Relocation Resources

North Atlanta Moving Tips

Helping you make your move to North Atlanta easier!

Feeling a little anxious about your upcoming move? Let’s face it. Similar to getting married, finding a new job or having a baby, moving can also be one of the most agonizing filled adventures of our lives. No worries, at FARKAS and Associates Realty Group, we’re here to help.

We’ve done our research and have assembled a list of some of the best and most useful Moving Tips anywhere to help you get organized and to eliminate the stress and worry.

 

Getting Organized

  • Start Early! – Almost everyone has more stuff than they think they do and almost no one leaves enough time to pack it
  • Room Lists – Start by forming two room lists, one for your current place and one for your future place. This will help you manage what has to go where
  • Room Inventory – Go to each room and write down the types of things that need to be packed e.g. furniture items, closets, odd & ends, etc
  • Time Allotment – Make sure to leave enough time. The most common time-frame reported by people moving is that it took at least a month to pack. One study reported that it takes 4-5 hours to pack an average dorm room, so that should give you an idea of what’s involved
  • Calendar – Pull out a calendar and plan day by day when each room will be completed
  • Delegation – If you’re moving with family members, come to agreement and get buy-in with them exactly what tasks they will be doing and the date they will be finished
  • Track Your Progress – At least once per week track where you are against the date on the calendar. Revise your plan if you’re falling behind

 

Finding Great Movers

  • Only Hire The Best – This is the most important advice anyone could possibly give you. If you’re lucky enough to have this provided – or – choose to hire professional movers on your own, do your research and hire the best! Poor quality movers can be worse than none at all
  • Referrals – Get referrals from local real estate agents, friends who have moved recently or your relocation company
  • Licensing – Only consider movers that are licensed, bonded and insured
  • Research – Investigate your potential movers through the U.S. Department of Transportation, MovingScam.com and the Better Business Bureau
  • In-Home Estimates – Evaluate a minimum of 3 movers based on in-home estimates of goods to be moved
  • Price – Price isn’t the only factor- extremely low bids indicate a desperate mover
  • “Binding Not-To-Exceed”– Ask for written “Binding Not-To-Exceed” estimates
  • Avoid “Rogue Movers” – If you feel uncomfortable, trust your instincts! Never agree to move your possessions with anyone you don’t trust

 

General Packing Tips

  • Pack A Suitcase – For each member of the family moving as if you’re all going on a 3-day vacation, including changes of clothes, medications, toiletries, etc. Keep the suitcases separated from all the other items to be moved, such as in your car, at a friend or family members home, your new workplace, etc. so you’ll have everything you need for the first few days without searching through boxes.
  • Create “Open Me First” Boxes– Pick one or two boxes per room as “Open Me First” boxes. Put important or critical things in them that you’ll need first at your new location. Be sure to mark the sides of the boxes so you’ll know which ones are which
  • One at a Time – Wherever possible, work on packing just one room at a time (instead of several all at once) to keep things focused and organized
  • Less Is More – Use packing as a way to clean out belongings for donations, a yard sale or the recycling center. Aim to eliminate a substantial amount of waste that’s been taking up room in your closet/basement/attic. You’ll save time and expense
  • Off The Floor – Instead of the floor, use a completely cleared-off table top or counter in each room for packing boxes. You’ll find you get much more accomplished
  • Tracking Small Parts – When taking apart items to be moved, such as tables, securely tape screws and other small parts securely to the underside of the item. You’ll always know where to look and save time putting things back together
  • Save Space – Use towels, pillows and t-shirts you’re packing as extra padding around fragile items. It will save room in your boxes
  • Criss-Cross Tape – Tape boxes along the seams where the flaps meet together. Then tape perpendicularly at the center of the first tape, forming a cross
  • Stacking– Stack boxes with the heaviest on the bottom, lightest on top to prevent crushing.
  • The 30-pound rule – Keep each box at 50 pounds maximum weight and preferably below 30 pounds wherever possible. Heavier boxes lead to injuries, are much more likely to burst their seams and tend to get dropped more often
  • Scale – Keep a bathroom scale in the room you’re packing so you can keep the boxes below the weight limits

 

Packing Electronics

  • A picture is Worth 1000 words – Use a digital camera, video recorder or cell phone camera to take pictures of how any complicated wiring (computer cords, speaker wires) is installed. Be sure to use plenty of light and careful focus so the pictures will be clear. Print each picture and put it in the top of the box holding the item or file and store appropriately. This will make hooking up the items in your new place much easier
  • Original is Best – Always use the original packaging when available
  • Double Boxing – For especially fragile electronics, pack them first in a box with an excessive amount of padding. Then pack that box in a larger box filled with biodegradable packing peanuts. This two-box system seems excessive but does a great job of isolating items from jarring impacts
  • No Loose Ends– Wrap each cord carefully with cable organizers, heavy twist ties or heavy rubber bands.
  • Cord Labels – Consider getting a label maker and labeling the end of each. Then you’ll be sure exactly which cord you’re seeing and where each end connects when you put things back together
  • The Two-Inch Rule – Use at least 2″ of biodegradable packing peanuts around each side of fragile items

 

Box Inventory and Labeling

  • “Fat” Is In – Use the thickest, darkest marker you can find for labeling boxes. Pencils, pens and thin or light markers are almost impossible to see even when just a few feet away
  • Two Sides – Label each box on the two broadest sides, opposite one another. That way if a box gets turned, you can still identify its contents
  • Abbreviate Room Names – Start box labels with the abbreviated name of the room followed by a box number, such as “BED2 – 6” for “second bedroom, 6th box.” You’ll be able to track each box to make sure everything arrived safely
  • Label “Open Me First” on boxes where it applies
  • Mark “Fragile” where appropriate
  • Identify Contents – Identify the major contents and where they came from, such as “Medicine Cabinet” or “Linen Closet- Towels and Wash Cloths”
  • Box Inventory – Prepare a spreadsheet if you want to get really fancy or just keep a clipboard and write down each box’s room, box number and contents. It may sound like over-kill but you’ll be glad you did
  • Verifying Delivery – When unloading, check off each box as it gets unloaded at your new place. Then you’ll know everything arrived safely
  • Labels Out – Ask movers to stack boxes in your new place with the labels facing out so that you can easily spot a specific box

 

Letting People Know

  • Post Office – File your change of address with the Post Office at least 30 days prior to the date of the move
  • Referrals – Ask everyone you notify for a referral in your new area
  • Records – Get copies of your existing records (transcripts from schools, medical records from doctors, etc.) while you’re notifying the changes of address

Change of Address – Who to Notify

  • Accountant/Tax preparer- Alumni Associations – Attorneys
  • Babysitter/Child Care Provider – Banks (all account and loans) – Broker – Business Cards (order new ones if applicable)
  • Cell Phone Provider – Chiropractor – Courts (especially for traffic tickets or local disputes) – Credit Card Companies – Credit Bureaus – Church’s
  • Dentist – Department of Motor Vehicles – Doctors
  • Family Members and Friends
  • Health Clubs – House Cleaning Service
  • Insurance Providers (auto, health, life, other vehicles); IRS (form 8822)
  • Lawn Care; Luggage Tags (replace existing ones)
  • Magazine Subscriptions
  • Newspaper subscriptions
  • Orthodontist
  • Parent-Teacher Association – Passport – Pet Sitter – Pharmacy (get year-to-date expense summary for taxes) – Physical Therapist – Physician (get referral for new location) – Post office – Professional Organizations
  • Retirement Plan Holders – Return Address Labels (order new ones)
  • Schools (get copies of all transcripts) – Social Security Administration – Swimming Pool Maintenance (pool cleaning, pool opening or closing); Swimming pool memberships
  • Trash Pick Up
  • Utility Companies (water, gas, electric etc.)
  • Veterinarian (get vet records and recommendations)
  • Water delivery service

Moving With Kids

  • Get a children’s book on moving for smaller kids
  • If appropriate, let children pick their new room
  • If possible, let kids pick a decoration (poster, light switch, name banner, etc.) for their new room
  • Pack a kid’s sized suitcase and let each child pick out a special toy to keep with them and a special outfit to wear on “new home day”
  • If the child has a special dish or cup, include it in the kitchen “Open Me First” box so familiar items await them at their new place
  • Consider unpacking the kids’ rooms first, or at least their “Open Me First” boxes to help them settle in quickly

Open Me First Box: The Kitchen

  • Aluminum foil or plastic wrap
  • Break-proof or disposable flatware, cups, and plates
  • Coffee maker and coffee (don’t forget the filters!)
  • Dish detergent
  • Frying pan and spatula
  • Pet food and bowels
  • Scissors

Open Me First Box: Main Bathroom

  • Bath mat
  • Bath towels
  • First-aid kit (aspirin, band-aids, and other prescription medicines)
  • Shampoo
  • Shower curtain and rings
  • Soap
  • Toilet paper
  • Toothbrushes and toothpaste
  • Shaving Crème and razors

Open Me First Box: Tool Room or Drawer

  • Duct tape
  • Flashlight
  • Flat-head screwdriver
  • Phillips-head screwdriver
  • Hammer
  • Level
  • Picture hangers
  • Tape measure
  • Utility knife

Moving Day

  • Start Early! – You want to have everything as organized as possible prior to the arrival of the movers
  • Use Sitters – Recruit help in watching young children and pets on Moving Day. Your attention will be needed for the nuts and bolts of the move
  • Have Food Ready – Whether you have professional movers or friends and family, having coffee, orange juice, bagels, donuts or pizza available will make it easier for everyone to get started
  • Cell Phone Numbers – Make sure you have the cell phone number of the driver of the truck entered into your cell phone, and that the driver has yours in case you get separated or have a problem
  • Proper Payment – Almost all professional movers will demand payment in full and possibly in cash before they will unpack a single box. Make sure you have payment ready
  • Tipping – It is customary and appropriate to Tip movers on the day of the move. Feel free to Tip the Crew Chief who will distribute to the remaining crew members and let them know how much you appreciate their assistance. This goes a long way in helping to insure your items arrive safe and sound
  • Directions – Have directions and a map ready for anyone will be driving between your old place and your new place

Unpacking

  • Unpacking Plan – Just like with packing, have a plan for unpacking. Otherwise you’re likely to end up frustrated with a sea of half-opened boxes with your necessities still “missing in action”
  • Prioritize Rooms – Focus on “Open Me First” boxes in the bathrooms and kitchen first, followed by bedroom items
  • Trash and Recyclable Boxes – Keep at least one trash bag (for the real trash) and one large emptied box (to hold used packing paper and biodegradable “peanuts”) available in each room before you start the heavy unpacking
  • Time Limits – Set an objective of unpacking a certain number of boxes each day until all the boxes are all unpacked