HOME GETTING YOUR MOVE READY WITH BOUNCE ENERGY A SMOOTHER MOVING SEASON MOVING TIPS MOVE YOURSELF OR HIRE A MOVER LOOK INSIDE FOR VALUABLE DEALS! BOUNCE ENERGY ELECTRICITY SERVICE OTHER SERVICES FROM BOUNCE ENERGY MOVING CHECKLIST VALUABLE DEALS
A SMOOTHER MOVING SEASON Moving to a new home can create a love/hate situation. For most, there is an excitement about moving; the thrill of something new. But once the excitement wears off, you are left with the overwhelming realization of all the chores that lie ahead: the packing, unpacking and the actual move! At Bounce Energy, we know how stressful moving can be, so we ve put together the basic steps necessary to make the transition into your new home an easy one. In this moving book, you can find a moving checklist, moving and packing tips, and other resources to help your go as smoothly as possible. 2 BE Home, Getting Your Move Ready With Bounce Energy
MOVING TIPS One of the most stressful things about moving is not knowing where to begin. The process disrupts your normal schedule and can be a headache, but it s not impossible. Once you ve decided where and when you are going to move, it s time to get started. Having a plan and staying organized keeps the process smooth. In order to stay organized, we ve created pre-move, moving day, and post-move tips to help you throughout the moving process. These tips will help you remember the big and small details of moving. Pre-Moving Tips These tips give you a place to start. It s information on what needs to be done up to four to six weeks out. 1. Notify people and businesses of your new address. changemyhomeaddress.com makes this step easy and can be done with the click of a mouse. It s important to change your address with the post office with the appropriate amount of notice, because it can take 7-10 business days for your mail to start forwarding to your new address. 2. Notify businesses where you have personal accounts and/or services. This includes lawn services, banks, credit card companies, etc. Change your billing address for these sites to your new address. 3. Update your address with government offices. This includes offices like the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), voters registration office and the Social Security Administration. 4. Schedule the disconnection of your current utilities and the connection of utilities and home services for your new home. Try to arrange for the utilities to be kept in service for your current home through your moving day. We also recommend having utilities connected in your new home the day before you move so you know power will be present. Possible utilities to disconnect: Gas Water/Sewer Trash Telephone To keep things consistent, use this same list to connect new services to your new location. You can use our FREE Moving Concierge Service www.bounceenergy.com/move-concierge to order High Speed Internet, TV (Cable or Satellite), Home Phone, Warranties, Home Security, and Insurance all at the click of the mouse. For more information, read the Your Home Services section below. 5. Gather boxes and packing material. You can purchase moving boxes from office supply stores and moving companies. But a cheaper alternative would be to use office paper boxes, which you could get for FREE from your work place or other companies that do a lot of printing. As for packing material, newspaper is a cost effective item (if you already receive the paper) that can be wrapped around fragile items or packed around things. You can also use your free neighborhood papers. Bubble wrap and packing peanuts can be used to protect fragile items, as well. As an additional cost-saving measure, use your t-shirts or other clothing as packing material. Find additional pre-moving tips here. Cable/Satellite Internet Service Providers Home Security System BE Home, Getting Your Move Ready With Bounce Energy 3
Packing Tips Before you start packing, get organized. And with everything on your mind, it can be hard to remember all that needs to be done. Did you remember to disconnect your current utilities and reconnect your new utilities? Could you imagine moving in the height of summer, with no electricity for air conditioning and lights? That is where the moving checklist comes in handy. Just download the Bounce Energy moving checklist and have the info you ll need to get going. Once you re organized, start packing. But before you start throwing things in boxes, it s best to create a theme for each box for organization purposes. You can do this by creating a recordkeeping list. It may sound like a hassle, but once everything is packed and you have no idea where anything is, this list will be helpful. So for each box you pack, record the number for each box and the items inside. A friendly warning, be sure to write the number on the box as well or else you ve defeated the process. You can track this information in a spiral notebook or on an Excel spreadsheet. Personal note: it may be easier to keep track in an Excel spreadsheet so the list is saved to the computer and probably harder to lose in the move. If this sounds like too much work, then an easier alternative to stay organized is to color coordinate your boxes according to the room to which it belongs. Designate a different color for each room or area in the new home. For example, all blue stickers belong in the kitchen. Once in the new house and before the movers arrive, put a matching sticker on the door to each room. This will help the movers know which room is which. I would recommend applying the stickers on the boxes while you are packing. It is easier than trying to navigate through the tower of boxes that have accumulated once you are done. Moving Day Tips Whether you have hired a moving company or you re moving yourself, it s important to pack properly so your items arrive in the same state they left. This is especially true for items like your electronics and personal and sentimental items. When possible, pack electronics in their original cartons. If that isn t an option, then use proper packing materials. An inexpensive option is to use comforters and blankets to wrap around your stereo and computer equipment. When packing a computer monitor or a flat screen TV, it s OK to move lying flat. However, it s very important to keep the entire screen supported and cushioned in case of any sudden bumps. A safer way to transport would be standing on its side supported and protected on both sides so it can t be smashed by other furniture. 4 BE Home, Getting Your Move Ready With Bounce Energy
When moving valuable and irreplaceable items the best school of thought is to handle those items yourself, and don t take a chance with the movers. This includes possessions such as framed photos, art, silverware, or antiques. One thing to note: if you are packing framed pictures or art be sure to place sheets or blankets in between them for protection. In addition to the valuables, take any legal documents or important papers with you. These items include birth certificates, social security card, school records, recent bank records, and current bills. Basically, take anything with personal information on it with you. Once everything is packed, the last minute details are the hardest to remember. Leave your phone or cell phone plugged in all day during the move since you never know when you ll need it. Also, once everything is packed, be sure to check every room of the house to for anything left behind. Good places to check are closets, drawers, and cabinets. Here are few additional details to check: Furnace and HVAC system are shut off Windows are shut and locked Light switches are all turned off Since it will probably take a few days to get the majority of your boxes unpacked, be sure to pack a suitcase or box of essentials. We recommend using a suitcase because you have to move it anyway, and it s one less box you have to discard. Pack the first suitcase with personal items that you use on a daily basis: toiletries, medicines, undergarments, a change of clothes, towels, and sheets. Pack the second with household items that you may need on Day One such as toilet paper, a telephone (assuming it was connected beforehand), cell phone charger, paper plates, cups, paper towels, and cleaning supplies. Also, if there are multiple members in the household, save a suitcase for each person so they can fill it with their necessities. Find additional Moving Day tips here. Post-Moving Tips Once you ve moved to your new home, you may feel a sense of relief that is, until you realize all that you have left to do. Between the unpacking, arranging of furniture, and disposal of all packing materials, it s enough to keep you busy for days. That is where post -moving tips come in handy. Be sure to check that all utilities (electricity, gas, and water) have been connected. If you find yourself without electricity, call Bounce Energy to request a priority turn on. We can typically have your energy turned on within 48 business hours (in most areas in Texas), and even same-day in a lot of places. Also, if you aren t going to hook up your appliances yourself, remember to make an appointment with a qualified technician. If you used a moving service, always inspect all furniture and make note of any boxes and the contents within the boxes that are missing or damaged. Also keep all receipts and documents from your move in a safe place for future use when you file federal and state income taxes. Find additional post-move tips here. BE Home, Getting Your Move Ready With Bounce Energy 5
MOVE YOURSELF OR HIRE A MOVER Let s face it; there are thousands of moving companies out there. So, how do you know which ones to trust and choose? Can you be sure that everything is going to arrive in one piece? On the flip side, if you re thinking of moving yourself, you must determine if you have the necessary equipment and time to move your entire home yourself. Before you make a move (no pun intended), it s best to weigh the options between moving yourself vs. hiring a moving company to find which option is best for you. Option #1: Do-It-Yourself (DIY) If you are going to move yourself, you ll need to determine how you are going to transport your belongings. If you don t have access to a big truck, this means you ll need to rent one. The size of the truck depends on how much you are going to move, how far you are going to move, and how much time you have to do the job. Truck rentals are often the most inexpensive means for a long-distance move because you re paying a low fee for truck rental, basic insurance (optional), gas, mileage and a tow dolly if you re hauling a vehicle. Given these expenses, you can rent a truck including a dolly and move 850+ miles for under a $1,000. Any additional costs are entirely dependent on whether you ll need boxes, furniture pads and other moving accessories. In addition to cost savings, you ll have a bit more peace of mind knowing that you have full control over packing, loading and unloading of your belongings. You can move on your schedule, at your chosen pace, and with the freedom to extend the transition time if needed without worry over paying extra for storage costs. Option #2: Hiring a Professional Moving Company Leave the lifting, loading, unloading, and hauling to the professionals. Difficult maneuvers with heavy and awkwardly shaped furniture can be left to people trained and paid to handle such tasks, so you can concentrate on the many, many details of making your new home livable. You don t have to lift your boxes and furniture. Enough said. Hiring a mover means you can focus on the pre-move planning, move-day planning, house hunting, changing your address and so on, without also being responsible for all the packing, truck rental, loading, and unloading of the truck. If you choose Option #1, then finding a truck and possibly a storage rental can be difficult. At the Bounce Energy Move Center, you can request quotes for truck and storage rental companies in your area to narrow your search. If you go with Option #2 and use a professional moving company, the Bounce Energy Move Center has also made that process easier for you. Just fill out the form to the webpage and you ll receive quotes from cost effective, professional movers. These moving companies have been prescreened to make your selection process easier and quicker. Through its partnership with Relocation.com, Bounce Energy only provides mover quotes from companies committed to superior customer service and those with proper insurance and licensing. 6 BE Home, Getting Your Move Ready With Bounce Energy
BOUNCE ENERGY ELECTRICITY SERVICE If you are currently a Bounce Energy customer, you can easily transfer your electricity services to your new home. Forget the hassle of disconnecting and then reconnecting. Just log in at www.bounceenergy.com/moving/transfer, enter your new address with the start and end dates for service and then select your plan. When you transfer of service online, you will never waste time waiting on hold to speak to a representative. Also, transferring your energy services with Bounce Energy is not only super fast and easy, but it allows you to continue earning your rewards through the Bounce Energy Reward Program. You don t want to lose out on the months spent working up to 30 consecutive on-time bill payments (so you can earn your 3% bill discount as a Platinum Member) and all of the rewards you ll earn in between. If you aren t a Bounce Energy customer, but are looking to connect electricity for your new home, you can shop our plans and rates by visiting www.bounceenergy.com/texas/electricity-plans. Bounce Energy created an informative video titled What You Should Know Before Shopping for Electricity Rates to guide you through that process. The video breaks down different things to consider when choosing a new energy plan such as the different plan types, rewards programs, term lengths, early termination fees, green vs. non-green energy sources, and fees. Bounce Energy takes pride in creating unique plans especially for you at competitive rates. And if you want to create your own plan, we provide a Build Your Own Plan option so you can choose exactly what you want. ALSO FROM BOUNCE ENERGY There are many other benefits for signing up with Bounce Energy. Every customer who signs up for a residential electricity plan can choose one of our rewards options in our Rewards Program where you can earn gift cards, airline points, cash back, and more for on-time bill payments! Bounce also offers a Refer-a-Friend Program to help you save money. Once you become a Bounce Energy customer, you can refer your friends, colleagues, or anyone to Bounce Energy and get a $50 bill credit for each friend that becomes a Bounce customer. Your friend also gets a $50 bill credit too! Another reminder: it s important to disconnect your utilities and services to your current home because you definitely don t want to be paying for someone else s home service bills. Bounce Energy has made this process painless for you with our FREE Move Concierge service www.bounceenergy.com/move-concierge. One call does it all for Internet and TV setup, change of address, mover quotes and more. Just enter your home address and you ll see offers available for your location. Lastly visit the Bounce Energy Blog to keep up to date with news, articles, money saving and energy efficiency tips, special offers, rate updates and more. Happy Moving from Bounce Energy! Shop Bounce Energy s electricity plans today! BE Home, Getting Your Move Ready With Bounce Energy 7
BOUNCE ENERGY MOVING CHECKLIST Visit our move center at bounceenergy.com/moving Before You Move Collect Mover Quotes Decide on a Mover or Decide to Move Yourself Select a Mover Rent a Truck if You re Moving Yourself If Needed, Rent a Storage Facility Change Your Mailing Address Disconnect Your Old Utilities Electricity Natural Gas Water/Sewer Trash Home Phone Cable/Satellite High Speed Internet Connect Your New Utilities Order Electric Service at www.bounceenergy.com Natural Gas Water/Sewer Trash Home Phone Cable/Satellite High Speed Internet Notify Businesses and Professionals of Your Move Bank Pharmacy Credit Card Companies Doctors Insurance Agent Magazines Newspapers Gather Boxes for Packing Collect and Save Newspapers for Packing Add Your Own Items: Moving Day Complete Packing of Personal Items You Are Moving Yourself Like Flat Screen TVs and Computers Create a Just in Case Box That Includes Cash, First Aid Kit, Toilet Paper, Paper Plates, Snacks, Pet Food, Plastic Silverware, and Other Essentials On Your Old Home, Shut Off Your Water, AC, and Lock Your Windows Post Move Tips Inspect Your Belongings for Damage Post Move Visit the Local DMV to Update Your Driver s License Find the Closest Gas Stations Locate Your Grocery Store Need Other Products? HVAC Lineguard Security Add Your Own Items: GET BOUNCE ENERGY S ELECTRIC PLAN Created Just for Movers! The perfect electric plan for movers. Get more than just a low rate with additional moving needs like change of address, sign-up for do-not-call & do-notmail, and ID theft protection. Visit www.bouncenergy.com/moving for more information. 8 BE Home, Getting Your Move Ready With Bounce Energy
CRYSTAL CLEAR DIGITAL TV SERVICES ORDER TODAY! http://bit.ly/digitalcable Find & Compare Bundle Packages TO SAVE! High Speed Internet Crystal Clear Digital TV Home Services All On One Site! http://bit.ly/homeservicebundles GET CONNECTED to the WEB with High Speed Internet http://bit.ly/highspeedinernetconnect MOVING? Change Your USPS Mailing Address Online http://bener.gy/changemyhomeaddress Find Local Ratings On Who to Hire for All Your Home Projects http://bit.ly/angies_list Compare local storage providers and get $20 Cash Back when you book your storage with SpareFoot! http://bit.ly/sparefootstorage Protect Your Life, Home, and Automobile With Insurance Quotes from Bounce Energy Shop & Compare Deals on Home Phone Services http://bit.ly/insuranceprotection http://bit.ly/homephone Find Help for All Your Home Improvement Needs With a Home Contractor Protect Yourself with Security Plans from Protect America! http://bit.ly/ihomecontractors http://bener.gy/homesecurityquotes BE Home, Getting Your Move Ready With Bounce Energy 9
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