MoveMe's Moving Home Guide

How we can save your time, save your money, save your temper . . .

And make moving a little easier.

Moving is a stressful process.
Put in for some leave before and AFTER the move, you will need it!
Then Use our Moving Guide to help you plan your move.

Contents

What you must remember

• CLEAN OUT EARLY, Pack Early
• You must decide on what is worth moving and then sell or give away the rest of your stuff. Here are some ideas as to who needs your old stuff: www.salvationarmy.co.za, www.aids.org.za, SPCA.
• Choosing your removal company can be a difficult task. You must ask for quotes and choose someone who makes you feel comfortable. The company must do what you want, when you want it, otherwise why pay them? While we are on the issue of price NEVER choose your moving company on price alone.
• Don't deal with the company over the phone, make them visit you before hand to see what needs to be moved. This will give you a chance to meet them and answer any questions you have. If you don't like them, use someone else, these guys are going to move your life! 
• Many removal companies will fax you an inventory and estimation sheet which they will want back before giving you a quote. You can do business on the removal companies terms, but you are then carrying the risk of variations. ALWAYS insist on a personal on site inspection before you accept any quote. Why? If you make a mistake its for your cost. If they inspect and make a mistake it is their problem. You have been warned!!!
• Check the cost of moving insurance with your household insurance, before you buy moving insurance from your removal company.
• Always write a list of everything you need to do, and don't lose the list!!!!

3 months to go

Yes you read right, 3 months before...

• Compile a moving budget. Include things for your family such as accomdation, transport and meals. Dont forget new school uniform costs. You will need to budget for the cost of the move, the insurance on the move, new deposists for municpal services and the cost of transporting pets. If you are selling your home dont forget agent fees, bond registration costs, attorney fess and the property transfer tax.
• If you are renting decide when to give notice and then do it in writing.
• If you still have to sell, oh man have you left if late! Get a reputable agent in to your home TODAY, after you have done a very fast tidy inside and outside!
• Decide if you are moving DIY or hiring a professional. Doing it DIY can save a fortune and cost a fortune, check the load you can carry and the number of trips you will need. Once you have worked this out it might weel be more effective to get a moving company to help you. Ask around for references. If in doubt don't use the company, as these guys are moving your life. Remember that the earlier you contact the companies the better - you can at least book the cheaper moving slots around mid month.
  
• Inspect schools in the area of your new home, go visit the school, interview the headmaster and staff and choose a school based on your needs, then book places for your children.
• Take photos of your prize possessions.
• Check the insurance cover provided by the removal company as well as any cover you might have under your own householder policy. Decide what insurance you will need, then spend the money. It takes one lunatic on the road to create a harsh breaking incident, never mind an accident. It is very tempting to make a saving here and really regret it later.
• Inform your self about what you will need to do if anything gets damaged, so that you know what to do and have the evidence to support your claim.
• Did we mention that NOW is the time to clean out? Decide what is not going to go and then get rid of your junk.

2 months to go

• Pack early! Even if your removal company is going to pack for you  buy a starter pack and get packing. This forces you to do some sorting and cleaning.
• Draw a plan of your new house and decide where you want to put things.
• Number your boxes, and write up a contents list as you go.
• Don't make your boxes too heavy. If the box is dropped you are going to be upset. So aim for a box weight of about 20 kg. Remember to pack books into smaller boxes, and if you must  use a larger box, rather add light stuff like pillows to keep the weight of the box reasonable.
• Make sure that there will be enough space for removal vans at both addresses, if there is a space problem you will need to hire bakkie to use as a schuttle on the day of the move.
• Check to see if you need to move your bank accounts to a different home bank branch.
• If you can arrange access to your new home BEFORE you move in and you have the finances, organise painters and any other changes that you want to make so that you can move in to a home that is ready for you..
• If any of the homes will stand empty for any period of time, arrange for an armed response company to install an alarm and to  monitor the house. You don't want to find your houses stripped of doors, lights and geysers.
• Find out what deposits you will need to pay to open your new municipal accounts - be prepared for a nasty shock - typically municipalities are asking for 3 months upfront on consumables and up to six months in advance on Rates and Taxes.
• While you are at it you need to realise that your ability to communicate is going to be severly disrupted. This is especially true of needing to send written notices or faxes. If you have not yet signed up for a fax to email service do so now and get your own fax number for life.

4 weeks to go

• Book your leave.
• Explain to your children what is going to happen. Read them stories about  moving, put up photos of the new house and above all talk about the move.
• Fill in your MoveMe form and fax it to us.
• Make sure that the person moving in to your old address is not moving in on the same day you are moving out!
• Make sure that you are not moving out or moving in on a rubbish collection day. You don't want to find strange people wandering around while you are moving.
• Get the car serviced.
• Start to work through your groceries, using up tins and frozen foods.
• Consider booking a nearby B&B for the last 2 days of your move, this allows you to evacuate critical things like pajamas and tooth brushes, before they get packed in the final rush.
• Book a person to look after your children on the moving day, you are stressed, your children are excited and yes "You are gonna blow..."
• Book any pets into a kennel or else get someone to pet sit. If you have dogs, the movers are not going to be happy with you when they get bitten.
• Get new address tags made for your pets.
• Write to the schools advising them of last day and first day.
• Inform your existing doctor, dentist, optician and ask for references in your new area.
• Phone Telkom on 10219 to arrange a date on which to terminate your phone/s, or better still see if you can transfer your existing number.
• Phone and write to your municipality advising them of when you want them to take close out meter readings.
• Phone your new muncipality and open your accounts if you have not already done so.

2 weeks to go

• PACK NOW
• Confirm arrival dates and times with your removal company.
• Cancel any routine deliveries of papers, etc.
• Pay off any outstanding accounts.
• Return any library books and items borrowed from friends and neighbors.
• Put all your documents and valuables in a single safe place.
• Tell your employer that you are moving.
• If you have not put in for leave do it NOW.

3 days to go 

• Find out where you can get the keys for your new home.
• Do your last-minute washing. 
• Find the drum immobilisers for the washing machine and put them in.
• Pack a bag with a change of clothes, essential toiletries and a 'survival kit' for the other end. Take things like toilet paper, light bulbs, tools, cash, phone charger.
• If you are taking plants with you, move all outside plants into a dry area for example the veranda or the garage so that the plants can dry out and stay dry for moving day. Furniture and wet pot plants don't mix well!. 
• Put your garden furniture under a roof so that the furniture can stay dry.

2 days to go

• Make sure that you have a well marked house box for those items that are the last to be packed and the first to be unpacked, kettle, tea, coffee, snacks, screwdrivers, teaspoons, mugs and plates.
• Empty, defrost and dry out your fridge/freezer. Water, furniture and moving are a no no!
• Seal any groceries: packets, bottles or jars with tape to prevent spillage.
• if you live in a flat sort out lift access.

1 day to go 

• Prepare food and drink for moving day: tea/coffee, juice, fruit, bread, cheese and things like pastries and pies always work well. 
• Don't forget some plates, cups, cutlery, a sharp knife, and the kettle these need to go into the house box!
• Perhaps a bottle of bubbly to celebrate...?!?
• Prepare plants for travel, by tying them up.
• Get a good night's sleep.

The day - old home

• This is it...
• Settle the kids with their carer. If you have not got a carer give each child a specific job like stripping their bed or packing a box of very important toys.
• Strip the beds and keep the linen handy in a well marked box so you can use your beds for the first night in the new house.
• Don't take self assembly furniture apart - it never goes back together properly, so just DON'T take it apart.
• Check that everything has been taken before the truck doors are closed.
• Take and write down meter readings for electricity and water in your old home.

The day - new home

• Put up your map or colour code on every room door so that your furniture AND boxes go to the right place.
• PERSONALLY check the inventory as items come off the back of the truck, note any damage.
• Get someone else to direct and make sure boxes and furniture end up in the right room at the right place.
• Give the removal team a full tour of the house when they arrive.
• Keep the kettle boiling the coffee brewing, the juice flowing, and munch some snacks. Remember moving is a thirsty business. This snack mandate applies to today only!
• Rome was not built in a day, neither was the rainbow nation, so don't try and unpack in one day.
• It takes a while to settle into a new home. If you first take care of the kitchen, bedrooms and bathrooms, things will be easier.
• Water your plants.
• Order a take-away and relax.
• Take and write down meter readings for electricity and water in your new home.

1 month after

Still moving and unpacking boxes...

• Now is the time to try new furniture arrangements, but don't hang up pictures and mirrors right away. Otherwise, you'll have holes in your walls if you change your mind later.

• Take the time to get to know your neighborhood and your neighbors. Slowly but surely, you'll get all the boxes unpacked and everything put away. Within a few weeks, you'll have turned your new house into a home.

• Write letters asking for the return of deposits or security from your landlord and your municipality.

• Chase Telkom to install your line/s.