Category Archives: Moving Tips

Things No One Tells You About Moving Close to the Water

In the US, there are millions of beachfront homes. We definitely understand the appeal of living by the sea. The quiet crash of the waves upon the sound is a sweeter sound than many symphonies, and there is nothing quite like the sight of the sun rising over the sea. That being said, there are a few things that you need to know about owning a home on (or near) the water.

You May Not Have Exclusive Access to the Beach

Property is nine-tenths of the law, as the old saying goes. Property law in regard to beachfront homes is sometimes hard to disentangle. According to the State Constitution of Florida, all beaches below the ‘mean high-water line’, otherwise known as wet sand, are public. Court cases have established the right of the public to use the dry sand when the public has been using a beach for the past 20 years without objection from the landowners, or through customary use, which is to say the peaceful, ‘ancient’, use of the beach by the public.

In the case Stop the Beach Renourishment vs. Florida Dept. of Environmental Protection, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled that when the government replaces eroded beach, the public owns the beach. Essentially, there is no right for waterfront property to contact the water.

Hurricane Season Comes Once a Year

People have many misconceptions about hurricanes. Everyone sees the massive storm on television. When they do broadcasts about the storm, they emphasize the heavy winds. Actually, the most damaging part of the storm is the storm surge. This is the massive tide of water that the storm pushes up the beach. A storm surge can cause flooding.

It is a good idea to know what to do before a hurricane hits. Having supplies on hand and knowing how to secure your home is paramount. A check of your home for leaks before hurricane season starts is a good idea. Sand dunes and stilts also go a long way towards protecting your home.

The Elements Are Not Always in Your Favor

There is nothing quite like the crisp smell of the salt breeze. However, as you sit out on the patio sipping a drink, your home is taking abuse. The salt winds bring crystals to the flashing and other exposed metal, which does not lead to good conclusions. Similarly, windows need to be cleaned pretty often. Electrical wires corrode very quickly, so make sure you have moisture-proof coating.

Natural Landscaping is the Best

Nature gives us many resources. The resources most applicable here will not only beautify your home, but will protect you. Saltbushes will provide a natural windbreak for you. Succulents firm up the ground, and provide a little green. Keep in mind that the plants will be in direct sunlight a lot, will face a lot of wind, and are salt-tolerant.

Generally, we find that the pros far outweigh the cons when it comes to living on the beachfront. After all, it is incredibly common down here in South Florida. When you want to move to a beachfront home, call us. Joe’s Moving is your local Miami movers. You will be grooving with Joe’s moving.

5 Tips for Moving in the Summer

Summer is the ideal time for moving. The kids are out of school, everyone is at the beach, and the highways are as clear as they are ever going to get. If you want to move over the summer, we can help in more ways than one. As part of our commitment to you, we have provided a few handy tips to help make your summer move as stress-free as possible.

The Early Bird Gets the Worm

The sun’s rays are most intense between 11 AM and 3 PM. Temperatures climb up to a boiling point, and people who are outside at this time are vulnerable to ultraviolet rays. Moving is a laborious process, and you do not want to pack, lift, and move all your boxes when it is most difficult. It is a good idea to get everything done before noon. Holding off until later in the day is also a good idea.

Don’t Let Anything Melt with You

Scented candles are a wonderful way to make your room smell nice, and they are a terrible way to ruin all of the other items in a box. Air circulation in a moving van is poor, so ensure that anything that can melt is air conditioned, or at least isolated. DVDs and CDs may warp and wither under the intense heat, so make sure to keep these cool as well.

Everybody’s Moving on the Weekend

Generally, weekends and days at the end of the month are the most popular times for a move. Moving companies are very busy, so you would do yourself quite a few favors by scheduling your move for the middle of the week. Also, make sure to check in with your moving company before the move, to ensure that they are keeping track of everything.

Planning for the Dog Days of Summer

You need to make plans for yourself, your family, and also your pets. Cats, dogs, and any other pets are at risk of overheating during a summer move. Making sure they do not get out or otherwise interrupting your move is also vital for the process. We recommend letting a friend watch them for a day, or getting a kennel or cage for them. Whatever you do, make sure they are cool and have enough water to keep them happy.

Turn on Utilities before You Move

Picture this: you have baked in the hot sun all day, corralling kids and pets alike while crossing a vast distance. Then you get to your new house, shining and glimmering and absolutely broiling because there is no AC yet. If that does not appeal to you, ensure that everything is up and operational before you get there. Remember, you are going to have to unload and put all your stuff inside once you arrive, and there is no need for you to sweat your guts out.

If you have any questions about moving any time of the year, do not hesitate to call us. Our professional, courteous, and qualified staff are happy to assist you with any moving related issues you might have. The situation is always improving with Joe’s Moving.

Storage Tips for Long Distance Moving

We here at Joe’s Moving understand that moving is vast distances is quite difficult, so we have provided some guidelines to help get you started with the move. Very few people know the ins and outs of long distance moving, and knowing this will give you a huge leg up in a stressful time in your life. It is important to recognize that going long ways is considerably different from going short ways, but you can do a few things to make sure that you are in the best possible place.

1.Organization is key

You are going to want to transition to life in your new city as soon as possible, which means you have to know where everything is. In turn, this means that it is wise to label all of your boxes as clearly as you can. There are a few different ways you can do this, and you should do this in a way that is best for you. For example, you can put your pots, pans, and other items you will need as soon as you arrive in a box marked Day One. Or, you could mark various boxes with the rooms they go in. The most popular iteration of this tip is marking what is in all the packings.

2. Nothing you can eat or drink

This one may seem a little bit odd. After all, you have your pots and pans with you, so it may seem intuitive to bring along your food. However, there are many things that can go wrong. For instance, furniture can fall over and nail the box with beans in it, crushing and opening the can and causing you lentils to leak out. In some cases, food can attract vermin to your belongings, which is not good for anyone. Liquids are less problematic, but are rarely worth the risk. If you do bring them, ensure that the lids are properly secured.

3. You are in it for the long haul

It is easy to miss the forest for all the trees as you take your possessions across the country. As experienced movers, we recommend you get high-quality boxes that can deal with the wear and tear that occurs on the road. Your possessions are going to move around, so make sure that all of your boxes are filled to the brim, and that nothing is loose.

4. Be prepared

As you pack and prepare yourself for a long journey, you should take care of your things, but you should also take care of yourself. Make sure to eat a hearty meal the day before, and get all the rest you need. There are certain items you will need during and immediately after the trip, and you should bring these items with you in a backpack. If you need to call someone when you arrive, bring a charger, and if you think your kids will make a mess in the back seat, bring paper towels. Do an oil check, acquire jumper cables, check your wiper blades, and give yourself some peace of mind.

Joe’s Moving has a tremendous amount of experience with helping people move. If you want to go ready, set, done, give us a call and we will make the whole process easy. At Joe’s Moving, we will have you grooving.

6 Tips to Make Moving with Kids Less Stressful

Moving is stressful enough when it is just you and perhaps the spouse. However, for children who are still in school, moving can be a very stressful experience. There are several reasons for this, but keep in mind that their world is being changed perhaps radically because of the move itself. However, there are some things that you can do to help alleviate at least some of the stress.

Let Everyone Know Early About Your Move

Hold a family meeting and let everyone know about the move that is taking place, the reasons for it, and what to expect. By letting everyone know and keeping them informed, it takes away the stress of the unknown. Kids feel better when they are told what is going to happen, what they should expect, and how they should feel about this change in your lives.

Plan Your Move in the Summer if Possible

The biggest stress that kids will face is moving to a new school system. If you can, try to time your move during the summer so that the stress is greatly reduced. If that is not possible, try for the Winter or Spring break so that they have a little time to adjust. Keep in mind that they may need to catch-up on their new schoolwork, so try to time your move with that in mind.

Assign The Kids Tasks

Considering that many five-year-old kids are better at finding things on the internet that you are, you can assign them specific tasks to help you in the moving process. From finding temporary places to live to getting their room ready for the move, when you assign them a task it will help focus their mind on something to do rather than worry about what will happen.

Include Them in the Process

When you are closing on a new home, bring them along. Include them in the process as much as you can so that it sinks in about the changes that will be made. This will help them make the adjustment better so that they undergo less stress during this time.

Throw a Party

In the days before you move, throw a party and invite all the children that your kids know and play with so they have at least one more visit before they leave. Call it a “See You Soon” party and not a “Goodbye” one because depending on where you move, your children might see them again. By saying “See You Soon”, it takes away the stress that they might never see them again while looking forward to making new friends after you move.

Make it a Fun Road Trip

On the way to your new destination, if you are moving a considerable distance away, find some fun place to go and make it epic. By making your move more of an adventure where you and your family can see new sights, it will help your children better cope with the changes that are happening.

While you may not take away all the stress that they feel, you can reduce it for them along with you and your spouse.

If you are moving to the Miami or South Florida region, we can help! Contact us today for your moving needs. 1-305-888-3963

What You Should Know About Changing Your Address When Moving

What Should You Know About Changing Your Address

When moving to a new location, changing your address may seem like a minor one. The truth is that changing address is rather minor if you do it early and right so that everyone stays informed. Otherwise, you might wind up with some serious issues in terms of receiving bills or important information in the mail.

The good news about changing your address is that you can take care of it quickly if you do a little advance work.

Verify Your New Address

The first step is to verify the new address that you will be living at least a month in advance if possible. The more advance time, the better as the mail will shift over to the new location. Also, remember to add the full zip code which is the five standard numbers plus that additional four which will ensure that your mail arrives faster.

Create a List

Take a few minutes to look over all your incoming mail and create a list of what needs to be forwarded. Your list may include the following;

Magazines, Newspapers, Clubs, & Associations
Employer, Government Offices, Doctors, & Dentists
Family, Friends, & Associates
Bills
Banks

It’s best to create your list early, then look over the incoming mail for the next couple of weeks to see if you missed anyone.

Understand the Timeframe

In other words, know about how long it will take moving from your old address before settling into the new one. You do not need to know the exact day, but hitting it within a week or two is a good idea if you want all your mail to be properly forwarded.

Change with the Post Office

The first place you should make the change is with the Post Office. They can redirect your mail to the new location so that it can be delivered. You can make the changes with the Post Office over the internet using a valid email address along with the billing address of your credit or debit card which is your old location. You may have to pay a $1 verification fee, but it is the fastest way to change your address.

Keep in mind that your mail will be forwarded by the Post Office for up to 12 months with magazines and newspapers being just 60 days. You can also change your address online.

Two Weeks Notification

With the exception of the Post Office, which should be notified as soon as you can verify your new address and about a month ahead of moving, you should notify everyone else about two weeks ahead of time. That way, you can ensure that your paychecks, W-2 forms, and all other important mail will be heading to your new home.

It’s easier to cover everyone in terms of changing your address by starting as soon as you can. There will always be those who may not get your new address, but the Post Office will catch many of them when you forward your mail. So, start early and take a few minutes to ensure that as many people, businesses, and organizations that send you mail are covered.

Make Money with Your Move! – Tax Deduction Tips

Under certain conditions, your move may be covered as a tax-deductible expense by the IRS. While there are certain qualifications, you can make money if your move meets the guidelines as set out by the federal government.

The good news is that the moving deduction does not need to be itemized in terms of the expenses incurred. Plus, there is no limit to the amount you can deduct if it meets the requirements. However, the move does have to meet the standards as set out by the Internal Revenue Service.

Job-Related

The move must be related to your job in some fashion so that it qualifies for a tax-deduction. This means that you will need to start a new job and work a minimum of 39 weeks in the first year to qualify. An exception would be if you started working your new job before the rest of your family moved to the new location. The reasons may include your child finishing up school in the old location or a spouse receiving medical attention. In any event, if you meet these special circumstances, then you can count the time you spent at your new job before the rest of your family moved.

Distance

First and foremost, unless your new place of employment is at least 50 miles away from the old one, then you cannot use your move to qualify as a tax-deduction. Plus, you must keep in mind that it’s the location of your home and not just the job. For example, if you lived 10 miles away from your old job, your new job must be at least 60 miles away from your old home to qualify for the deduction.

This means that you do not necessarily have to move 50 miles to a new home, but that the relationship between your old and new job location must be at least that distance relative to your old home. If you are in the US military, you can claim moving expenses regardless of the distance or employment concerns.

Additional Expenses

Any expense that is a necessary part of your move may be included in your tax-deduction. Such expenses include, but are not limited to the following;

Gas
Renting Trucks
Short Term Storage
Purchasing Boxes
Lodging or Hotel for Long Moves
Parking Fees and Tolls

Any reasonable transportation cost should be included in your deduction and should be added to the total amount.

Form 3903

This is the form you will need to complete if you are deducting moving expenses from your taxes. The form itself is laid out well so you can organize your deductions easily.

Line 1: Shipping & Storage
Line 2: Travel, Gas, & Lodging
Line 4: Reimbursement from Employer

* Keep in mind that if the reimbursement from your employer exceeds the total amount of your expenses, then you cannot deduct it from your taxes. Plus, the amount that the employer overpaid in terms of reimbursement must be considered taxable income.