Moving Checklist

One Month Prior To Your Move

1. Notify post office of address change
2. Notify doctor, dentist, and other service providers.
3. Order moving and packing supplies.
4. Contact charitable organizations regarding goods to donate.
5. Discard unwanted items.
6. Begin packing, clearly labeling boxes with name, contents, and room destination.

Two Weeks Prior To Your Move

1. Notify service companies (telephone, electric, gas, alarm, cable, water, oil, etc), as well as motor vehicle registry.
2. Make arrangement for disassembly of furniture.
3. Remove all permanently affixed items from walls (drapes, lighting fixtures, ceiling fans, etc).

One Week Prior To Your Move

1. Confirm date and time of your move.
2. Provide moving company with your new phone number or a cell phone number.
3. Remove fragile and loose items from drawers, including high value items (jewelry, money, important documents, etc).
4. Prepare to move uninsured and precious items (plants, jewelry, documents, etc).

One Day Prior To Your Move

1. Consolidate fragile boxes to one area.
2. Separate items not being transported by the moving company.
3. Confirm telephone numbers are working at both locations.
4. Refrigerators and freezers should be defrosted, drained, and dried.
5. Drain water bed.
6. Drain gas and oil from lawn mowers and other gas powered tools.
7. Clear walkways and driveway for improved access during inclement weather.
8. Isolate checkbook, cash, credit cards and keys.
9. If paying in cash or with certified funds (travelers checks, cashiers check) withdraw enough to cover the move and potential overages.

Day Of Your Move

Keep the following items handy in case you need them the day of your move. Reserve a box for these and other items you will need immediately upon arrival to your new home.

1. Toiletries
2. First-aid kit
3. Medications
4. Eyeglasses
5. Box cutter or knife
6. Extension cord, batteries
7. Basic cleaning supplies
8. Snacks
9. Disposable eating utensils, plates, cups
10. Pet supplies
11. Trash bags
12. Light bulbs
13. Flashlight
14. Local phone book
15. Screwdriver and hammer
16. Map of new area

Moving Made Easier

Here are a few hints and ideas to make your move go smoothly.

1. Start EARLY!! If you are moving in the summer, pack your winter clothes 2 months before the move.
2. Don’t reuse any boxes that have been used many times and are starting to wear.
3. Pack all boxes to capacity. (Boxes that are under filled are more likely to be crushed and boxes that are overfilled can tear or fall apart.)
4. Boxes should weigh about 25-30 lbs each. It is important to be consistent with the amount of weight in each box. Accidents can happen when a box weighs much more or less than expected.
5. Label all boxes as soon as you’re done packing them.
6. Don’t pack it if you don’t need it.The cheapest way to pack and ship something is to NOT do it. Many people go by this rule: If you haven’t used it in the past year or so, you don’t need it.
7. Never pack perishable items, aerosol products or frozen food.
8. Use the proper packing materials: Sturdy boxes, packing tape, bubble wrap, and packing peanuts can all be purchased and possibly retrieved for free.

Here is a list of items that will help the packing go quickly and easily:

1. Razor knife and/or scissors
2. Note pad
3. Permanent marker
4. Assorted sizes of boxes
5. Packing tape
6. Bubble wrap
7. News wrap
8. Pack ONE room at a time, labeling each box as you go. DO NOT forget to label boxes containing breakable or sentimental items with “FRAGILE”. Keep a list of items packed.
9. Empty all drawers of breakable and items that may spill. To safeguard against unnecessary damage, it’s a good idea to remove knobs, feet, screws, etc. in one container so the parts won’t get lost.

Packing tips for electronics

Some of your most expensive possessions may be your electronics, such as TVs, VCRs, DVD players, and stereos. Use the following tips to help protect these valuable items.

1. Follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for packing and storing. This information can usually be found in the item’s owner’s manual or the manufacturer’s website.
2. If available, use the original boxes and packing materials.
3. If the original boxes are not available: use sturdy cartons, bubble wrap, and appropriate packing tape.
4. When you disassemble electronics with numerous cords, use colored stickers or colored plastic tie-wraps to identify which cords are for which item and where the cords connect.