Unpacking and settling down in your new home will take more than a day. If you moved in with your family, at least you can get some help and it may even be a fun bonding activity for you. But before you arrive in your new home, it would be wise to buy some snacks, cold drinks and ice to keep the family going in spite of the hard work.

Make sure you clean the house first before putting your things in their respective places. It is harder to go back to the cleaning after all the unpacking is done. Then, prioritize laying out the big items that needs to be assembled, such as the bed, computer desks, dressers, etc. Once these items are standing, you can now have more room to unpack other thin

Every year, 40 million Americans move to a different place or location either for personal reasons or for career opportunities. Moving is a very important event in the lives of these people, and it can also be stressful since your full trust has to be given to the moving company that will handle this event.

Most moving companies do have legitimate businesses; however recent rising complaints of dishonest “rogue” movers have alarmed FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration) and U.S. DOT (Department of Transportation). Because of this, they partnered with consumer groups and law enforcement agencies to launch an information campaign to inform you of your rights and responsibilities during a move.

When you finally move to a new place, you will now start to spend for the hidden costs associated with it. Some of them are the following:

Changing locks — this is important for your safety and peace of mind.

New decorations — this may include new draperies, shelves or furniture to fit your new space. Plan ahead of time what you need vs. what you want to prevent overshooting from your budget.

Start-up costs — you will have a new set of utility bills to pay, such as electric and cable for instance. If you moved to a new state, you will also need to change your license number plus a new license plate, insurance and vehicle registration.

When you move places, you have to uproot yourself completely and start fresh in your new home. To make sure that you will have peace of mind, here are some tips for you:

Notify your gas, water, and electric companies about your move
Forward your mail to the new address
Label your boxes (kitchen, bedroom etc.) to avoid confusion in unpacking
Be there during hauling day, and get a copy of the inventory sheet from the foreman.
Heavy appliances should go inside the truck first, followed by all the others
Don’t forget to take all your jewelry and valuable documents with you!

* Notify your telephone, electric, gas, water, and credit card Companies.
* Forward necessary mail to your new address. Discontinue service on a specific date.
* Notify former employers. This will make tax time less taxing.
* Be there and give direction. Let them know what you want loaded first and loaded last.
* Get a copy of your inventory sheet from the foreman. Double check his notations about existing damage to your goods.
* Have your insurance plan readily available. Hopefully you will have no use of this tip.
* Devise a system. You should label your boxes with their destination in your new home. Hang numbered signs on the doorposts of each room and write the same numbers on the appropriate boxes. (Example: “2nd Fl./Room 4″) If you’re handy with a pencil, sketch a sample layout of your house, number the rooms on it, and post the layout on the truck for reference.
* Load the rooms to be unloaded first-last. Whatever room is furthest from the entrance in your new home should be that room. In other words, unload back to front. The kitchen should be done at the very end though, because heavy appliances should go in the truck first.
* Don’t forget to have your tools ready when you start unloading. You should put your tool box in when everything else is loaded in the truck.
* Take all your valuable documents and jewelry with you! Don’t forget about your plants either. Most are too sensitive to make a long journey in a hot, dark truck. If you can take them with you too.

DORIAN AND LUKE HOWARD needed to clear the clutter.

The Howards are planning to move from Clifton, N.J., to the Atlantic City area, and Mrs. Howard, who is a real estate agent, knows that a tidy home is more attractive to buyers than a cluttered one.

“My garage is loaded, my basement is loaded and I just need to put the stuff in storage so I can make my house look presentable to show,” she said.

The Howards turned to a solution that more people who are moving or renovating or are just pack rats are choosing – portable storage. Companies like Pack-Rat, Store and Move, Go Mini’s and Portable On Demand Storage, or PODS – which the Howards are using until their move next month will deliver a metal storage container to a driveway or yard.

Prices vary based on size and where the unit is stored but range from $150 to $200 a month. Units are generally 8 feet wide and 8 feet tall and range from 12 to 20 feet long.

After they fill up a unit, renters can have it picked up and stored away from their property, or they can leave it where it was delivered.

Read more: NYTimes.com

One of the new trends of the millennium is geared towards outdoor living. This means that people are maximizing the rest of their land as living spaces, and moving their living areas into patios, decks and even lawns. In doing so, people can enjoy real nice outdoor weather and at the same time still manage to have the comfort that they deserve.

So don’t let living in a high rise condo stop you from creating your own outdoor living room. Incorporating an outdoor living space in your own home is not only easy and trendy, but it also conveys a true sense of freedom.

If you are a domestic property owner or business owner, you will most likely need extra storage space for your extra belongings. Most of us do not really realize that we have accumulated a large amount of belongings throughout our life, and when the time comes for you to have property renovations or when you are already moving out of the house, you would need a domestic or business storage solution to help you.

Storage solutions will also come in handy if you are clearing out a portion of your home to make way for new furniture or re-decorating your home. In business, storage solutions will bring you extra spaces when your business is overstocked.

More than 40 million Americans move each year for personal reasons and career opportunities. It’s a significant event in anyone’s life. Your money, your memories are at stake. It can also be stressful, even under the best of circumstances. Know how to avoid one of the most stressful situations that can arise; protect yourself from dishonest, “rogue” movers.

Most moving companies are legitimate businesses that do quality work. But in recent years, a growing number of complaints have been filed against interstate movers and many of those complaints spring from the fraudulent practices of a small percentage of dishonest movers known as rogue movers. It stands to reason that if we can teach you how to spot a rogue mover the odds that you will become a victim of one are greatly reduced. Fortunately, there are several logical steps you can also take to help ensure that you are choosing a reputable mover.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), has initiated a partnership with other Federal, State and local law enforcement agencies, consumer groups, and the moving industry to make sure you have the information you need and answers to your questions to “Protect Your Memories. Your Money. Your Move.” from fraud.

Doing Your Part
The Federal government, State and local law enforcement agencies, and the legitimate moving industry have joined forces to combat moving fraud, but you have an important role to play as well. If you’re planning to move, it’s important to learn as much as you can about your rights and responsibilities.

You can also use this site to link to other government, law enforcement and moving industry information sources. This is very important if you’re looking for more detailed State and local information, including how to file a complaint.

Source: protectyourmove.gov