Moving is one of the most stressful events in your life. However, it doesn't have to be. The key to a stress-free move is to plan ahead. As soon as you know you are moving, start writing lists and preparing for each stage of your move. Below are some links and information to get you on your way. Hope you find them helpful.
Protect Your Move Our mission is to decrease moving fraud by providing consumers with the knowledge and resources to plan a successful move.
Moving Checklist - Six to Eight Weeks Before Moving Day
Call your Moving Company. Set a date to have your moving company come and prepare an estimate. Get it in writing and be sure everything is included.
Four to Six Weeks Before Moving Day
Put in a change of address with the post office. You can do this on-line at the United States Postal Service Web site.
Prepare a list of friends, relatives, business firms and others to notify of your move. Here are some to help you get started.
Utilities
Personal Accounts
Electric Company
Pharmacy
Gas Company
Dry Cleaner
Water Company
Lawn Service
Telephone
Bank/Finance Companies
Newspaper
Credit Card Companies
Trash
Laundry Service
Cable/Satellite
Auto Finance Company
Sewer District
Insurance Company
Doctor(s)
Dentist
Magazines
Accountant
Newsletters
Lawyer
Professional Journals
Broker
Government Offices
Department of Motor Vehicles
Social Security Administration
State/Federal Tax Bureaus
City/County Tax Assessor
Veterans Administration
Have a "garage sale" or post on Craig's List to get rid of unwanted items. Craig's List is great for this, when I moved I posted on Craig's list that everything in my drive way was free and with-in an hour it was all gone. It would have cost me a couple hundred dollars to have it hauled. One person's junk is another person's treasure.
Instead of doing weekly grocery shopping start using up all the canned and frozen foods you have stored. Less is More.
Two to Three Weeks Before Moving Day
Federal law requires that you dispose of flammables such as fireworks, cleaning fluids, matches, acids, aerosol cans, ammunition, and poisons like weed killer. Be sure to drain fuel from your power mower and other machinery, most moving companies will not move these. Ask your mover which items can and cannot be moved.
•Prepare your major appliances for shipment. - this should be done by someone who knows what they are doing. Ask your moving company for suggestions. •Set a date for having utilities disconnected. •Have your antiques appraised. You don't want to have that fight if something happens.
One to Two Weeks Before Moving Day
Pet and Plants
Are you taking your plants? Are You Sure? Have you checked that you are allowed to bring plants into the state you are moving to?
Important Details:
Pick up all items that are being stored, cleaned, and/or repaired . Empty your locker at the club, bowling alley, school or gym.
Return borrowed items (library books and anything borrowed from friends or neighbors), get back the things have loaned out.
Moving Day
Working With the Mover:
Make sure that all of your goods are loaded, don't leave something that important to anyone else. Stay with the movers until everything is on the truck.
Make sure the mover knows where he/she is going and that he/she has an emergency number for you
Take a Last Look Around:
Take one last walk through the house. Is everything shut off? Are the widows shut/locked? Is the dog sound asleep in the backyard on his bed? Don't laugh, it has happened.
When You Get Where You're Going:
Be there when your stuff arrives. Check your belongings as they are unloaded.That is the time to note any damage or lost items.
Have the furniture and heavy items placed where you want them so you don't have to move them again. Put the rugs down first.
