4 Commonly Overlooked Moving Tips
Moving is one of the most exciting events for any family, but it is also one of the most stressful ones. Knowing a few simple tricks for moving day can help your move go much easier. Here are four commonly overlooked moving tips to help your move be as enjoyable and stress-free as possible.
Dress for the Occasion
When you are lifting and carrying furniture and other heavy household items, wearing the right clothes can make the difference between a close call and an accident or injury. When you are trying to decide if your outfit will be safe enough for some heavy lifting, start from the bottom up. Steel-toed boots with strong treads are an excellent choice, as they will protect your toes from dropped items and minimize the risk of slipping.
Oversized shirts and blouses should be avoided while you are moving. It is much too easy for these types of clothes to become caught on doorknobs and hooks, creating a sticky situation if you are in the middle of carrying a very heavy item. Gloves are also a good idea, as they will protect your hands from being pinched as you squeeze through a doorway and give you a better grip on anything you carry.
Color-code Instead of Label
Most homeowners know it is a good idea to unload boxes in the room where their items belong. Because of this, it is a common practice to label each box with the name of its destination room. Labeling boxes and reading the labels when it's time to unpack can be a slow process, and you may find that your move goes more smoothly if you use a color code system instead.
Create a legend by writing down the name of each room in your new home on a sheet of notebook paper and assign each room a color. Use colored dot stickers to label boxes with the color of the room where they should be unpacked. This also makes unpacking go much faster, as you can simply glance at the color of each box instead of stopping to read each label.
Take Pictures of Shelved Items
You may have shelves of books, dishware, or knick-knacks that you like to keep in a very specific configuration. Your child may also feel the same way about their shelves of dolls, action figures, or other toys. Even if these items have stayed in the same places for years, you may be surprised to learn that you don't remember exactly where each one was when you get to your new home.
Taking a picture of your shelved items before you move is a good idea if you want to preserve their layout. Additionally, these photos will serve as proof for insurance purposes if anything breaks in transit and you need to file a claim.
Check for Tax-Deductions
If your move is closely related to starting new work, your moving expenses may be tax-deductible. The IRS uses two tests to determine if your expenses will be deductible: the distance test and the time test. The distance test states that your new place of work must be at least 50 miles further away from your new home than your old job was from your old home.
To pass the time test, you must work full time for at least 39 weeks in the first 12 months after you move. Details and additional stipulations for self-employed workers and members of the armed forces are outlined in Publication 521 by the IRS.
Moving to a new home is not difficult if you do some careful planning and are aware of common problems. For more assistance or tips, contact local moving companies.