My Sons Moving Checklist
- Six to Eight Weeks Before Your Move
- Five Weeks Before Your Move
- Four Weeks Before Your Move
- Three Weeks Before Your Move
- Two Weeks Before Your Move
- One Weeks Before Your Move
- Move Day
- Move In Day
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 many resources here to
help you get through it quickly.
Six to Eight Weeks Before Your Move
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Collect all your personal records (school, medical, legal, and accounting). Ask for referrals where possible.
- 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”)
- 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.)
- 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.
- 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 until after your move.
- Have your automobile serviced if you're traveling by car.
- Contact your Moving Consultant
to review and confirm all arrangements for your move.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.