Home & Garden

So.  You’ve done your homework and chose the moving company that will move your belongings.  Unfortunately, after this homework there’s more work-as in the paper kind.
The first bit of business is to start a “move file” which should contain all financial aspects of the move.  This includes the mover’s fee, their receipts and every item you’ve donated to charity.  These donations not only lessens your moving load, but also can be claimed as a tax deduction.  In fact, the IRS will allow the move to be tax deductible if it falls under these conditions:

1.     You are moving because of a job change.
2.    Your new home is at least 50 miles or more farther from your former home and job.  For example, if your old job’s location was just two miles from your former home, your new job location must be at least 52 miles from your former home.
3.     If you’re self-employed, you must work full-time for at least 39 weeks during the first year and a total of 78 weeks during the first two years at your new home.  If you’re a company’s employee, you must work full-time for at least 39 weeks during the first year upon arriving at your new job and home.

If the drive to your new home is a great deal of distance from your old home, you can also deduct the cost of your lodging; as well as gas charges.  However, a long term temporary living expense (i.e., subletting a house before you move into your new home) is not deductible.

If you’re not going to drive your car to your new home, then research auto shipping companies.  See what type of vehicles they specialize in moving – especially if you’ve got an expensive car.  If you need to have your car dropped off at your home, you’ll want to see if they offer door to door transport.  

Of course, there are hundreds of auto shipping companies.  A good website that reviews and weeds out the bad apples from the good ones is:  http://www.transportreviews.com/

After all financial arrangements have been sufficiently arranged and recorded, start researching your new community by using the internet.  There, you can find and study online community guides, blogs and newspapers.  These sites will make you feel less of a stranger in your new town.  You should also contact the Chamber of Commerce to request their new resident packet.  

Once you’ve gathered this necessary information, you can then extensively work on your floor plan.  Before you move into your new home, you should already know how your home will look.  Which room(s) will be utilized as a study?  A home gym?  A “playroom” for your child (children)?  A bedroom?  The washing machine/dryer room?

If you have a backyard, before the move is the time to plan what will fill it.  Do you want the backyard to hold a picnic table?  A patio?  A garden?  A swimming pool?  A barbecue pit or birdbath or any lawn ornament?  Or, if any of the aforementioned is in the backyard already, do you wish to have any or all of it removed?  A clutter free backyard can not only clear your mind, but clear up space-especially if you have a young child or children and they have (or will have) a swing set or jungle gym.  

In short, make plans for your new home while you’re living in your old home.