MOVING TIPS

Moving Overview Checklist:

One Month Before Moving

Fill out change of address order form for post office.
Fill out an IRS change of address form.
Make arrangements with moving company or reserve a rental truck.

Make travel arrangements, if necessary, with airlines, buses, car rental agencies and hotels.
Transfer memberships in churches, clubs and civic organizations.
Obtain medical and dental records, x-rays and prescription histories. Ask doctor and dentist for referrals and transfer prescriptions.
Set up a checking account in your new city.
Check into the laws and requirements of your new city regarding home-based businesses, professional tests, business licenses and any special laws that might be applicable to you.
Take inventory of your belongings before they're packed, in the event you need to file an insurance claim later. If possible, take pictures or videotape your belongings. Record serial numbers of electronic equipment.
Make arrangements for transporting pets.
Start using up food items, so that there is less left to pack and possibly spoil.

One To Two Weeks Before Moving

Switch utility services to new address. Inform electric, disposal, water, newspaper, magazine subscription, telephone and cable companies of your move.
Arrange for help on moving day.
Confirm travel reservations.
Reserve elevator if moving from an apartment.
Have appliances serviced for moving.
Clean rugs and clothing and have them wrapped for moving.
Plan ahead for special needs of infants.
Close bank accounts and have your funds wired to your new bank. Before closing, be sure there are no outstanding checks or automatic payments that haven't been processed.
Collect valuables from safe-deposit box. Make copies of any important documents before mailing or hand carry them to your new address.
Check with your insurance agent to ensure you'll be covered through your homeowner's or renter's policy during the move.
Defrost freezer and refrigerator. Place deodorizer inside to control odors.
Give a close friend or relative your travel route and schedule so you may be reached if needed.

On Moving Day

Double check closets, drawers, shelves, attic and garage to be sure they are empty.
Carry important documents, currency and jewelry yourself, or use registered mail.
Carry traveler's checks for quick, available funds.

After Arriving At New Home

Renew your driver's license, auto registration and tags.
Shop around for new insurance policies, especially auto coverage.
Revise your will and other legal papers to avoid longer probate and higher legal fees.
Locate the hospitals, police stations, veterinarian and fire stations near your home.

Moving Day Tips:

One of the busiest days of your life is about to arrive. Are you as prepared as you should be?

Try to complete all the tasks below prior to move day so that you can be home during the loading process. Many times the driver will have questions that only you can answer. It is important that you or someone you've designated be available throughout the loading process.

Clearly mark and set aside items you don't want loaded

This will remind you to tell the driver what not to load as you conduct your preload walkthrough. Make sure your important paperwork pertaining to the move doesn't get packed and shipped with your household goods.

Pack special items for the kids

Have the kids pack a box of their "special" items. Point this box out to the driver so it's one of the first to be unloaded.

You may want to arrange for someone to take care of the kids (and pets) while the movers are packing and loading your items. Have the caregiver bring the kids back home prior to the truck leaving as it important for young children to understand where their belongings are going.

Clear walkways

Make it safe and easy for your movers to get in and out of your house by removing all obstructions:

Move potted plants and planters from front porch, walkways and driveways.
Remove all door and floor mats.
Remove all rugs. The crew will protect the floors with a specially designed floor covering that does not slip.
Remove low hanging items such as wind chimes or hanging plants.
Disconnect the spring on the screen door so that it stays open during the loading process.
If you had the moving company pack for you, work with them to keep walkways clear for the driver and crew.

Point out special items

Once the mover arrives, point out items that are most special to you during the walkthrough. All your items will be handled professionally, but take a moment to show them which ones mean the most to you.

Point out the boxes you would like to have unloaded first, if they are not going into storage. These boxes may include kitchen and bathroom items, or your children's toys.

Before the driver leaves

Make sure you understand all the paperwork you are signing before the driver departs. If there is something that is confusing to you, ask your driver to explain it before you sign it.

Provide the driver with your destination contact information. Take down any information the driver can provide such as his cell phone, pager and satellite tracking information. If something changes, you won't have to wait to be contacted.

Ask the driver if your shipment is the last he/she will be loading. Find out when the last shipment goes onto the trailer. This will give you an indication as to when they will be departing for your new home. Ask the driver about his/her plans for delivering your items.

Find out as many details as you can prior to the driver leaving your residence.

The driver may give you your delivery window. Keep in mind that it is really only an estimate at the time of loading. Many factors can change the schedule for the driver, so try to remain flexible. Ask the driver to call you with changes so that you can adjust your plans accordingly. If you have a delivery spread (a sequence of 2 or more days that your shipment can be delivered on and still be considered on time) understand that you can and may be delivered on any one of those days.

Take one last sweep of the house before the driver leaves. Look through all closets, shelves, in the garage, attic, crawl space, storage unit, under the stairs, on the walls and any place else things may be hiding. You do not want to find out, after the driver is on the way, that something was left behind.

Moving with Children:

Children love a good adventure and will most likely embrace the moving process if they are involved in all aspects along the way. Here are some tips for getting your kids excited about your move.

Remember:

Tell your children about the move as soon as possible so they don't overhear the news by accident
Talk with them, sharing the details you think they'll understand—ask about and listen to their reactions
Children of different ages respond differently to a move. For example:

Younger children tend to miss familiar people like a favorite teacher, as well as safe and secure environments like church, school or even their bedrooms
Older children, especially teenagers, tend to miss their friends and others in the community with whom they have relationships

Involve your children in all aspects of your relocation, if possible, including house hunting, planning the move, and tasks that are age appropriate
Have children help pack a special box with their most treasured possessions—they can even decorate the outside of the box so they can quickly identify it in your new home
Ask for their input on decorating or arranging things in their new rooms
Encourage your children to take the time to say good-bye to friends and maintain ties by exchanging contact information
Make plans to continue your child's current activities (such as Scouts, sports, dance classes, etc.) in your new community—continuity will make adjusting to a new location much easier

Moving with Pets:

There are some things you can do to ease the stress of moving the family pets to your new home:

Before leaving, schedule a veterinary examination to check your pet's health, obtain copies of vaccination records and a health certificate (if required), update identification tags, and discuss a tranquilizer or precautionary measures for the trip.
If traveling to your new home by car, make sure to get your pet comfortable to auto travel by taking it on short trips around the neighborhood

Don't feed your pet for seven hours prior to your trip, pack a container of fresh, cool water, and stop frequently for walks
If stopping at a hotel overnight, make sure the hotel allows pets
Never leave your pet in the car alone
Birds and small pets such as hamsters can travel in their cages if the cage can be placed in a stable, well ventilated area free of drafts (covering the cage while the car is moving often calms an animal)

If shipping your pet by air, contact the airline well in advance to check regulations and services:

Consider direct flights to minimize the amount of time your pet will be confined
Select a portable air-transport kennel that's large enough for your pet to stand and move around a bit
Let your pet get accustomed to the kennel well in advance of the trip
Don't forget to mark the kennel with "Live Animal," your pet's name, your new address and phone number, and any special handling instructions
After boarding your plane, ask the flight attendant to confirm your pet has been loaded on the plane

Moving House Plants:

A Couple Of Weeks Before You Move

Prune plants to facilitate packing. Consult a florist or a plant book for instructions.

A Week Before Your Move

Place your plants in a black plastic bag, along with a bug/pest strip, conventional flea collar or bug powder. Close the bag and place in a cool area overnight to kill any pests on the plant or in the soil.

The Day Before Your Move

Place the plants in cardboard containers. Hold them in place with dampened newspaper or packing paper. Use paper to cushion the leaves and place a final layer of wet paper on top to keep them moist. If you must leave your plants behind, then take cuttings. Put them in a plastic bag with wet paper towels around them.

On The Day Of Your Move

Set the boxes aside and mark "DO NOT LOAD" so they won't be taken on the moving van. Close the boxes and punch air holes in the top before loading into your car.

When Moving

Park your car in a shaded area in the summer and a sunny spot in the winter.

Upon Arrival

Unpack the plants as soon as possible after arrival. Remove plants through the bottom of the box to avoid breaking the stems. Do not expose the plants to much sunlight at first. Let them get gradually accustomed to more light.