Moving to a new home is a great opportunity to start fresh and leave behind the unwanted. However, the last things you want to leave behind are important documents, billing information and your favorite magazines! Ease the transition to your new home by making sure that your mail moves with you.

Since it can take up to 10 days for mail to start getting forwarded to your new address after you submit a change of address form, turn in your request two weeks before your moving date.

Where to Find a USPS Change of Address Form

If your moving to-do list is turning into a to-do novel, fear not. There are several ways to get your change of address with the US postal service squared away. Choose the option most convenient for your schedule and you’ll be able to cross at least one thing off that ever-growing list!

• ·         Online: Easily the most convenient and quickest option, you can fill out a Change of Address form online for a $1 verification fee.
• ·         At Your Local Post Office: Visit your local post office and fill out PS Form 3575—Change of Address. You can also print it beforehand and bring it with you.
• ·         By Mail: Send Form 3575 to the address provided.
• ·         By Phone: Call 1-800-ASK-USPS to complete your address change over the phone. The $1 verification fee will apply.

Updating or Cancelling Your Change of Address

Maybe your new living situation falls through, or maybe you entered your new address incorrectly the first time—after all, it’s hard to remember a zip code when you’ve got moving boxes, heavy furniture and new neighbors on your mind! Either way, it’s an easy process to update or cancel your change of address with the US Postal Service.

If you have internet access, you can simply go online to the Change of Address page and click “Get started on USPS.com.” Next, click on “Need to view, update or cancel a Change of Address order you already submitted?” (located under the “Click here to begin” button). After verifying your zip code and confirmation number, you’ll be able to make any changes or cancellations necessary. You can also do this over the phone (1-800-275-8777) or by filling out a form at your local post office.

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1. Common Moving Mistakes

This guest blog post comes from movingcompanies.us, online portal of long distance moving companies.

No matter your reasons for selling your home, the necessary process is neither simple nor easy. You may be especially aware there are no shortcuts or tricks if you’ve previously gone through the process before. Before you call in the long distance movers, you must find a buyer financially prepared to purchase your home at or near the amount you’ve set.

Looking Good

The best way to attract serious buyers is to enhance your home’s ‘curb appeal’ by ensuring a presentable and pleasing image. Create an attractive front so people can see your home’s beauty when they pass by. Simple tasks like removing clutter that may have accumulated in the yard, flowerbeds, and garden have a big impact. If miscellaneous items, out of season tools, or yard furniture crowds outdoor areas, consider moving them into storage for the time being. If you find you have a large number of these items, rent a truck to speed up the process. Check with the movers you plan to use for final move to see if they have a storage facility, otherwise you can rent one.

Once the larger items are gone, continue to check the lawn for debris such as fliers or scattered trash and each day and sweep the walkways as needed. Maintain any existing plant life by mowing the lawn and removing dead or diseased plants. While dead plant life makes a home appear ill maintained and unfriendly, a well-kept yard creates an inviting an hopeful look.

Show Off Indoors

Follow these same guidelines inside your home to improve it further. Start by removing clutter and cleaning as needed, but don’t forget things like appliances and shelves. Everything should feel fresh and welcoming to the potential owners coming to view the house, so you want them to have room and freedom to move about and explore. Go as far as temporary storage for large collections of furniture or items that may be crowding rooms. Remember, you want to show off the inside of your home, not the clutter that you have collected while living there. An organized and clean environment is the most important step you can make to ensure a fast sale.

Time and Money

Once your home is physically ready to be shown, consider the marketing and transaction options you have. While you may be trying to save money by selling your own home, unless you have professional qualifications in real estate it may not pan out to the savings you expect. Very few individuals can pay cash for a home, so you must be familiar with the legal requirements involved with mortgage agreements and the responsibilities you are taking on by signing them.

Your time will also be in high demand to market, show, and negotiate the sale of your home, which will impact your existing daily activities. Real estate agents shoulder the burden of showing and selling the home, and many are willing to negotiate his or her commission. To reduce the stress of selling your home, remember to create a clean and attractive front, present a welcoming interior, and work with a reliable agent. These steps will ensure you find the buyer you need to sell your home.

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Do not pack any nail polish, hairsprays or other aerosols, or bleach. Before your move, dispose of any cleaning solvents, paint, paint thinners, kerosene, ammonia or other dangerous chemicals, including fertilizer. Some obvious items not to pack include ammunition, loaded guns, fireworks, matches, lighters or other combustibles, but you might not know that pool chemicals and weed killers are also considered to be hazardous materials. Other things not to pack when you move are car batteries or household batteries, which can leak.

Get free movers quotes from licensed moving companies today.

If you grill, you might not think twice about taking lighter fluid or charcoal or propane tanks, which are all potentially dangerous, as are any type of fuels or oils.

Regarding documents and other belongings that you should keep in your vehicle, not pack away in boxes, you will want to have the following things handy:

–keys for the old and new homes, vehicles, safes, safety deposit boxes

–telephone directory from your previous neighborhood and address books

–all medical and dental records, school records, insurance information and car titles

–medications, vitamins, pain killers and bandages

–your cell phones, computers and their chargers and power strips

–cash for your expected moving costs as well as extra money for emergencies

– valuable jewelry, watches, gems, precious metals or coins, and vases or knick knacks that are very fragile and/or irreplaceable

It is a good idea, however, to label a box “Open first” and include such items as paper plates, utensils, paper towels, coffee cups, a coffee pot and filters, teabags,  trash bags, towels, soap, toothbrushes and toothpaste, a flashlight, light bulbs, tape, scissors, pens and paper, and other useful things that you will probably require right away in the new place. Include some drinking water too, and cups. You would not want to need any of these things and have to search through all of your boxes, which would be frustrating, time-consuming, messy and inefficient.

Get a free moving estimate from professional movers in your area.

Thanks to MoversQuote.Org for the guest post.

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Packing up and moving to a brand new home can be exciting, terrifying and stressful all at once. Packing especially can be incredibly stressful and overwhelming. There are ways that you can reduce the stress of packing and make your packing more efficient. 

The first obstacle you are going to encounter with packing is just how much time it takes. Because of the time commitment associated with packing, the best thing you can do is to try to pack one or two boxes every day. If you work during the day, one or two boxes in the evenings before bed will eventually pay off. On the weekends, unless you are equally busy, you can pack more. Have everyone in your home pack as well; giving them instruction if you need things packed in a certain way.

The best thing to do is to have everyone start with their own belongings first and then take time when you are together to pack the items that belong to everyone. Packing a little at a time and as a team will be less overwhelming and can even be fun; you can reminisce about past times in your life and bond with your family over times shared in your home. This process is not only efficient, it can be uplifting. 

One of the most important things when you are packing is to stay as organized as possible. One thing that can help you do this is packing based on the rooms in your house. Packing room to room is especially good because you will be able to see the progress you are making. You will also be able to organize your new home with much more efficiency, especially if you label each box with the room its contents belong to and the general items that are in it. In the case of valuable, breakable, or damageable items, you want to be sure to wrap each item carefully and well. Old newspapers or clothes are especially good for this.

Wrapping your belongings will keep them from rubbing against each other and scratching it. This will reduce the chance of them breaking when dropped or handled roughly. Moving is an unpredictable process and you needed to do everything you can to protect your belongings. Finally, if you have anything especially valuable, like important documents or family heirlooms, you will want to pack these items yourself and personally transport them to your new home. This will protect them from being lost or stolen in the moving process. 

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No matter the reason for moving out of your current state of residence, one should still put some thought into it before making such a big and life changing decision.
One of the first things that one should consider before moving is how much it would cost to do so. Start looking for long distance movers  within your area who specialize in state to state move. Remember to do your research into the company to ensure that they are reputable and have good customer standing. You can find out the latter by asking for referrals from the moving company. Experts would tell you to have at least two long distance moving companies on standby for your move just in case one of them does not pull through.

Next, when choosing a state to live in, you should pay attention to the cost of living as it compared to where you currently live. It would not be a wise decision to move to a state where the cost of living is expensive especially if you are trying to move on your current income. With that said moving long distance to an expensive state is only recommended if you are moving for to a new job that pays twice as much as what you currently make.

Before moving, do your research on the new state as regards to the type of housing and the best areas to live and raise a family. Try locating a house that is not only affordable but one that is large enough to accommodate every member of your family. Even if you find a home that is the right price, the area may not be the safest. Do your research on the Internet to get an idea of the area you would be choosing to live. In most cases there are particular websites that you can find online where there are tenant reviews and ratings for homes in a specific area. This has proven to be very effective for those who are relocating.

Safety aside, you would also want to find a location that is within close proximity to schools, convenient stores, malls and restaurants. This would definitely be an added convenience especially for those in the family that do not drive or own a vehicle. Choose schools for your children that have great student achievement ratings and after school activities that they can enjoy.

It is always recommended to have a great support system in the new state where you would be moving. A cousin or great family friend may be able to assist you with getting things done around your home or they may be able to give you a tour of the place and baby sit your children should you need their assistance.

This article is written by FindGoodMovers.com would help our readers to better prepare for long distance relocation.

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Moving experts however are of the opinion that regardless of the size of your household items, you choose a truck that is larger in size. Depending on which truck rental company you hire, they would more than likely provide you with a general idea as to what type of vehicle you should rent for your specific household items. For instance, if you currently live in a studio apartment that has three rooms worth of household items, then you should rent a truck that is 12-15 feet. Twenty-foot trucks are recommended for those who have five rooms of stuff while a home that has eight rooms of household items should be placed in a 24 foot truck.

Now that the sizing of the truck is out of the way, you can begin your search for a truck rental company. Moving experts would recommend that you get quotes from at least three truck rental companies ahead of moving day. When you call them, be sure to ask them for a price as it regards to the size of the moving  truck that you are thinking about renting. Make sure that you read all the fine prints on the truck rental documents; there are usually many clauses in place that isn’t as straightforward as it seems. With that said, when reviewing the documents, ensure that you ask a lot of questions so that you would be clear on what you are getting into.

It goes without saying that if you move during the fall and winter months, you will be saving a lot of money than if you were to move during the summer months. However, if you can only move during the summer months, then you should try to book for truck rental way in advance.

Since this is a self-move it means that you would have to do everything on your own once you rent the truck. With that said, taking out an insurance policy on the moving truck highly recommended since most of these trucks are not insured. While you are at it, you should also get insurance for your household items as well just in case the worst happens on the road.

Finally, remember you would be the designated driver for your move; even if you are not driving, your probably have a friend or family member on stand by to do so. Whatever the case, when you decide on a truck company that suits your needs, you should go into the truck rental company and test out your chosen vehicle before leaving the premises. Spend that extra time checking out every aspect of the vehicle as you keep on the alert for leaks, faulty tires, brakes etc.

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They may ask for a little deposit, pack your belongings, load everything in their moving trucks and leave your old home in an alleged drive to your new home. You may be waiting for hours to hear from them till you call their office. This is even unusual when you think of the fact that they should have at least keep you informed before leaving the old home but that is not the scenario in many cases. They would drive off with your possessions and wait for you to pay more money, in some cases double than what was earlier agreed on. There is hope for you if you end up in this position but even before it occurs, you have to take some accordingly preparatory steps.

Here is what you should do if you feel being scammed by a moving company.

Ensure that you document everything that happens between you and the company. Keep all your records , the total amount you two agreed on at first, the deposit you had already paid and the amount the sneakily want to take from you.

The minute you find out that you’re being scammed or that your possessions are being held hostage till you pay extra money, you should purposely and accordingly keep all phone communication, who you talked with, the dates, emails and any other documented proofs that will help you to demonstrate you case. Doing these will assist you to regain your goods by the legal means and bring out the crime of such company.

The doubtful behaves of such scam moving companies are wrong and should be convicted and fought by all in the community. Connect with the closest BBB and describe your case and you will be able to brief your lawyer while this is happening. Be ready to battle for your rights and help to stop scammers in our community.

If everyone that has been scammed by moving companies decided to get compensate, the scammers actions may have been cut down to minimum or even stopped since they’d have discovered that it is no more beneficial to betray their customers.

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Begin early! Start creating a checklist of all the things you will need to do at least a month before. Prepare a list with phone numbers of utilities, phone service, cable, internet service provider, and etc. Make sure to visit the US Post Office and get a change of address form and fill up all the information that you have.

New moving boxes, made especially for moving and storage, recommended to be used. Get your boxes and moving supplies at least a month in advance because you should pack consistently in the weeks going up to your big day. Always get more than you think you, because it’s always more than you think. If you buy the supplies and boxes from the local moving company who will be transporting your belongings, it is simple to return unused ones on the day of the move and deduct it from your final bill. Get some quality packaging tape and lots of it.

In a hurry to get everything done on time, many people end up in a mad dash to get everything packed, and don’t decently take care of fragile items. Moving requires a lot of stacking, even when handled by professional movers. Packing properly claims more time but drastically cuts back the number of things that will get damaged. Not packing breakable items precisely can leave damaged or ruined items.

Another big problem with first-time movers that they hire the wrong moving company, generally looking for the cheapest moving rates they can find. Moving scams are common, and many times the the consumers receive an exceptionally low moving quote, but the company will hold your possessions hostage on their moving truck until you pay much more money than your original quote showed.

By having everything appropriately packed and marked, you will be quickening your moving day which will save you money on your move. If you simply follow these tips, your moving day will be quite a bit less nerve-wracking; and if you hire a good, legitimate moving company who is fully licensed and insured, then you will not have any problems with your move.

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1. Moving and the Environment

Raleigh, North Carolina is truly a great place to live. It has been voted as “One of the five best places to balance work and family” as well as it has been identified as “One of the best places to raise your kids in America”.

Just a beautiful city to be in, Raleigh has three prominent universities all of which have yield successful ratings from the students. Raleigh is the home to Duke University, North Carolina State University and University of North Carolina. The state currently has the highest in percentage of high school graduates and undergraduates with degrees. The people in this city are very friendly and well mannered and give the term “southern hospitality” a whole new meaning. There is diversity here as well so that no one would ever have to endure a culture shock.

Jobs are easy to find here and the current state of the economy has encouraged more and more people to move to Raleigh, North Carolina to choose this city to live.

Owning a car is a must when you move to Raleigh, it is one of the most popular forms of transportation here.  The city is filled with museums, theaters, shops, restaurants and nightclubs so you can take your weekend fun to the next level. If you are thinking about renting when you move to Raleigh, you would find an array of midsized homes and apartments. You can actually find a two bedroom apartment here with balcony, deck, fireplace and patio for only $725. Houses are tastefully built and are quite inexpensive especially when compared to those in other cities.

You can purchase a three or four bedroom home with all amenities for less like $150,000 in Raleigh, North Carolina. Depending on which apartment you decide to move in and live, your mover may encounter very limited parking spaces. In this case the mover may need to apply for a permit to park close enough to the premises on the street. Be sure to resolve this issue with your new landlords and movers before moving day arrives. If the movers have to park on the street you could be charged an additional fee for them to do so.

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These are questions that you should be asking. In addition, it would also be great to find out what sets this particular moving company apart from the rest? Moving experts would tell you that a company should be able to provide you with at least three positive reasons why you should choose their company over their competitors. Any company that is willing to drag their competitors in the mud based on rumors in order win you over as a customer isn’t even worth considering doing business with.

A reputable moving company would not think twice in showing you a copy of their moving license and insurance upon request nor would they have problems providing you with the owner’s name and their mailing address as well. Find out how long the company has been in existence and also get information about the length of time the employees have been there as well. You want to be locked in to a stable company with employees who have been there for several years who would be a bit more trustworthy than someone who has recently joined the company.  Get information about the company’s hiring tactics and if they perform background checks on the moving crew that they hire. Also, get references from former customers so you can speak with them and get feedback from their moving experience with the company.

Is your prospective moving company a member of the Better Business Bureau? What is their rating with the company and do they have a list of consumer complaints? If the company would not provide this information to you, you can always check out the Better Business Bureau’s website at www.bbb.com where you can research the information yourself. Don’t be alarmed if the company you are checking has a satisfactory rating; not every customer would be pleased with a moving service. It is how the moving company handles the whole incident is what speaks volumes about the company that you should choose.

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