Reduce stress by planning your move

 

HONOLULU ADVERTISER   July 15, 2007

 

BY LISA SCONTRAS

Custom Publishing Group

 

You know you're a true packrat when you discover boxes of cable wires, phone cords, surge protectors, cell phone chargers and other unidentifiable electronic stuff from gizmos you don't even own anymore stashed neatly away in a closet. And yet when you find said box you don’t think twice about packing it up to move to your new home. Face it, you need help.

 

If this describes you or someone you know, James Chan, Realtor Associate at Prudential Locations has two words for you: garage sale.

 

“My suggestion is to have a garage sale before you list the property,” says Chan. “You’ll free up space in the house for a bigger, cleaner look during open houses and showings. You’ll have less to move when you eventually move out and it’s a good excuse to give a heads up to the neighborhood that the home will be on the market soon.”

 

Moving can be an exciting time — new beginnings, a new adventure, fresh start. And if you plan ahead and give yourself plenty of time it can actually be fun paring down, getting rid of stuff and living less encumbered. Moving companies often charge by weight so it’s best to be ruthless — the more you can discard, the less your bill will be.

 

If you have leftover items after the garage sale, Chan suggests donating them to charity — many have trucks that will come by and pick them up for free.

 

“It’s a great free service and it contributes to the community,” adds Chan. “Plus you will receive an opportunity for a tax write off.”

 

The cost of a move can vary dramatically. Chan recommends getting estimates from several companies. He says it’s important to compare prices and services. Ask if the estimate includes packing, crating and insurance.

 

“Many companies are very pricey so it may be worth the extra time to do the research,” he says. “A lot of them begin charging from the point they leave their prior work site or home base to the point they finish the delivery, so if you live in Hawaii Kai and their office is in Mapunapuna, they may charge you an extra hundred or two just to get to your house.”

 

When comparing estimates, make sure each mover has allocated the same number of movers and the same number of hours to achieve a true comparison.

 

Reserve the moving dates with your moving company approximately one month in advance. Note that midweek moving can be less expensive than the weekend, likewise the non-peak fall-to-spring months.

 

If you’re moving into (or out of) a condo or townhome, it’s important to let the resident manager know what day you’re planning to move. This way, if there is an elevator in the building that needs to be reserved or prepared with padding, that can be done in advance.

 

“Perhaps ask the resident manager when the best time would be,” says Chan. “This is a good opportunity to get in good with the resident manager for those extra favors you might need down the line.”

 

Some of your mail may inevitably be delivered to your previous address, according to Chan. So he suggests you make a point of building a good rapport with the new buyer and their real estate agent. That way, if any of your mail doesn’t get forwarded to you, you can ask that they save it and arrange to pick it up when it’s convenient.

 

Contact utility companies before your actual shut-off date. Remember to make arrangements to have your TVcable and internet service hooked up. You may want to do this two or three weeks ahead of time.

 

“There are only one or two companies that will provide internet and cable, so the wait time is long,” says Chan. “This is at the top of my list because it is so easily overlooked and can cause a huge inconvenience for people.”

 

Talk to your real estate agent about how to best survive a move. They have been through many moving seasons and will be happy to share their words of wisdom with you.

 

“A good agent should make it very easy for sellers and buyers to focus on their personal tasks,” says Chan.

MOVING TIPS

1. Give your forwarding address to the post office 2-4 weeks ahead of the move.

2. Notify credit card companies, magazine subscriptions, and bank of your new address.

3. Get estimates from moving companies and compare prices and services.

4. Arrange to have utilities disconnected at your old home and connected at your new home.

5. Cancel the newspaper.

6. Check insurance coverage for items you plan to move. Usually movers only cover items in which they pack. You’ll want to make sure your belongings are covered during transit.

7. Make a note of the weight of items, since long-distance moves are usually billed according to weight.

8. Check your homeowner association rules for restrictions on elevator use, driveways, etc.

9. Reinforce boxes with extra tape to prevent them from opening before you’re ready.

10. Have a “first open” box with necessary items like toiletries, trash bags, scissors, hammer, screwdriver, pencils, cups, plates, water, snacks, toothpaste, and anything else you may need right away.

 

 

 

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