Moving can be dangerous to your possessions. Unless you plan carefully and pack your moving boxes well, you risk things breaking or becoming damaging in the process. To make the moving easier and protect your valuables at the same time, keep these three things in mind:

1. Don’t pack anything that it’s on the banned list. Most moving companies have a list of things that are not covered by insurance and that they won’t put any special care on. These include personal papers, DVDs and CDs, photo albums, laptops, antiques, collectibles and jewelry. Anything that is not protected by the warranty should be taken with you instead of packed into cardboard boxes.

2. Wrap and cushion anything that can be chipped, scratched or dented with moving supplies. Make sure all mirrors and glass objects are properly packed and surrounded by pellets and bubble wrap, so they don’t break due to movement. Also, protect valuable furniture (especially upholstered pieces) by wrapping them with moving blankets or plastic wrap. This will prevent cuts and dents, as well as stains.

3. Buy extra insurance for special items such as pool tables and pianos, or contract a separate company that specializes in moving this type of objects.

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Before you finish packing those moving boxes for your move, you will need to deal with utilities in two ways: by turning off the ones in your old home and turning on the ones in the house waiting for you. While this may seem like a simple endeavor, it’s important to keep some things in mind during the process.

1. Arrange with the utility companies for a day to turn utilities off. Give them an approximate time of day (morning or evening) and make sure to call back a couple of days in advance to verify the appointment. You will either need to transfer the account you have with the companies (if you’re moving within the same city) or open a new account.

2. Start with the essentials: electricity, water and gas.

3. Move on to other bills and services, including cable/satellite, Internet and trash pickup. If you have subscription to special neighborhood services, such as security or renter’s insurance, you will also need to deal with those.

4. Don’t forget to file a notice with the post office to have your mail forwarded to the new address.

5. If you have kids in school, you should start the registration process early, even if you’re moving during summer vacation. You will need paperwork from the previous school and you should talk to the new school to find out if there are any specific forms they need in advance.

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Moving out of a rental place is a lot different than selling your house and moving. For starters, moving dates are usually not flexible. This means you will have to much of the prep work in advance and ensure that everything is packed in moving boxes and out the door by the time you’re meant to turn the keys in. Not doing so could result in penalties or problems with the landlord. Depending on your lease contract, you may need to give advance notice about the move. The requirement is usually 30 or 60 days and you may have to forgo the security deposit if you’re moving before your lease is officially over.

When packing household items in boxes, keep your camera out. It’s always a good idea to take photos of any damage you caused, so they are properly documented in case of a disagreement. This is especially important if you had previous run-ins with the landlord and have a reason to believe he may try to keep the deposit. If possible, arrange for the landlord to tour the place with you after you’ve finished packing all your boxes. That way there’s no mistake about what’s going and what’s staying.

Before the tour, make sure you clean the apartment. You don’t have to shine the floors or shampoo the rugs, but make the place presentable. And always place all the cardboard boxes (already sealed with tape) in a single room, so you can move around freely and inspect every corner.

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Packing up the home office carries a few specific problems that should be addressed. In particular, printers and fax machines, as well as all-in-one machines like copy/printer/scanners, each have toner or ink cartridges. Improperly packing these items in a regular cardboard boxes can mean a thorough mess. The good news is that the aggravation of finding ink all over your precious files can be alleviated by removing these items from the machine and stowing them in individual plastic bags, preferably Ziplock bags.

Another concern is organization. When packing files, organize your papers beforehand so that after arrival all tax related information, for example, can be found in the same area. If books will be part of the move, choose moving boxes that are on the small side so you don’t throw your back out-books can be heavy. Also, go through your books before you pack -You might find that there are some you don’t need and these can be given away.

Basic office supplies like paperclips should be sealed in containers so they don’t spill all over the box. Likewise, pens and pencils can be wrapped in one big bundle with a rubber band.

Furniture that disassembles can be broken down, with small parts being stowed into small moving boxes and larger pieces left out for hand carrying.

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As you’re preparing to move and packing things away, there are a few things you should be putting on the side to make the whole process easier.

Direct Moving Boxes is your source for Packing Boxes and Moving Supplies

AN INFLATABLE MATTRESS. The last thing you want to do your first night at the new house is to spend a couple of hours putting your bed together.

Sleeping on the floor may sound like an easy option, until you wake up the next day with a sore neck and a room full of moving boxes to unpack. An air mattress is easy to transport (you can bring it along in the trunk or even as a carry-on bag) and will provide a comfortable place to relax that first day.

TAKE OUT MENUS. If you’re moving fairly nearby and you can walk around the neighborhood in advance of your moving day, pick up a few menus

from local places that offer delivery. You will probably be too tired to cook on your first night, so this would certainly make things easier. If you don’t have the chance to stop by the area early on, search online for local restaurants and print out their menus and phone numbers.

A PORTABLE TV OR STEREO. On the odd chance that you’ll be there before the truck arrives, or if your TV is a 50-inch monster that needs a dozen cable connections in order to work, taking along an alternative source of entertainment would certainly help you relax after a long, difficult day.

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Upstaging refers to the idea of making your home look as “presentable” as possible so it will impress potential buyers and make the most of each room, downplaying its faults and exalting its positive aspects.

The first step in staging a home is to make sure everything is absolutely clean. This may mean hiring somebody to help you go through the rooms, shining metal pieces, picking up dust bunnies from the corners and making sure there are no weeds growing in the garden. While you may think these are small details that buyers can take care of by themselves eventually, they can actually have a negative impact on how the house is viewed and how much they are willing to offer for it.

The next step is to get rid of anything too personal. Visitors don’t need to see your laundry, family photos or dog toys laying around. The less of your personal possessions in a room, the more they can imagine themselves actually living there.

Once the basics are taken care of, it’s time to replace whatever is obviously broken or dirty. Old shower curtains and dead plants are the most obvious items, and, surprisingly, the ones that home owners often miss. Tighten up cabinet doors, replacing broken handles and making sure the bathroom mat looks new can also help. If something looks too old or in obvious bad condition, either replace it or take it out of the room and hide it out of sight.

Finally, put out some fresh flowers or light a vanilla candle (according to experts, the favorite scent but also one that is not intrusive) to get rid of any lingering pet smells. Don’t forget to open the windows to air out the place.

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Homeowner issues that could affect your moving, get discount packing supplies from Direct Moving Boxes.

With the alarming mortgage crisis that this nation is going through right now, remaining apathetic about the upcoming election will only increase our consequences. By now you have probably selected between McCain and Obama but nevertheless the majority of individuals still remain uninformed. Those of you who own homes should be especially concerned about what these candidates plan to do to alleviate this predicament.

John McCain plans to enact the Homeownership Resurgence Plan to steady the housing market. He believes that mortgages should be simplified and reordered in order for homeowners to have more manageable mortgages. This will be available to primary residence homeowners that will be able to demonstrate credit worth at the time of the original loan. The latest mortgage will be a FHA-guaranteed fixed- rate mortgage with conditions that are manageable for the property holder. According to the McCain official website, “the purchase of mortgages would relieve negative equity for some homeowners.”

This blogger remains unbiased to the upcoming election but believes that McCain brings a fine position on this issue. Because of our current economy, it has been very difficult for many families to make payments on their heavy mortgages. These new mortgages for the qualified homeowners will make it easier to pay their mortgage as well as help avoid foreclosure. It is essential that those who have been fortunate enough to buy homes not lose them due to the recent financial situation in this country.

Barack Obama has an entirely different take on the matter. He wants to provide homeowners with a 10% universal mortgage credit who do not receive tax relief. This might aid us initially but in the long run families still have those high mortgages that still need to be paid off; 10% is a nice break but won’t keep us from breaking the bank. Obama will also create something called “Homeowner Obligation made explicit (HOME)” score. This will provide possible borrowers with a basic standardized metric for home mortgages. He states that it will allow property owners to more easily compare mortgages and better understand expenses for the long term. This measure can prove to be effective for those that purchase a home in the future but doesn’t support individuals currently owning a home.

It’s a tough call to choose between McCain and Obama. After doing my research for this article I realized that I agreed more with McCain on this particular issue. Although I am not a homeowner, a family member of mine is looking at foreclosure in the near future. These decisions affect us head on or indirectly; which can be just as important. Even if you are unhappy with our 2008 candidates, don’t vote, and feel that our nation has a gloomy outlook, know the facts and where our country will be heading.

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Do you need a permanent vacation? Considering moving out of your state but haven’t decided on a location? Everything becomes a factor, and having a family complicates things all the more. Your wife needs to be near a mall, your son has asthma, your dog yearns to run free, and you clearly need some peace and quiet. The first necessary step is to select a specific region. For this you would have to decide what the ideal environment might be. It seems like a forming migraine, but if you know how to prioritize this may turn out to be an exciting adventure. I am sure you have already given this topic some thought but let’s review.

Do you enjoy the idea of knowing all your townsfolk INTIMATELY, considering them all as neighbors and friends? The plus is becoming part of a warm and tight knit community where you can count on a support system. The downside is your neighbor told your coworker who told your doctor who told your best friend who told your priest who then told your boss that you cook breakfast wearing a half open robe while singing along to Celine Dion-yeah word gets around. Something to look forward to is vast open country that can be quite beautiful with its bountiful nature. In the country you can enjoy the wild life whether on the farm or in the forest but that’s as wild as its going to get. In rural areas you are usually left to your own schemes for entertainment, which is why you might want to keep a closer eye on your teenager. Night life is almost nonexistent. Depending on which state we are considering, you could look forward to outdoor recreation if you are into that. I personally would enjoy a good hike or some white water rafting-but not enough to sacrifice weekend clubbing. If you dream of an honest day’s hard work and wonder about the simpler times, you might want to concentrate on looking within the Mid West or south.

If you like the concept of Orange chicken with fried rice being delivered to your door at any hour than you prefer the fast paced urban life. New restaurants open and close each week, shops bring in their new lines for the upcoming season, and museums line the streets which make the city flush with attractions day and night so you will never get bored with all of your options. Cities hold higher populations which can be very rich with diversity and culture, but could mean a higher crime rate. You can look forward to a larger job market with a possible greater than average salary. But the downside to this would be a higher cost of living. Look towards the coasts for metropolitan living.

If you are looking for the best of both worlds where your kids can play in the backyard with the dog, yet a night out dancing is within reach look no further than suburbia. You might also consider the reasonable commuting to your job in the city from here in exchange for a home instead of an apartment. The suburbs are found within the outskirts of any city.

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