Countdown to a Successful Move...
We suggest you start the moving process at least four weeks before your scheduled move date. This should allow you plenty of time to address all the details that accompany relocation.
4 Weeks
- File a change of address form with the Post Office.
- Notify creditors, magazines, and book/music clubs of your new address.
- Retrieve family medical records and have doctors and dentists recommend colleagues in your new city.
- Decide which items can be sold, discarded, or donated to charity.
- Complete an inventory of your possessions, including date purchased and estimated value.
- Notify the local utilities at your origin/destination to have service turned off/on as needed.
- Notify your children's schools, your church, and other organizations of your upcoming move.
3 Weeks
- Decide which items you will be packing yourself.
- Sketch out a general floor plan of your new home to determine the placement of furnishings.
- List important names, addresses, and phone numbers, and be sure to take your phone book with you.
- Notify your mover if anything about your move has changed (dates, etc.).
- Make arrangements to move your pets and plants.
- Contact your bank and transfer the contents of any safety deposit boxes.
- Check your homeowner's policy to see if moving is covered by your insurer.
- Transfer insurance to cover fire, theft, and personal property at your new home.
2 Weeks
- Schedule moving services, reserve a rental truck, arrange auto transport, find storage, and so on, according to your needs.
- If using an auto transport or auto shipping service to ship your car, top off fluids like oil and antifreeze, but leave the gas tank less than half full.
- Plan your own trip to your new home and make the necessary travel arrangements for your family.
- Arrange for the proper servicing of all appliances at your origin and destination.
- Dispose of flammable items such as gasoline, matches, bleach, cleaning fluids, and aerosol cans.
- Discontinue regular services like newspaper delivery, trash pick-up, and lawn service.
- Finalize your plans for larger items (big screen TV, swing set, trampoline, etc.).
1 Week
- Arrange to pay your mover at your destination. Unless your move is being billed to your employer or previous credit approval has been secured, payment by cash, certified check, or money order is required before unloading.
- Transfer bank accounts so you don't lose any interest.
- Make arrangements to disconnect local phone service at your origin and connect it at your destination.
- Determine which items you will be taking with you (jewelry, etc.). Pack and set them aside in a designated area.
- Use up all frozen foods or give them away.
- Drain the fuel from lawnmowers and other gas-powered equipment.
1 Day Before
- Pack a couple of boxes with things you'll need as soon as you arrive at your new home. Take these boxes with you, or have your mover load them last and unload them first.
- This is usually the day packing is done. Verify that all packing services have been performed before signing for your boxes, furniture, and other belongings.
- Defrost, clean, and dry your refrigerator.
Moving Day
- Plan to be at your current home when the moving truck driver arrives and throughout the loading of your shipment. If you're not able to be there, make sure the driver has the name and number of the person you've designated to oversee the process.
- Check the condition of your goods as they are inventoried and loaded.
- Take a final tour of your home/property and verify that nothing has been overlooked.
- Sign the bill of lading, double-checking that your new address and phone number are correct.
- Lock all doors and windows and turn off all switches.
Moving In
- If possible, arrive at your new home a day early to make sure utilities are connected.
- Plan the placement of major items in and around your home.
- Be on hand to pay the moving truck driver prior to the unloading of your goods.
Moving Advice & Tools
There’s more to relocating than finding a moving service, rental truck, or storage. Our moving advice and tools can help!
