MOVING CHECKLIST Two Months Before Create a file for moving records. Sort through household items. Plan moving methods & get estimates. Research storage facilities Check if your employer provides moving benefits. Make necessary home repairs As you continue in the moving process store inventory list, receipts, & estimates in this file. Decide what to keep or get rid of in each room. Consider which items will require special packing or insurance Will you use a rental truck or hire movers? Also research how to move sensitive items like plants, pets or valuables. Go beyond the computer screen. Look at rental units in person to ensure they are the right size, secure, etc. If your employer does offer moving benefits, get a written explanation of what those funds can be used on. If renting review the contract & see what you are required to fix before leaving. No point in doing unnecessary work!
Six Weeks Before Get rid of unwanted household items Hold a garage sale, donate, sell or trash unwanted items. Schedule disconnection & connection of utilities. This includes: phone, internet, cable, water, garbage, gas, electric. Collect & transfer important records. This includes: medical, dental, school, etc. Return any items that aren t yours. Acquire packing materials. Get the whole family to check for itemes that have been borrowed, checked-out, or rented. This includes: boxes, tape, padding, markers, etc. Keep the receipts if your employer provides moving benefits. Start using items you don t want to move. Start clearing out the freezer, pantry and cleaning supplies Plan the furniture arrangement in your new home. Check room dimension & use a floor plan to ensure your current furniture will fit in your new home. One Month Before Finalize your moving method. Begin packing non-essential items. Create an inventory list of items & box contents. Fill out a change of address form & notify important parties of your new address. Cancel auto pay plans & local accounts. Select a moving company or rental truck & get written confirmation of your moving date, costs & other details. This includes: rarely used kitchen appliances, sports equipment, etc. Be sure to label boxes by room / content. Note all items but particularly those of value, including serial numbers & estimated value. Fill out a change of address at the post office or the USPS website. Inform family, friends, employer, bank, insurance, etc. This includes auto utility payments, local newspapers subscriptions, watery delivery, house cleaning, lawn service, etc.
Collect items you have lent out. If you ve let neighbors borrow your hedge clippers, now is the time to retrieve them. Take your vehicle for a tune-up. This step is very important if your move requires traveling. Two Weeks Before Complete all paperwork. Empty your safe deposit box. Reconfirm your moving plan. Schedule a sitter for moving day. This includes any paperwork needed for your old & new home. Remember to keep copies of these items in your moving file. You will need to empty your safe deposit box if you re changing banks. Pack these items in a safe box you will take with you. Call the moving company & ensure you have all the necessary paperwork stored safely in your moving file. Having a sitter on moving day ensures you are focused on getting all your belongings to your new home. Request off from work. Supervising the move is an all day ordeal. Continue packing and clean as you go. Most contracts require you to leave the home clean for the next residents. Cleaning as you pack makes it easier. Review furniture for any damages Be sure to note any damages in your inventory list. One Week Before Take furniture apart if necessary Clearly label & store the pieces needed for putting your furniture back together. Get rid of flammables. Pack items that will be needed immediately after moving. Check with your moving company to see what requirements they have for moving items like paint, propane, & gasoline. Pack a suitcase with clothes, personal items & another box with essential tools (screwdrivers, wrench, pliers, tape, etc).
Make sure all prescriptions are filled. This is a good time to also ensure that your prescriptions have been sent to your new pharmacy. Make a Plan of Action for moving day. Mentally walk through moving day & ensure everyone involved knows the plan. A Few Days Before Defrost your freezer & clean the fridge. Set aside boxes / items you are moving yourself. Prepare for the moving expenses. Pack a bag for the trip. If your fridge is moving with you, be sure to give your freezer at least 24 hours to fully defrost. Keeping these boxes separated will ensure that they aren t mistakenly packed on the moving truck. Be prepared to spend money on food, gas (if you re traveling long distance), lodging and tips for movers. Be sure to include water, snacks, pen, paper, moving binder & other essentials for the drive. Moving Day! Remove bedding & take apart beds. Pick up the moving truck. Ensure that you store the pieces needed for putting your bed back together safely and label them clearly. If you are renting a moving truck make sure to get it as early as your contract allows. Instruct movers/helpers upon arrival. Walk movers through the house to inform them of what to do. Final check before moving truck leaves. Leave contact info for new residents. Walk through the house looking for items left behind. Take inventory before movers leave & ensure they have your new address. Also leave a note asking for them to forward any mail addressed to you.
Lock windows & doors, turn off lights. Put the padlock on the rental truck. Verify utilities work in your new home. Direct movers where to put things. Be sure to leave any keys spare keys necessary for opening the doors or windows. Make sure you have the key stored somewhere you can get to it quickly. If they do not work, call the utility and make note of your interaction so you aren t charged for services you didn t receive. This is much easier if things are clearly labeled. Begin unpacking. Start with the essentials like the kitchen and bathroom. 1-2 Weeks After Moving Inspect your new home. Replace locks & make copies of keys. Confirm that your mail is arriving. Update your renters or homeowners insurance. Note all damages. Take pictures if necessary. If you are renting, make sure you are allowed to make copies of your keys or request copies Make sure you re receiving mail from: Banks, Credit Cards, Insurance, Loans, family & friends, etc. Use the inventory created while packing to update your insurance. Update your home inventory. If anything was lost or broken during the move update your home inventory.