COLORADO RELOCATION & MOVING

Choosing a Moving Company for your Relocation
Have at least three movers come to your home and give estimates. Be sure to ask whether the estimates are binding, non-binding or guaranteed not to exceed a certain amount. Obtain each company's assigned Motor Carrier number and call the USDOT at

(202) 358-7000 to determine if they are registered and have the proper insurance on file.
Ask your prospective moving company for a copy of the “Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move” booklet.

Relocation to Your New Town
If you're one of the 40 million Americans planning to move this year, you need a strategy.  Starting early and staying organized is the key to a painless move. In general, follow the premove checklists provided. These lists will help you track the myriad details needed to facilitate your Boulder or Denver relocation residency.

If you are selling your present home and/or buying a new one, refer to the home inspection checklist and the mortgage glossary. If you are planning to rent in Colorado, read the article on rental tips. And, if you are undecided, we hope the article entitled “Buying vs. Renting” will help you assess the pros and cons of each. Whatever decisions you face based on your particular circumstances, stay positive, calm and organized. And, don't forget to make some time just for yourself. It will probably save you a lot of time in the long run!

Packing Tips
• Sort your belongings. If you don't use an item, dispose of it.
• Label boxes indicating what they contain and in which room they should be placed.
• Drain gas and oil from power tools so they will not leak; dispose of all volatile or corrosive chemicals.
• After cleaning out the refrigerator and/or freezer, place pieces of charcoal in them to
prevent mildew.
• Pack important records in easily accessible place. Include medical, dental, school,
insurance, credit card and tax records.
• Use strong, clean containers with lids secured with twine or tape.
• Put no more than 50 pounds in each container.
• Place heavy items towards the bottom of the containers; lighter items on top.
• Protect all finished surfaces from scratching by wrapping them in paper.
• Use plenty of cushioning such as shredded or crumpled paper to protect belongings in
boxes. Remember that newspaper ink can rub off and stain items packed with it.
• Pack items tightly to avoid shifting during move.
• Fragile items, like china, should be packed in reinforced boxes or in special boxes with compartments.
• Individually wrap and cushion electrical appliances.
• Make sure liquids and foodstuffs are placed in carefully sealed containers. Wrap and pack kitchenware tightly to prevent damage.
• Chests and dressers should not be overloaded since glued furniture joints could collapse.
• Unusually shaped or valuable items should be crated or moved by you during your Colorado relocation and not the movers. Easily crushed items should be individually boxed and cushioned.
• You should not remove home fixtures such as window treatment hardware, towel racks and electrical fixtures. Unless your sales agreement specifically states otherwise, such items are usually considered legally part of your residence.Let the moving company pack furniture, mirrors and artwork to prevent damage.

Stay Organized

Here are some basic tips to help make moving less traumatic:
• Pack an “Immediate Box” or an overnight suitcase with the necessities you'll be needing right away. Don't forget to include medicines and a first aid kit, toilet paper, tissue, and paper towels.
• Pack an “Immediate Kitchen” box including trash bags, the coffee pot or tea kettle, toaster, plastic silverware, paper plates, styrofoam cups and some non-perishable snacks, such as crackers, peanut butter, dried fruit. This way, there will be some instant sustenance while you get organized.
• Affix colored labels to the moving boxes according to destination. Put the same-color labels or signs on the door of the rooms where these boxes go. This way, movers will be directed to the correct rooms if you're not available to tell them where to put each box.
• Make a detailed floor plan for where you want things to go in your new home. Photocopy it so you can tack up copies in every room for the movers.
• Take snapshots of wall units and shelves, so you know how

things were arranged on them.

Settling Into Your New Home

• Start by making the beds. Bedding tends to be bulky and eliminating lots of boxes quickly and easily will be encouraging.
• Unpack and organize children's belonging's next.. Young children will quickly become restless without familiar things. Remember to position storage hooks and shelves that children will be using within their reach.
• Next, tackle the kitchen. This job will go much faster if each box has been specifically labeled as to its contents. Simply labeling “Kitchen” doesn't help you prioritize which box to unpack first.
• Stay positive. Getting settled into your new home can seem overwhelming unless you look at it as a series of small projects.
• Congratulate yourself! You accomplished a lot today!

Moving Decisions

Are you faced with an upcoming job relocation? With so many options for moving your household items, it can be a difficult decision to determine which service best fits your moving needs. Also, with a limited relocation budget from your employer to cover your moving costs, finding a service that complements your pocketbook is important as well. While hiring a professional moving company may be time-saving, the cost for full-service moving could be several thousand dollars. A recent trend in the moving industry is the do-it-yourself moving option. Most people associate do-ityourself with the truck rental option; however, the “you pack, they drive” moving alternative is becoming increasingly popular.

New Moving Alternative

With this type of service, you are expected to pack and load your items in an adequately-sized commercial trailer. You are given up to two business days to pack and load your goods. The cost of the move is controlled by the customer because this service allows you to pay for only the spaced used in the trailer. Once you have completed the packing and loading process, the trailer is picked up by the local dispatch office. The trailer is then transported by a professional driver to your destination. You will receive an estimated arrival time for delivery of your goods and will also have the ability to track your goods during the transit of your move. Upon arrival at your new home, the trailer is delivered at the appointed time and you will unpack and unload your goods. The local dispatch office will then come and remove the empty trailer.

Save Time and Money

The “you pack, they drive” moving alternative saves you the trouble of driving an unfamiliar vehicle as well as the stress and difficulty during a long-distance drive. Since the estimates provided for this service are based on volume (space) and not weight, you will avoid unexpected higher moving costs and hidden fees associated with other full-service moving companies. Unlike a rental truck, the normal moving expenses such as fuel, taxes, tolls, and unexpected costs such as flat tires and engine blowouts are covered by the service provider.

Loading Service Options

The cost savings of using the “you pack, they drive” service largely result from packing and loading your trailer. Some customers may not have the physical ability or manpower to pack and load their own trailer. This problem is relatively easy to solve—simply check with one of the packing and loading companies suggested by the “you pack, they drive” service provider. You can locate packing and loading assistance in both your origin and destination cities. By combining the “you pack, they drive” service with local loading and unloading assistance, you can save money versus using a full-service moving company.

The Choice is Yours

During your search for the best moving option for your upcoming job relocation, consider the “you pack, they drive” moving option and know that you are in control of every aspect of your move. You will not only save time and money, you will experience less stress and headache during an already stressful part of your life.