moving house

If you're planning to buy a house, rent a different apartment or relocate your family anytime soon, chances are you didn't think that moving could make you the victim of identity theft.

But during a move, homeowners and renters alike are particularly susceptible to identity theft -- a crime which is especially prevalent during the summer, since half of all moves in the United States take place between Memorial Day and Labor Day.

So in addition to packing and coordinating with the moving trucks, you also need to safeguard yourself from fraudsters.

"Regardless of what people say, you can't prevent ID theft. But you can be a lot more aware and take some strong precautions," says Steve Schwartz, executive vice president of consumer services for Intersections Inc., an identity protection company.

Schwartz provided a rundown of simple steps that you can take to minimize your risk of identity theft and maximize your safety and security before, during and after a move:

A single dollar can buy you this two-story, four bedroom 1926 Arts and Crafts-styled bungalow in Michigan. There's just one catch: it must be moved from its Detroit suburb to make room for a local park.

Moving this one-buck, fixer-upper is estimated to cost about $20,000. Add in renovations on the 2,110 square foot home, plus the cost of the land on which to place it, and it will likely cost more than last year's purchase price of $76,415..

If no one buys this Arts and Crafts-style home for $1 by May 31, 2010, it will be demolished. So what factors do you need to consider when uprooting and relocating a house?