Moving Checklist

What to do before you move

• Sort through your belongings to reduce the number of things you move.
• Have a garage sale or donate items you no longer need to charity.
• Decide whether to move yourself or hire a professional. Get bids from professional mover. Tip: Call 3 companies for estimates to compare.
• Gather packing supplies: boxes, packing material, tape, felt markers & scissors.
• Transfer, sell or resign memberships in clubs and associations.
• Place legal, medical, financial, insurance and personal records in a safe and accessible location.
• Establish credit in your new city.
• If you are moving long distance, make travel arrangements with the airlines, hotel and rental car agency. If you’re driving to your new home, get maps and plan your travel route.
• Arrange for school authorities to transfer your children’s school records.
• Separate goods going into storage.
• Purchase insurance for valuables to be moved.

4-6 weeks before moving

• Start packing items that aren’t regularly used such as off-season clothes and decorations and items in storage areas. (Garage, attic and closets)
• Notify post office, utilities, professional services, insurance agencies, business government and public offices and magazine subscriptions.
• Make travel arrangements for your pets.
• If you’re driving, get your car tuned up.
• Obtain address of utility companies in new city. Utilities can sometimes be connected before you arrive.
• Use up supplies of household items.
• Back up important computer files to floppy disks or CD’s.
• Inventory what will go to determine the amount of valuation.

2-3 weeks before moving

• Confirm your pack dates with the moving company and supply destination phone numbers.
• Sign up for services and utilities at your new residence.
• Contact your long distance phone company and notify them of your move.
• Take pets to the veterinarian. Most states require health certificates and rabies vaccinations.
• Return library books and anything borrowed from friends and neighbors.
• Call friends and family and recruit help for the moving day if necessary.
• Confirm your travel arrangements.
• Arrange to close or transfer your bank account, if appropriate. Pick up items from safe deposit box.

1 week before move

• Pick up items from the cleaners, repair shops or friends.
• Pack a survival kit of clothes, medicines, special foods.
• Finish packing all boxes minus what you’ll need in the final week.
• Inform the Post Office of your upcoming move and new address.
• Plan on transportation for your pets.

Send Change of Address cards with your new address and phone number to:

• Friends and family.
• Banks, insurance companies, credit card companies and other financial institutions.
• Magazines and newspapers.
• Doctors, lawyers, accountant, realtor and other services providers.
• State and federal tax authorities and any other government agencies as needed.
• Workplace, schools and alma maters.
• Voter registration office and department of motor vehicles.

The Day Before

• Set aside moving materials, such as tape measure, pocket knife and rope.
• Pad corners and stairways of house.
• Lay down old sheets in the entry and hallways to protect floor coverings.
• Remove hanging fixtures.
• If moving yourself, pick up the rental truck and a hand truck or dolly to move heavy boxes.
• If you’re driving, check oil and gas in your car.
• If you’re traveling, make sure you have tickets, charge cards and other essentials.

Moving Day

Carry with you:

• The keys to your new house.
• Map of new town and directions to your new house.
• The telephone number of the moving company.
• Cash or travelers checks.
• Documentation related to the sale of your home.
• Your insurance policies and agent’s phone number.
• Your current address book or personal planner.
• Prescription and non-prescription medicines.
• Enough clothing to get by if the movers are late.
• Check closets, cabinets and storage lockers for articles overlooked.
• Have dishes washed and dried and unplug the TV so it is at room temperature when ready to be loaded on to truck.
• Any important personal records and documents.
• Any items of great personal value to you that are virtually irreplaceable (for example, a photo album).
• Back up copies of important computer files.
• Sheets and towels for the first night in your new home.
• Personal hygiene items (for example: toothpaste, soap, razor).

Arrival day

• Show movers where to place furniture and boxes.
• Check inventory to ensure that everything was delivered before signing delivery papers. Note any damages on the inventory sheet. Tip: It’s helpful to have the movers read off the inventory numbers on boxes and furniture while you check the inventory list.
• Unpack any valuable items, such as silver, art and jewelry upon arrival.

After the move

• Walk and drive around your neighborhood and community to orient yourself and your family.
• Get new drivers license, library cards, voter registration cards and bus passes.
• Register your children in school.