Moving Checklist
Get started early for a smooth move
8 weeks
- Contact your children´s current schools to notify them of the upcoming move and ask that they transfer records to the new school district.
- Get referrals from your current doctor, dentist, and vet to practitioners in the new town.
- Transfer prescriptions for medication to a pharmacy in the new town, or consider setting up an account with an online prescription service.
- Schedule appointments with movers to get in home estimates. Compare then decide which mover to hire.
7 weeks
- Contact service providers such as house cleaning, yard care, security, cable and utilities to cancel services.
- Contact utilities and service providers in the new location to establish new accounts.
- Call or contact all credit card companies, insurance providers, and other creditors to find out what lead time they require for change of address information so you don´t miss receiving statements and making payments on time.
6 weeks
- Plan a moving sale to avoid moving stuff you no longer need and never use. Downsizing? If you have a lot to dispose of, you might even want to consider an auction or estate sale run by estate sale professionals.
- Start sorting possessions: Keep, Sell, Give away, and Trash.
5 weeks
- If you are doing the packing yourself, assemble packing supplies. You´ll need boxes in a variety of sizes for different types of household goods, tape, and markers. If you´re considering packing boxes yourself, be sure to visit MoveOut.com.
- Establish a labeling or coding system for different types of possession, where they go, and a brief description of box contents.
- Start packing off season clothing,sports equipment, memorabilia, and holiday decorations. Label accordingly.
- Pack valuable possessions early and set aside where things won´t get stacked on top of them. You´ll pack more carefully earlier in the move and be more inclined to label these boxes more accurately. It also prevents especially important possessions from being accidentally damaged or broken during the upheaval of general packing.
4 weeks
- Hold moving sale. This can be painful. Get it out of the away as soon as possible.
- Contact a local charity to pick up the "Give Away" stuff. Don´t forget to get a receipt so you can deduct the contribution from your taxes.
- Continue packing. Do a little bit every day to avoid having to do it all at once the week before you actually move.
3 weeks
- Organize financial papers, valuable documents.
- Set up a place to save all receipts, contracts, and documentation related to your move.
- If you don´t already have a fireproof lockbox, purchase one to hold all your valuables while moving. It should be large enough to contain important papers like insurance, birth certificates, deeds, and wills as well as jewelry, video-taped inventories, or CDs with vital personal records. Keep this lockbox with you at all times. Never leave it in your car or hotel room. Hotels generally have a safe where they can store your lock box while you are a guest.
- Consult your accountant about moving-related deductions on your taxes, then save all receipts.
2 weeks
- If you haven´t already started to contact people and companies regarding your move, do this now. Go to the Post Office for change of address cards.
- If you want to have a party to celebrate your move or say good-bye to friends, send invitations out.
1 week
- Backup data files on your computer and store CD or disks in your lockbox.
- Assemble a vital supplies box for the move. Include flashlight, batteries, scissors, extra packing tape, snacks, personal items, medications, water, and anything else you won´t be able to live without until you get into your new home. In fact, make a package up for each member of the family including pets.
- Make a travel itinerary and final checklist. You may get rattled and have too much to remember and your checklists can help keep you focused.
- Give copies of your itinerary to family and friends so they can contact you if necessary.
Moving day
- Load the truck.
- Load the car if you´re driving.
- Check your checklist again.
- Before you leave, go through the house one more time and check all drawers and closets to make sure you didn´t miss anything.
Moving is a heck of a lot of work, but with a little planning and a handy checklist or two, you can get everything done and not go crazy in the process.
For moving assistance, contact Mover Connection .
