All items should be completed. Not necessarily in the order listed.
❑ Obtain a floor plan of your new residence and decide what household goods you want to keep.
❑ Begin an inventory of all household goods.
❑ Seek estimates from several moving companies.
❑ Contact your insurance agent, and ask them about your homeowners, or rental policy to determine whether your possessions are covered when moving.
❑ Establish a file for all moving papers and receipts.
❑ Arrange to transfer child(ren)’s school records.
❑ Choose a mover.
❑ Begin search for good health-care professionals in your new location.
❑ Fill out post-office change of address cards.
❑ Send your new address to anyone that might need it — insurance agents, credit card companies, magazine subscriptions, friends, relatives, etc.
❑ Clean out closets and dispose of all items that you will not be taking with you.
❑ Hold a moving/garage sale or donate items to charities.
❑ For self moves, reserve a truck or trailer. Obtain necessary moving supplies, boxes, twine, labels, etc.
❑ Start packing!!
❑ If your mover is doing the packing, arrange for it to be done one or two days before loading begins.
❑ Send furniture, drapes and carpets for repair or cleaning as needed.
❑ Gather valuable personal papers that you may need at your final destination location, including medical and dental records, school records, birth certificates, etc.
❑ Make travel plans and arrange any motel or other reservations.
❑ Arrange to have utilities (gas, electric, phone, cable, water, etc.) disconnected in your present home, and connected at your new home.
❑ Ready car registration and insurance records for transfer.
❑ Notify State Motor Vehicle Bureau of your new address.
❑ Arrange for child care on moving day.
❑ If necessary, reserve apartment elevator for pickup and/or delivery dates.
❑ Arrange to move pets.
❑ Check with mover about moving house plants (some movers will not move plants).
❑ Dispose of all items too dangerous to move, including flammable liquids.
❑ If necessary, have your automobile serviced and ready for the trip.
❑ Transfer all bank accounts.
❑ Cancel newspaper delivery.
❑ Have enough medication to last at least two weeks. Have prescriptions forwarded to a pharmacy at your final destination.
❑ Buy traveler’s checks.
❑ Make arrangements to pay for your move.
❑ Withdraw items and close safety deposit boxes.
❑ Have mover pack your goods (unless doing it yourself).
❑ Defrost and dry refrigerators and freezers to be moved.
❑ Set aside valuable items to carry with you including jewelry, vital documents, money and valuable small items.
❑ Be on hand to answer questions and give directions to movers and stay until they are finished.
❑ Accompany driver for inventory of your household goods.
❑ Complete information on bill of lading and carefully read the document before you sign it.
❑ Make sure you have your copies of the bill of lading and inventory.
❑ Keep the bill of lading until your possessions are delivered, the charges are paid, and any claims are settled.
❑ Before the van leaves, take one final look through the house to make certain nothing has been left behind.
❑ Give the driver directions to your new home.
❑ Notify the driver and the van line where you can be reached during the move.
❑ Be on hand to answer any questions and give directions.
❑ You must pay the driver before your goods can be unloaded. This is a Federal requirement for interstate moves.
❑ Supervise unloading and unpacking.
❑ Check carefully for any damaged or missing items.
❑ Note on the inventory any damaged boxes or obvious damage to unboxed items before you sign anything.