Planning Your Move

Plan the move as early as possible. Consider that the first and last few days of the month are extra busy. If you plan to sell your house, get it on the market as soon as possible. If renting, give your landlord timely notice of your moving date. Keep a record of all expenses related to the move, some of which may be tax deductible. Fill out the Personal Household Inventory for each room. This is important for establishing the amount of declared value for the shipment and as a permanent inventory for insurance purposes. List, the year of purchase and original cost of each item. Attach any invoices or records of purchase to the completed inventory. Prepare a separate high-value inventory if the shipment will contain articles of "extraordinary" value. The following list includes items that might fall into this category:
¿ Antiques, * Art Collections, * Cameras, * China Collections, * Computer Equipment, * Crystal, * Figurines, * Gold and Silver, * Firearms, * Jewelry, *Manuscripts, * Oriental Rugs, * Stones Or Gems, * Tapestries, * TVs, *Stereos, *CDs, *DVD, etc.

Estimate of Moving Costs
Unless you have been given a binding estimate where a firm cost is established in advance, the exact cost of a move cannot be determined until after the shipment has been loaded on the van and weighed. The weight on which charges are based is calculated by weighing the van before and after loading. The total cost of the move will include transportation charges, any charges for declared valuation, plus charges for any extra services performed at your request.

Owner's Responsibility
It is the owner's responsibility to see that your mechanical, electrical equipment, and appliances are properly serviced for shipping prior to the arrival of the moving van. For safe moving, have these items prepared by a licensed or properly trained technician. This service may be performed by a technician of your choice or by qualified personnel of the moving company. If the owner has failed to have an item serviced, the van operator may load and haul it, but will mark the inventory sheet, "Not Serviced-Loaded at Owner's Risk."

Six to Eight Weeks before Moving Day

Working with the Mover * Have the moving company conduct a household goods survey in order to furnish you with a written estimate, although the final cost will depend on the actual weight of your household goods after they are loaded on the van. * Before the movers arrive, inspect the property. Include the garage, patio and any storage shed. Decide what to move and what to discard.
Remember, the cost of moving an item may be greater than the cost of replacing it. * Decide whether you want to do any of the packing or have it done by the moving company's experienced personnel. Show on the removal list everything that is to be moved. Specify articles that are to be packed so the estimate will include these charges. Any items that are later added to the shipment will add to the cost estimate.

Transfer of Personal Records

Arrange for closing or transfer of charge accounts.
Check personal insurance policies to see whether moving is covered.
Transfer fire, theft and other personal property insurance to ensure coverage at the new home.
Obtain transcripts of the children's school records and credentials from school authorities or secure transcripts of school records, if you prefer to take them along.
Gather medical and dental records including vaccination data, prescriptions, dates of last examinations, history of past illnesses and so on.
Ask your doctor and dentist to recommend colleagues in the new city. Be sure to check current telephone numbers and addresses.

For more information please contact me at susanmorrow@homesvegas.com