Moving Timeline and Checklist

One month before your move:

• Arrange for moving your furniture and personal belongings either by hiring a moving company or renting a truck. Get estimates from several moving companies or truck rental companies. Be sure to obtain a hand truck or appliance dolly if you are moving items yourself.
• Gather moving supplies, such as boxes, tape, rope, and anything else.
• Plan your travel itinerary. Make transportation and lodging reservations in advance if you are driving to your new home. Make sure to leave a copy of your itinerary with a friend or relative.
• Some moving expenses are tax deductible, so save your receipts. If the move is employment-related, tax deductions will include meals, lodging, and gasoline. Record expenses incurred during your house-hunting trips as well.
• Develop a plan for packing, such as packing the items used most often at the last moment.
• Notify others of your new address, including post office, charge accounts, subscriptions, relatives and friends, national and alumni organizations, churches, mail order clubs (books, videos, catalogues), firms with which you have time payments, and your past employer to make sure you receive your W-2 forms and retirement account information. Save your old address labels to speed up filling out change-of-address forms for your new address.
• Notify federal and state taxing authorities or any governmental agency.

Two weeks before your move:

• Notify and get refunds from your present utilities, such as gas, electric, water, cable, and phone. Arrange for services at your new address.
• Service your car if you are driving a long distance to your new home.
• Recruit people to help you on moving day, such as friends, families, and co-workers.
• Arrange for someone to take care of your pets and children during the move.
• Confirm arrangements made with a moving company or rental truck providers.

One day before your move:

• Keep moving materials separate so they are not packed until you are finished.
• Pick up the rental truck if you are moving items yourself.
• Fill up your car with gas, check your oil, and check your tire levels.

Miscellaneous items:

• Decide what to move and what not to move. Donate unwanted items to charity.
• Transfer your bank accounts. Your bank will be happy to open your account by mail or online.
• Contact your local credit bureau to find out if they are on the same system that your new home town subscribes to; if not, the credit bureau can transfer your credit file.
• Request records from doctors and dentists, including eye prescriptions, dental x-rays, and vaccinations.
• Obtain your children’s school records to make for an easier transfer.
• Draw up a floor plan of where your furniture should be placed in your new home. This will help avoid confusion for you and your movers.
• Pay existing bills and close out local charge accounts.
• Arrange any special movers, which may be necessary to move an expensive piano, a pool table, or an above-ground swimming pool.
• Cancel or transfer deliveries, newspapers, garbage collection, etc. Coordinate the transfer of gas and electric with the next occupant of your old home, as well as with the previous owner of your new home in order to avoid lapses in service and extra expenses.
• Check on personal items that might be at the photo shop, in a safe deposit box, at a neighbor’s house, on lay-away, or in a repair shop.
• Make arrangements for transporting your plants and pets.
• Transfer insurance policies or arrange for new policies.
• Gather all your valuables, jewelry, and important papers, such as birth certificates, deeds, and documents.
• Pack an arrival kit of necessities just in case you arrive before the mover, such as toothbrush, soap, socks, and clothes.
• Purchase moving insurance. Your mover’s liability for lost or damaged goods will not equal their replacement costs. Considering having valuable items appraised.
• Check with your attorney about your will, if you are crossing state lines.
• Ask for professional referrals, such as doctors, dentists, accountants, etc.

Moving with Children
If you think moving is hard on grown-ups, imagine what the experience is like for kids. They are starting over and trying to meet new friends, while adjusting to a new home, neighborhood, and school. Thank about your children’s specific needs before, during, and after the change. You will make a big difference in how your children feel about the move and how they adjust afterwards.

Before the Move – Preparing:
Give your children a chance to talk about their feelings and let them know how you are feeling too.
Help them make a list of phone numbers and addresses of their friends, relatives, and other important people. Knowing they can stay in touch with these people will be reassuring.
Visit your new home and line up some activities for your child to be a part of after the move, such as a sports team, music lessons, or a scouting troop.

During the Move – Remembering What is Important:
Stay as upbeat and calm as you can. Your own mood will impact your children’s mood.
Involve your children in the packing. Older children can put their own belongings in boxes, and children of all ages will enjoy decorating the boxes containing their personal items.
Stick to your routines, such as having meals at the same times you normally do.
Do not pack things that your children treasure. Take special blankets, favorite books, and other prized items in the car or on the plane with you.
Help your children say goodbye to the important people in their lives. For their friends, a party is a fun way to celebrate the friendship.
For many families, moving day means a long car trip or a cross-country flight. Prevent backseat blues and airline angst by adding travel fun and games to your plans.
Allow your child to bring an album with pictures of their old home and friends. This will allow your child to express his feelings and give you a chance to explain that feelings of loss and initial discomfort are natural.

After the Move – Getting Settled:
To make your new house seem like home, hang portraits of the family in a prominent location or create a tabletop display of family photographs.
Take pictures of the new home, neighborhood playmates, family members, and school. Start a new family album to show there is fun and family togetherness available at the new home.
Do not spend too much time unpacking – at least not right away! In the first few days, take time to enjoy your new home with your family. Take walks around the neighborhood to explore your new surroundings.

Above all, listen to the needs of your family. Be there when your children get home after the first day at their new schools, even if it means having to leave work early. Ask how things are going, and take time to listen.

Moving Your Pets

Cats and Dogs
Cats and dogs can either be shipped by air or taken along in the car. If you are flying to your new destination, your cat or dog can ride in the baggage compartment. Your pet will need a health certificate from your vet. It is a good idea to put a piece of clothing with your scent in your pet’s box so he feels more at home and comfortable.

If you are not flying with your pet, but are having him shipped by air, make sure that someone is at the final destination to pick up your pet. The easiest way to care for your pet before your arrival is at a kennel. Many kennels can take your pet for several days before your move by keeping him safe and out of the way.

Think twice about taking your dog or cat along with you on a long cross-country trip. Not only can animals get car sick, but being in a car all day can make him nervous and upset. If you do bring your pet along, he must be fed and have plenty to drink, so make sure you bring a water dish.

Some motels and hotels do not allow pets. Others have special facilities for handling travelers’ pets. Call in advance in order to check out their pet policies.

Smaller Animals
Hamsters, birds, mice, and other animals can be transported in the car fairly easily. Make sure that the animals have enough food and water in their cages and are out of drafts or extreme temperatures. Cover cages with a cloth to keep pets quiet and restful.

Fish
Fish in an aquarium cannot be transported easily since several gallons of water are extremely heavy. Plan on giving your fish away and restock the aquarium when you arrive at your new home.

Moving Your House Plants
You can take your plants with you when moving. Here are some tips:

• Call your local U.S. Department of Agriculture satellite office to check on regulations if you are moving from one state to another. Many states have restrictions on certain kinds of plants to prevent importing bugs or pests that can potentially destroy crops.
• Prune plants to facilitate packing a couple of weeks before you move. Consult a florist or a book about plants for detailed instructions.
• Put your plants in a black plastic bag a week before you move. Prior to placing your plant in the bag, place a bug strip, conventional flea collar, or bug powder in the bag. Close the bag and place it in a cool area overnight. This will kill any pests on the plant or in the soil.
• Put your plants in cardboard containers the day before you move. Make sure that they are held in place by dampened newspaper or packing paper. Use paper to cushion the leaves and place a final layer of wet paper on top to keep them moist.
• On the day of your move, set the boxes aside and mark as “Do Not Load” so they will not be taken on the moving truck.
• On the day you leave, close boxes, punch air holes in the top, and load them in your car.
• When on the road, be careful where you park your car. Look for a shaded area in the summer and a sunny spot in the winter.