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From choosing your moving company to settling into
your new home, the following Moving Planner Checklist
guides you to make sure nothing is overlooked and everything
goes smoothly.
Starting early is helpful and will make the whole process
easier. However, if you started late, don’t worry,
we have provided you with many resources here to help
you get through it all quickly.
Six to Eight Weeks Before Your Move
- Choose a moving company (Click
here “How to choose a Moving Company”)
- Create a "Moving Planner Folder" file
using an organizer folder with pockets to keep track
of all your moving details and collect your receipts
for moving-related expenses.
- Start to use up things you can't move, such as frozen
foods and cleaning supplies.
- Learn about your new city and community (Click
here “Moving to a New City”)
- If you're moving at an employer's request, verify
your moving budget and your responsibilities.
- Obtain information about what moving expenses may
be tax-deductible.
- Make a list with three columns: items to leave behind,
items for moving company to move, and items you'll
move by yourself. For each item you are not going
to take with you, decide whether you'll sell it, give
it away to charity, or otherwise dispose of it before
your move. (Click
here “Inventory Wizard”)
- Make a list of everyone you need to notify about
your move: friends, professionals, creditors, subscriptions,
etc.
- Begin to enjoy the local paper in your new community
- Locate all motor vehicle registration and licensing
documents.
- If you will need to store some of your belongings,
make the necessary arrangements now. (Click
here “Find Storage”)
- Collect all your personal records (school, medical,
legal, and accounting). Ask for referrals where possible.
Five Weeks Before Your Move
- Submit a Change of Address form to the post office.
(Click
here “Change of Address”)
- Arrange special transportation for your pets and
plants.
- Arrange to Disconnect/Connect all utilities (gas,
electric, oil, water, telephone, cable TV, and trash
collection) at your old and new addresses. Keep phone
and utilities connected at your current home throughout
your moving day. (Click
here “Change Utilities Wizard”)
- Arrange for insurance coverage in your new home
(auto, homeowner's or renter's, medical, and life)
(Click
here “Insurance”)
- Plan a garage sale to sell unneeded items or arrange
to donate them to charity.
- If necessary make travel arrangements and reservations
for your moving trip.
- Collect important papers (insurance, will, deeds,
stock, etc.)
Four Weeks Before Your Move
- Create a floor plan of your new home and begin
thinking about where you'll want to place furniture.
Advance planning eases the stress of making major
decisions when your furniture arrives at your new
home. Mark and label specific pieces of furniture
on your diagram and put it in your Moving Planner
Folder.
- If you're moving out of or into a building with
elevators, contact the building management to schedule
use of the elevators and inquire about any other guidelines
that must be followed.
Three Weeks Before Your Move
- If you're packing yourself, ask your moving company
to deliver an assortment of boxes, this service should
be free and you should only have to pay for the boxes
you use. Start packing items you will not need to
use untill after your move. (Click
here “Packing and Supplies”)
- Have your automobile serviced if you're traveling
by car.
Two Weeks Before Your Move
- Contact your Moving Consultant to review and confirm
all arrangements for your move. (Click
here “Moving Consultants”)
- If you're doing your own packing, Start Packing.
Label the contents of all boxes and pack carefully.
Box essential items together and write "Open
First/Load Last" on these boxes. When you move
into your new home, you'll be able to easily identify
these boxes and find essential items. It's a good
idea to let a professional mover pack any fragile
and valuable items. That's what they do for a living
and they have proven methods for keeping your items
safe. (Click here
“How To Pack”)
- Arrange to close accounts at your local bank and
open accounts in your new locale.
- Don't forget to withdraw the contents of your safety
deposit box, pick up any dry cleaning, return library
books and rented videotapes, etc.
- Drain gas and oil from power equipment (lawn mowers,
snow blowers, etc.).
- Some state laws prohibit the moving of houseplants.
Consider giving your plants to a friend or local charity.
- Make sure to notify your Moving Consultant if you
add items to, or subtract items from, your planned
household goods shipment or if there are any changes
in the dates of your move.
One Week Before Your Move
- Check back through your Moving Planner Checklist
to make sure you haven't overlooked anything.
- Prepare specific directions to your destination
for your moving company. Make sure your Moving Consultant
knows the phone numbers where you can be reached until
you get into your new home. (Click
here “Destination Information”)
- Defrost your freezer and refrigerator. Block doors
open so they can't accidentally close on pets or children.
- Have your major appliances disconnected and prepared
for the move. (Again, your relocation consultant can
help with arrangements for a third party to provide
these services.)
- Prepare a "Trip Kit" for moving day. This
kit should contain the things you'll need while your
belongings are in transit. Make sure to load your
Trip Kit into your car to avoid it being loaded into
the van by mistake.
- Pack a box of personal items that will include all
your jewelry and small valuables. Take this box in
the car with you.
- Call ahead to confirm the utilities are connected
at your new home.
- Contact your Moving Consultant to confirm arrival
time of the moving van as well as to notify them of
any last minute details.
Moving Day
- Strip your beds, and make sure the bedding goes
into a "Load Last" box.
- Make sure that someone is at home to welcome your
movers and answer any questions. Your Van Foreman
should present you with a “Your Right and Responsibilities”
brochure. (Click here
“Right and Responsibilities”).
- It's important that an adult be authorized to take
your place if you are unable to be present at any
time while the movers are there. Let your Moving Consultant
know to whom you have given this authority. Be sure
that your chosen representative knows exactly what
to do. Remember - this person may be asked to sign
documents obligating you to charges.
- Accompany the Van Foreman as he or she inspects
and tags each piece of furniture with an identifying
number. These numbers, along with a detailed description
of your goods and their condition at the time of loading,
will appear on the inventory. Read your Bill of Lading
and Inventory carefully before you sign them. Keep
these -- and all related papers -- in a safe location
until all charges have been paid and all claims, if
any, have been settled.
- It is your responsibility to see that all of your
goods are loaded, so remain on the premises until
loading is completed.
Move In Day
- Review your floor plan to refresh your memory about
where you want furniture and appliances placed.
- Plan to be present when the moving van arrives.
Be prepared to pay the mover before unloading. Have
payment on hand for your moving charges. Unless other
billing arrangements were made in advance, payment
is required upon delivery in cash, traveler's checks,
money order or cashier's check. Moving Companies do
not accept personal checks.
- One person should check the inventory sheets as
items are unloaded. A second person should direct
the movers as to where to place items.
- Once all items are unloaded, unpack only what you
need for the first day or two. Focus on creating a
sense of home for your family. Give yourself at least
two weeks to unpack and organize your belongings.
- Contact your Moving Consultant and inform them of
the level of Quality and Service you received during
the moving process.
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