Buyer - Checklist for Moving

Two Months Before Your Move -

Sort through your belongings to reduce the number of items.
Have a garage sale or donate items to charity.
Decide whether to move yourself or hire professionals.
Make reservations with a moving company or truck rental company. Tip: Call three companies for pricing estimates
Gather packing supplies: boxes, packing material, tape, felt markers, and scissors.
Moving long distance, make travel arrangements with airline, hotel, and rental car agency.
If driving to your new home, gather maps and plan your travel route.
Save all moving receipts, some moving expenses may be tax deductible.
Place your legal, medical, financial, and insurance records in a safe place.
Purchase insurance coverage for valuables being moved.

Start packing items that aren't regularly used such as off-season clothes, decorations and items in storage.
Make travel arrangements for your pets.
If driving, get a car tuned.
Get medical records from your doctor, dentist, optometrist, and veterinarian.
Send items (rugs, drapes, clothing, quilts, etc., to the cleaners.
Back up important computer files to floppy disk or CD.
Contact bank to make arrangements for account transfer.

Contact your utility companies (gas, electric, water, cable, trash collector, and
local phone service providers) to notify them of your move.
Sign up for services at your new address.
Contact your long distance phone company and notify them of your move.
Contact phone company for your new address.
Confirm your travel reservations.
Arrange to close or transfer your bank account.
Set up bank account with your new address.
Gather items from safety deposit box.

Pick up items from the cleaners, repair shops, or friends.
Pack a survival kit of clothes, medicines, special foods, etc,
to carry you through the day after your arrival at your new home.
Finish packing all boxes minus what you'll need in the final week.
Inform the post office of your upcoming move.
Send change-of-address cards with your new address and phone number to:
- Friends and family, Banks, insurance companies, credit card companies, and other financial institutions
- Magazines and newspapers, Doctors, lawyer, accountant, Realtor, and other service providers,
- State and federal tax authorities and any other government agencies as needed,
- Workplace, schools, and alma maters
- Voter registration office and motor vehicle bureau.
Do not purchase perishable food.
Have home cleaning supplies ready.

Pad corners and stairways of house.
Lay down old sheets in the entry and hallways to protect floor coverings.
Remove hanging fixtures.
If moving yourself, pick up the rental truck and a hand truck or dolly to move boxes.
If you're driving, check oil and gas in your car.
If you're traveling, make sure you have tickets, charge cards, and other essentials.
Clean and defrost refrigerator and freezer.

The keys to your new home – change locks with one set for all doors.
Map of new town and directions to your house.
The telephone number of the moving company.
Cash or traveler's checks.
Documentation related to the sale of your home.
Your insurance policies and agent's phone number.
Your current address book or personal planner.
Prescription and non-prescription medicines.
Enough clothing to get by if the movers are late.
Any important personal records and documents.
Any items of great personal value to you that are irreplaceable, example: photo album.
Back-up copies of important computer files.
Sheets and towels for the first night in your new home.
Personal hygiene items (for example, toothpaste, soap, razor).

Show movers where to place furniture and boxes.
Check inventory to ensure that everything was delivered before signing delivery papers.
Check for damages on the inventory sheet.
Tip: Have the movers read off the inventory numbers on boxes and furniture while you check the inventory list.
Unpack any valuable items, such as silver, art, and jewelry, upon arrival.
Check furnace and hot water heater, appliances.

“Try not to become a man of success but rather to become a name of value”

—Albert Einstein