Moving Checklist
Eight weeks before you move
- Start going through your positions and figure out what you are keeping, selling, and giving away. By knowing what you're taking with you, you'll get a more accurate estimate from movers.
- Begin to review movers based on recommendations from friends, the Better Business Bureau, AMSA, and favorable estimates. You should get at least three quotes from quality movers.
- Be sure to contact your homeowner insurance carrier to check your policy and find out the extent of your coverage during a move.
- Start looking for schools in your new neighborhood.
- Pick a school and have records transferred to the new school.
Six Weeks before the move
- Pick a mover
- Have the post office do an address forward, and set it so that you won't lose any important mail.
- You may want to send the new address to any companies that you have accounts with, as well as friends and family.
- Start researching doctors in the new neighborhood.
- Try to get a floor plan of your new home so you have an idea of how much room you will be working with. These may play a role in how many items you are able to take with you.
Four Weeks before you move
- Meet with mover and finalize paper work. Keep a record of all paperwork needed for the move.
- If you are doing all your own packing now is the time to get the moving supplies (boxes, tape, labels, etc.)
- If packing your own goods, start packing the items that you don't need on a daily basis.
- Cancel the news paper.
- Make sure your pet is current on all vaccinations.
- Start looking at transportation options for your pets and plants (most movers don't move them).
- Make a copy of all important papers. One copy will travel with you, and the other will go into storage (all originals will stay with you).
- If you are not driving, make travel plains.
Three Weeks before the move
- Have the utilities disconnected in your present home and connected in your new home.
- Pack all the clothing that you will not be wearing for the next 3 weeks.
- By now you should have a clear idea of what items you'll be leaving behind.
- Have a yard sale.
- Start taking an inventory of the items that need to be disposed of because they are too dangerous to be moved.
- Dispose of dangerous items (flammables are hazardous material).
Two weeks before the move
- Find a new home for plants.
- It's a good time to give away items that you were not able to get rid of in the yard sale.
- Have at least a two week supply of all medicines.
- Have prescriptions forwarded to your new pharmacy.
- If moving internationally, collect traveler's checks or have your currency exchanged.
One Week before the move
- Close out local bank accounts.
- Find a babysitter for moving day to keep your kids occupied.
- Have foods that require very little preparation.
- Pick a day to defrost your refrigerator; keep in mind that you need to make sure it's completely dry and clean before the move.
- Contact the moving company and make sure all arrangements have been made.
Moving day
- Give the moving company your new contact information.
- Read your moving contract carefully before you sign.
- Walk through your home to make sure nothing was left behind during the move.
Arrival day
- Check your inventory list to make sure you've received all your household goods.
- Be sure to check all items for damage.
- Report any damaged items to the moving company
