Courtesy of those guys over at Philly Boxes! Get
high quality boxes and supplies at inexpensive prices
with no hassles and low cost home or office delivery.
MOVING TIP #1
Save money by buying your boxes and supplies from www.PHILLYBOXES.com or www.BOXESDELCO.com (yes, this is a shameless plug).
MOVING TIP #2
If you meet certain requirements, you can write off all of your moving expenses on your tax return.
Common moving expenses that are overlooked are mileage on your personal vehicle(s), transportation and storage,
lodging, your time packing and boxes and supplies. Keep all your moving related receipts together and come tax
time use IRS form 3903. Check out this IRS link for more info: http://www.irs.gov/publications/p521/
MOVING TIP #3
If you use a mover, do your homework and make sure they are a reputable company. Check them out with the Better Business Bureau, do a Google search on them and actually
call there references. Everybody has some skeletons in there closet (make sure you use the right box for yours), so if you find a few complaints but a lot of positive feedback they're probably ok.
Get a copy of the movers insurance policy and CONFIRM it is valid and up to date!
MOVING TIP #4
If you are using a moving company make sure you put your items in the correct boxes. Small boxes are used for heavy items like books and tools.
If you were to fill one of our large boxes with books and tools even Rocky Boxboa couldn’t pick them up. Yes the mover’s have dollies, but they
still may refuse or charge you extra for boxes that are too heavy (this is the “extra” charges they talk about in the small print).
MOVING TIP #5
Take valuable items with you in a suitcase or small box. It is not worth packing your gold bricks in a box and trying to trust strangers with it.
MOVING TIP #6
If you have fragile items that you are packing yourself use EXCESSIVE packing material and the right box. Thank you to MasterCard for our example:
Boxes....................................$1.25-$1.75
Bubble Wrap...........................$0.10 a foot
Excessive Bubble Wrap...........still $0.10 a foot
Not dealing with the moving company’s insurance carrier.....PRICELESS!
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MOVING TIP #7
Before packing your fragile items use a black marker to write on the box FRAGILE (easier to write when the box is still flat ). Use EXCESSIVE packing material, but DO NOT tape the box.
Keep all of your fragile boxes separated from your other boxes. On the day of your move grab a
supervisor and have that person confirm that your fragile items are packed appropriately
(appropriately = the only way something would break is if the box was handled negligently).
Have the supervisor signoff on the number of boxes and the excessive packing material you used.
Then tape the boxes and hold on to the paper the supervisor signed.
Do not count on the mover’s terms and conditions to protect you. Having your own paper trail NEVER
hurts and can speed the process up with an insurance carrier if your items arrive damaged.
Keep in mind stuff happens, so if the items are irreplaceable they may be better off in your hands.
MOVING TIP #8
Moving is a great time to get rid of all the stuff you don’t need. Donate any items that you can and recycle
or trash everything else. If you donate the items make sure you get a receipt, so you write it off come tax time.
Now you will have more room in your new place to fill up with other stuff you don’t really need.
MOVING TIP #9
If you think the move is tough on you, imagine how tough it is on your kid(s). Make sure you talk about your move with
them and keep their favorite toys or items accessible throughout the packing and moving process.
MOVING TIP #10
Make sure you backup all your files on your computer prior to your move. Have the data burned onto CD’s or DVD’s
and keep them in a secure, accessible location. If you have saved your computer boxes, you are ahead of the game.
If you do not have the boxes find a box that is about twice the size of the computer. DO NOT USE BUBBLE WRAP OR
PACKING PEANUTS as filler. These products cause static electricity and can damage your computer. Use unprinted newspaper.
Wad up the paper and make a layer on the bottom of the box. Place the computer inside and then continue to wad up
newsprint all around the sides and over the top. Seal the box with tape. Computers are another one of those items that you may want to move yourself.
MOVING TIP #11
Make sure you drain oil and gas from your lawn mower and snow blower. DO NOT pack anything flammable, combustible or
corrosive (paint cans, turpentine, etc.) It is against the law for movers to transport these items.
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