Before The Truck Rolls:
Your Checklist Before Moving


A month before

Arrange moving company contracts or reserve a DIY-moving rental truck.
Secure travel arrangements, if needed, with airlines, car rental agencies, hotels, bus lines or shipping companies.
Make sure that you have completed an IRS change of address form.
Inform the post office of your relocation and complete a change of address form.
Make sure that pets (if you have any) have a place in your plans.
Consume left over food items and other perishables to avoid waste.
List all your belongings before packing, for insurance purposes. Go wild and list their serial numbers, take pictures or video tape them.
Make sure all documents pertaining to your medical history are at hand (Dental records, medical records, x-rays and previous prescriptions). Ask for referrals to the doctors of the place you're relocating to.
Church, civic organizations and club memberships should be transferred.
Set up a bank account in the new location.
Check the laws and regulations of the new place, as well as requirements for business needs, professional needs and other legal prerequisites.

A week or two before

Call up friends, relatives, spurned ex-lovers to give you a helping hand on moving day.
Make sure travel reservations are A-ok and up to schedule.
Photocopy important documents before hand-carrying or mailing them to your new address.
Empty out the safety deposit box from your bank.
If traveling with a baby, make special arrangements and prepare care needs for the trip.
Wash rugs and clothing for moving, making sure that you leave out casual and scheduled clothing items from packing.
Arrange with the building proprietor for special considerations on moving day if you're moving into an apartment.
Ready appliances for relocation, making sure that they are cleaned and secure. Give special attention to the refrigerator and have a deodorizer inside for odor.
Clear bank accounts and have funds transferred to your new account. Make sure all financial responsibilities with your current bank are taken cared of, to ensure that there will be no future headaches.
Have utility service accounts transferred to your new address. Give the electric, water and phone companies the heads up.
Magazine and other publication subscriptions should be adjusted to the new address.
Inform close friends, families and business associates of your travel itinerary for easy communication.

On the day itself

Make sure the house is empty. Check drawers, cabinets, shelves and cupboards.
Leave a clean house. Or at least try to.
Turn off utilities like water and electric from the master control.
Double check documents, important items, valuables and hand-carry them for safety.
Check item list before finally taping boxes.
Carry traveler's checks for easy finances during the trip.

At new home sweet home

Familiarize yourself with the environment.
Make sure you know where important establishments, such as hospitals, police stations, fire stations and banks, are located in the area.
Check the place again, making sure all the preparations and details of the house are satisfactory.
Renew your auto registration, driver's license and tags.
Revise your will and other legal papers to avoid longer probates and higher legal fees.