you for everyone , such as a dinner out or a cookout at your new place the next weekend . They deserve it .
Get Your New Place in Tip-top Shape
If you ' re moving to a rental or a fixer-upper , there might be some plans you have for your new place . Whether you hope to paint , do minor repairs , conduct extensive renovations or simply give the place a nice squeaky-clean shine , try to do so before you move in . Any projects you have planned will be easier and faster if they ' re completed before your boxes and furnishings arrive . If you don ' t have time to get in there yourself , consider hiring some help who can complete your tasks while you finish packing for the move . You ' ll have a much better chance of making your plans a reality .
Read Up on How to Drive a Rental Truck
If you ' re going to drive your own rental truck or van , read up on how to drive it before you get out on the road . There are several things to keep in mind when you ' re driving a truck : First , if you normally drive a sedan , the truck is going to be much wider than what you ' re used to driving . It ' s also heavier than a car , so it won ' t stop as quickly . Be sure there ' s more than one car length between your truck and the vehicle ahead of you at all times . Pay attention to road signs regarding trucks , never pass a vehicle moving more than 40 miles per hour and , unless you ' re particularly adept at using your side-view mirrors , avoid backing up as much as possible -- it ' s tricky .
Have Rugs , Drapes and Slipcovers Cleaned
Moving is the perfect occasion to have some things cleaned that tend to go without cleaning for long periods of time . For example , if your couch has a cover that can be removed , you can send that cover and the cushion slipcovers to the cleaners for a good washing . The same goes for your rugs ( depending on what they ' re made of ). Drapes , shower curtains and bed skirts are other fabric items that should be washed before they ' re moved . You don ' t want to bring dirty , dusty fabrics into your new home , so clean them before you move .
Purge
Do you have a plan for purging the pile of junk that has collected in your closets , garage and / or basement ? If your home is a landfill , then you may need to schedule when you ' ll address each pile of junk over the next few months before the move . Go through each pile more than once , setting aside the definite throwaways during the first sweep and the less obvious throwaways during the next couple of sweeps . Many of the items can be given away to charity . Go online to see what local charities you ' d like to support and figure out which ones will benefit most by what you have to donate . Don ' t forget to keep a record what you donate and get a receipt for your taxes . If you have more time on your hands , you can schedule a garage sale before your move .