Boston Movers Blog

We know that moving into a new home and relocating your family can be a very stressful time. Marathon Moving Company wants your move to go as smoothly as possible. If you have decided to pack your own belongings, we would like to offer the following packing tips to help ensure the safe arrival of all your possessions.

6-8 WEEKS PRIOR TO YOUR MOVE

• Clean out basement, attic, garage, and closets.
• Determine items to keep, discard, donate, or sell.
• Make arrangements for a tag sale for approximately 1 month prior to your move (this will allow time to donate or discard unsold items).
• Contact moving companies to obtain quotes for your move.

4-6 WEEKS PRIOR TO YOUR MOVE

• Send furniture, drapes, and carpets for cleaning or repair.
• Research moving companies you are considering with the Massachusetts DTE (licensing board for MA moving companies), through company provided references, and the BBB.
• Do not be afraid to request proofs of insurance from companies you are considering.  Hiring an uninsured mover can leave you with unpaid damage claims, or you can be found liable for property damage and or personal injury claims.
• Select a moving company and confirm your moving date.
• Order packing supplies and arrange for their delivery or pick up.
• Secure elevators, loading docks, or parking permits if necessary.

1 MONTH PRIOR TO YOUR MOVE

• Begin packing seldom used items such as china, holiday decorations and basement or attic storage areas.
• File a change of address form with Post Office.
• Contact charities to arrange pickup of items to be donated.
• Notify utility companies and arrange for transfer of services.
• Notify all banks, insurance companies, brokerage houses, service providers and creditors of address change.

2 WEEKS PRIOR TO YOUR MOVE

• Begin packing all but essential items.
• Finalize closing times with real estate attorney or mortgage company.
• Organize all bills, stocks, insurance policies and bank account statements.
• Make special arrangements for children and pets on moving day.
• If not moving locally, obtain all medical, dental and veterinarian records.

Packing time is around the corner. Now is the perfect time for a garage sale. Your goal should be having a garage sale to unload unwanted and unnecessary items to reduce your total household goods shipment size and weight. Since the cost of your interstate move is calculated by household goods weight and travel distance, lightening your load means lowering the cost of your move. Locally, your move costs are by time so reducing the amount of items will reduce your costs. Oh yes, and a productive garage sale also has that side benefit of putting a little cash immediately into your wallet. Like our other "tip sheets", this list of tips is not all inclusive. It is to get you thinking and prepared to "lighten up".

Tip number one is to be prepared. Showing up to a sale that somebody didn't do their work on is frustrating for buyers and they will get deterred and move on to the next garage sale down the street.

Tip number two is it is all about set up. Make sure you grab some small tags for each item to put the amount it is for sale on or next to it. You will also need posting signs for putting up around the neighborhood so visitors know how to get to the sale. You should gather all items and list for sale almost all items you do not plan on using at your new home. You should set aside items you will be using or those without a use that are of high antique or sentimental value or have a definite planned use in the future. But don’t forget you should try to de-clutter your life and home as much as possible so all other items should be on the tables for sale. Group like items and display together so someone looking specifically for kids books does not have to search through yard tools.

Tip number three is to price it right! Remember the benefits to you are not just what you sell the item for but what you save in moving costs and the feeling you will get seeing the item regain usefulness. Consider the items value to you if it is not going to be used as opposed to its value to a new family in the neighborhood. It's better to help out those in need and yourself at the same time than to have neither you nor the buyer benefit.

Tip number four is to never forget the old adage: "One man's trash is another's treasure". Items that are visibly tired and flawed need not go straight to charity or the dump as I learned a few months ago. I had an old recliner and couch loaded in the back of the truck and was five minutes away from heading to the dump. A friend stopped by and said he'd love to have them for the "man cave" he was building in his garage. He tightened and covered things up, now we play cards and watch games on my old furniture...who would have thought?

The last tip is for post sale and is to remember to consider the value an unused item will have to you in your new home verses its value to a charity. You can donate your unsold items to a local charity after your sale. Simply collect the sale tags to get an estimated value for a tax deduction and you will save come tax time and help out a local charity right away. Big Brothers Big Sisters, The Disabled American Veterans, and others will pick up items straight from your garage so you don’t have to reload them back into your home.