Unpacking Tips

Well, it has been a whirlwind last few days, but we made it to Oklahoma. I am happy to report that everything went smoothly! The Mayflower packers and movers were great, and we could not have asked for a better outcome with the moving and handling of our goods. Now that we are to our new home, we are in the process of unpacking. Here are some tips to make the task of unpacking as efficient as possible.

-Place your furniture first. If you are able to know the layout of your new home ahead of time, try to plan where you want to put your furniture so that you can have the movers place your furniture in the desired areas.  If you don’t have access to the layout of your new home, try to decide where you want your furniture as soon as you arrive. This way, you can get help from the movers and don’t have to rearrange larger pieces after the movers leave.

-Check to make sure the electricity has been switched on. If it has, go ahead and plug in all of your major appliances (the fridge and freezer especially) so that they will be ready to be used as soon as possible.

-Set up your beds. Pack all of your bedding and pillows together and clearly label them. Ask the movers to place them towards the end of the truck so that they are easily accessible to you. We were very tired by the time moving day was over, so we were glad that our beds were set up and ready when we were. The last thing that you want to do after a long day of moving and unpacking is to try to hunt down bedding and put together beds late into the night!

-Locate your essential boxes. These are the boxes that have all that you need to get you through the first day of your move and the next morning (toilet paper, shower curtain, towels, coffee maker, paper plates, etc.) Again, ask the movers to clearly label and load these boxes last. That way, they will be easily accessible to you when you need them.

Once you have taken these first steps, you will be ready to take on the task of unpacking the rest of the boxes. What you decide to unpack next is up to you. The main thing is to remember to unpack first the things that you need and use most frequently.

Now, it’s time for me to put these tips into practice and get started unpacking!

Until next time,

Elizabeth

 

The Day Before Moving Day...

The packers get here tomorrow, so today we are busy getting things set and ready for them to arrive. Here are some things that can be done before the packers arrive to make moving day go more smoothly:

-Point out to the packers any extra-fragile items needing special attention. Mark appropriately any items you do not want packed or moved, as well as cartons you will want first when the van arrives at destination.

-If you are doing your own packing, make sure everything is ready to go before moving day. Upon arrival, the van operator will check to see if boxes have been properly packed.

-Collect things you definitely want packed together, such as children’s toys, and place in separate groups.

-Unplug all electronic appliances 24 hours in advance of your move, except plasma televisions, so that they will be at room temperature on moving day. This includes home computers, stereos, and audio/ visual equipment.

Since we will be staying in Oklahoma for a few months for my husband to train before moving on to our final destination, I will also be busy separating which items we will need to take with us to Oklahoma, and which ones will go into storage. It should be a busy day, so I better get going!

Have a great week J

Elizabeth

 

Two Weeks Away...

The countdown continues… only two more weeks until our move! Here is what is on tap for us this week:

Make Travel Plans

It will be a twelve hour drive from here to our new home. Because we will be traveling with two dogs and a baby, we are planning to break up the trip. Therefore, I will need to go ahead and make a hotel reservation this week for the night that we are on the road. 

Service Cars

It is definitely a good idea to make sure that our vehicles are in good working order. That means I will need to take both of our cars in for an oil change. While I am there, I will have them check the tires, brakes, windshield wipers, fluid levels, etc. The last thing that we need is to have car trouble while we are on the road!

Prepare Household Items

We will need to prepare all of our household goods for the move. Mayflower provides a guide to assist with this. The following suggestions are taken directly from the Mayflower website:

-Federal law requires that you dispose of flammables such as fireworks, cleaning fluids, matches, acids, chemistry sets, aerosol cans, ammunition, and poisons such as weed killer. Drain fuel from your power mower and other machinery. Discard partly used cans of oil, paint thinner, bleach, or any other substances that may be flammable or combustible, or those stored in containers that may leak.

-Discard propane tanks which are used for barbecue grills.

-Set an appointment with a service technician to prepare your major appliances for shipment- or have your agent send someone out who is authorized to perform this service.

-Set a date for having utilities disconnected. If possible, plan to keep utilities in service through moving day.

            -Have rugs and draperies cleaned. Leave both wrapped when they are returned from the             cleaners.

-Obtain a written appraisal of antique items to verify value. Avoid waxing or oiling wooden antiques (and fine wood furniture) before moving because some products might soften the wood, making it vulnerable to imprinting from furniture pads.

-Do not clean your upholstered furniture before moving. Moisture could cause mold if furniture must be placed in storage.

Saying Goodbye

With only two weekends left here, it is time to start saying our goodbyes. Because we are so far from home, our friends have truly become like family to us, so saying goodbye is no easy task.  A great way to say goodbye to friends is to host an open house, host an informal dinner, or have a barbecue. 

All of this should keep us busy this week! I look forward to touching base again next time! 

Until then, have a great week!

Elizabeth

Lighten Your Load!

Our move is three weeks from today! Yesterday, a Mayflower agent came out to our home to survey all of the items that we will need to have packed and moved. As he was opening up all of the closets and cabinets throughout the house, I realized that I have a lot of things that I could do without. So this week’s task has been to go through all of the items that we no longer use and find a new home for them. In doing so, I have utilized Mayflower’s guide on how to dispose of unwanted items before moving. Allow me to share it with you:

Lighten Your Load

Every belonging you move adds to the weight of your shipment- and ultimately the cost. That’s one reason it might be a good idea to consider getting rid of some items you no longer need, but hate to throw away. As you are preparing to move, you are provided with an excellent opportunity to sort through some of the excess items you’ve collected over time. You may raise some quick cash, but will definitely save in moving expenses. Go through your house with a notebook, listing everything you want to sell. A good rule of thumb is that if you have not used it in the past year, you probably don’t need it. Here are a few options for selling your items:

Garage Sale

-One of the keys to a profitable garage sale is advertising. There are many sites on the Internet that offer free listings for garage sales, as well as sample signs you can use. You can also advertise in your local newspaper.

-Allow at least three weeks for preparations. Check with local authorities for restrictions applying to garage sales. You might need a special permit, or be required to pay a fee or collect sales taxes. Signs advertising the sale might be limited or prohibited.

-Consider a joint sale with one or more neighbors and share the work, fun, and profits. The greater assortment of items you have to offer, the more potential customers you will attract and the more successful the sale will be. If the sale will be on your property, let your insurance agent know, and make sure that your homeowner’s policy will cover any liability for injuries.

-Start saving shopping bags and cardboard cartons. These can be used to assist customers in transporting their purchases.

-Remember that your items should be reasonably priced, and always be prepared to bargain with your customers.

-Have plenty of change on hand. 

Flea Markets

For a nominal fee, local flea markets are a great means for selling secondhand items. Because most markets are advertised, professional secondhand bargain hunters usually attend. Again, have shopping bags and cardboard cartons on hand for your customers’ convenience and don’t forget to have plenty of change on hand!

Online Auctions

When you use online auctions, you are given the opportunity to showcase your items for sale to the world, not just your own neighborhood. Here are some guidelines:

-Visit the individual auction site for specific details on payments and requirements. 

-Take time to properly describe your item and include a good quality photo to increase your chances of selling. 

-Be sure to play up any offbeat merchandise that might intrigue and attract shoppers.

-Most online sites allow you to specify that the purchaser must pick up the items themselves or pay for the cost of shipping- saving you even more time and money!

Secondhand Stores and Charity Stores

Consider donating any leftover items to charitable organizations such as Goodwill, the Salvation Army, and children’s homes. They generally give a receipt for donations, so the value can be deducted on a donor’s income tax return. Or, contribute leftovers to church rummage sales, resale shops, schools, or community centers. Make a quick phone call first to make sure they can accept the items that you have left.

I have been so impressed with all of the helpful pamphlets and guides that Mayflower has provided me with as I prepare for our move. I hope you are finding the information as helpful as I am. If you have any questions about your upcoming move, don’t hesitate to ask a Sorensen representative. Based on my experience, I feel certain they will be able to provide you with all kinds of great tips!

Until next week,
Elizabeth