Moving Day: Angie's List advice on how to make it go without a hitch

Whether you decide to relocate across the street or across country, the process can leave you feeling stressed and harried. To ensure a smooth move, follow these tips.

• Avoid illegal migration. Believe it or not, there are movers operating without the proper licenses and insurance. Demand this information upfront, otherwise your green, orange and blue polka-dot ottoman could be in hot water with the fashion police AND the real authorities.
• Make sure you're connected. Exchange phone numbers and provide the movers with detailed directions for getting to your new abode. If you're moving to Washington state, be sure they don't get confused and take your bed to Washington, D.C. — otherwise you'll be sleepless in Seattle.
• Leave no room for guesstimating. Get at least three or four estimates from highly rated movers and compare the bids. Once you receive the estimates, keep them in a brightly colored folder so you don't accidentally pack them away with your old issues of Angie's List Magazine.
• Don't keep all your Faberge eggs in one basket. To be safe, keep valuables with you during a move. Check your homeowner's insurance to see if you're covered in the event something happens — you don't want high-priced egg all over your face.

Angie’s List is where thousands of consumers share their ratings and reviews on local contractors and companies in more than 500 different categories. Currently, more than 1 million consumers across the U.S. rely on Angie’s List to help them find the right contractor or company for the job they need done. Members have unlimited access to the list via Internet or phone; receive the award-winning Angie’s List magazine, which includes articles on home improvement and maintenance, consumer trends and scam alerts; and they can utilize the Angie’s List complaint resolution service. Get more information about Angie’s List at http://www.angieslist.com/ View the latest Angie's List News Releases in our Press Center and read Angie’s blog at http://www.angiehicksblog.com .

Join Angie’s List to find local contractors and doctor ratings

Expert advice to hire best contractors and doctors