The Moving Planner Blog

If you have all-terrain vehicles, you will need to put a little extra thought into your moving process. This is especially true for a long distance move. You do not want moving day to come along only for your movers to tell you that driving it into the moving truck with the rest of your belongings is not going to fly.

In some cases, you may decide to hire a separate mover just to handle your ATVs, if your primary mover does not specialize in handling them. This goes for dirt bikes and golf carts, too.

Should You Transport Yourself?

If you have a trailer, or if you want to rent one, you could tow the ATVs behind your vehicle to your new destination. Obviously, this only applies if you have a vehicle with a towing package capable of hauling the load and trailer weight.

Another thing to consider is that if you transport yourself, you will likely be using an open-air trailer. This leaves the ATVs exposed to weather, rocks, etc. Just because they are made to get muddy does not mean they should be snowed or hailed on as you drive across the country. A professional service will likely use an enclosed trailer to provide more protection.  Read more…

Whether you are getting a divorce, breaking up with your significant other, or have been recently widowed, the first move is always going to be hard on you and your children. You are already filled with so much emotion that adding in the stress of a move can put you over the edge. Not to mention, your children could be sad, hurt, angry, or confused, so relocating to a new home and potentially even a new school will be overwhelming. It may be hard to see that light at the end of the tunnel now, but you will eventually. Getting through your move will be a positive step in starting the next chapter in your life.

Talk to Your Kids

It is natural to want to shield them from any more pain, but springing the news of the move on them is not fair either. Make sure you are in the right state of mind when you talk to them. Getting emotional and crying or yelling will not help. Go for a walk or run, and take a deep breath before you tackle the conversation. Be honest with them and explain why you are moving. Tell them where you are going, what they have to look forward to, and when the move will take place, so they can mentally prepare. Read more…

Moving insurance is one of those topics that many people find so confusing that they do not even want to deal with it. If this sounds like you then you probably also have a nagging in the back of your mind telling you that simply avoiding the topic will be a big mistake. You have probably also learned from experience that in most cases, it is unwise to listen to that little voice. It is understandable why you do not want to deal with it. After all, determining what coverage you needed on your auto insurance probably gave you a big enough headache. However, moving insurance is important, and this guide will make understanding the topic a little less painful.

Isn’t Coverage Automatic?

You may be scratching your head, and thinking that you were under the impression that your belongings are automatically covered. Read more…

If you are having one of the moments where the reality of the move just hit you and you are suddenly aware of everything that needs to be done, then you are probably feeling a rush of emotions. You are excited to start a new chapter, stressed over expenses, worried something will go wrong, scared you will forget to take care of everything, and unsure you know everything that needs to be done. Keep these tips in the back of your mind, and the process will be easier and smoother.

1. Pack important documents and essentials you need to get through the first 24 hours, and move them in your own vehicle. Include clothes, toiletries, shower liner, coffee maker, mug, snacks, etc. 

2. Download a moving app to your phone. This will help you be much more organized. 

3. Obtain a parking permit, if moving to a big city, such as NYC, Boston, or Houston. If you are moving to a loft downtown, you do not want the movers to haul everything from two blocks over where they could find the only parking space.  Read more…

One of the hardest decisions you may face is trying to decide which day of the week to move. Most people move on the weekends because they work all week. However, although this may be convenient, sometimes it is in your best interest to take a day off and schedule your move Monday through Thursday. You may think this sounds strange to take a day off that is potentially without pay, but there are a lot of advantages to doing so.

Weekend Moves Are Convenient

Weekend moves are popular because they seem like the most logical choice. You already have a day off and the kids are home from school, so it just seems right. Plus, there is no concern of getting stuck in rush hour traffic. Not to mention, if you move on Saturday morning, you have the rest of Saturday and all day Sunday to unpack and get settled. Unfortunately, this is where the list of benefits ends. Read more…

Whether you are moving in with your boyfriend or girlfriend, if they have kids, the move might not go as smoothly as you would like. Even, if they have liked you until this point, now you might be viewed as this monster invading their space and moving around their things. Moving can already be stressful, and if the process covers conflict with your significant other and their children, there could be a little tension between the two of you, as well. You should not expect everything to go smoothly, nor should you assume you will all instantly get along like one big happy family. However, these tips will help make the transaction as comfortable as possible.

Make Sure You Are Ready

It is important to make sure that this is not a spur of the moment decision. If it was just the two of you, then jumping in without much thought would only affect both of you. This decision will impact children though, and for this reason it is very important that you are both sure. There is nothing worse than moving in and finally earning the acceptance of the children only to turn around and move out when things don’t work out, leaving a void in their life. Make sure you are ready. Read more…

If you do not plan on getting renters insurance because you don’t want to squeeze another bill into your budget this could be a very expensive mistake. Have you thought about what you would do if you lost everything in a fire or tornado? Can you afford to just go buy all new electronics, if your home is the next victim in a string of burglaries in the area? Most people assume they are saving themselves a lot of money by not getting renter’s insurance, not even realizing how inexpensive it actually is. If you are expecting it to be outrageous you will be pleasantly surprised that in most cases it is well under $1 per day, and that is for really good coverage!

Do You Need Insurance?

Every renter needs insurance; plain and simple. Just because your landlord has insurance does not mean you are covered. According to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, the insurance your landlord has is primarily to cover structural damage. In some cases it will cover tenant-related damage, too. This does not cover your belongings. Plus, if you start a small fire in the kitchen or if you go on vacation in winter, turn off the heat and come home to a frozen pipe that has burst, you could be responsible for the damage. Read more…

For the most part, dogs are fairly resilient, especially if they are confident, socialized, and have been raised in a stable home. However, even the most outgoing canine can be stressed by a move. It is a confusing experience that they do not understand, and it can leave them feeling so overwhelmed that they do not even want to eat or drink. There are a few things you should know if you are moving with your dog, and a few tips that will help him adjust a little more quickly.

Stress Starts Before the Move

You may not notice, but your dog’s stress likely started to increase long before the move. First of all, your four-legged friend can pick up on your stress. So, if you have left everything until the last minute, so you are so overwhelmed that you are snapping at people in the home and on the phone, he will think something is wrong, and associate it with the move. Plus, dogs are very attached to their surroundings. When there are boxes all of a sudden scattered everywhere and they notice things are “missing” it is very worrisome. Ideally, you will start packing a couple boxes a day far in advance so he does not deal with the drama of everything disappearing and getting moved around in one day. Pile boxes in a spare room, if possible. Read more…

If you though getting familiar with real estate lingo and mortgage terms raised your stress levels wait until you start shopping for homeowner’s insurance. This is definitely a complicated topic, but it is far too important to simply disregard. You need to be able to read your policy, and know exactly what is and is not covered. If you have an agent for car insurance or a previous renter’s policy then at least you do not have to go through the process of finding someone you are comfortable with, but you should still know exactly what you are signing, even if your agent is a relative or close friend. Below are a few common words used you  will likely encounter.

• Accident – An unexpected and unforeseen damaging event. 

• Actual Cash Value – Also referred to as “ACV,” this is the current value of property when the damage or loss occurs. 

• Adjusted Basis – Depreciation and the value of improvements are used to determine the cost of the property.  Read more…

If you are finally finishing school then you likely have a lot of decisions to make. You may want to head back to the city you came from and seek employment there or perhaps you are willing to relocate to wherever the most promising career is, but you need a little time to evaluate the job market in specific cities and submit your resume. Whatever the case is, unless you are getting hired for a job right away or you have a significant amount of money saved, you may need to move home with your parents temporarily until you figure out what happens next.

Before you start thinking that this is the end of the world or assume you must be the only person on the planet moving home, you should know that according to “CNN Money,” approximately 85 percent of college grads move back home. Plus, if you are dreading giving up your freedom just think of how your parents will feel. Sure, they will be happy to have you home, but they have lives of their own now, too. These tips should help everyone cope with the transition.  Read more…