The first step in helping the senior citizen move is prioritizing what is coming along for the move and what is not. As the saying goes “one man’s junk is another man’s treasure” and while you may not think there’s much value in moving a beat-up plaid recliner, but it might be one of your grandparents greatest treasures. Arguing doesn’t help. You need to help your parent see the value in scaling down and simplifying.

When I was helping my uncle move from his home of 35 years into a one-bedroom apartment, he was hell-bent on keeping every one of his possessions. It angered him when his well-meaning  daughter suggested that he hold the garage sale and “get rid of all that junk”. I realized it was going to take a little bit more finesse to get him to simplify and scale down the amount of things we were going to move.

Understand it may take some individuals longer to let go of unneeded possessions. I’m not talking about hoarders, I’m talking about your typical elderly man or woman who has a lot of memories invested in their possessions. To help my uncle, I started conversation about what was going to happen to all his stuff after he was gone. I casually brought up the story about what happened to grandma’s stuff after she died and how the people that never visited her were so fast to swoop down and take her furniture. He got mad just thinking about it, and he started talking about what he would have wanted.

When he thought about it, he realized that in much of the things that he loved and treasured would probably end up in a Goodwill store or a junk heap. So I suggested that he think about giving some of his prized possessions away to people that he cared about now. Wouldn’t he be happy to see a needy person gladly accepting that dinette set? What in his grandniece be thrilled if he gave her that grandfather clock?

After my uncle started to believe that this was his own idea he was quite enthusiastic about getting me to call a list of people and help him give away things that he really treasured. After the first family friend thanked him profusely for giving away a living room set to their newlywed son, he was hooked on the idea of giving everything away.

Moving day was a lot easier after he discarded the mountain full of items that he had no use for anymore. We gave away scores of old winter coats to the church. We donated couches and tables to the Salvation Army. He was delighted to gift his deceased wife’s jewelry to his daughters. He had peace of mind knowing that the things he had worked for and cherished were now in the hands of the people that he cared about.

To make moving simpler we made sure that all his boxes were kept to a manageable size and clearly labeled. We found out that the best way to box is possessions for moving was to think about where they would go in the new house apartment. The movers helped us get all the heavy furniture out, and we save a lot of money because there was so much less to move. Once my uncle got to his new apartment the movers put each box in the rooms where they belonged. Setting my uncle up in his new place was a snap.

Moving an elderly parent or grandparent isn’t easy but with the right attitude and approach it can be done. For more information on how you can keep your elderly loved ones safe and happy in their own homes, a senior safety advice visit ElderKind.com.

Plan For Your Current and Future Living Situation

When you look at the plans for your new home, the most important consideration is how the proposed or available layout matches your lifestyle. A retired couple with an empty nest and a young couple with one child on the way and two more planned have very different needs when it comes to housing. The retired couple may well want to run a business out of their home to provide extra income and keep themselves sharp and productive. A home suitable for such a couple may well feature one large bedroom for sleeping, a smaller guest bedroom or two for visiting children, and a very large room that they can use for their office and business storage space. It could also feature a large dining room and living room if the couple enjoys constant visits from children and grandchildren, or a smaller one if the couple’s family prefers to have its reunions elsewhere.

Certainly, the same layout would not suit a younger couple. The bedroom layout might be the same, but the two smaller bedrooms, or perhaps three, would be in constant use once the children have reached a certain age. A home office would not be as important to a younger couple, since chances are that both its members pursue careers that keep them out of the house during the day and wanting to spend time with each other and with their children as they grow. The space taken up by that hypothetical home office would best be split into a large playroom and a small storage room. That storage room would serve the family for years, as a repository for toys, schoolbooks and hobby supplies as the children grow. The playroom could also evolve into a game and computer room, and it should be insulated from sound in case any of the children decide to take up musical or otherwise raucous hobbies during their teenage years.

Regardless of particular needs, some other aspects of architectural planning with which buyers should especially concern themselves include storage space, windows, and bathrooms. A home can never have enough storage space, and nothing compares to the natural light streaming through large windows on a beautiful, sunny spring day. Bathrooms, even the most fashionably designed ones, are not meant to be near the kitchen, and the traditional first-floor laundry room may be inefficient for a young mother in a home where everyone sleeps and changes clothing upstairs.

Modern house plans allow for a great deal of flexibility and variety. Make sure your home, whether it is your first home or the home in which you plan to live your golden years, is laid out as you want it and as best fits your lifestyle.

Miguel Salcido is an avid blogger, father of 2, and recent proud homeowner. He loves studying architecture, home design and decor and plans to one day buy a custom house plan to build his dream home.

You can make the moving process painless and more efficient, especially if you get rid of unwanted stuff before you start packing it all up. I learned the value of completing a well thought out move when I travelled a couple of states over to go attend law school in Boston last summer.

Based on my own experience, here are 4 tips for getting rid of your stuff before you move:

Clean Out Your Drawers

If you are anything like me, you probably use many of your house’s drawers to stuff items you really don’t want, but can’t be bothered to get rid of. Unfortunately, when you get ready to move you will find that all of the stuff stored within your drawers and cabinets can take up valuable space. In order to avoid transporting random and unwanted items, try cleaning out your drawers around a month or so in advance. Throw away or donate any items you no longer want or need.

Sell Your Stuff

Moving can actually be profitable, especially if you sell some of your unwanted stuff. After you have cleared out all of your unwanted goods, try selling them for some extra cash. You could go the online route such as via eBay or Craigslist, or you could hold your own old-fashioned garage sale. If you do decide to hold a garage sale, make sure you put lots of signs up a couple of days beforehand and advertise it on social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter too. This way you can guarantee large crowds and lots of potential buyers.

Pack Effectively

When you decide to pack your stuff, make sure you have bought the correct packaging items and boxes so that you can pack your stuff as quickly and compactly as possible. Don’t let any useable space go to waste and pack everything as tightly as you can. You may want to set the ball rolling by beginning to pack several weeks in advance. This will allow you get rid of anything you don’t want to take with you with plenty of time to spare and in turn make room for the stuff you do want to keep.

Keep Your New Space in Mind

As you decide what you do and don’t want, keep in mind your new space. Is it bigger or smaller? Is the layout significantly different? Try and envision what your furniture and other personal items will look like in your new place. What might look great in your one bedroom apartment may look lost if you are upgrading and moving into your first house.

As you can see, moving house doesn’t have to be a traumatic experience. You can easily move quickly and virtually stress free if you just remember to plan for your move well in advance and get rid of any unnecessary items beforehand. Good luck!   

Before you go pay a visit to the veterinarian for a checkup for your pets. Don’t forget to get the records so you can forward them to the new veterinarian.

While moving locally can still be annoying, it usually only requires a short drive across the state. Long distance moving, however, is a different matter. Still, daunting as this task may seem people do it all the time, and if they can do it, so can you.

Tip 1: You must know how you’re going to transport your pets

Plan your moves in advance. There are a couple of transportation methods you can use. You can either take your pet on a ride in your personal car, or you can opt to fly your pet.

Small animals can fly in the passenger cabin. Otherwise they’ll have to be transported by the air fright. Making your decision beforehand will reduce stress for both you and your pet since you don’t have to do any last minute changes.

Tip 2: Pack for your pet as well

Your animal will require food, water, toys and distractions wherever he goes. It’s a good idea to leave him a familiar T-shirt or blanket, so he will have an easier time relaxing.

Reducing your pet’s anxiety is, in fact, your top priority. If he gets scared, or anxious, he might lash out at people near him, and may even attack people in his panic.

Tip 3: Don’t expect fully accustomed pets immediately

Once you arrive at your new home, let your pets get a sniff of what’s around. This way they can get comfortable even though it’s a new environment for them. You can expect more difficulty adapting if you’re moving from an apartment to a house with a yard, and vice versa. For example, many apartment dogs suffer from separation anxiety so they may start reacting impulsively and pet cats tend to live indoors all their life so every outside experience is frightening and stressfull for them.

It’s also a good idea to keep ID tags or a microchip to ensure you can find your pets should they get lost. It’ll take some time for your pets to adjust to the new home, but don’t worry, they will be happy and cozy in their new place in no time.

Moving with your pets might seem daunting at first, but so long as you keep in mind the simple tips listed above you’ll find it’s much less stressful than you thought.

Every mom and dad has experienced a less than perfect car ride with the kids. For most parents, moving is a stressful struggle. Children seem wired to lose it in the car, especially on a long distance move across the country or state. How can you maintain your sanity on the road without getting sidetracked from driving safety? You can keep your premiums low, avoid accidents and arrive happy by following these five tips.

1. Keep Your Cool

The number one rule of good parenting on the road, as well as the rest of the time, is to not lose your temper. Once you get upset, you drop down to the level of the kids. It is difficult to keep the stress out of your voice when you are upset, but focus on it. If you are calm, you can properly address the situation without putting the whole automobile in danger.

2. Pulling Over and the Silent Treatment

Tell your kids before you leave about what is going to happen if they squabble. When fighting begins, find a safe place and pull over. Don’t say a word. Just sit silently until they stop fighting and both apologize to you. Then pull back on the road and continue with the drive. After three or four times, they’ll know the drill and won’t fight.

3. Revoking Privileges

If pulling over isn’t the best solution, punish the offender by removing something he wants, whether a movie or his soda pop. Calmly give warning that one more time and it’s taken away. Keep your word. They will pay attention.

4. Be Consistent

Never threaten. You’re the boss. Let your children know that. No matter which forms of back seat control work best, be consistent. If you decide to pull over for fighting, always pull over. If you remove privileges for fussing, never make exceptions. Your children will know you mean it and won’t push the limits because the limits can’t be moved. They will be able to trust your consistency and will be secure and comfortable in the boundaries you set.

5. Good Discipline All of the Time

While it seem most pressing when the two in the back seat seem about to claw each other to pieces, discipline has to be practiced the rest of the time to work effectively in the car. Always be firm. Don’t let things slip under the radar. Make sure your children understand that it is never okay to be unkind. When they live their whole lives treating others respectfully, they will be less likely to pick fights and throw fits during car rides. Working on discipline when it is convenient will save you trying to discipline while driving.

Arriving safely and happily to your new home is a very attainable goal. Stay level headed, let your children know who is boss by whatever safe means works. Be consistent, both in your disciplining on the road and off, and you’ll decrease lots of trouble traveling. It won’t all go by magic, but you’ll have the tools to make it happen. Good luck on your long distance move!

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– Have each item appraised, if possible, and take color photographs from various angles for your records. Keep copies of sales receipts and any insurance information as well.

– Make sure that the mover’s inventory list description and value matches your records. For items that exceed $!00 per pound value, the mover will have to create a High Value Inventory List in order for your belongings to be adequately insured.

– Place heavy pieces in small boxes and lighter items in larger boxes or containers to make moving them easier. Keep in mind that movers insurance typically pay insurance claims calculated per pound, so if you have a heavy item that is damaged or lost, the payment might be significantly less than the object’s value.

Regarding packing antiques or any fragile possessions, keep pictures, mirrors and artwork upright in a sturdy, flat box. Do not lay them flat, since another box could be put on top of them and they might .break. Place bubble wrap or other packing material around each piece and around the inside perimeter of the box, too. Always try to keep glass vases, bowls, etc. in their original containers if possible, which will already have thick Styrofoam cushioning and dividers to help keep them in one piece.

Clearly mark each box to indicate that very fragile items are inside, and make sure to point these boxes out for the moving crew, so they know to use extra care in handling and not to stack anything that is marked fragile.

Pack cameras, televisions and computers in their original boxes if you have them, but if not, wrap three or four layers of cushioning around each item and place them in separate boxes that have additional padding in the bottom and on the sides. You can buy Styrofoam to use when packing electronics.

Read the insurance limits and other information that your moving company provides. Their insurance coverage may not be adequate and you need to know before your move if you should purchase more insurance to protect your valuables.

Across Country Moving Costs

If you have a three-bedroom home and have an average number of items to be moved, the weight could be anywhere from 7000 to 9000 pounds or more. If your household goods weigh 8,000 pounds, then you need to know the cost per pound. Some moving companies charge a dollar per pound, so that means you can expect to pay $8,000 for your move, but this estimate does not take into account how far you will be moving. If you are moving the contents of a three-bedroom from Columbus, Ohio to Portland. Oregon, for example, which is 2,440 miles, one estimate (from movesource.com) is $9,129.00.

“Learn how much it costs when moving across country then fill out a form and receive 5 to 10 across country moving quotes for free.”

If you are planning to move a one-bedroom apartment from Columbus, Ohio to Portland, Oregon, and it weighs 3,500 pounds, then your moving cost will be about $3,700. You might consider selling and/or donating your furniture rather than paying to have it moved. If the time and cost of replacing your things saves you money, then in the final analysis it might be better to buy furniture in your new location instead of moving yours. There are a lot of things to consider in this case, since you will need to know the average cost in Portland to buy furniture of a similar quality, and you will still need to have it transported from the store and put in your home.

Different Situations Lead To Different Cross Country Moving Costs

It is much less expensive to rent a truck or have a company take your packed, portable moving pods from the old place to the new one, but not everyone is willing or able to do the necessary lifting, driving or packing themselves. Some people cannot afford to take time off from work to move themselves. Cost is often, but not always, the most important consideration when moving a long distance. Sometimes the convenience and peace of mind that you feel when your move is in the hands of a trustworthy moving company is worth more than money.

Don’t Get Scammed By Un-Licensed Movers

Go to the moving company that you’ve decided on and visually inspect the office and the company’s moving vans. Do they look well-maintained and are they painted with the company’s name and information? Does the office staffs anticipate your questions and are they forthcoming with the company’s Department of Transportation (DOT) number and are registered with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration? Check to see if the company has a complaint history, and if so, what were the complaints? Do they warrant further investigation?

Get a quote from the mover and get two more quotes so you will be able to compare the cost. Cheaper is not always better, nor is the most expensive moving quote always the best choice—it takes time to choose, and your decision should be based on first, finding a reputable mover that you can trust, and then making sure that they provide all of the services that you need. Never pay up front for a moving quote, which is one way that scammers will try to get your money. Never sign any type of blank document either. When you are ready to sign the bill of lading, inventory sheet and other necessary documents, do not sign them unless and until you have read them and agree to the prices and information on them.

Be there when your furniture and boxes are loaded, in case the movers have any questions or concerns. Give the movers telephone contact information for you and emergency contacts as well, and make sure that the contents are insured. Do not pack any items that are irreplaceable in boxes that will be moved in the van. Take those things with you in your car or make other shipping or storing arrangements, just in case anything does get damaged or lost.

If your trip takes place in a warm month, consider finding a camp site or two along the way and “roughing it”. You will see and experience parts of the country that you normally wouldn’t, which can make the trip much more memorable and fun than a straight drive thousands of miles. Another option could be to stay at a reasonably-priced hotel.

Budgeting For Moving Across Country

Depending on the size of your family, and whether you have pets, and the amount of money that you can budget to spend on for accommodations, you can expect to pay around $70 or more for each night that you spend on the road, not including the cost of meals and other necessities.If you are pulling a trailer, before you even get on the road, make sure that your vehicle has enough power and the right kind of tires for the type of terrains you will encounter.

In addition, be sure to pack the load correctly so that the weight is evenly distributed and is not too heavy for the trailer or your car. Some other things to consider include weather forecasts, and you will want to have air conditioning if you are driving across southern or south western states.

Enhance Your Cross Country Experience

If your car has a tendency to overheat, keep that in mind if you will be driving through different elevations, and roads with many twists and turns. Mark a map with potential rest stops and gas stations along the way, in case of emergency. Check the amount of pressure in your tires as well. Calculate how much gas will cost, keeping in mind that the price of gas varies significantly from city to city, not to mention state to state. Always put aside extra money for gas and repairs.

Moving service prices can also be reduced by understanding how to set up your house for the movers. All of the heavy items that you actually do not want at your succeeding home just throw it out as there’s no good reason for the extra weight. Most Philadelphia movers use weight as a key factor when developing a offer for your present move. Now that you recognize there is such a huge emphasis with sizing and poundage by Pennsylvania Movers it is going to be easier to chuck the rubbish.

Normally time can be a large contributor with the cost of moving in Philadelphia. Be sure to try your very best to cut down the amount of time it will take for the move as it can save big money. Break down every little thing as far as it possibly can be broken down previous to the move. Sometimes it can be best if you are able to put most of your stuff the movers need to take in your garage or in the family room.

The period of time it will require to get from the old residence over to the new house plays a large roll in the pricing of the relocation. Now the duration of the move is something you are bound to so look and find the cheapest price for your specific moving situation. Some Philadelphia moving services are more friendly towards community moves around Philadelphia and others are more friendly to local moves. Everything within this article is important to saving money when employing Philadelphia Moving Companies.

So many things will make or break the cost of the moving services you hire so you need to be very careful. When you’re going to start finding quotes from Philadelphia Movers avoid getting lazy and find as many quotes as possible. You can increase the speed of this procedure really fast by using web services that grant you quotes from a number of movers with just one quote form submission. These web sites additionally enhance the security of receiving moving quotes on the net simply by screening the movers presenting the quotes to your email. Keep all of these things in mind when employing your next Philadelphia moving service and you might undoubtedly save a few dollars.

Get more info regarding moving and how you should try to obtain Philadelphia moving rates for Philadelphia full service movers.