Planning Your Move
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 “Save Money on 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. (Click
here “Moving Pets”)
- 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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