Pick up a Change-of-Address Kit from the Post Office. Also notify your address change with:
- Friends and family
- Banks
- Insurance companies
- Credit card companies
- Magazines and newspapers
- Doctors, dentists and other providers - transfer drug prescriptions
- Past employers
For full service moves:
- Get written estimates from several moving companies - Check References
- Will the movers pack for you?
- What type of insurance coverage is offered?
- Get appraisals of high-value items in case of future claims
For do-it-yourself moves, make arrangements for truck rental and moving help. Buy packing supplies:
- Moving Boxes
- Packing materials including bubble wrap, stretch wrap and tape
- Felt tip markers
- Mattress covers
- Moving blankets
Start packing boxes. Mark boxes clearly as to contents and room to be placed in. For important items to be unpacked first, write "Open First" on sides of boxes:
- Dishes
- Pots and pans
- Alarm clock
- Bedding
- Toys
- Towels
- Light-bulbs
- Plates
- Tools
Make arrangements for picking up your important records:
- Birth
- Doctor
- Dentist
- Legal
- Optician, optometrist
- School - make sure you get paperwork with a raised seal.
- Veterinarian
Close out your bank accounts:
- Checking
- Savings
- Safe Deposit Box
Make arrangements in your new town.
- Transfer account from current bank.
- Contact your child's new school and notify them of your upcoming move to their area.
- Contact the Chamber of Commerce in your new town. Request a relocation package.
- If any items will be moved to storage, learn more about Self Storage Rentals here.
Pack your vital documents in one place:
- Passports
- Military records
- Mortgage records
- Marriage license
- Birth certificates
- Vehicle titles
- Stock certificates
- Insurance papers
- Bank records
- School records
- Medical records
- Tax records
Make arrangements to disconnect your utilities. Get refunds for any deposits made. Have meters read. Give new address for them to send their final bill:
- Cable - return box if necessary
- Gas
- Electric
- Internet provider
- Telephone
- Water
Make arrangements at your new residence:
- Make arrangements to connect utilities at your new residence.
- Make arrangements for cleaning.
- Inquire about your new state's auto licensing procedure and auto insurance rates.
- Check with your insurance company about transferring coverage to your new home.
- Arrange to have a sitter watch your children at their house on moving day.
Properly dispose or drain any flammable items:
- Lawn mower gas
- Snow blower gas
- Paint
- Aerosol cans
Plan what goes in the car with you:
- Toys and games for kids
- Jewelry, special breakable items or collections
- Important documents and records
- Change of clothes and toiletries for your first day
- Vacuum cleaner - if you want to clean right away
- Toilet paper
- First aid kit
- Food kit with bottled water, cereal, bananas
Travel arrangements:
- Make travel arrangements for your pets and plants.
- Purchase additional moving insurance if you have valuable antiques and collectables.
- Have your car tuned up
- Defrost and clean out your refrigerator.
- Clean your stove.
- Get a simple breakfast ready for the next morning.
- Check your moving company's payment policies.
- Purchase traveler's checks for other possible expenses.
- Pack your former town's phone book for future correspondence.
- Check the weather forecast and prepare accordingly.
- Pick up ice and beverages for moving day.
- Take down curtains and curtain rods.
- Get a good night's sleep.
- Strip your beds.
- Moving company - will they disassemble?
- Show movers around. Make sure your possessions to be moved are inventoried with them.
- Get all keys together. Put in a safe spot.
- Make sure moving truck driver has correct address, phone number and directions.
- Confirm delivery date.
- Check all rooms one last time. Remember closets, cupboards, basement, ceiling craw-spaces and garage!
- Adjust thermostat for energy savings.
- Make sure all windows and doors are locked.
Explore your new neighborhood. Locate the nearest convenience and hardware store, pharmacy, supermarket, video rental, school and library, etc.
- Check smoke alarm, carbon monoxide detectors, and fire extinguisher.
- If necessary, install a new door lock and/or dead-bolt.
- Update your address information if you haven't done so (driver's license, car registrations, insurance, credit cards, bank accounts, voter registration).
- If you have not received your security deposit, call your landlord to confirm your new address.
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