Your Moving Checklist

This handy checklist will help you organize your move. With some careful planning, your moving experience can be less stressful and more manageable. 

6-8 WEEKS BEFORE MOVING

• Call your moving professional

• Tour your home to decide what to move

• Establish credit in your new city

• Collect personal records

• Transfer, sell or resign memberships in clubs or associations and arrange to close or transfer charge accounts

• Arrange for school authorities to transfer your children’s school records

• Set goals and deadlines if you plan to do your own packing

• Separate goods going into storage

4-6 WEEKS BEFORE MOVING 

• Notify post office, utilities, professional services, insurance agencies, business accounts, government and public offices and magazine subscriptions.

• Obtain addresses of utility companies in the new city. Utilities can sometimes be connected before your arrival. 

• Consider having a garage sale. 

• Use up supplies of canned goods, frozen foods and other household items.

• Inventory what will go to determine the amount of declared valuation. 

2-3 WEEKS BEFORE MOVING

• Confirm your pack dates with the moving company and supply them with destination address and phone numbers. 

• Make family travel plans. Have your car prepared for the trip.

• Have rugs and draperies cleaned. Leave wrapped when they are returned.

• Set a date for utilities disconnection. 

• Take pets to the veterinarian. Most states require health certificates and rabies inoculations.

• Return library books and anything borrowed from friends and neighbors. 

3 DAYS BEFORE MOVING

• Prepare valuables such as money, credit cards, stamp collections, etc. to take with you. 

• Pack suitcases. Arrange for a babysitter for moving day if necessary. 

• Empty the refrigerator so that it can dry at least 24 hours before the movers arrive. 

1 DAY BEFORE MOVING

• Have dishes washed and dried, and unplug TV so it is at room temperature when loaded.

• Check closets, cabinets and storage lockers for articles overlooked. 

MOVING DAY

• Be on hand when movers arrive. 

• Carry jewelery, medication and documents yourself. Plan for transporting pets. 

• Let someone know your route and schedule and serve as a message center. 

AT YOUR NEW ADDRESS 

• Be on hand to watch unloading process. 

• Check on service connections. 

• Register to vote, and obtain driver’s license and car registration if necessary. Register your children in school.