Planning a Move
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1-2 months ahead of time:
- Start a binder to collect all information and materials regarding your move. Record phone conversations, phone calls, take notes. Save receipts.
- Begin packing. Start with rooms of the house you don't use as much. Pack seasonal or other items you will not need until after the move.
- Check your car registration and driver’s license with current state’s motor vehicle department – are they up to date?
- Contact medical providers, dentist, doctors and pharmacy that you will be moving. Get copies of medical records. Ask for referrals. Contact your health insurance company to find out which doctors they will cover in the new area.
- Create an inventory of expensive or important items in your home. Take photographs. Keep a running inventory as you pack. If something gets damaged or lost, this will be important information to have handy.
- Do a few things for fun in your old community before you leave. Visit the place you always wanted to, but haven’t yet. Visit your favorite restaurant or attraction.
- Find out about insurance to cover your items during the move – from your home owners policy, renters insurance, or from the moving company.
- Gather all important documents for the entire family – put in a safe place, such as a fire-safe box or briefcase. Keep these with you when you travel, do not send with movers. Be sure to include insurance documents, birth certificates, immunization records, IDs, marriage certificate, contracts, school records, financial records.
- Get estimates from moving companies. Or select a truck to rent, if moving on your own. Make reservations.
- Get your finances in order. Obtain a current credit report, make sure that it is accurate. This will be important if purchasing a home, or renting.
- If moving overseas – contact the consulate for paperwork requirements; make sure your passport is current; obtain a visa, if needed. Research driving laws. Obtain vaccination and medical records. Locate health insurance.
- If you have children, check out the schools, daycare, and activities in the new area. Determine the quality of the schools, compare options.
- If you have pets, check on vaccination or quarantine requirements.
- Make any returns to retail stores that you do not need.
- Make time to relax.
- Move unwanted items from storage, basement, shed, garage, attic and either sell, donate, give away or toss items. Consider using craigslist, e-bay, or a garage sale. Inventory items that are donated, and save receipts from donation centers for tax purposes.
- Notify auto insurance and home owner’s or renter’s insurance of your move.
- Obtains copies of prescriptions for medications, therapy, oxygen, medical equipment, eye glasses and copies of x-rays.
- Return all items that you have borrowed – items from friends/neighbors/family, movie rentals, library books, uniforms, sports equipment, school items.
2-4 weeks ahead of time:
- As you pay bills, change your address.
- Buy boxes, packing material, packing tape, permanent markers. Consider using strong plastic containers. Keep a log of all boxes – number the boxes, and record what room and contents are in each box.
- Call magazine subscriptions to change your address (these can not be forwarded in the mail).
- Cancel services, such as newspaper, memberships, milk delivery, subscriptions, local clubs, gym, sports teams, housekeepers, lawn service, snow removal service, bottled water, dry cleaning delivery, civic organizations, …
- Check into procedures in your new community for home-based businesses, licenses, and special laws
- Clean out drawers and closets.
- Collect everything that you have loaned out to other people.
- Contact attorney to discuss any legal matters associated with the move
- Continue to pack. Start with the rooms you don’t use daily. Then move into the other rooms, and start with items you don’t use daily. Pack the unessential items in the kitchen. Allow plenty of time to pack – it will take longer than you think it will. Recruit helpers.
- Create business cards with your new address, phone number, e-mail address. Hand out to friends, neighbors, business contacts, vendors, service providers.
- E-mail friends, family and business contacts about your move, and your new contact information.
- Fill out change-of-address forms with the IRS
- Fill out changes of address for creditors.
- Find homes for fish or other pets you can not take with you.
- Find homes for plants.
- Find storage for items you can not move right away, if needed.
- Get new home ready for move-in condition – carpenters, painters, roofers, plumbers, housekeepers.
- Get-together with close friends.
- Have valuables appraised – art, musical equipment, jewelry.
- If you are relocating for employment, ask employer to find out what moving expenses they will pay, and any special requirements or processes.
- If you have children, arrange for a babysitter on moving day.
- Inform key business and personal contacts of your new address.
- Locate a bank. Open an account.
- Make arrangements to move special or expensive items, such as pianos.
- Make time to relax.
- Pay bills, settle debts, get finances in order.
- Pets – arrange transportation to the new home. Contact veterinarian, ask for a referral, ask for copies of records.
- Quit ordering items on e-bay and other online & catalog sources – so that they do not arrive after you leave, or before you arrive at your new home.
- Record serial numbers for electronics
- Schedule play-dates with your children’s friends.
- Schools – if you have children, select a school, visit the school if possible, arrange to transfer transcripts, records and immunizations. Choose a start date, register for school.
- Set up dates for home services to be shut off or transferred to the new tenant – utilities, electrical, fuel, home phone, cable/Dish/television, water, trash.
- Set up mail forwarding to start when you leave.
- Use food and cleaning supplies that can not be moved.
1-2 weeks ahead of time:
- Arrange for help on moving day
- Arrange special transportation for plants that you are moving.
- Back up files on your computer before packing. Put a portable hard drive, CDs or jump drive with files in your briefcase, or somewhere safe, that you will carry with you when you move. Consider taking the computer with you, not on the moving van.
- Clean out and close safety deposit box.
- Clearly label boxes with “fragile” or “this end up”, contents, and the room it needs to end up in.
- Close any local financial accounts, if necessary.
- Confirm reservation with moving company or truck rental.
- Confirm reservations and travel plans.
- Contact utilities for your new home to set up accounts.
- Dismantle furniture, toys, equipment.
- Dispose of spray cans and combustibles.
- Do not plan on moving the following types of items on a moving truck. Make other arrangements to move, or donate. Anything that is corrosive, flammable, perishable or poisonous, such as: aerosol cans, ammunition, bleach, candles, cleaning chemicals, fire arms, firewood, food in glass jars, fuels, insecticides, matches, oils, paint thinners, paints, perishable goods, pets, plants, pressurized tanks, propane, varnishes.
- Donate perishable food and beverages to friends or shelter.
- Get cash out for tips.
- Have checks printed with your new address.
- Have your car serviced, oil changed, windshield wiper fluid & other fluids topped up, tires checked out, and overall check to make sure that it is safe to travel in.
- If you have gas powered equipment, be sure to drain gas before packing it up.
- Inventory furniture, appliances and other items for pre-existing damages, such as scratches or dents. Take photographs of big pieces.
- Learn more about your new community – visit local newspaper & television station’s web sites. Subscribe to newspaper.
- Leave your new address and phone number with the new tenants/owners of your home.
- Make a floor plan of your new home for furniture, appliances, exercise equipment and large personal items.
- Make reservations for a hotel room for the night before moving day.
- Make sure there are no outstanding checks from your bank account
- Make time to relax.
- Pack items for pets.
- Pack special items for children to keep with them.
- Pick up dry cleaning.
- Properly dispose any hazardous substances that you will not be moving.
- Refill all prescriptions.
- Request refunds if you have deposits with any utilities or services that you are canceling.
- Review previous to-do lists to make sure everything is completed.
- Take photos to remember your old home/community – inside each room of your home, outside your home, your yard, neighborhood, friends, family, school mates, co-workers, school, park, playground, place of employment, Church, grocery store, favorite store, movie theater.
- Turn in an official change of address through the United States Postal Service.
1-7 days ahead of time:
- Arrange a safe place for your pets to spend the moving day.
- Clean your home.
- Confirm that services at your new home will be ready to go – gas, electric, water, garbage, sewer, telephone, internet, cable.
- Defrost fridge and freezer.
- Do a test run to make sure everything will fit in your car that you plan to take with you.
- Figure out an easy meal plan for the final week.
- Give move details and travel schedule to a friend or family member. Check in with them as you travel.
- Leave important house items in one place for new tenant/owner – garage door opener, garage code, house plans, landscape plans, appliance manuals, broiler pans. Leave your new address and phone number. Consider leaving a phone book or other useful information.
- Move out any items that you do not want the movers to pack.
- Obtain cash, travelers checks, and money to pay the movers.
- Pack a few boxes of items that you will need first at your new home. Clearly write “load last” on the box, and set to the side. Include sheets, towels, scissors, change of clothes, paper products, telephone, extension cord, shower curtain, toilet paper, flashlight, can opener, cleaning supplies, baby supplies, pet supplies, hanging nails, hammer, box cutter, pen, paper, screw driver, garbage bags, local phone book, light bulbs, dish soap, dish towels, …
- Pack an essential trip kit, and keep with you – put aside so that the movers don’t pack it away. Decide which items you will carry with you. Include items such as: computer, paperwork, important documents, move details, maps, computer files, prescriptions, special items for children, scissors to unpack boxes, toiletries, clothing, snacks, beverages, note pad & pen, cards with your new address/phone, cell phone chargers, cash, checkbook, credit cards, personal address/phone book, identification, flashlight, keys, tools, paper products, towels, travel alarm clock, swim suits, over-the-counter medications (aspirin, allergy), first aid, games, contact lens solution, camera, expensive items, jewelry, family history items, photos albums. Consider also bringing the following items with you personally as you travel (even if you have duplicates in a “load last” box with the movers): bedding, telephone & cord, extension cord, shower curtain, toilet paper, flashlight, can opener, cleaning supplies, baby supplies, pet supplies, personal hygiene supplies, hanging nails, hammer, box cutter, pen, paper, screw driver, garbage bags, local phone book, light bulbs, dish soap, dish towel, …
- Pack items that you will need for the first 2 weeks after the move. Put in your car to take with you.
- Pick up dollies, furniture pads, and other moving equipment, as needed.
- Remove all really special keepsakes from home, and consider carrying with you (family history or photo albums).
- Remove all valuables from the home – such as jewelry, camera, …
- Tell employer about new address
Day of the move:
- Close windows, turn down heat, turn off lights, close blinds, lock all doors, and leave keys with agent, property manager or new owner.
- Do a final check and walk-through of the home.
- Do a final walk-through of old home, check all closets, drawers, cabinets, shed, yard, garage, basement, attic for left-behind items.
- Make sure the driver has the proper destination address and your phone numbers.
- Make sure you have the moving company’s phone numbers so that you can reach them during the move.
- Make time to relax.
- Send kids to a babysitter or friends home.
- Send pets to a neighbor or other safe place.
- Sign and approve the Bill of Lading.
- Spend the entire day with the movers, do not leave before they do. Oversee the move. Tell them about fragile items. Make sure they put the “load last” boxes in last.
At your new home:
- Arrange bank accounts.
- Ask post office or mail delivery person for any mail that has been held for your arrival.
- Before arriving – consider having carpets cleaned or replaced, walls painted, air ducts & vents cleaned, home professional cleaned.
- Change the garage codes.
- Change the locks.
- Check on service of gas, electricity, water, sewer, trash, telephone, internet, cable/television.
- Check out cellular phone service providers.
- Check pilot light on stove, furnace, hot water heater and furnace.
- Declare property with local tax assessor’s office
- E-mail friends, family and business contacts to let them know that you arrived at your new home, and again give contact information.
- Find a recreation center or health club/gym
- Get a new proof of auto insurance
- Go shopping for groceries for your home.
- Help pets to new area.
- Locate hospital, doctors, pharmacy, fire department, veterinarian
- Make any necessary changes on Will.
- Make contact with friends or other people you already knew in the area
- Make time to relax.
- Meet your neighbors.
- Notify insurance providers of new address – medical, homeowners, auto, fire, life, business.
- Obtain a new driver’s license, or change address.
- Put in new toilet seats (it will feel more like your own!)
- Register school-aged children in school.
- Register to vote.
- Register vehicles
- Request local telephone books.
- Send out moving announcements to friends, family, business associates, your Christmas card list.
- Set up appointments with new medical providers – primary care doctors, dentist, eye doctor, specialists, pharmacy, veterinarian
- Set up subscription to local newspaper – great way to learn about your new community!
- Supervise any unloading, packing or moving help.
- Visit the library
- Visit your new place of worship, meet the leaders and members, get phone numbers of leaders.