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Your Personal Moving Guide

      Moving does not have to be nor should it be a dreaded experience.   There are many details that are required to make your move as hassle-free as possible regardless of the distance that you must travel. The Havens Charleston Real Estate team is experienced and available to help guide you with every detail of your upcoming move.   Planning in advance is KEY to keeping things progressing smoothly.  Keeping an orderly list of action items with an ongoing status checklist will be a big part of making this process as easy as possible.  Give yourself sufficient time to research companies, equipment, supplies, insurance and the costs associated with each.  Obtain a few different quotes and competitive pricing keeping in mind that you might not want to always choose the least expensive option.  The old saying, "you get what you pay for" has some truth in it and could make the difference between a smooth move and a completely stress-filled experience.
The Better Business Bureau (www.bbb.com) provides ratings, contact numbers and customer satisfaction and/or complaint reports on most current businesses which can help you tremendously when trying to decide who to hire.  Taking the time to research this information can prove to be an invaluable tool for you prior to signing non-refundable contracts.  Below our some  suggestions that the Havens Charleston Real Estate team have provided for your information which you may wish to research further as you begin the exciting journey toward moving into your new home!

Moving Supplies
    Here's a pretty complete list of what you will need: Boxes, boxes and more boxes, packing tape, permanent markers (to label each box), packing paper (it's better than newspaper because it doesn't rub off on your items or your hands), bubble wrap, loose cardboard corrugated pieces (to help prevent breakage from fragile items bumping each other during transport).

Online ordering is one of your best resources for a complete selection of most of the materials you will need.  There are a tremendous array of companies you can find that will offer you "package deals" complete with varying box sizes and shapes, packing tape, black markers and large wardrobes.  We have used similar services numerous times ourselves and have been very pleased with the hassle-free results.  These moving supply companies are very helpful in advising you how many boxes you need based on the size home you are moving from.  Everything from specific kitchen boxes to standard packing items can easily be ordered and delivered to your current home within days.   Just type "moving supplies" in your search engine for a complete list of the current companies that provide these services.

Local Charleston Utilities
  As you near the date of your move, you will want to contact the utility companies to ensure all services, billing and contact information is transferred to your name appropriately prior to your arrival.  Take the time to call each of these business at least 2 weeks prior to your move-in-date to confirm that your "turn-on" service will be active once you are there.  Cable companies, for example, require advance notice in the event they must send a technician to your home to activate or install service jacks.  After you have completed a final walk thru of your new home, you may realize additional telephone jacks are necessary.  You will want to schedule these services well in advance of your move-in date to ensure the service is completed before you have arrived.  Here is a list of some of the utilities in the Charleston area for your convenience:

POWER COMPANIES

SCE&G - serving the Downtown Charleston, James Island, Folly Beach, West Ashley, Mt Pleasant  Sullivan's Island and IOP areas.    24-hour toll-free number: 1-800 251-7234.  Mailing address: SCE&G, Columbia, SC 29218.  Website: www.sceg.com

Berkeley Electric Cooperative- serving John's Island, Seabrook Island, Kiawah Island, Wadmalaw Island areas.  843-559-2458.  Mailing Address: 3351 Maybank Highway, PO Box 128, John's Island, SC 29455.  Website: www.becsc.com

WATER COMPANIES

Charleston Public Water (CPW) - serving the Downtown Charleston, James Island, Folly Beach, West Ashley areas.  843-727-6800.  Mailing address: 103 St. Philip St., Charleston, SC 29403.  Website: www.charlestoncpw.com

Charleston Waterworks - serving Mt Pleasant.  843-88-9626.  Mailing address:  1619 Rifle Range Rd., Mt Pleasant, SC 29464.  Website: www.mountpleasantwaterworks.com

Sullivan's Island Water Department - serving Sullivan's Island.  843-883-3947. Mailing address: 2051 Gull Dr. Sullivan's Island, SC 29482.  Website: www.sullivansisland-sc.com

Isle of Palms Water and Sewer - serving the Isle of Palms.  843-886-6148.  Mailing address: 1300 Palm Blvd. Isle of Palms, SC 29451.  Website: www.iop.net

CABLE and PHONE COMPANIES (please check your area for available service provider)

Comcast - Toll-free#: 1-800-577-3592.  Website: www.comcast.usdirect.com

Knology - 843-225-1012.  Mailing address: 4506 Dorchester Rd. North Charleston, SC 29405.  Website: www.knonolgy.com

BellSouth - 1-888-757-6500. Website: www.bellsouth.com

Storage Units
  Storage units are a great option for items that you may choose not to use in your new home right away or simply for use as safe, protected additional storage space. They are plentiful in the Charleston metro area and prices are usually comparable dependent on size, length of contract and temperature-controlled requirements.  Varying levels of insurance are also available to provide you with a sense of security for your valuable belongings.

Charleston Public Storage - 1-877-788-2028

Units - 843-216-8262

PODS - 1-866-229-4120

Area Hotels
  There is a slight possibility that at some point you may have the opportunity or even the necessity to stay in a hotel for a short time until you can move into your new home.  If this is the case, we at Havens Charleston Real Estate want to help you select the accommodations that best suit your needs. There are a variety of hotels, motels and bed & breakfasts in the downtown Charleston and surrounding areas that can offer the perfect option during this interim period.

*****5 Star Hotels*****

The Market Pavillion Hotel - 1-877-440-2250.  225 East Bay St., Charleston, SC 29401.  Website: www.marketpavilion.com

Planters Inn - 1-800-845-7082.  112 N. Market St. Charleston, SC 29401. Website: www.plantersinn.com

Charleston Place Hotel - 1-800-611-5545.  205 Meeting St., Charleston, SC 29401.  Website: www.charlestonplace.com

The Sanctuary (at Kiawah Island) - 1-877-683-1234.  12 Kiawah Beach Dr., Kiawah Island, SC 29455.  Website: www.kiawahresort.com

***3 Star Hotels ***

Charleston Harbor Resort and Marina - 843-856-0028.  20 Patriots Point Rd. Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464. 

Shem Creek Inn - 843-881-1000.  1401 Shrimp Boat Lane, Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464. 

Residence Inn by Marriott - 843-881-1599.  1116 IOP Connector, Mt Pleasant, SC 29464

Local Food Delivery
  With all the running around, packing, unpacking, decorating, installing, etc that you will be doing during your move, cooking is probably the last thing on your mind.  No problem!  Havens Charleston Real Estate has come to the rescue providing you with some local order-out restaurants so that dinner can be delivered right to your door.   Bon Appetite!

For a comprehensive listing of restaurants in the Charleston vicinity, please visit www.charlestoncocktail.com for a better idea of which restaurants offer delivery service depending on where you are.

HAVENS
CHARLESTON REAL ESTATE
Toll Free: 1-877-623-1055
T(843) 697-5065 -or- (843) 830-2733
fax: (843) 762-3135

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