There’s nothing worse than moving all your belongings into your new home and realizing that the previous owners did not properly clean it before they left. Even if some cleaning was done, it’s often not up to your personal standards. For that reason, it is always best to be physically and mentally prepared to give your new home a good and thorough cleaning. Here are a few things to help make sure that you are completely ready for whatever you might find in your new home.

Preparation
In preparation for your cleaning, make sure that you have all necessary supplies. First off, make sure that you have clothes readily accessible that are comfortable and that you don’t mind getting dirty or sweaty. It is also important that you have comfortable shoes that protect your feet.

Make sure that you have a box that is clearly labeled cleaning supplies. In that box, you want to have spray cleaners, rags, paper towels, a dull knife, and a roll of trash bags. Near the box you want to have a broom and dustpan as well as a mop and bucket.

If possible, check your home before you arrive to see what state it has been left in. It is always best to do a pre-cleaning before your possessions arrive, so that you do not have to maneuver around your boxes or unpack your possessions in a dirty space.

Cleaning
Once you have assembled all the supplies, here are the basic steps to cleaning out your new house:

• Throw out any garbage or possessions that have been left behind. Go through the entire house (Including inside drawers and under sinks) to make sure that everything is cleared out.
• Sweep out the house. While many think that this might be the final step, it is important to get rid of the layer dust that has been left behind so that you are not spreading it around when you spray your cleaners.
• Break out the cleaners. Make sure that you have cleaners that are appropriate for each job, including window/glass cleaner, all purpose cleaner, and (if applicable) a wood cleaner. Spray and wipe everything several times to endure that you get rid of any grime or slime that has build up on the surfaces. Make sure to specifically tackle areas that are often ignored, including behind the sink and toilet, inside medicine cabinets, and around shower doorframes. Clean the entire inside of the refrigerator and oven (use the self-cleaner setting if possible). Don’t forget that while your broom and mop will take the initial layer off, it might be necessary to get on your hands and knees in order to get a really deep clean.
• Once you have gone through the entire house, remove all trash bags and go through the house a final time. At this point you can do any spot cleaning, and make sure that your home is completely ready for you to move in all your possessions.

A move is full of many little details. One of them is having your address officially changed with the United States Postal Service (USPS) so that all of your important mail and documents find their way to your new home. While most people think that there is just one easy step, there are actually several things that you need to do in order to make sure that your address has been updated.

The first step is filling out your change of address form. You can go to your local post office and request PS form 3575. The form should be out and easily accessible, but you can always ask a clerk for one if you do not see them. With the increase in modern technology and convenience, you can also forgo the trip to the post office and change your address through the USPS online change of address form.

When filling out your change of address, there are two important parts. The first is that you include both your old and your new address so that the USPS can forward all mail that is addressed to your old address to your new one. The second important part is making sure that you include the names of every person that is making the move with you. If you only include your own name, the mail of any other family member will not be forwarded.

It is important to remember that the USPS forwarding service is limited. First class mail (such as letters) are forwarded for one year from the change of address date. However, periodicals (such as magazines and newspapers) are only forwarded for 60 days. At that point the forwarding service ends and the mail will continue to go to your old address or the to the post office’s dead room. For this reason, it is important that you also change your address with all companies who send you mail. You can change it by contacting the company directly (either online or through their own “update your address” section on a bill) or send them a change of address card (available at your local post office). It is helpful to create a list of all the companies that you know you receive mail from (i.e. a utility company, credit card, etc.) as well as friends and families, so that you can be sure that everyone has received your updated address.

The planning and packing involved in an office move can cause havoc on your business’s productivity. In order to make sure that things do not fall to pieces before and during your relocation, here are a few steps that you can do to keep your employees focused and your business going.

Planning, Planning, Planning
The biggest secret to success for an office move is planning. The farther out you can plan, the better. This allows your employees plenty of time time to acclimate to the idea of the move as well as figure out the best to way to implement their personal steps in the move without impacting their work.

Schedule
If possible, plan your move over a weekend. This way your employees can have everything boxed up and ready to go before the end of the workday on Friday, go home for the weekend, and arrive at the new office on Monday. This not only minimize the impact on your employees, but on your clients as well.

Expect the Unexpected
Make sure that you have contingency plans for anything that can go wrong. This especially goes for the mundane, and yet extremely important, details such as your power and phone systems.

Keep Everyone Informed
Even though you may plan everything to perfection, there is always a measure of unpredictability that comes with a move. Inform your clients, vendors, associates, and anyone else who may depend on you that there may be either a decrease in your availability or that there a delay in your responses or actions. This will help protect you if there are unexpected problems that arise.

Use Your Technology
Take advantage of any computer applications that allow you to import or migrate from one system to another. A move is also a good time to upgrade any technology components (computers, printers, etc) that may be out of date or that are slowing down your business. Just make sure that your new software or technology can sync with your other equipment.

Moving from one house to another can be a crazy time for any family. With selling one house, buying another, packing, coordinating the events of moving day, and more, it is easy for the parents to feel swept along in a busy and hectic rhythm. However, when there are children who are also involved in the move, it is important that the parents take the time necessary to prepare them for the move, help them through the experience, and get them settled afterwards. Since moving has the potential of being a traumatic experience for a child who doesn’t fully understand why and how everything is happening, by taking this time, you can ensure that your child makes it through the move without any difficulty.

The first step is preparation. It’s best to let children know about a move as early as possible so that they have enough time to get used to the idea. Make sure that you present moving as an exciting and positive adventure and highlight the great possibilities that await in your new home and community. Show them pictures or, if possible, take them to see the new house (and school) so that they know where they will be living. Always let your children know that it’s perfectly normal to be nervous and anxious but that you will be there to help them through the transition.

It’s always helpful to involve your children in the process as much as possible. Let them help pack their own room and assign them tasks that they can easily follow. Never make your children feel like they are in the way and, above all, stay positive throughout the process. It is also helpful to let your children keep a few familiar things (such as a favorite stuffed animal, book, or toy) with them as you move.

Once you are at your new home, make the unpacking of your children’s room your first priority. Help them set up their new room in the way that they want, allowing them to feel at home in their new surroundings. Keep the unpacking process fun by creating games and challenges, and make sure that you take breaks as necessary. It is always a good idea to keep to their typical schedule (including eating and bedtime) so that a sense of normalcy is established in the new home.

Above all, listen to your children throughout the move. Encourage them to express their thoughts and feelings about the move and try to keep positive about all the changes. This will help them adjust as quickly and painlessly as possible.

In today’s economy, it is very possible that a new job might necessitate a move to a new city or state. When this possibility occurs, one of the questions that often arise is whether or not the new employer should pay for any or all relocation expenses. While relocation expenses are not a mandatory part of a job offer, it is often a negotiable part of the job offer. Here are a few tips to finding out if it’s right for yours.

The first step in negotiating relocation expenses is to ascertain your individual needs. As every family situation is different, what works for one might not necessarily work for another. Cost of living, mortgage costs, and costs of school or day care are some things to keep in mind. Will all the members of your family move at once? Will you need temporary housing? If you are relocating before the rest of your family, will you be traveling back and forth? Will your spouse need help in finding a job?

Once you have analyzed your own situation, it is important to have an open and honest conversation with the Human Resources department. Find out if there is a standard package of benefits that is typically offered and, if so, what it entails. If possible, ask about the packages offered to other employees who have recently located. If a recruiter was used in the process, then he or she might also be able to provide information.

The next step is to consider the job offer. Is the salary and benefits above or below standard? Can you ask for help in relocation to help bridge a gap? Are there other compensations (such a bonuses or raises) that can be used to help cover relocation costs?

The final step is to have an accurate estimate of what the move will cost – including moving fees, realtor fees, housing fees (new and temporary), travel costs, etc. At this point, you will have all the information necessary to start negotiation. Remember, while it is not mandatory for an employer to offer relocation expenses, these steps can help you feel comfortable in asking for one in order to make the transition to your new job as painless as possible.

Relocating your business to a new building can be both exciting and stressful. The task of moving all people, equipment, and supplies can seem overwhelming. However, with a little planning, you can make sure that your move goes smoothly and that your business is not negatively affected by the change

The most important factor in moving an office is in the planning and preparation. Creating a checklist of all the things that need to happen, including when and how, can keep you organized and make sure that no vital steps are overlooked. Here are several important things that should be on your checklist.

The first thing is to make sure that you have updated plans for your new building. These plans will help you make decisions about where certain offices, rooms, storage spaces, and other areas will go. By pre-planning how your new office building will be set up, you can create a packing code (such as different colored dots or labels) that easily identify which boxes and furniture will go into what room.

Another great item to add to your checklist is the creation of moving teams. Make each team responsible for a certain part of the move (such as a computer team, a furniture team, a vendor team, etc.) so that nothing gets lost in the cracks. Consider having a team captain and make sure that each employee is aware of his or her responsibilities during the move.

The next item on your checklist is to create a labeling system. This system should includes packing codes that identify each area in the new building. It should be clear and easily identifiable. This will help your make sure your movers get everything to the right location within the office building. Make sure that all your technical wires and codes are also clearly labeled so that all your equipment can easily be set up in your new home.

Make sure you have contacted any vendors and utilities to schedule the cancellation or beginning of any services or deliveries. If you will be continuing business with them make sure they have the date of the move as well as the address of the new location.

A final recommendation for your checklist is the task of cleaning. Make the decision whether the cleaning will be done by your employees or by a cleaning crew and then make the necessary arrangements. Again, it is vital that everyone understands what is expected of him or her so that the moving process goes smoothly.

No matter if you are the owner of one or several guns, it is important to make sure that they are safely moved from one location to the next.

The first step is to make sure that your guns have been unloaded.  This is extremely important. All ammunition should be removed from the gun to ensure that no accidents happen during the moving process.

The second step is to make sure that your guns are properly wrapped and packed. Each gun should be wrapped individually to keep it from being damaged. If you have the original box and packing material that the gun came in, use those. If not, place the unloaded guns in a proper-sized box, one that fits snugly and securely. While you can pack more than one gun in a box, be careful that you do not make it too heavy.

Always label the box. Even if you do not want to label it with “firearms,” choose a code word that you will remember. Also mark it as fragile.

If your guns are located in a gun safe, then your biggest issue will be weight. The combined weight of the safe, the firearms, and the ammunition can be overwhelming. Make sure that you have a dolly on hand (with a safety strap to make sure the safe remains secure) or enlist the help of a moving professional to make sure that you don’t damage the safe or your back.

Once you are on the road, make sure that your guns are being transported according the laws of your state. You can read the laws for Utah on the website for the Department of Public Safety. Each state has different gun laws and if you will be passing through other states, you will need to learn and follow their regulations.

By following these simple guidelines you can make sure that all of your firearms and ammunition make it safely, and legally, to your new home.