Relocation Moving Checklist

You’ve found your perfect home. Now you're ready to move out of your current home or apartment. It's moving day. Are you ready? Use the handy checklist below to help guide you through this hectic time.

Eight Weeks Before the Move

• Call for estimates from two to three professional movers to compare services/costs.
• Draw a floor plan of your new home use decorating charts/grid to place furniture to scale in each room and decide which furniture to move, which to dispose of and which to replace or add.
• Call the Chamber of Commerce in your new town for their residential information packet.

Six Weeks Before the Move

• Inventory all possessions now. Decide and label what to move, sell, replace or donate.
• Complete US Postal change of address forms, mail to media/stores/organizations/friends/family etc.
• Obtain copies of all medical, dental, legal, accounting, veterinarian records, etc.
• Make arrangements for record transfers between schools on both ends of the move.
• Meet with tax advisor to review your potential moving related tax deductions and potential tax liability.
• Itemize moving related costs with mover including packing, loading, special charges, insurance, etc.

Four Weeks Before the Move

• Repair and/or clean furniture, drapes, carpeting as necessary prior to move.
• Advertise a garage/yard/tag sale to dispose of unneeded furniture, accessories, clothes, etc.
• If a professional mover is packing your goods, schedule packing day(s) 1 or 2 days before the move.
• If you move yourself, order adequate boxes, packing materials, and tape now.
• Get estimates and arrange for short-term or long-term storage if you will need it.
• Make travel arrangements for pets, including necessary medical records, immunizations, etc.

Three Weeks Before the Move

• Assemble sufficient supply of packing materials/equipment.
• Pack and label items you will not use immediately or that will go into storage.
• Contact utilities on both ends of the move, order termination/ turn-on for occupancy date.
• Confirm final travel arrangements for family and pets.

Two Weeks Before the Move

• Prepare auto(s) for trip to new home. Check tires/have car(s) serviced before the move.
• Terminate newspaper and other delivery services.
• Confirm new bank accounts by phone and FAX.
• Schedule an appliance service firm for moving day to prepare major appliances for the move.

One Week Before the Move

• Gather important papers, records, valuables for protected shipment to new home/safe deposit box.
• Notify friends and neighbors of new address (and phone number is possible).
• Make plans for young children to be cared for on moving day. Assign project(s) to older children.
• Fill any necessary prescriptions, medications needed for the next two weeks.

One Day Before and Moving Day

• Defrost and empty refrigerator and freezer.
• Plan simple meals for moving day (or take out food) to avoid using the refrigerator.
• Pick up cash for your trip and if applicable, a certified check for the mover’s invoice.
• Pack items you need to take with you including valuables, financial records, personal papers, etc.
• Pack signed loading bill and inventory where they can be easily reached at your destination.
• Carefully mark last box packed, first box unpacked containing tools, shades, kitchen supplies, etc.
• Give the mover a telephone number and address where you can be reached in your new town.