Moving Checklist
Use this handy checklist to plan your move.
By FrontDoor.com | Published: 11/01/2007
Two months before the move:
- If you are being transferred by work, understand your company's moving policy.
- Pare down -- use up, sell, recycle or donate anything you don't want to move. Make it a family project.
- Make a moving folder or booklet -- include an inventory of your household items with a video or photos.
- Have any especially valuable items appraised.
- Get estimates from 3 to 5 moving companies.
- Make travel arrangements.
- Notify each child's school, request records be sent to their new school.
- Make copies of medical records for family, arrange for new doctors to receive records.
- Talk to insurance agent about any changes to policies.
- Encourage children to make an address book of friends.
- Most movers won't move plants, so give away houseplants or make other arrangements.
- Notify lawn or pool services as well as any ongoing service.
- Plan for utilities to be disconnected and new services turned on.
- Gather boxes and packing supplies.
- Make a packing plan -- assign everyone a task and involve the kids.
- Make a plan for keeping pets safe and out of the way for moving day.
- Research restaurants, grocery stores and hotels close to your new home online. Keep this information in your moving folder.
- Make an unpacking plan for the new home -- who does what and diagram where the furniture goes (the movers will not rearrange your furniture for you, so think this through).
- Make an appointment with a service technician to prep appliances for moving, if necessary.
- Pick a staging room and if you're packing yourself, start filling and labeling those boxes.
- Confirm travel arrangements, utilities, moving date.
- Arrange for payment for movers, a $20-25 cash tip per mover is usual.
- Type up directions to new home for movers, make sure they have all contact information.
- Fill out a change of address form at the post office.
- Notify clubs, organizations, magazines, friends, family, banks and credit cards of new address.
- Cancel newspaper.
- Notify new and old employers of new address.
- Obtain health certificates for any pets.
- Pack suitcases, toiletries, medical and financial records, jewelry or anything irreplaceable that will go with you.
- Have drapes and rugs cleaned and leave wrapped for move.
- Discuss contingency plan for the movers running late. Where will you sleep?
- Dispose of paint, oil, and weed killers. Drain fuel out of mowers. Discard propane tanks from grills.
- Unplug any electronic devices 24 hours before moving (except plasma TVs) to let them cool down to room temperature.
- Make sure your cell phones are fully charged so that the movers can reach you.
- Pack and label an "open first" box with clean linens, toilet paper, soap, paper towels, shower curtain, a basic tool kit and other immediate necessities.
- Make sure all your belongings are loaded, then make a final tour of the house to look for forgotten items or damage.
- Check the inventory list and sign it. Put your copy in your moving folder.
- Read the Bill of Lading carefully and sign it, if it is correct.
- Make sure you have the moving companies contact information with you in your moving folder.
Keywords: home, real estate, moving, checklist, tips, organization, utilities, packing supplies, pets, houseplants, furniture
