Moving Advice

They’re bold, they’re shameless, they’re misleading, and they’re everywhere—they’re the people who create and perpetuate moving scams. Disreputable movers and their representatives can rip you off for big bucks at a time in your life when you’re really not prepared to absorb the unanticipated expense. Here are the top five most common malicious moving scams and the best ways to avoid falling for them:

Moving scams prey on people at a particularly emotional time, when money is often short supply. When you need to get all your worldly possessions moved across the country within two weeks, the last thing you need is to get involved with an illegitimate company that will take your money and run. Take these tips into consideration when looking for a reputable moving company.

To move or not to move—it’s not really a question sometimes, but a necessity. The question arises when considering how to move. Should you hire a moving company? Do it yourself? Enlist a strong friend or two? Each approach has pros and cons, so you’ll have to consider your own situation in order to make the choice that’s right for you.

So much to do, so little time. So much stuff, so few boxes. So many movers, only one truck. Moving is a time of imbalance—half your things in one place, half in another; getting used to new surroundings and missing your old ones. Having a checklist of things you need to get done before moving can help make the experience a little less stressful. Here’s a quick checklist of the most important things you need to remember to do for your move. Keep in mind that this is just a general guideline; your duties may vary according to your situation. (A move across town is obviously less involved than a move across the country!)

Moving can involve personal responsibilities that relate directly to your new life and not to the moving process. These tasks can be even more important than the components of the moving process itself, since they affect your ability to live, work, and function in your old and new worlds. Take the steps below to prepare yourself to live comfortably in your new home just as you did in the old one.

The moving process, or any house/apartment-cleaning process, usually results in two main piles: keep and toss. You know what to do with the "keep" pile: box it up for the moving truck or put it back in its place in your house. But what about the "toss" pile? Should you really chuck it all in the dumpster? Can’t you get some money for these (once-) prized possessions? How should you handle getting rid of all that junk you’ve piled up in the corner of your living room?

When you’re moving from one place to another, officially changing your address may be the last thing you consider. In between packing boxes, making phone calls, and overseeing the movers so they don’t break anything, actually notifying the right people about your new address can completely slip your mind. No worries, however, since various online resources make changing your address a relatively easy process.

Packing up all of your precious old school CDs? Need to pack your apartment on a budget? The worst place to try to get CHEAP moving boxes is from a moving company, like U-Haul. Moving companies graduate the prices much higher than market price. Here are the top 5 places to get cheap moving boxes.