Do's and Don'ts of Moving People without first hand experience of moving house may be under the impression of it being a straightforward affair. Take your belongings, put them in a truck, drive down to the new house, unload and unpack. That is it! However, that is easier said than done. Moving has to be planned with care and attention to details. In fact, early planning would be of great help. For example, selecting the right mover would be the first step in moving house painlessly. Recommendations from relatives and acquaintances could be a good source of locating a reliable mover. The mover's credentials can be checked with the better business bureau, as a measure of caution. Get firm quotes from two or three different moving companies to compare their terms and charges. Provide them with the details of the things to be moved, so that they can give you an exact estimate. This would prevent surprise charges, and make sure that the mover does not refuse to accept anything you want him to take particular care of. To reduce moving costs, separate everything you may not require any longer. Dispose them through a garage sale. Donating to charity could be another option. Everything needs to be packed properly, and not just thrown or shoved in boxes. Packing is painstaking work, and needs to be done in such a way that your things reach their destination intact. You could buy packing boxes from the moving company, or procure free boxes from the supermarket. It is prudent to start your packing at least a couple of weeks before your scheduled date of moving. Since your date of moving is still weeks away, make sure of not packing away things you may need at the moment. Packing things one room at a time is a systematic way to go about it, than tackling the whole house at once. Start with things not required for present use, such as clothes not in season, old books and other knick-knacks. Pack you things tightly in their boxes filling empty spaces with old newspapers, polyurethane foam, or anything else that can be used as packing materiel. Books are usually heavy and should be packed in compact boxes to prevent damage. Delicate crockery should be cushioned with old newspapers. Putting things in order in the new house would take some time. Setting up your new house could take some time, hence things for daily use may not be found easily without unpacking. To overcome such difficulty, pack a few essentials for all every family member, like going on a short outdoor trip. Clothes, crockery and cutlery, and other things required for daily use would be the priority. Your delicate electronic goods like the computer, music system, etc, should be packed in their original packing, if available. If not, special strong cardboard boxes of appropriate size should be procured. Electronic goods should be packed with proper cushioning to prevent damage. Their boxes should be specifically marked stating them to be fragile, and to be handled with care. All valuables, and important documents, legal papers etc, which contain confidential information, should preferably be carried in person. Make an inventory that lists all the items that you have packed. Make sure that each box is properly labeled. If you use the services of a professional mover, they would come to pack your things a day or two before the actual moving date. It is better to be present when they pack your fragile items and antiques to ensure that it is properly done. Make sure that all the expensive things being taken care of by the mover are listed on the inventory, and sign on it only when both you and the mover agree about the contents. Check out your home insurance cover. If damage to household goods during moving is not covered, it would be advisable to purchase it. Some movers provide the transit insurance, eliminating the need to go to an insurance company. The time for the movers to arrive needs to be fixed in advance and make sure that someone authorized is on the spot to receive them. If you have arranged for hired moving services to take care of the moving, it has to be borne in mind that they do not accept the responsibility for pets. Potted plants can also be a problem, as generally movers do not take responsibility for them. Make sure that everything that has to be loaded is put into the truck, and that nothing is left behind. This being your responsibility, it is important to stay on the spot until the loading is through. Once it is done, the receipt for the shipment, called the bill of lading, is handed over after being duly signed. It is a contract with the terms and conditions for the transportation. Confirm that the driver has the correct address for the destination and sign the bill of lading indicating your acceptance and approval. Your telephone must remain functioning, especially on the day of moving. Your new address needs to be left at the old house to make sure that the new people moving in get it. This would help in forwarding mail that arrives after you leave, as well as your contact information, in case of any eventuality.--------------------------------------If you are a business owner get listed at Best Personal Care Site, part of Localwin Network.