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Moving tips
before you leave your present address
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Eight weeks
before
- Remove unnecessary items from your attic,
basement, storage shed, etc. Use things you
can't move, such as frozen foods and cleaning
supplies.
- Obtain information about your new
community.
- Secure a floor plan of your new residence
and decide what household items you want to
keep.
- Start a possessions inventory.
- Solicit estimates from at least three
moving companies.
- Call your homeowners insurance agent to
find out to what degree your move is covered.
- Create a file for documenting all moving
papers and receipts.
- Arrange to transfer your children's school
records.
Six weeks before
- Contact the IRS and/or your CPA for
tax-deductible information.
- Evaluate your possessions inventory. Can
you donate anything? Do you need it all?
- Notify your friends, relatives,
professionals, creditors, subscriptions, etc.
- Subscribe to a local paper in your new
community and familiarize yourself with local
government, community and social news and
activities.
- Begin the off-site storage process (if
applicable).
- Locate high-quality health-care
professionals and hospitals in your new
location.
- Complete post-office change of address
cards for the following: banks; charge cards;
religious organizations; doctors/dentist;
relatives and friends; income tax
bureau/Social Security Administration/union;
insurance broker/lawyer/CPA/ stockbroker;
magazines; post office; and schools.
- Clean your closets.
- Hold a moving/garage sale or donate items
to charities.
- Choose a mover. Contact your mover to make
arrangements and inquire about insurance
coverage.
- If relocating due to a job, contact your
employer to see what costs, if any, they will
cover.
Four weeks before
- Start packing!
- Send furniture, drapes and carpets for
repair/cleaning as needed.
- Gather auto licensing and registration
documents, medical, dental and school records,
birth certificates, wills, deeds, stock and
other financial documentation, etc.
- Contact gas, electric, oil, water,
telephone, cable TV and trash collection
companies for service disconnect /connect at
your old and new addresses. Also ask for and
ask for final readings.
- Request refunds on unused homeowner's
insurance, security deposit with landlord, and
prepaid cable service.
- Notify your gardener, snow removal service
and pool service (if applicable).
- Contact insurance companies (auto,
homeowner's, medical and life) to arrange for
coverage in your new home.
Three weeks before
- Make your travel plans.
- Arrange to close current bank accounts and
open accounts in your new locale (if
necessary).
- Notify your state's motor vehicle bureau
of your new address.
- Arrange for childcare on moving day.
Two weeks before
- Arrange special transport for your pets
and plants.
- Service your car for the trip.
- Contact your moving company and review
arrangements for your move.
One week before
- Prepare detailed directions and an
itinerary with emergency numbers for your
moving company.
- Settle outstanding bills with local
retailers. Pick up dry cleaning, and return
library books and rented videotapes.
- Take pets to the veterinarian and get
copies of their records.
- Drain gas and oil from power equipment.
- Give away plants not being moved.
- Cancel newspaper delivery.
- Buy two-weeks worth of medication and have
your prescriptions forwarded to your new
pharmacy.
- Buy traveler's checks.
- Make arrangements to pay for your move.
Two to three days before
- If you're not doing it yourself, have your
mover pack.
- Defrost refrigerators and freezers.
- Consider gathering all valuables and
giving them to family or friends to hold until
the move is completed.
- Disconnect all major appliances.
- Contact your moving company for any
updates.
- Pack first-night items and a survival kit.
Keep them in separate boxes in your car. First
night items may include: sheets, towels,
toiletries, phone, alarm clock, change of
clothes and flashlight
- Mover's survival kit may include:
scissors, utility knife, coffee cups, instant
coffee/tea or a coffee maker, water and soft
drinks, snacks, paper plates, plastic
utensils, paper towels, toilet paper, soap,
pencils and paper, local phone book, masking
and/or duct tape, trash bags, shelf liner and
aspirin or ibuprofen.
Moving day
- Be home to answer any questions your mover
may have.
- Record all utility meter readings (gas,
electric and water).
- Stay until your movers are finished.
- Complete information on the bill and
carefully read the document and the inventory
sheet before signing it.
- Keep your copies of the bill and inventory
until your possessions are delivered, the
charges are paid and any claims are settled.
- Take one final look around to see if you
forgot anything.
- Give movers the directions to your new
home, and an emergency number where you can be
reached during the move.
At destination
- Unpack first-night items and mover's
survival kit.
- Be at the destination to welcome the
movers and be on hand to answer any questions.
- After the job is completed, pay what is
owed. The driver is obligated by law (a
federal requirement for interstate moves) to
collect payment upon delivery.
- Scrutinize the unloading of your items and
account for each one on your inventory sheet.
Check promptly and carefully for any damaged
or missing items.
- Place moving and other important documents
in a safe place.
- Go to the post office and collect held
mail.
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