How to Move to a New Home

From downsizing to an apartment to looking for a better neighborhood to raise a family, there are a multitude of reasons why people move to new homes. However, whether you're moving a few blocks or many hundreds of miles, successfully getting all of your belongings from one site to another can be complicated and taxing. If you're ready to take this step, you'll want to arm yourself with the necessary tips and information to make the transition as simple as possible.

Here's a breakdown of how to move to a new home, from the beginning of the process to the end:

Moving companies charge according to how many workers are needed and the expected length of the job for local moves.

Determine What Type of Move You're Making

Even if you're moving within the same state, it's important to determine whether or not your move is considered local. Moving companies charge differently for local moves than they do for interstate or long-distance ones. 

Local Move
Though it varies from mover to mover, local moves are typically considered to be less than 50-100 miles in distance and within the same state. For local moves, companies charge based on how many workers they'll need to send and how many hours they estimate the move will take. 

Interstate or Long-Distance Move
If you're moving within the same state but farther than 50-100 miles away from your current home, or if the truck will need to pass through another state or country before returning to the original state, your move will likely be considered long-distance or interstate. Interstate moving companies are required to be registered with the U.S. Department of Transportation, and they charge by weight - usually by the pound in the U.S.

Develop a Moving Budget

After figuring out what type of move you're making, you can begin to develop a budget. When you're ready to hire a moving company, your budget will help you determine which movers you can hire and what services you can afford to include. 

Moving companies offer a variety of services, including packing and unpacking boxes, providing furniture pads, covers and blankets, moving difficult-to-carry or bulky items, loading and unloading the truck, and disassembling and assembling furniture. The more services you need, the more expensive your move will be. Keep this in mind when crafting a realistic budget.

Downsize Your Belongings

For both interstate and local moves, the more belongings you want to load into the moving van, the more your move is likely to cost. For this reason, it's a good idea to clear your home of anything you don't intend to bring to your new house or apartment before hiring movers. That way, when it comes time to get estimates, moving companies will have a more accurate picture of exactly how much they'll be transferring to the new place.

Throw away anything that's broken, stained or damaged beyond repair. If you haven't used certain belongings in more than a year - or if you won't have room for them in your new home - either donate or sell them. 

Do Some Research

The services and logistics required for every move are different, so it's important to choose a moving company that's right for your needs.The following tips can help you find reputable and professional moving companies in your area.

Read Reviews Online
The Internet is a good place to begin your search for movers, and online reviews and ratings can make this task even easier. Reading personal anecdotes and recommendations from companies' past customers can clue you in to the movers' legitimacy and dependability.

Ask for Recommendations
To begin to narrow down your selection, ask your friends, co-workers and relatives for personal recommendations. Just remember, you'll still want to research a company further to make sure it's the right choice for your needs.

Book a Moving Company

You've done your research and put together a list of three or four potential options. To book the right company for the job, though, you'll want to dig a little deeper into the companies and the services they offer.

Get Estimates

Most moving companies will send someone from their organization to assess your belongings and give you as accurate a cost estimate as possible. Because moving prices vary so drastically based on geography and services needed, this is the No. 1 way to determine a ballpark figure for how much your move will cost. 

In simple terms, moving companies provide two different types of quotes: binding and nonbinding. If a moving company gives you a binding estimate, you won't have to pay more than that set amount, even if your move is more complicated than the company expected. Nonbinding estimates aren't set - in other words, if your move takes two hours longer than planned, you may have to pay drastically more money than what's quoted in your contract. 

Ask Questions
After receiving estimates, call each company to ask questions. You'll want to figure out whether the company is reputable and within your budgetary restrictions. Here are a few questions you can ask:

• How long have you been in business?
• Are you available on my moving date?
• Do you provide furniture pads and covers to protect my belongings?
• Is your estimate binding? If not, can you offer a binding estimate? 
• Are there any other fees and fines within the contract that could make my move more expensive?
• Can you provide the contact information for any references?

Check for Scams
Calling the moving companies personally to ask these questions is a good way to rule out any scams, but there is an extra step you can take to ensure the companies are reputable. Call the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration or visit its site online. Local moving companies aren't required to be registered with the FMCSA, but if they are, it means they've committed to following certain rules and regulations. The FMCSA can also tell you whether its members have the proper licensing and insurance.

Check Your Moving Coverage

After booking a mover of your choice, it's a good idea to determine how protected your belongings are in the event of damage during the process. Moving companies are required to explain their insurance or valuation policy to customers, so ask the one you've chosen what type of coverage it offers.

Most moving companies offer what's called valuation protection, which isn't insurance. Instead, it covers your belongings up to a certain value - this value is either a set number, like $5,000, or it's a percentage based on the weight of the damaged item. Companies typically cover about 30 to 60 cents per pound. This means if the movers damage something valuable but lightweight, only a fraction of its cost will likely be covered under these terms.

Find Supplemental Insurance Options
If you're interested in supplementing the valuation coverage, you can do so in a couple of ways. The moving company may offer a full-protection policy for an added fee, so you can protect your belongings that way. 

Or, if you currently have a homeowner's policy or a renters insurance policy if you live in an apartment, it may provide additional moving coverage as well. Call your insurance company to see what exactly is included in your plan.

Pack Your Belongings Successfully

If the movers you hired won't be professionally packing for you, you'll want to begin boxing up your belongings as early as you can. You'll find it's much easier to stay organized if you aren't rushing. 

Gather the Right Supplies
Packing requires more supplies than you may have anticipated. Here are a few basics you'll definitely need on hand to get started:

• Boxes in various sizes
• Packing tape
• Permanent markers
• Packing paper

You can also optionally buy things like bubble wrap, mattress covers and other organizational items to keep your valuables protected in transit. 

Stay Organized

Develop a packing system to keep your belongings as organized as possible. Why? Not only will it help the movers determine which items and boxes should go where at your new place, but it will also make the unpacking process much easier for you. Download a packing organization app or create an inventory using a notebook, pen and numbering system on your boxes. Whichever organizational process you use, make sure it's easy for you and the movers to understand.

Fill Boxes Completely
Remember that during the process of loading the truck, driving it to the new house or apartment and unloading it, your boxes and other items are going to shift around. For this reason, pack boxes fully, filling in gaps with paper, bubble wrap, towels and other buffering materials. 

Cancel and Transfer Utilities

At least two weeks before moving day, you should call all of your utility suppliers to cancel or transfer the services. Take the time to do this beforehand so you can schedule any necessary in-person appointments, whether it's to uninstall and reinstall your router and cable box or to take a final reading of your gas meter.

The main utilities most homeowners must take care of before moving include electricity, gas, water and sewer, garbage and recycling pickup, Internet and cable. Don't forget: Be sure to supply each company with your new address so it can forward any final invoices. 

Put Everything in Writing

For legal reasons, it's crucial to properly document your agreement with the moving company you've hired. For that reason, on or before loading day, your movers should have you sign a few key documents, including the following.

Estimate
You should have received a written estimate when the moving company assessed your belongings. Make sure the paperwork clarifies whether the quote is binding or nonbinding along with any other potential expenses you may be responsible for before signing it. If a moving company does not provide a written estimate, ask for one - you should never accept an oral quote.

Inventory

On the day of the move, the workers assigned to your home will bring an inventory sheet. The sheet should list all of the belongings the movers will load and unload, including short descriptions of their condition. Look over this document carefully for two things: First, that it includes everything you need moved, and second, that you agree with what it says about the condition of your belongings. If anything is damaged during the move, the inventory will be an important aspect of filing a claim for reimbursement, so be sure that it's accurate.

Bill of Lading
Movers will also provide a bill of lading on moving day. This document acts as a receipt stating that all of the items the movers were responsible for arrived at their final destination. You'll get a halfway-completed bill of lading before the movers leave your current home, and the fully completed document should be signed by both you and the movers after the task is finished. 

Move Your Own Valuables

Whether or not the company you've chosen is providing a full-service move, there are some items you should move yourself. Some products are not actually allowed on the moving van for safety reasons, including aerosol containers, anything flammable or combustible and any poisons or pesticides you may use while landscaping. Other than those, it's important to carry with you anything valuable you want to keep safe. This includes:

• Your computer and other electronics
• Important documents, like your birth certificate, Social Security card and identifications
• Jewelry and other emotionally significant items

Along with these valuables, it's also a good idea to pack extra shoes and clothing, toiletries, medications and other daily necessities in your own car, since you won't have access to the rest of your belongings for a period of time during the move. 

Check for Damage

After the truck has been unloaded at your new home, do a quick check for damage before the movers leave. Take five minutes to walk through each room, inspecting furniture and opening any boxes that appear to be dented or damaged. 

If you spot any scratches, dings or broken items, note them on the inventory sheet and bill of lading before you sign off on it. This documentation will come in handy if you choose to file a claim.