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Sedesla

PostPosted: Tue Mar 27, 2007 4:20 pm


I'm sure we've all been through this at least once. This will technically be my third move, but if you discount that the first time I only moved in with my best friend's parents, and the second time my ex did all the work on his own, this is really my first move. I'm excited and scared to death, and I think I've made myself sick worrying over the details.

And really, I'm not even doing all the leg work this time, either. My mother has been going around with me, checking out the apartments and comparing the offers. If it weren't for her I would have jumped on the first place. (And paid $1000+ a month to what turned out to be slum lords.)

What makes this particularly stressful is that I have a few small pets that are rather sensitive to change, my lease expires this Saturday, my new job doesn't start until Monday, and I burned through my savings trying to keep up on this place when my ex dumped the $1300/mo rent on me and my roommate. I'm also trying to move from Silver Spring, MD to Annapolis, MD. Which isn't a great distance, but they're not very much alike. This will also be the first time I've ever actually lived alone.

So... yeah. But enough about the most stressful week of my life, have any interesting moving stories to share? Going through it yourselves? Any advice? I figured if nothing else we can predict whether or not I'm going to be washed away next time Annapolis floods.
PostPosted: Tue Mar 27, 2007 5:53 pm


Here’s what I can think of:

1. Perhaps try making a list of what needs to be done before you actually move, then check off each item as it’s complete. Before leaving the apartment for the final time, go through the rooms to make sure you have everything (it will also give you a little piece of mind).

2. Try finding free moving boxes. Boxed 10 packs of paper come in are good sizes and won’t get to heavy when you pack them. I don’t know where you live, but if you have a Grand & Toy nearby phone them and ask if you can get some moving boxes. If the manager/staff there is good you should be able to get some empty paper/inventory boxes for free. Especially if you’re able to get to a place after inventory has been received and put away.

You could also ask other places that receive inventory. Just ask if they charge for their used boxes or not.

3. For the animals, fill a bottle or two of the current water they are drinking. In the new place, start them with the familiar water then start mixing it with the new drinking water so they don’t get sick.

4. As long as you’re apartment in a few stories up, you should be fine. Just get a place with a window big enough to enter through and hope the waters go just high enough to reach the window, but not high enough to leak into your place. wink


I’ve never had the change to live by myself, but I think it’s something everyone should do once in their life.

Fukiomoi


Doressa
Captain

PostPosted: Tue Mar 27, 2007 6:25 pm


I don't really have any tips -I'm useless at moving!!! I ABSOLUTELY HATE it!

I do have lots of experience with living alone though -I'm doing it right now! It is the best, I don't know how I'm going to cope when my boyfriend and I finally move in together...

The living alone will make all the drama of moving worthwhile.
PostPosted: Wed Mar 28, 2007 12:43 pm


Dear lord, I loathe and detest moving. I almost had a breakdown earlier this year when we had suspicions that the owner of the house we're renting wanted to sell it out from under us. But then, it could be that most of my problem comes from my man being ultra-territorial. We've had to move everything by ourselves, because he can't stand the thought of anyone else touching his stuff. stressed

Here's a few things I've learned in my moves.

Plastic totes make great moving boxes. They're more expensive, but they're easier to carry and stack better. But, if money's an issue, try going around to local businesses and ask if you can take their empty stocking boxes. They're just gonna throw them away, anyway. For at least two of my moves, I got free boxes from the music store in the mall.

I know everything seems crazy, but don't forget to sleep! I was a walking zombie after my first move, because I stayed awake for almost three days, trying to get everything done.

Move the animals last. I have frogs, which can be very sensitive to a lot of movement. So we made a special trip, just with their tanks, so that we could watch them carefully. The power was also on in the new place by then, so I didn't have to worry about them getting too cold.

Seeress


dyejob

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PostPosted: Wed Mar 28, 2007 8:46 pm


Seeress
But, if money's an issue, try going around to local businesses and ask if you can take their empty stocking boxes. They're just gonna throw them away, anyway. For at least two of my moves, I got free boxes from the music store in the mall.


Word! There may be some chains that have particular policies about that but here at the ol' Mom & Pop comic shop we're always hooking up our favorite customers with shipping boxes for just such a purpose.

Also, if there are any pieces of furniture you're especially attached to, might want to look into getting that furniture saran wrap to prevent it from getting nicked and scratched during transport.

What pets are we talking -- furry, scaly, slimy, or feathered?
PostPosted: Wed Mar 28, 2007 11:30 pm


@Fukiomoi - I'm on a hill, so I should be okay. Unless the house itself floats away. Then I'm screwed. The list is a great idea, and I will definitely use the water idea.

@Doressa - My new place has an attic that only I can access, and there's a locked door to nowhere up there as well. I foresee many 3am calls to my mother.

@Seeress - My ex was like that. Then he scratched up and/or destroyed everything we were trying to move. gonk Fortunately the most sensitive animal I have is a turtle. I'm probably too worried about him, since he's been through a lot before coming into my care.

@dyejob - Two cats, one mouse, one turtle, and one large goldfish. My biggest concern is that the turtle will eat the goldfish later, like he did to the other one last time I did a total water change.

Sedesla


Dark_Lady_Jade

PostPosted: Thu Mar 29, 2007 7:29 am


When Mom and I moved into our house about 8 years ago (where we currently live), moving wasn't difficult.

But this most recent time my aunt moved, I ended up being the only one to help her in the end, so she and I ended up packing all her and her kids' stuff into boxes and using our cars to ship all the boxes to our basement. We worked all night long (literally). I got lots of exercise and it was fun. Though, I was exhausted as well. xd
PostPosted: Thu Mar 29, 2007 10:50 am


I am the oddity I guess, I like moving...
Although I dont like my current houseing.. It is cheap though and free food

But in reguards to the turtle seperate him/her from the gold fish because they eat when stressed also the before you move the turtle but him in a box I mean the tank and everything try to keep it nice and dark at least 8 hours before and 4 or so after you move this will keep the a little bit more relaxed, and also make sure to change all the water soon after and if you can wait to you change the water and feed the turtle before you but in the gold fish.
The cats are going to be a bit weird after moving so dont worry. They may not eat as much as they normaly would and you may get lose stool and them missing the litter box, all normal, well after a move normal.


Remeber the cool thing about moving is once you are in your new place it is like Christmas for days.... and alot of the time you find stuff that you thought you had lost

oh yeah also do laundry Before you move, and unpack everything!!
food and dirty laundry do not sit well in boxes after 4 weeks.......
oh and dont let your idiot friends pack your stuff

Raien3


Sedesla

PostPosted: Thu Mar 29, 2007 1:32 pm


Raien3
I am the oddity I guess, I like moving...
Although I dont like my current houseing.. It is cheap though and free food

But in reguards to the turtle seperate him/her from the gold fish because they eat when stressed also the before you move the turtle but him in a box I mean the tank and everything try to keep it nice and dark at least 8 hours before and 4 or so after you move this will keep the a little bit more relaxed, and also make sure to change all the water soon after and if you can wait to you change the water and feed the turtle before you but in the gold fish.
The cats are going to be a bit weird after moving so dont worry. They may not eat as much as they normaly would and you may get lose stool and them missing the litter box, all normal, well after a move normal.


Remeber the cool thing about moving is once you are in your new place it is like Christmas for days.... and alot of the time you find stuff that you thought you had lost

oh yeah also do laundry Before you move, and unpack everything!!
food and dirty laundry do not sit well in boxes after 4 weeks.......
oh and dont let your idiot friends pack your stuff


Last time I moved I let my idiot ex pack everything, so I know the dangers of not moving everything first hand.

I hope I find a lot of stuff I thought I lost, since I never unpacked from moving into THIS place. (Didn't see the point.)
PostPosted: Thu Mar 29, 2007 11:13 pm


I shouldn't give advice 'cause I move every August (to university) and May (from university) and I always save packing until the day of...

All I can offer is good luck!

--ashleyatusc

ashleyatusc


Sedesla

PostPosted: Fri Mar 30, 2007 8:57 am


Yeah... I apparently do the same, because it's the day before and I still haven't done anything. sweatdrop

Thanks though!
PostPosted: Sun Apr 01, 2007 3:27 pm


good luck moving....hope all was well with your move...

AQuAxXxScORP_62704

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