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Moving To A New Home Checklist

How To Make A Move:  Six Week Checklist

Moving to a new home is a stressful and harried time, even for the most hardy among us. Please use our checklist below to remember important details (and let us know if you would like a free PDF of the below by contacting us). Also, if you need help in locating a moving company, home in your new location or anything else, please don’t hesitate to let us know.

We have broken the move down into ‘chunks’: from 6 weeks out to moving day (and at the bottom of the page, have excellent suggestions on what to do to prepare your pet(s) for the move).

Six Weeks Out:

  • Call for moving estimates
  • Start using things up that you can’t move, including food, perishables and cleaning supplies
  • Inventory all household items to be moved, and start packing early. Don’t forget to label your boxes!
  • Call the Chamber Of Commerce and Visitors & Convention Bureau in your new town and request a new resident information package
  • Obtain automobile licensing, insurance and registration information for your new location
  • Remove all items from storage sheds, attics, basement, and plan a garage sale or charity donation for all items you don’t want to move. (Great way to get rid of unwanted and unneeded items!)
  • Discuss tax-related moving expenses, liabilities, and deductions with your tax advisor. Keep ALL receipts
  • Make a list of all people/organizations to contact about change of address
  • Complete U.S. Postal Service change of address forms and mail them to all applicable publications, stores and organizations
  • Get copies of (or arrange for transfer at both ends of move) all school, medical, dental, veterinary, legal, and accounting records
  • Contact insurance agents to transfer, begin and/or cancel coverage
  • If it’s a company move, check with your employer to find out what moving expenses they cover
  • Get a mail subscription for the local paper in your new location to familiarize yourself with the new community, its activities and issues
  • If moving overseas, obtain necessary visa, stamps, vacinnations, etc. (Contact the U.S. State Department for additional information on what might be needed to make your move.)
  • Locate and obtain all automobile licensing and registration information

Four Weeks Out:

  • Get an itemized list of all moving related costs and review with mover, including packing, loading, special charges, insurance, vehicles (if needed), etc.
  • Contact all current and new location utility companies (gas, water, electric, cable TV, phone & trash collection) to set connect/disconnect dates for both your old and new home.
  • Remember to keep current utilities hooked up until move day.  You can do that right from our site: https://www.utilityconnect.net/livinginirvinecalifornia.
  • Make arrangements for relocation of pets and plants.
    Move valuables to safe deposit box to prevent loss during move..
  • If you are packing yourself, acquire packing materials/boxes and pack items you won’t need for the next month.
  • If professional mover is packing your goods, schedule packing day(s) 1 or 2 days before move.
  • Prepare any mowers, snow blowers, boats, snowmobiles (or other vehicles you won’t be using before the move) for the move by servicing and draining gas and oil, to prevent a moving van fire.
  • Repair, send out for re-upholstery, or clean furniture, drapes, carpeting as needed.

Three Weeks Out:

  • Make travel arrangements for family for moving trip, allow for unexpected delays and cash needs that often occur in moves and house closings.
  • Collect all important papers (insurance, will, deeds, stocks, etc.).
  • Arrange to close all local bank accounts and open new ones in new location.

Two Weeks Out:

  • Prepare auto(s) for trip to new home. Check tires and have vehicles serviced.
  • Terminate newspaper and other delivery services at old address.
  • Give away all plants you don’t intend to move.
  • If you’re moving out of a building with elevators, arrange with management for use of elevators on move day.
  • Schedule for appliance disconnects on moving day or the day before the move, if necessary.
  • Contact your moving company counselor to review and confirm all arrangements for your move.
  • Withdraw contents of any safe deposit boxes, return library books & rental video tapes, pick up any dry cleaning, etc.
  • Prepare specific directions to your new home for your moving company, including your travel itinerary and emergency numbers.

One Week Out:

  • Defrost refrigerator/freezer.
  • Plan simple meals for moving day to avoid using appliances.
  • Make plans for care of small children on moving day.
  • Transfer or withdraw all funds from local banks.
  • Separate cartons and luggage items you need for personal travel so they don’t get packed on the truck.
  • Pack a box of items you will need immediately upon arrival at your new home and have movers put this box on last (clearly mark box as PACK THIS LAST or UNPACK THIS FIRST) or take it with you.
  • Have appliances disconnected and prepared for move.
  • Set aside one room for packers and movers to work in freely.
  • Arrange to have utilities turned on at new home.
  • Notify friends and neighbors of new address and phone number (if available).
  • Fill any necessary prescriptions, medications needed for the next two weeks.
  • Set aside manuals and instructions for your current home for new owner.
  • Do NOT disconnect your telephone until the day after loading.

Moving Day:

  • Plan on spending the entire day at your old home with the movers. Don’t leave until the movers have left: it’s easy for someone else to overlook what should be moved.
  • Record all utility meter readings (gas, electric, water) and make a log of them to compare with your final closing statement.
  • Stay with the moving van driver to oversee inventory of goods.
  • Give moving van driver directions to new home and numbers where you can be reached prior to delivery.
  • Get routing information from moving van driver.
  • Review carefully and sign bill of lading and inventory, and keep your copy in a safe place until all charges have been paid and all claims (if any) have been settled.
  • Make final walk-through of house, including basement, attic and closets, to make sure it’s empty.
  • Lock all windows and doors, turn off the alarm system, make certain all faucets are turned off, and drop off keys with the Realtor, neighbor or new owner.

Have a safe move!

For The Pets:

For our little furry companions, relocating can be especially harrowing. We hope the below helps planning your move with your pet  (and let me know if you would like a free PDF of the below by  contacting us).

Before You Move:

  • Make an appointment and have your pets examined by your veterinarian – get copies of records to take and discuss strategies to make the move easier for your pets
  • Ask your vet for a referral to a practitioner in your new area
  • Book domestic air travel four weeks in advance of departure for domestic moves and six to eight weeks ahead for international moves
  • If moving overseas, have your pets examined and vaccinated 30 days prior to departure
  • Secure a form of identification to your pets’ collar; consider “chipping” your pets to prevent loss of identification
  • Book interim housing for your family and confirm that pets are allowed
  • If your move is local, take your pets on several visits to the new home before you make the move, to allow them to familiarize themselves with their new habitat.

Moving Day:

  • Before crossing into another state, know that some states have border inspection of animals and have strict laws regarding what plants, flowers, etc. are allowed in.
  • Limit pet feedings to once a day during the move, preferably in the evening, unless otherwise instructed by your vet.
  • Use a kennel big enough for your pets to stand up, lie down and turn around in natural positions.

Need Recommendations?

Looking for excellent local vets or other service providers? Tap into our Rolodex of resources and let us introduce you to options in your new area. Just let us know what your plans and needs are.

We look forward to speaking with you and can be reached at 949-285-1207.

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