Seller - Checklist for Moving

Two months before your move -

• Sort through your belongings to reduce the number of things you move.
• Have a garage sale or donate items you no longer need 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 comparison price estimates.
• Gather packing supplies: boxes, packing material, tape, felt markers, and scissors.
• If moving a long distance, make travel arrangements with the airline, hotel, and rental car agency.
• If you're driving to your new home, get maps and plan your travel route.
• Save all moving receipts. (Some moving expenses may be tax deductible.)
  Check the current tax code.
• Place in a safe place, legal, medical, financial, and insurance records.
• Purchase insurance coverage for valuables being moved.

One month prior -

• Pack items that aren't regularly used, such as off-season clothes and decorations
  plus items in garage, attic, and closets. - Write destination room on boxes.
• Make travel arrangements for your pets.
• If you're driving, get your car tuned.
• Get medical records from your doctor, dentist, optometrist, and veterinarian.
• Send items (rugs, drapes, clothing, quilts) to the cleaners.
• Back up important computer files to floppy disk or CD.
• Contact bank to make arrangements for transfer of accounts.

Two weeks prior - 

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

One week prior -

• Pick up items from the cleaners, repair shops, etc.
• Pack a survival kit of clothes, medicines, special foods, etc.
  to carry you through the day once you have arrived at your new home.
• Finish packing except what is needed for the final week.
• Inform the post office of your move.
• Change-of-address cards (kit from post office) with 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
  • Workplace, schools, etc.
  • Voter registration office and motor vehicle bureau
• Do not purchase perishable food.
• Have home cleaning supplies ready.

The day before your move -

• Set aside moving materials, such as tape measure, pocket knife, and rope.
• Lay down old sheets in the entry and hallways to protect floor coverings.
• If moving yourself, get rental truck and a dolly to move heavy boxes.
• If driving, check oil and gas in your vehicle.
• Make sure you have tickets, charge cards, and other essentials.
• Clean and defrost refrigerator and freezer.
• Leave keys, door openers, for new owner.

Moving day - carry with you:

• The keys to your new home.
• 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.
• Your insurance policies for new home and agent's phone number.
• Your current address book or personal planner.
• Prescription and non-prescription medicines.
• Extra clothing, etc., should movers arrive late.
• Any important personal records and documents.
• Any items of great personal or irreplaceable value (example: photo album)
• Back-ups of important computer files.
• Sheets and towels for the first night in your new home.
• Personal hygiene items (for example, toothpaste, soap, razor)

Arrival day at your new home...

• Acquire key – change locks the day of move – one set for all doors.
• Show movers where to place furniture and boxes.
• Check inventory to ensure that everything was delivered prior to signing delivery documents.
  Note any damages on the inventory sheet.
  Tip: It's helpful to have the movers read off the inventory numbers on boxes and furniture while you check the inventory list.
• Unpack valuable items, such as silver, art, and jewelry.
• Check furnace, hot water heater and appliances.

After you have moved in -

• Walk and drive around your new neighborhood and community to orient yourself
• Get new driver's licenses, library cards, voter registration cards.
• Enroll children in school.
• Arrange for medical services: doctor, dentist, veterinarian, etc.

Welcome Home! Enjoy in Good Health and Happiness!

Reminder: Call us with any questions, look forward to being your community resource.

 508-842-1700 or e-mail homes [at] bilazarian [dot] com.