Getting ready to move to La Plata

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scotchtape

New Member
Well, it is getting down to the wire, and I am getting ready to move my family from coastal California to La Plata, Md--and planning on being there July 1st. It is stressful to say the least, especially since I have not been--and will not be--able to fly out beforehand to scout a rental. A board member, rhenderson, has been astoundingly helpful and generous in this regard, doing walkthroughs and drive-by's to help me find an adequate place. (I'm brainstorming in the back of my mind how I can repay him!)

So i booked space on a Broadway Express truck, which on other boards came highly recommended. So far, the company has been super easy to work with and very helpful. I will load the truck, they will pack, and then me and my brother-in-law will drive the car across the country, while my wife and baby stay at my in-laws and fly out later. A hundred different things to organization and plan--plus I am still at my soon-to-be old job and we are finishing a HUGE project just as I am leaving, most of which I am managing. I've worked on it for 3.5 years, and I'm just about sick of it, so I am excited to be finally done with it. Unfortunately there will not be much time between its end and when I need to start packing the house up.

So, does anyone have any last-minute advice on moving, and settling in So. MD?
 
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S

scotchtape

New Member
aps45819 said:
The MD registratio fee for a car from out of state is 6% of the blue book
Don't buy a new car before you come here.
Click to expand...

Just the kind of advice I needed! Was thinking about it, but I think i will stick with our 10-year clunker for now.... worth about $1200 blue book.
 
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rhenderson

Guest
Don't worry about repaying the yo-yo henderson. Just pass it on to someone else down the road!

There is lady moving to Lexington Park on another thread - hopefully somebody will PM her and give her the same help. It doesn't take a lot to be a lot of help.
 
BOP

BOP

Well-Known Member
scotchtape said:
Just the kind of advice I needed! Was thinking about it, but I think i will stick with our 10-year clunker for now.... worth about $1200 blue book.
Click to expand...

Mrs BOP and I sold our vehicles before we left California. Annapolis and north, or Virginia are good places to look for cars, because the dealers really think a lot of their cars down here.

Be ready to provide DMV proof of insurance at least once a year for a good three years, because they tend to lose said proof of insurance. Usually, a phone call to your carrier (we have GEICO) will do the trick.
 
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Aa3rt

Member
Scotchtape-I don't know if you're buying or renting* but a couple of tips from this 30+ year La Plata resident...

1. Local mail delivery can sometimes leave a bit to be desired. You may want to check with your neighbors. Personally I've maintained a post office box almost the entire time I've lived here.

2. Water/sewer/trash & recycling pickup comes in one quarterly bill. Of course pickup days for trash & recycling will depend on your neighborhood. You can most likely get the information you need by checking with La Plata Town Hall (301-934-8421) or by checking the town website:

Town of La Plata website

La Plata, although growing rapidly, still tries to maintain a "small town" feel. There are Friday night concerts at the town hall (On La Grange Avenue) during the summer and they also show movies on some Saturday nights. You can sign up for email to be sent from the town to advise you of coming events.

La Plata also sends out a bi-monthly newsletter to all residents.

Politically the town is divided into 4 wards. There are four councilpersons and a mayor. Town meetings are open to the public. The next town elections are scheduled to be held in 2013.

3. If your home is heated with fuel oil or propane, check your fuel level (If you're purchasing a home this should be covered during closing.) and contact one of the local home heating oil providers to set up an account. I realize the first day of summer is this coming Monday and the fall/winter heating season seems like it will be a long way off. Better to be prepared now rather than wait for the first cold snap in the fall to find out that your fuel tank is empty.

Any other things you'd care to know about?

*=Oops, I just reread your first post and saw that you're renting. :doh:
 
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