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MARCH 12, 2014 | 35

REAL ESTATE

MONTANA LIFESTYLES
Secrets to a Successful Move

By DIANE BENSON HARRINGTON
papers (ask your friends for theirs, too)
so you’ll have plenty of packing material
Currently looking into the real es- if you don’t want to buy bubble wrap.
tate market? Planning on making a move Be sure to pack a box of essentials

this spring or summer? You’re not alone – a telephone, a couple of changes of
– summer is the busiest time of year for clothes, a few pots/pans/dishes/uten-
professional movers, according to the sils, toiletries, medications – to get you
American Moving and Storage Associa- through the irst few days. Also, if your
tion. It’s an arduous process, but some mover is late and there are items you
tips will make your transition much couldn’t live without for a few days like
smoother.
a computer, consider taking that in your
If you’re planning to use a moving own car.

company, plan ahead. Be sure to build in If using a mover be sure to pack any
some overlap between the closing/pos- small, valuable items, such as jewelry,
session date of your new home and the separately so you can take it with you
last day of the lease on your rental (or the in your own car. Large valuable items,
closing date of your current home). Mov- such as artwork or electronics, should
ing always takes much longer than you be clearly noted on the mover’s invento-
think. If you want to make any changes ry form in case of damage during transit.

to your new home – for instance, paint Do buy insurance to cover any damage
some walls, put in new carpeting or re- that may occur. Most movers generally
inish wood loors – plan enough time to SHUTTERSTOCK PHOTO
will not insure anything that you pack
do it before you move in so your furni- yourself unless the box itself is missing.
ture and belongings are not in the way.
PARE DOWN YOUR BELONGINGS. THERE’S NO SENSE Take the time to record the makes,
Pare down your belongings. There’s models and serial numbers of your elec-
no sense moving things you don’t need MOVING THINGS YOU DON’T NEED OR WANT. LOOK tronics and other items in a notebook
or want. Look through your house for or on a sheet of paper. Put this informa-

rarely used items. Discard anything THROUGH YOUR HOUSE FOR RARELY USED ITEMS. tion, along with owners’ manuals, extra
that’s beyond repair, have a yard sale to keys, birth certiicates, car titles, wills,
get rid of the rest, and plan to load un- DISCARD ANYTHING THAT’S BEYOND REPAIR.
insurance information, and other vital
sold merchandise into your car right documents, in a special folder that you’ll
away so you can take it to the charity of keep with you. In your new home, ind a
your choice.
place for this folder, or put it in a safety
Make notes about your new house deposit box, so you’ll always know where to ind they couldn’t get it through the band), and order extra phone jacks or
– room measurements, door measure- doorways of their new house.
cable outlets if you need them. Fill out
these important papers are and can eas-
ments, location of electric/cable/phone ily grab it in case of a ire.
If the previous homeowners are tak- a change of address form with the post
outlets – so you can determine exactly Clean as you pack. Unpacking is hard ing their curtains and blinds, you’ll want oice. If you have automatic debits on
where your belongings will go. Mea- enough work without the added efort.
to measure windows in places you want your bank account, alert your creditors
sure appliances to make sure they it If you’re renting right now, be sure to privacy immediately (like bedrooms if you’re changing banks.
the space available. When I moved from clean your apartment or rental house so and bathrooms) and buy curtains or You can buy boxes and packing ma-
Florida to Colorado, I measured my re- you don’t risk losing any of your security blinds before you arrive.
terial from a moving company or other
frigerator’s width but not its depth. I deposit.
Start arranging now for phone and sources, but that can be expensive. In-

hadn’t taken my new kitchen’s loor plan Common sense, prior planning and utility hookups. Phone companies, es- stead, ask grocery stores, electronics
into consideration, and my fridge stuck a speciic to-do list will turn your move pecially, now need a few days (or even a stores and oice supply stores for their
out so far that I couldn’t open the dish- into an exciting start to the new chapter week or more) to get you connected. Ar- discarded boxes. They usually are large
washer. I’ve also had friends who bought of your life in your new home.
range now for the type of internet con- enough, sturdy enough – and free. Invest
wonderful overstufed furniture, only
Submitted by NMAR PR Committee
nection you want (if it’s DSL or broad-
in a tape gun, and start saving up news-

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