Hiring a Moving Company
Be cautious when selecting a moving company. Ask friends for referrals instead of relying solely on the phone book. Get at least three estimates, of which there are generally two types:
A binding estimate comes with a minimal fee. It details every service and price included in the move, and forbids the company from charging additional fees for any service or problem.
A non-binding estimate is often done with no charge to the prospective customer. Every item and service is written down in detail, with the price on each page. Do not sign this estimate until you understand it fully. After you have moved, keep the bill because you may need to use it for damage and loss claims. The final price can be up to 10 percent greater than the original estimate.
Let the movers do the packing. They are the experts who know how to deal with every packing need. And, take out liability insurance to cover
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the move. Take an inventory of your possessions before the movers arrive. You will be asked to sign documents certifying that you received everything in the same condition as when they were packed.
Depending on the size and extent of your move, you may want to call in that favor from a friend or relative who owns a pickup truck or trailer. If you’re looking to save money, doing it yourself is an option. You can also lease a cargo truck or trailer. It’s a good idea to call several rental truck companies for estimates. Most companies will charge a deposit and a fee based on the distance and number of days of the move. On top of those fees, you will most likely be charged a fee per mile traveled and costs for packing materials and accessories. Don’t forget the comprehensive liability insurance to cover the rental truck. It’s a small price to pay when driving a heavy, cargo-laden vehicle with which you’re unfamiliar driving. Moving Costs The actual transportation of your belongings will most likely pose the biggest drain on your budget. But you also should consider adding in the expenses of travel, food and lodging for you and your family, of selling your home, of searching for a new home, and of any temporary housing you might require while you wait to move into your new home. Save all receipts of expenditures related to your relocation, and speak with your tax accountant about possible deductions for which you may be eligible. Postal Services When you move, the local post office can provide you a change-of-address. The form will require your name, old and new addresses, and the date that the mail should start being forwarded. If you do not have a place to live yet, you can arrange for a short-term postal box for delivery of your mail. Don’t forget to notify magazine publishers, banks and others of your change of address.
When moving into a new home, contacting the electricity, gas and telephone companies is a necessity. Thumbing through a phone book to find the right utility takes time. Adding to the confusion, California residents are now given the opportunity to select which provider from which to order gas and electricity, as well as phone service. For hookups, the utilities generally require the address of your former service provider, a credit check, name of head of household, place of employment, driver’s license number, Social Security number and a contact phone number. Electricity: Because of deregulation, Southern California Edison Co. no longer owns and manages all functions of providing electricity to Antelope Valley residents. Edison is still the only electricity provider. Call Edison at 800/655-4555 to turn on or off electricity. The California Public Utilities Commission (800/253-0500) can provide you a list of electrical providers.
Telephone: In Lancaster, Quartz Hill and parts of Palmdale, Verizon is the company to contact at 800/483-4000 (residential) and 800/483-5000 (commercial). Two to three days notice is needed for connection; if workers must visit the site for installation, allow up to three weeks. Verizon also services the East Kern communities of Boron, Ridgecrest, California City and Edwards Air Force Base. Call 800/310-2355. SBC serves parts of Palmdale and the southeastern Antelope Valley. The company can be contacted at 800/310-2355 (residential) 800/750-2355 (business). Palmdale residents can obtain specific information about which phone company or other utility provider to contact for service by calling the city’s communications department at 661/267-5115. Some of the communities in East Kern are served by Contel, which can be reached at 800/827-2112. Since deregulation of the telephone industry, it pays to comparison shop for both local and long-distance service. For service, call 800/310-2355 (English and Spanish). Two to three days notice is needed for connection. If workers must visit your property for installation, allow up to two days for regular service and up to three weeks for DSL installation. Refuse Removal: Waste Management of Antelope Valley picks up trash in Lancaster, Palmdale and surrounding communities. For service call 661/947-7197. Dumping trash in the desert is illegal. Dumping is a misdemeanor, and violators may be sent to jail for dumping items that the collection services will not accept. Residents can take items such as appliances, furniture and building materials to one of two Waste Management landfills in the Antelope Valley. Chemicals and other hazardous materials may not be disposed at the landfills, but the cities of Lancaster and Palmdale have designated collections for hazardous materials at various times of the years. The landfills are located at 1200 West City Ranch Road in Palmdale and 600 East Ave. F in Lancaster.
The City of Palmdale requires each occupied residence to maintain weekly trash and recycling services. Weekly residential service consists of one 96-gallon trash cart and four trash bags (or two personal 32-gallon containers) and one 64-gallon green recycling cart or two 96-gallon carts and one 64-gallon green recycling cart (no extra bags or personal containers). Additional carts are available for weekly service for an additional monthly fee. One bundle of branches or cardboard boxes (3 feet in length and 18 inches in diameter) is equal to one bag of your weekly limit. Cardboard boxes filled with trash are not acceptable. All carts must be at curbside by 6 a.m. Waste Management’s Antelope Valley Recycling and Disposal Facility employs the latest advances in landfill technology. From selecting the landfill location to capping landfills that have been filled to capacity, every effort is made to ensure operational integrity as well as the safety of the surrounding ecosystems. As part of one of the largest network of landfills in the industry, Waste Management’s Antelope Valley Recycling and Disposal Facility utilizes state-of-the-art liners, leachate collection, groundwater monitoring and gas control systems, along with highly effective operational procedures to ensure a pristine environment. Designed and operated under highly regulated and prescribed procedures, the landfill is engineered to protect surface and groundwater through the highest environmental control. Waste Management opened its Operations and Maintenance Facility at the Antelope Valley Recycling & Disposal Facility at 1200 West City Ranch Road in Palmdale in 2004. The 18,800-square-foot building was constructed to help Waste Management more efficiently and effectively service its fleet of collection vehicles to better serve the Antelope Valley. Water: Antelope Valley residents receive their water from three sources: the California Aqueduct, Littlerock Dam and underground aquifers. The three purchasers of aqueduct water are the Antelope Valley East Kern Water Agency, which supplies treated water to more than 25 small districts, Palmdale Water District and Littlerock Creek Irrigation District. Residents of Lancaster and surrounding unincorporated areas receive their water from Los Angeles County Waterworks District (661/942-1157), Quartz Hill residents from the Quartz Hill Water District (661/943-3170), and several smaller districts. Palmdale Water District (661/947-4111) serves the community of Palmdale, and Littlerock Creek Irrigation District (661/944-2015 serves Littlerock residents. Rosamond Utilities — Rosamond Community Services District provides water, sewer, and street lighting services to that community. For information call 661/256-3411. Recycling In order to keep the Antelope Valley’s environment clean, residents are encouraged to practice regular recycling of aluminum cans, glass bottles, newspapers and other items. The trash-collection companies now supply curbside bins in which to place your recyclables. To reduce the amount of items in the landfills, you also may take aluminum cans, glass bottles, plastic bottles, newspaper, cardboard, and a large variety of metals to local recycling centers where you will be paid for your recyclables. Recycling Centers
Automobile Registration/Driver’s License Individuals relocating from out of state will need to know how to register their vehicle and to get a new driver’s license from the California Department of Motor Vehicles. For information visit or call your local DMV office, 1110 West Ave. I, Lancaster, 661/949-2424 and 2260-D East Palmdale Blvd., Palmdale, 661/273-0189. While driving tests are sometimes waived for out-of-state applicants, the DMV will require you to take a written test. To be prepared for the test, pick up a handbook about the California laws from the local DMV office. The day of your test appointment you must have your old driver’s license and may be asked to show your birth certificate also. After you pass the test to qualify for a California license, you will have to give your old license to the DMV. As new state residents, you have 20 days from the date of accepting California employment to register your vehicle by filling out an application with a DMV official. This process includes an official to inspection of your car to make sure the title document describes your vehicle. Then you must take your car for smog inspection and receive a certificate of smog compliance. Finally, you must show a proof-of-purchase of insurance, your last out-of-state registration card, and a valid California driver’s license. Your registration, which will be for one year from that date, must be renewed within 90 days of expiration. Banking To find the right new bank home, you should learn about what options would best suit your financial needs. Consider your banking habits. Do you use ATM or a teller to complete your transactions? Do you pay for utilities, food, and gas by check, cash or ATM? Do you have your paychecks deposited directly? All banks charge fees for services. Find out what services the banks offer in the area.
Your pets must be immunized and licensed with Los Angeles County Animal Care & Control. City ordinances require that when walking your pets, your pets have to be on a leash, and remember to bring a scoop and bag to remove any gifts that your pet may want to leave. Ask your local veterinarian about what vaccinations your pet will need. For complete information on laws concerning pets call the Animal Care & Control Office, 5210 West Avenue I, 661/940-4190, and the Spay and Neuter Clinic 661/940-4193. Plants Unless you simply cannot part with the plant that has sat in your living room for years, it’s advisable not to transport plants in a moving van. Some states have rules prohibiting the transport of certain plants across state lines, so it’s wise to consider giving plants to friends before you move. If you must take plants with you, remember that vans are not designed to transport them, and moving companies generally will not accept liability for their well-being. For short moves, plants are relatively safe inside a moving van—that is, of course, if the temperature outside is not extremely hot or cold. For moves that exceed 150 miles, it’s best to personally transport them in your car. Prepare your plant for a move by following these directions:
Source: Allied Van Lines
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Natural Gas: Southern California Gas serves Antelope Valley residents. To request a hookup, call 800/427-2200 (English) or 800/342-4545 (Spanish).
The City of Lancaster requires each occupied residence to maintain weekly trash and recycling services. Weekly residential service consists of one 96-gallon cart for household trash, one 64-gallon cart for green waste and one 64-gallon recycling cart. Additional carts are available for weekly service for an additional fee. Cardboard boxes filled with trash are not acceptable. All carts must be set at curbside by 6 a.m.
