GPS capabilities will plan your route, talk back to you, and even find the cheapest gas along the way.

Still, even though technology has made moving day much simpler, some pre-planning is still required. Waiting until you’re in the driver’s seat of your moving truck to pull up directions for the very first time spells disaster. What if your new home is so new that it’s not even on the map yet? What if there are unexpected road closures or restrictions? These are all things that could wreak havoc on your trip if you’re not prepared.

So, what can you do to minimize the chance of a moving day disaster? A few Google searches and 20 minutes of your time should get the job done! Follow the steps below to make sure you are ready to make the trek on moving day.

1. Plan and Decide on your Route:

Plug in your start address, end address, and any planned stops along the way in to the navigation service of your choice. Usually, multiple routes are suggested; the first route is usually the fastest, although it may not always be the shortest. Choosing the best route will depend on your time limitations. Be sure to examine your route for and any major restrictions that could block the access of a moving truck. For example, things like overpasses, bridges and tunnels can pose a problem if there is not enough clearance.

2. Research your Route:

It’s best to look at your route at least once on a computer or laptop before moving day. Make mental note of any long stretches, like driving straight for 10 hours. Plan out the rest areas or lodging locations you will stop at along the way to take a break. Remember to purchase a padlock for your moving truck to secure it at these stops. Once the route is planned, make sure all potential drivers are familiar with the route. It is also wise to check websites for extra information about road closures or detours during the days leading up to your move. Sites like fhwa.dot.gov and apps like Waze provide specific information about national highways.

3. Print out Directions:

Although it may seem old-school, having a hard copy of directions will come in handy if cell phone batteries die, GPS signal is lost, or if anything else renders your device useless. It’s even advisable to print out two copies, just in case. Use a two pocket folder to create a ‘moving day’ file and include the printed directions, plus any other important moving documents like moving truck paperwork. Put a folder with the same information in every vehicle that will be travelling as part of your move.

Moving day can seem stressful sometimes, especially if you are going across the country. Luckily, following the steps above to plan your roué will arm you with everything you need to make moving day travel easier, and prepare you for any hiccups.

Do you have any tips to  plan your moving day route? Let us know below in a comment.

This post comes from the editors at Movinginsider.com; your resource for everything related to moving, storage and organization.