PART 1: MOVING OUT
Before you pack up the truck and head off to claim your destiny, you have to give notice and get out of your current abode.
Give Notice
Dig out the lease you signed way back when to see how much notice you're required to give your landlord before you move out. The time period usually ranges from 30 to 60 days, but what the lease may not tell you is that it's also usually negotiable. All that most landlords care about is getting a new tenant as soon as possible, so offer to help find someone. You'll usually be able to work something out. The same holds true if you need to move before your lease is up. If you come up with an acceptable replacement, your landlord will often agree to let you out of your lease.
Clean and Repair
While you've got that lease out, read the section on vacating the apartment. What condition are you expected to leave it in? Assuming you want your security deposit back, do what's asked, within reason. Common requests are painting white over that mural you created in the living room, covering holes in the walls with spackle, shampooing carpets or waxing wood floors, and cleaning the kitchen and bathrooms thoroughly, including defrosting the refrigerator.
If you don't have the time to do everything your landlord wants, ask how much he'll deduct from your security deposit if he has to do it himself. In some cases, it may be cheaper to have him take care of it than to hire someone.
Protect Yourself
Of course, not all landlords are nice, reasonable people-that's why there are so many tenants' rights laws. Protect yourself just in case. Photograph each room of the apartment after you've cleaned it to prove that you left it in good condition. To show that the photos were taken when you say they were, have a friend hold up that day's newspaper in each photo. You can also use a camera that automatically date-stamps the photos.
If you've done everything the landlord requires, your security deposit should be refunded within 30 to 90 days (the exact number is set by local law). Your landlord may deduct his costs if any repairs had to be made to the apartment. If these seem excessive, you can dispute them. If you agree that the repair needed to be made, but think the cost is too high, get a couple of estimates that show a more reasonable fee. Include whatever information you've collected in a letter to your landlord and send a copy to the appropriate local authorities.
Small claims court is your last resort if you and your landlord can't work things out (or if your landlord simply refuses to return your deposit). Gather all your documents and keep your fingers crossed-tenants are sometimes awarded more than the original deposit if the judgment is in their favor.
Change Your Address
Make sure your mail will follow you to your new destination. About four weeks before you move, call the subscription departments of the magazines you receive to give them your new address (you can often do this online too-see the Online Resources sidebar for more info). You'll also want to start filling out those change of address forms on the backs of your credit card statements and other bills. Two weeks or so before you move, notify the post office of your new address. You can pick up a form at your local branch or print out a copy from its Web site (www.usps.gov/moversnet/).
Speaking of your new address, how are you going to get all your stuff there? Read on ...
PART 2: MOVING IN
Before you head down to the liquor store to stock up on boxes, answer a few questions.
1. Who's Paying?
If your new employer is footing the bill, you're golden. The company probably has a regular mover it uses and a policy about which expenses are covered and which are not. Many generous firms will pay for your transportation costs to the new city and even a hotel room while you're getting settled.
If, however, you'll be financing your move yourself, you have a decision to make. Are you willing to do the heavy lifting or would you prefer (and can you afford) to hire professional movers? Whichever option you choose, the good news is that you can usually deduct job-related moving expenses on your income tax return (see IRS Publication 521 for the nitty-gritty).
2. How Far Are You Going?
Moving cross-country is obviously very different from moving a few blocks, or even a few hundred miles, away. A local move is pretty easy to accomplish with a U-Haul truck and a few friends who are willing to work in exchange for pizza, beer, and your undying gratitude. It's not as easy to talk those friends into hopping into the cab of a rental truck for a 3,000-mile haul.
3. How Much Stuff Do You Have?
Take a good, hard look at what you want to take with you. If all you've got is a futon and some clothes, the move should be easy enough. If you've got a set of Wedgewood and some crystal you'd hate to lose, you might consider having a professional pack them. Depending on the amount of effort you're willing to put into the move, consider holding a yard sale to get rid of anything you don't want. If you're short on time, at least pack up any clothes, old appliances, etc., that won't be making the trip with you and donate them to charity. (Click here or call 800-664-6577 to find a local Goodwill store. Call first to make sure it accepts donations.)
Now that you've taken our little quiz you're ready to get started.
Hiring a Mover
Start looking for a mover about six weeks before you plan to move. Even if your company isn't paying, its HR department may have a list of recommended moving companies. If not, ask around to find the names of a few reputable movers. This industry is very competitive, and prices can vary widely, so get several quotes. A good one will be based on detailed information about how many boxes you have, how many pieces of large furniture you have, how much of the packing they'll be expected to do, and how far you are moving. A move within 50 miles is considered a "short haul," and you'll generally be charged an hourly rate. A "long haul" of more than 50 miles will be based on the weight of the items being moved. Find out if the moving company you choose is bonded and licensed for the type of move you're making, whether intrastate or interstate. Ask what forms of payment are accepted; you may have to pay a deposit-and the balance due after the move-in cash, so be prepared.
For moves to or from a city, the moving company will also need to know where they can park while loading and unloading the truck and, if applicable, whether or not you can reserve the elevator. The cost goes up if the movers can't get within 75 feet of the building's entrance, or if they have to negotiate a lot of stairs. In addition, be upfront about anything out of the ordinary the movers will need to do, such as taking a piece of furniture apart and putting it back together or moving exceptionally heavy items such as pianos or large appliances. In some cases, movers can disconnect appliances for you, but you might have to hire an electrician.
Last, go over the contract (called a "bill of lading") very closely before you sign. You want to be sure you know what the quote covers, the amount of any additional charges, and who's liable for what if something breaks. Pay attention to whether you'll be reimbursed for the fair value or the replacement value of any damaged items. If you're concerned about the replacement policy, you can purchase additional insurance to cover your belongings.
Tips on Hiring a Mover:• Overestimate. If in doubt, always overestimate the amount of stuff you have. You'd much rather the moving company give you a quote that's higher than what you'll actually pay than be caught off-guard when you’re presented with the bill.
• Know the lingo. A binding estimate is a guaranteed price or price range, a non-binding estimate is just that—an estimate that is subject to change. A not-to-exceed quote means that your final cost can't be more than the stated amount; however, if the move costs less, you'll pay the lower price. Not-to-exceed quotes are most common for long-distance moves.
• Get the shipment registration number. With this in hand, it will be much easier for the moving company to track your possessions.
Packing
If the movers are taking care of the heavy lifting, you can save a lot of money by at least doing most of the packing yourself. You'll definitely want to make sure you pack your items carefully and in strong boxes. A mover may not treat the box marked "crystal vases" any different from the one marked "beach towels."
For that reason, you may want to consider having the movers pack any breakables. If they do the packing, they will have to pay if something breaks. If you do the packing, it probably won't be covered unless you can prove that the box was dropped or mishandled. Broken objects are the biggest moving headache, so triple-check your contract to be clear on who pays if something doesn’t make it to your new home in one piece.
If you're going to be the one moving everything, you’ll obviously have to do your own packing as well. Skip the liquor store cast-offs in favor of some heavy-duty moving boxes and strong packing tape (try an office-supply store, your local U-Haul or Ryder office, or snag some from a friend who's moved recently).
Packing Tips:
• Put the heaviest stuff (books, stone sculptures) into small boxes. Use big boxes for lightweight objects like pillows and beach balls. Try to keep boxes under 50 pounds.
• Pack items according to the room they will end up in and carefully label each box with its destination (kitchen, bedroom, attic). That way, movers can put the boxes exactly where they need to go—saving you from dragging boxes from room to room.
• Never have the movers pack jewelry or heirloom items if at all possible. Try to move these, along with photos, legal documents, and any other particularly valuable or irreplaceable items, yourself.
• Pack one box with first-night necessities like a telephone, toilet paper, light bulbs and lamps, some basic tools, paper cups and plates and plastic utensils, a shower curtain and curtain clips, a towel, medications, and toiletries. Set this box aside and either take it with you or ask the movers to load it last.
