A Moving Checklist:

A Moving Checklist

August 21, 2014

Moving is stressful! It is also a very exciting and exhausting experience.  There are many things you can do ahead of time to make your  big day is a lot less stressful. Check out this plan ahead strategy:

Two Months Before

SORT AND DISCARD:  Go through every room of your house and decide what you’d like to keep and what you can get rid of. Think about whether any items will require special packing or extra insurance coverage.
MOVING COMPANY OPTIONS:  Do not rely on a quote over the phone; request an on-site estimate. Get an estimate in writing from each company, and make sure it has a USDOT (U.S. Department of Transportation) number on it.
MOVING NOTEBOOK:  Use this notebook to keep track of everything—all your estimates, your receipts, and an inventory of all the items you’re moving.
ORGANIZE SCHOOL RECORDS:   Go to your children’s school and arrange for their records to be transferred to their new school district.

Six Weeks Before:

PACKING SUPPLIES:  Get boxes and other supplies such as tape, Bubble Wrap, and permanent markers. Don’t forget to order specialty boxes
USE IT OR LOSE IT: Start using up things that you don’t want to move, like frozen or perishable foods and cleaning supplies.
MEASURE NEW SPACE:  Check room dimensions at your new home, if possible, and make sure larger pieces of furniture will fit through the door.

One Month Before

FINALIZE MOVERS: Choose your mover and confirm the arrangements.  Select a company and get written confirmation of your moving date, costs, and other details.
LET THE PACKING BEGIN: Start packing the things that you use most infrequently, such as the waffle iron and croquet set. While packing, note items of special value that might require additional insurance from your moving company. Make sure to declare, in writing, any items valued over $100 per pound, such as a computer.
LABEL EVERYTHING:  Clearly label and number each box with its contents and the room it’s destined for. This will help you to keep an inventory of your belongings. Pack and label “essentials” boxes of items you’ll need right away.
VALUABLES:   Add items such as jewelry and important files to a safe box that you’ll personally transport to your new home. Make sure to put the mover’s estimate in this box. You’ll need it for reference on moving day.
TELL THEM YOU’RE MOVING  Send out a fun change of address to friends and family…and don’t forget to tell the USPS that you are moving with a formal change of address – this can be completed online at www.usps.com  Also don’t forget the alerting your banks, brokerage firms, your employer’s human resources department, magazine and newspapers  you subscribe to, and credit card, insurance, and utility companies that you are moving.

Two Weeks Before:
TAKE THE DAY OFF WORK:  Arrange to be off from work on moving day.
Notify your office that you plan to supervise the move and therefore need the day off.
IF MOVING OUT OF STATE, don’t forget your safe deposit box!  Clean out your safe-deposit box.If you’ll be changing banks, remove the contents of your safe-deposit box and put them in the safe box that you’ll take with you on moving day.
CHECK WITH MOVERS:  Contact the moving company.  Reconfirm the arrangements.

One Week Before:
PRESCRIPTIONS:  Refill prescriptions.  Stock up on prescriptions you’ll need during the next couple of weeks.
SUITCASE TIME!:  Pack your suitcases…plan to pack suitcases for everyone in the family with enough clothes to wear for a few days.

A Few Days Before
DEFROST: the freezer and if your refrigerator is moving with you, make sure to empty, clean, and defrost it at least 24 hours before moving day.
ONCE AGAIN, CHECK IN WITH MOVERS:  Double-check the details and confirm the moving company’s arrival time and other specifics and make sure you have prepared exact, written directions to your new home for the staff. Include contact information, such as your cell phone number.  Plan for the payment.

Enjoy the move….you’re on a new adventure!!