Tips & News > Moving Tips > Moving FAQ

Moving FAQ

Moving Frequently Asked Questions

Get your moving questions answered.

WhiteFence believes that moving can be a minimally stressful situation as long as you are informed, prepared and organized. Below is a list of FAQs to help you make your move go smoothly.



Finding a Good Deal on Your Utilities

It is important to shop around for your utilities to ensure you get the best deal. Several companies offer introductory deals or may or may not require deposits, so it is necessary for you to check out all your options to make sure that you are getting the best deal. At WhiteFence, you can compare and connect your utilities at one place, freeing up the hours you would have spent on the phone connecting your utilities and giving you more time to do all your other move-related tasks.

Back to Top ^

Moving School Information

If you are moving with children, one of your big concerns will be where to send your children to school. A great tool to help you find out what schools are in your area is The School Report. This free service allows you to find out all you need to know about possible schools in your new area, including how many kids attend the schools, awards and honors the schools have received and even the average SAT scores of each school.

Back to Top ^

Too Much to Move?

Two months before you move, take an inventory of your belongings. If you find you have a good number of items that you believe will just be gathering dust in your new home, plan a garage sale to avoiding throwing away things at the last minute. If you do not have the time or the space to have a moving sale, you can call a local charity to arrange a drop-off or pick-up so the items that you do not need any longer will be used for a good purpose.

Back to Top ^

Packing Smart

We all know that packing at the last moment is not your best course of action when moving, but what should you pack first?

To have a truly organized move, you should start packing about two months in advance of your move date, beginning with clothes that you will not need in the current season (if you are moving in the winter, pack your summer clothes). Another set of items you can pack early is books, knickknacks and other items on display.

Instead of trying to write a contents list on each and every box, try color coding the boxes with stickers to alert either you or your movers which rooms the boxes belong in. Not only will this save time and ink, it will also prevent movers or anyone passing by from seeing an interesting label on your boxes and deciding to rifle through your belongings.

As you get closer to your move date and you begin to pack everyday items, there are some items that you should make sure stay unpacked, namely a change of clothing, pet food, snacks, can opener, corkscrew, towels, toiletries, shower curtain and cleaning supplies. Make sure you have room to pack these items with you in your car to make sure they are unpacked first as well.

Back to Top ^

Preparing Your House to be Sold

When moving, you first have to deal with what you are leaving behind. One of the biggest things that you will be leaving behind is, obviously, your house. There are several ways that you can make your house ready to be sold. Little things, like cleaning well, can even boost the price buyers are willing to pay for your home. Read the article Preparing Your House for Sale in Better Homes and Gardens to find out more tips for preparing your house.

Back to Top ^

Keep Records of Cancellations

You're moving, so you disconnect or cancel your services at your current residence. You think you are free and clear until a few months later when you receive a bill for the past three months of service at a house that you no longer live in. Unless you have records, you may have to pay these bills.

As this happened to me not too long ago, I know that this does happen upon occasion. I got charged $300 for six months of phone service for an apartment that I no longer lived in. Thankfully, I had kept records of when I called to discontinue my service. Because of my records, the phone provider prorated the bill and I did not have to pay a cent.

When you call to cancel or disconnect a service when you are moving or just changing your provider, be sure to keep a record of your phone call. Get the name of the customer service representative you speak to and get the confirmation number. Put all this information in a safe place for six months at least to make sure you do not need it.

Back to Top ^

Helping Your Kids to Adjust

No matter how far you are moving, the change will be tough on your children. Your move will be especially tough on your children if they have to change schools. To help your children adjust to your move, you should read this article from Better Homes and Gardens. It has a lot of good advice on how to aid your children in getting over the "school changing blues."

Back to Top ^

Finding a home

Looking for a home in your new city? It is tough to find the perfect home in a new city, especially if you currently live far away from where you are moving to. But if you know where you should look, the process can be fun and exciting. This site, Realtor.com, has over 2.5 million homes on the market that you can look through at your leisure. If you need an easy way to look through possible housing choices, this site could help you.

Back to Top ^

Buying a home for the first time

If you have never owned a home before, you might feel overwhelmed at the process of buying a home. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development had the nervous prospective home buyer in mind when they created this Web site on buying a home. It details nine steps that every prospective home buyer should follow as they fulfill their dream of owning a home. You should check it out if you would like more information.

Back to Top ^

Calculate cost of living in a new city

If you always wanted to move to New York City, but were afraid to make the leap because you are unsure what salary you would have to make in order to maintain your lifestyle - I have found the answer to your problems. If you use the Salary Calculator, you can enter in your current city and salary, and it will calculate how much you would have to make in the city of your dreams. Now, when you get offered that job in NYC or any other city, you will know if you should accept it or pass.

Back to Top ^

Planning the layout of your new home

Planning the layout of your new house will save you hours of shifting around boxes once you get to your new home. Using a layout of your home, you should plan which rooms will have what furniture. Once you have done this, you should make copies and give them to your movers so they will be well aware of your plans. This way, the movers will be able to put your belonging is the right place the first time.

Back to Top ^

Moving Hazardous Household Materials

There are several items that have been deemed too dangerous to move. Professional movers will not move items that are flammable, corrosive or explosive, and you should not move these hazardous materials either. You can look at this hazardous materials list to see examples of items that you shouldn't move. Before packing, you should ask your professional mover for a complete list of items that they will not move to make sure you are compliant with their regulations.

Back to Top ^

Relocating a cat for a happier move

Cats are finicky animals, even during non-stressful times. If you are planning on moving with a cat, you should check out this article on moving with cats.

One of the helpful suggestions in this article is to keep your cat in a familiar confined space throughout the move. Although you might feel guilty for this, the confined space with familiar scents will help keep your cat calm. It will also prevent your cat from running out of an open door.

Also, be very patient with your cat once you bring your cat to your new home. Leave your cat in its carrier with the door open and let your pet decide when they feel comfortable to come out. You can try to coax it out with treats or toys, but don't try to pull it out of the carrier, as you will just stress your pet further and probably get a few scratches in the process.

With these and several other good tips, this article can help out any cat lover who is on the move.

Back to Top ^

Books to help your child cope with a move

Are you worried that your child is not responding well to your recent move? Moves can affect children a great deal, especially if they are attached to their school or have close friends that they left behind when they moved. There are several books out there that can help you help your child adjust. You can follow this link to see several books for you and your child that may help your child cope with your recent move.

Back to Top ^

How to move your vehicle

Need to know how to move your vehicle?
There a few steps you need to follow to ensure your car shipment goes smoothly:
  • Make sure to schedule the move at least four weeks in advance.
  • When you call the car mover, be able to provide information on where the car will be picked up from and delivered, the pick-up and arrival date and the type of car.
  • Do not leave personal property inside your car during the move.
  • Have your car insured for the move.
For more suggestions on how to move your vehicle, you can look at this Web site.

Back to Top ^

Rules and regulations for pet travel

There are several rules to follow when you are moving your pet either domestically or internationally. The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has published several of the regulations and instructions on their Animal Care: Pet Travel site. Especially if you are moving overseas, this Web site can help you figure out how to get your pet ready for travel.

Back to Top ^

Get your pet accustomed to your new home

It is difficult to get your pet accustomed to a new place after a move. They miss their old home just as much as you and your family does. If your pet is not helped along to feel comfortable in their new home, they can develop high levels of stress which may cause medical problems. This article details some ways that you can help out your cat or dog to get to know their new home.

Back to Top ^

Overlapping your utilities

Several services offered through WhiteFence allow you to choose when to disconnect your service at your old address as well as connect your service at your new address. When you are selecting the dates, make sure to overlap the dates for as long as you think it will take you to move all your possessions and clean your old place. If you turn off your utilities too early, you may not have electricity or water when it comes time to clean up.

Back to Top ^

How to pack your moving truck

Packing a moving truck may seem like it is a straightforward process, but if you want to fit as much as you can without breaking any of your belongings, there are some simple rules you should follow:
  1. Pack all large, heavy furniture and appliances first. Push these items against the wall closest to the cab. To make sure the truck is balanced, pack heavy items across this wall. Make sure to use furniture padding, that you can probably get from the moving truck company, to protect your wood surfaces and corners.
  2. Move long items, like your mattress, sofas and box springs, next. Place these items along the long walls of the truck.
  3. Anything that can be disassembled, like your bed frame, you should take it apart.
  4. Now it is time for your heaviest boxes. You can place these on top of your appliances and furniture. Make sure not to leave any nook or cranny between your furniture unfilled.
  5. Once you have packed the heavy boxes, pack your lighter boxes. Make sure that the lightest boxes are on top.
  6. Once you feel assured that all these items are secure, pack your fragile or awkward items.
If you follow these steps, you and your possessions should be in good shape once you get to your new residence. No matter how well you pack, however, it is always a good idea to get moving insurance.

Back to Top ^

Make Lists

Creating lists can help you keep yourself organized during your move. To help make sure you know where all your belongings are, you can print out a numbered table with enough space to write the contents of each box. Once you begin packing, number the boxes and write the contents on your list by the corresponding number. Also, make lists of supplies you should keep in your former residence so you can make sure you have what you need when you have to clean.

Basically, anything you can write down will be helpful since you will have to do so much during your move. Small things that you could normally remember will be lost in the shuffle of a big move.

Back to Top ^

Is Moving Insurance Necessary?

Most accidents occur when you least expect them or when you're not covered for them. Unless you buy moving insurance, your property is probably not covered for all that it is worth.

Your moving company automatically provides valuation, not insurance. Your moving company can provide three different types of valuation: declared value, lump sum value and full value protection. To find out about these different types of coverage, you can read the article Should You Purchase Moving Insurance?

Additionally, you should explore other insurance options. You can check with your homeowners insurance, as they typically cover 10 percent of the value of your personal property while it is in transit. Also, you can look into transit insurance, which you can buy from your insurance agent or most moving companies.

Back to Top ^

Finding an apartment that is accessible to someone with disabilities

If you have a disability, it may be especially hard for you to find an apartment home that can accommodate your needs. The National Accessible Apartment Clearinghouse (NAAC) maintains the only national database of apartment homes with features for people with disabilities, listing more than 80,000 units in 50 states. NAAC fulfills more than 500 phone and/or e-mail requests per month from residents looking for accessible apartments. You can contact NAAC at 1-800-421-1221 or by e-mail at clearinghouse@naahq.com.

Back to Top ^

Deducting moving expenses from your taxes

Did you know that when you move, you can deduct your expenses from your taxes? To qualify for the moving expense deduction, you must be moving to a new principal residence to work as an employee or as a self-employed individual at a new principal place of work. Also, you must meet both the distance and the time tests, unless you are a member of the armed forces and your move was due to a permanent change of station.

To meet the requirements of the distance test, your new job location must be at least 50 miles farther from your former residence than your old job location. The time test requires that as an employee, you must work full-time for at least 39 weeks during the 12 months right after you move. If you are self-employed, you must work full time for at least 39 weeks during the first 12 months and for a total of at least 78 weeks during the first 24 months after you move. There are exceptions to the time test in case of death, disability and involuntary separation.

If you meet these requirements, several aspects of your move can be deducted from your taxes. You can deduct the cost of transporting your property from your old residence to you new residence, including the actual cost of transportation or hauling from your old residence to your new one; the cost of packing, crating and unpacking; and storage in transit. In addition to this, you can deduct the cost of shipping your automobile(s), the cost of transporting your household pets, and the cost of your trip to your new residence, as well as other expenses.

To find out more details about deducting moving expenses, you can go to the IRS Web site.

Keep Gas Prices from Affecting Your Move

According to a survey of home buyers by HomePages.com, 70 percent of consumers say rising gas prices have become an important consideration when deciding where to live. Nearly half of the home buyers ranked rising gas prices as "very important."

If you want to factor your fuel budget into your moving decision, start your house search close to the office to cut down on commute time. Look for housing that is near desired local services and amenities, such as restaurants, coffee shops and schools.

To save money while you are searching for a home, do as much of your homework online as you can. Search realtor sites and use online moving tools like the ones Stephanie wrote about in May. You can also check out HomePages, a Web site that helps you find detailed information on communities. View neighborhoods, streets and homes through their aerial mapping technology before you drive to see anything in person.