Pages

Friday, June 14, 2013

A Moving Checklist Is Important

By Clarissa Nolander


For both home and apartment moves, going to other provinces or cities, a moving checklist will make a move go much more smoothly and it will get rid of the headaches that many people have later when they find they have forgotten important details. It's no small task packing your things, deciding whether to rent a truck or hire a mover, and keeping the whole process organized.

Don't forget there is the matter of booking the moving elevator if you are in a high rise building as well. A security deposit is often required.

Have a look through everything you own in each room, and if there are things you no longer need, you can sell, recycle, or dispose of them if necessary. Extra insurance is good if you have some items that are particularly valuable, and these should be handled with extreme care with special packing techniques and supplies.

It's not easy, but getting rid of some things you may never need and clutter up your life is for the best. Books are pretty heavy, and if you don't plan on reading them again, why carry them? The more weight there is, the more it will end up costing.

Having a yard sale is a great way to get rid of things, and to get some money for them as well. Have a organized file with the pertinent information about the move. It's a good idea to buy a brightly colored organizer folder with pockets; you'll be less likely to misplace it. Receipts for expenses that are incurred during moving process should be saved.

Your prescription and shot information should be organized, and also your medical and dental records should be compiled. The neighborhood you may be moving to could be too far for your current doctor, so they might refer you to one that is closer to where you will be living. If your children need to change schools, have school records transferred to their new school district or daycare.

Order boxes and other supplies such as tape, bubble wrap, and permanent markers. Don't forget to order specialty containers, such as dish barrels or wardrobe boxes. Check out the different moving companies in your area. Compare prices and services from the different companies, don't just pick whoever you find first.

Keep in mind the floor plan of the home you are moving into. Know which room in your new place that your items will be going. In addition, you'll want to think about which things to unpack first, and which rooms take priority in setting up: you won't be able to unpack everything in a day. If you can, visit your new home and take measurements. This will help you to decide which of your belongings to bring with you and which to leave behind or sell.

A Closer Look At Home Insurance

By Theo Danier


For most people, their home is the most expensive item they own. When an unfortunate disaster happens, is your home protected from things like fire or earthquake? Have you gone over your home insurance policy lately? Each year, you should visit your insurance provider to make sure that your coverage is adequate. Many times, a homeowner has a different situation later than they did when they first got the policy, and each year it should be reviewed.

There are two main kinds of home insurance plans:

Named perils: These policies specify the types of loss you're protected against, such as fire, lightning, explosion, smoke, falling objects, impact by aircraft or land vehicle, riot, vandalism, some types of water damage, windstorm, hail, and theft. You are only protected from the types of loss and damage that is specifically named on your insurance policy.

Second is Comprehensive: What it means is that there are a few specific exceptions, but everything else is covered. Landslide, snow slides, and damages from war or terrorism are some of the things that usually are not included. Comprehensive insurance policies provide a homeowner with the highest level of protection, and should be the choice that people opt for.

There are a few crucial aspects of your policy that you should review:

Guaranteed building replacement: If you own a home, this coverage guarantees that your policy will pay to rebuild your home, even if it's over the policy limit. With market fluctuations, and catastrophic events such as wildfires and earthquakes, the cost to rebuild your home can increase dramatically from the amount you originally insured it for.

Earthquake damage insurance: Many policies will allow you to pay more and get additional earthquake coverage. The possibility of an earthquake is always present no matter where the home is located, so look into protection just in case.

Broad water damage protection: Traditional insurance companies usually include some form of water damage protection. Sewer backup is usually not included in this for example, but it can be included if the homeowner would like to add it to the policy.

Building bylaw coverage: In the event of a loss, your home must be rebuilt to comply with today's building codes and bylaws. Even if your home is only being partially reconstructed, the building regulations need to be taken into account since they have likely changed over the years. Unless this coverage is taken out, the costs from a rebuild such as this will have to be paid by the homeowners. Many people forget to get coverage such as this. The cost difference could be many thousands, that come out of the homeowner's pocket.