9 Tips to Move with a Cat:

Moving with a cat can be difficult. They are very smart and curious creatures, but most importantly they are territorial. When you change the environment of your cat they become confused. You need to help them understand that the new territory is now their home, where they eat and get love and care. They need the time to become familiar with at least some of their new territory, and time to make to become comfortable before expanding it. If you simply bring your cat to your new home without taking the proper steps often they’ll often just run away in search of the territory that is familiar to them. Use the steps below to make sure they have as little stress as possible during the move. If you have a dog go check out these 7 tips for moving with a dog.

BEFORE THE MOVE

1. Allow your cat time to get used to the carrier.

Introduce your cat to her carrier by leaving it out so they can explore it. You want your cat to have a positive relationship with this carrier, so place a comfy bed inside and occasionally add some catnip or treats. Later, start feeding your cat in the carrier. If your cat is reluctant to enter the carrier to eat, start by just placing his dish next to it. After a few days, put the dish just inside the carrier, right near the opening. Then, over a week or two, gradually move the dish toward the back of the carrier so your cat has to step a little further inside each day. Eventually, place the dish at the very back of the carrier so your cat must go all the way into it to eat.

2. Keep your cat’s daily routine as consistent as possible.

Stick closely to her regular schedule for feeding, playtime and attention. A feeder with a timer can be helpful to make sure your cat eats at the same time each day.

3. Use anti-anxiety meds for skittish cats.

If your cat is very skittish, nervous or easily stressed, speak to your vet about using anti-anxiety medication to make the moving process easier on her.

MOVE DAY

4. Keep your cat in a closed room.

Movers will be going in and out of your house all day, to prevent your cat from dashing out the door while movers are moving your stuff, close her in a bathroom with food, water, a bed and a litter box. Place a sign on the door asking the movers to keep the door shut. Such as “DON’T OPEN! CAT INSIDE!” in large, red, clear writing.

5. Feed your cat a small breakfast on move day.

To reduce the changes of your cat having an upset stomach on move day only feed your cat a very small breakfast. Your cat might be a little hungry, but she will be fine and reduce the chance of your cat throwing up.

6. Don’t open your cat’s carrier in transit.

It is easy to want to help soothe your cat especially when your cat is meowing and scratching at her carrier. But, while in transit, resist the urge to open your cat’s carrier. No matter how well behaved your cat usually is, a scared cat may try to dash out. Only open the carrier in a secure area and when absolutely necessary. Also, carry a roll of packing tape in case the carrier needs some emergency repairs along the way.

AFTER THE MOVE

7. Cat-proof the new house.

Keep your cat safe by tucking away all electrical cords, arrange furniture in an open way to make sure cats can’t get stuck, ensure all windows have secure screens, remove all things that can be poisonous to your cat like certain houseplants and pest-control poison traps.

8. Keep your cat in one room.

Immediately take your cat to a room that will remain relatively quiet. Before opening the carrier, set up your cat’s food and water dishes, litter box and bed. Place some cat treats around the room to encourage your cat to explore. Keep your cat in this one “home-base” room for the first several days in the new house. This will allow your cat to gradually get used to the sights, sounds and smells of your new home without feeling overwhelmed. Keeping your cat in one room will also make it easy for her to find her litter box, food and water. Spend time with your cat in her home-base room, at first doing low-key activities like reading or watching TV. When she begins to explore, offer your cat attention, treats and playtime. When the majority of unpacking is over, gradually give your cat access to the rest of the house, one room at a time. If it’s not possible to close doors to limit his access, closely supervise your cat during short exploration sessions.

9. Slowly move the litter box to its permanent spot.

Provide a second litter box where you’ll want to keep one permanently. Keep the box available in the home-base room for at least a few weeks. Once your cat has settled in, you can remove that box. If you don’t want to spend money on an extra litter box, you can gradually transfer it to a preferable location. To make sure your cat doesn’t lose track of where it is, move the box just a foot or so away from the home-base room and toward your preferred location each day.

Fall Moving Tips: How to Keep Your Move Simple and Cheap:

You might think that the season during which you move makes much of a difference. However, from the type of weather you have to deal with to the holidays you may have to work around, when you move can have a big impact on the price and effort you have to put into your move. US News and World Report published an article featuring fall moving tips.

Tips for Keeping Your Move Simple and Cheap During the Fall

Fall is one of the best seasons to move. Summer tends to be the most popular season to move. However, that often makes it the most expensive season to move as well. Plus, moving in the summer means having to deal with the heat. Moving in the winter on the other hand is often cheaper than the other seasons. However, moving in the winter can result in having to deal with extremely cold weather and even snowy conditions. While it’s not quite as cheap as moving in the winter, moving in the fall is less expensive than moving in the summer. Plus, the weather is often not too hot or too cold. Below are a few tips to help make your fall move simple and cheap:

• Keep walkways clear – This is true for any season you move. You want to make sure that the paths where people are walking when they are carrying boxes and furniture are free of debris and slip and fall hazards. One slip and fall hazard specific to fall is fallen leaves. These can become especially dangerous if it has rained recently, because leaves become very slick following a rain.
• Packing – When you pack, make sure that you are organized. If you just randomly throw things in boxes, you can end up spending most of your time at your new place digging through box after box searching for items. Plus, if you pack the boxes properly, you can avoid having to use as many boxes during your move. Just make sure to pack like items, such as linens or kitchenware, together and label the boxes with what’s packed inside.
• Transportation – Since most people tend to move at the end of the month, that’s often when moving rates are highest. Therefore, when you schedule your move with a moving company, try to avoid scheduling it during that time.
• Plan ahead – Moving can become very chaotic very quickly if you are not careful. One thing you want to plan ahead for is making sure your utilities are set up for when you move in. Even though fall is not as cold as winter or hot as summer, you still do not want to move into your new place without having working electricity, water, A/C or heat.

As our name implies, no matter what reason you choose to move, All Reasons Moving & Storage is prepared to help make your move cost-efficient and smooth. Homeowners, renters and businesses in San Jose, California have counted on us to meet their moving and storage needs since 1991. Contact us today for a free quote.

Nine questions to ask your landlord before moving in:

This is a guest post from Rentalutions.com

There’s a lot on your mind when you’re preparing for a move, from what day you can move in to when you’ll receive your keys, where the moving truck can park, and more.

To ensure you’re as prepared as possible, and have as many moving day details to make it a stress-free and efficient day, it’s important to ask your landlord these nine questions ahead of time.

#1 What day can I move in?

It’s best to check with your landlord about what day you’re able to move in. That way, you are both on the same page and you can schedule professional movers ahead of time. It’s recommended to reach out and book your movers as soon as possible, even as early as one month out from the date you’d like to move.

#2 What will you do to prepare the unit before I move in?

Most landlords clean and re-paint in between tenants. We recommend finding out what your landlord plans on doing ahead of time, so you know what condition the place will be in when you move in.

#3 Were the locks changed?

In some locations, it’s a legal requirement for landlords to change the locks in between tenants. Even if it’s not a legal requirement, you can still request that your landlord changes the locks if you prefer.

#4 When will I get my keys?

Of course, you’ll need to know when you can pick up your keys to access your unit for move-in day! We recommend coordinating with your landlord to find out where and when you can pick up your keys. You may want to ask if there are other people who have a copy of the key, or access to your unit.

#5 What doors/elevators should I use? And where can I park my moving truck?

Your landlord will know the best place for your moving truck to be, whether it’s in an alley, on the street, or in a truck dock (at a larger building). You can also find out if there are service elevators for you to use. Be sure to make arrangements for parking and service elevators prior to your movers’ arrival.

#6 What do I do in the case of a lockout?

Before moving in, it’s best to know the lockout procedure. Is there an extra key on site in a lockbox? Is there a 24/7 emergency lockout company you should call? Your landlord will likely have a way for you to remedy the situation, and having this information may come in handy down the road.

#7 Is there a move-in checklist for me to complete?

It’s best practice to fill out a move-in checklist. You’ll mark any existing damage on move-in day. That way, when you move out, you can show the landlord that the damage was already there. This is helpful if you want to receive your full security deposit at the end of the lease.

You can also check to ensure you have all the proper moving essentials, here.

#8 How do I pay first month’s rent?

Typically, landlords expect first month’s rent before you move in. It’s usually a requirement before he or she will hand over a key to you. Make sure you know how to pay rent and when it’s due so you get your keys on time.

#9 What utilities am I responsible for?

You’ll want to set up your utilities before you move in. Gas, electricity, and internet are utilities you’ll want immediately. If you’re responsible for setting these up, your landlord should let you know which companies to reach out to. If not, we recommend asking your landlord for more information.

Next steps

You’ve asked your landlord these questions, and found out your move-in date, so the next step is setting up professional movers. TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® is here to help.

If you’d like to pay rent online, tell your landlord about Rentalutions. You can set up automatic payments, so you don’t have to remember each month. Learn more about Rentalutions below.

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At Rentalutions, our end-to-end software empowers tenants and landlords. As a tenant, you can complete a rental application, sign your lease online, pay rent online, and manage maintenance all in one place. Thousands of landlords and tenants across the country use our platform to streamline the rental process. Learn more here.