TWO MONTHS BEFORE MOVING

1. Sort through your belongings to reduce the number of things you move.
2. Have a garage sale or donate items you no longer need to charity.
3. Decide whether to move yourself or hire professionals. Make reservations with a moving company or truck. rental company.
   Tip: Call three companies for estimates to compare.
4. Gather packing supplies: boxes, packing material, and tape, felt markers and scissors.
5. If you’re moving a long distance, make travel arrangements with the airline, hotel, and car hire agency. If you’re driving to your new home, get maps and plan your travel route.
6. Save all moving receipts, because some moving expenses may be tax deductible. Check the current tax code for requirements.
7. Place your legal, medical, financial and insurance records in a safe and accessible place.
8. Purchase insurance coverage for valuables to be moved.

 

ONE MONTH BEFORE MOVING

1. Start packing items that aren’t used such as off season clothes and decorations and items in storage areas (garage, attic & closets).
2. Make travel arrangements for your pets.
3. If you’re driving, get your car tuned up.
4. Get medical records from your doctors, dentist, optometrist and veterinarian.
5. Send items (rugs, drapes, clothing, quilts, bedding) to the cleaners.
6. Back up important computer files to disk.

 

TWO WEEKS BEFORE MOVING

1. Contact your utility companies (gas, electric, water, cable, trash collector & local phone service providers) and notify them of your move.
2. Sign up for services at your new address.
3. Contact your long distance phone company and notify them of your move.
4. Call friends and family and recruit help for the moving day if necessary.
5. Confirm your travel reservations.
6. Consume your supplies of frozen and perishable foods.
7. Confirm  details with removalist – times for pack, move, unpack, clean, details of storage, insurance etc.

 

ONE WEEK BEFORE MOVING

1. Pick up items from the cleaners, repair shops or friends.
2. Pack a survival kit of clothes, medicines, special foods and so on to carry you through the day after arrival in your new home.
3. Finish packing all boxes minus what you’ll need in the final week.
4. Arrange Post Mail Redirection Service application to redirect your mail to your new address.
5. Gather all keys from old address, get spares from family and friends.
6. Collect instruction books for stove, dishwasher, security system and leave for new owner.

Send change of address cards with your new address and phone number to:

1. Friends and family.
2. Banks, insurance companies, credit card companies, & other financial institutions.
3. Magazines & newspapers.
4. Doctors, lawyers, accountants, real estate agents & other service providers.
5. State & federal tax authorities and any other government agencies as needed.
6. Workplace, schools etc.
7. Voter registration office & motor transport department.

 

THE DAY BEFORE

1. Set aside moving materials, i.e. tape measure, pocket knife & rope.
2. Pad corners & stairways of house.
3. Lay down old sheets in the entry and hallways to protect floor coverings.
4. Remove hanging fixtures.
5. If moving yourself, pick up the rental truck and a hand trolley to move heavy boxes.
6. If you’re driving, check oil and fuel in car.
7. If you’re travelling, make sure you have tickets, credit cards and other essentials.

 

MOVING DAY

Carry with you:

1. The keys to your new home.
2. Map of new town and directions to your house.
3. The telephone number of the moving company.
4. Documentation related to the sale of your home.
5. Your insurance policies and agent’s phone number.
6. Your current address book or personal planner.
7. Any personal records & documents.

 

ARRIVAL DAY & AFTER THE MOVE

1. Show movers where to place furniture & boxes.
2. Check inventory to ensure that everything was delivered before signing delivery papers. Note any damages on the inventory sheet.  
   Tip: It’s helpful to have the movers read off the inventory numbers on boxes & furniture while you check the inventory list.
3. Unpack any valuable items, such as silver, art & jewellery upon arrival.
4. Familiariseyourself with the area.
5. Familiariseyour pets with your new home as quickly as possible, keep cats inside for at least a week.