Cynthia Szoradi

Push to Talk

Moving Checklist

Planning a move can be a daunting and stressful event. In the whirlwind of packing and paperwork, it is very easy to neglect some minor detail that may end up causing you untold aggravation after the move. With a little foresight, many of these problems can be safely avoided through simple preparation. Here are a few things you can do to ensure a painless moving process.

Fill Change of Address Forms

Whenever we embark on a serious move, our friends and relatives are almost always the first to know. It is a common courtesy that helps strengthen lasting relationships. Do not forget to keep several others in the loop as well, namely state, credit, and subscription institutions. The post office, charge accounts, and credit card accounts will all need change of address forms filled in full. Magazine and other subscriptions may need to be informed several weeks in advance. Keeping these organizations in mind can prevent many undue hassles down the line.

Cancel Services

If you will no longer be using there services, many companies will need advance notification of your intentions. You should also schedule the instatement of any services you may need in your new home or apartment. For services such as utilities – gas, light, water, cable, telephone – this may seem obvious. You should, however, remember to arrange any necessary final reading, change the billing name for the next owner, order immediate service in your new town, and secure a refund of any deposits made. Banking should be handled similarly by transferring funds to a new checking account in the new city. While you’re at it, make sure to cancel any delivery services, such as the local newspaper or laundry pickup, well in advance.

Update Insurance and Auto Information

Insurance and automobile concerns should be handled with care, as these items present potential legal ramifications. Be sure to notify the new location for coverage in regard to all forms of insurance. Make sure that your car is correctly documented by transferring your car title, registration, tags, driver's license, and, yes, even your state windshield sticker and motor club membership. If nothing else, this will at least soften your DMV experience.

Transfer Medical and School Records

Once you’ve dealt with the insurance companies and DMV, you should make sure that your family’s medical records are in order. Select new physicians, including optometrist, in your new city and ask the old ones to transfer your family’s medical records, drug prescriptions, and eyewear prescriptions to the new offices. While you are at it, do the same for your pets as well. Remember to ask your doctors for recommendations and letters of introduction to transfer memberships. This might also be a good time to ask your child’s school for a copy of his/her school records or to transfer one to the new school.

Prepare the House for the Move

Now its time to clean out the old house and prepare for move. Create a plan to “eat down” the frozen food in your home. This will create less waste come moving time. Set aside a day to defrost your freezer and refrigerator; placing a little charcoal inside will help to dispel odors. Make sure your appliances are in working order for moving and decide whether to discard or repair non-functioning items. In addition to appliances, have your clothing and throw rugs cleaned and shrink-wrapped to ensure their safety during transit. A great way to get rid of items you will not need is to have a garage sale; the extra money could also help your moving costs.

Work with the Moving Company

Once you have accounted for your possessions, sit down and discuss the shipping details with your moving company. You can avoid many hidden moving costs by simply checking with your moving counselor. Things to consider include insurance coverage, date of arrival, packing and unpacking labor, various shipping papers, and method and time of expected payment.

Be Ready on Moving Day

There’s no way around it, moving day can be hectic. The best defense against catastrophe is rock solid planning. For starters, don’t entrust the movers with things like jewelry, currency or important documents; either carry them yourself or send them ahead through registered mail. Plan for the special care needs of your children and pets; both will make for very poor travel companions if unhappy.

Before leaving the old house, be sure to double check closets, drawers, and shelves for any remaining possesses. Also, be courteous to the purchaser/agent of your home and Arrange to leave the keys with them. This will make certain that no one is inconvenienced.

Finally, the best way to guarantee a successful move is to keep communication open.
Provide a cellular number to all parties involved in the move. Tell close friends or relatives your route and schedule (including overnight stops) and designate a friend to check in with at certain points. If planned correctly ahead of time, you can successfully manage your move with minimal stress.