Timely
Tips for a Smooth Family Move
Every family's schedule for a move will
be different, of course. But much of the
hassle can be taken out of Moving Day
by adapting a proven timetable to fit
available time. Feel free to shift tasks
to suit your special circumstances.
M-Day (Moving Day)
Minus Six Weeks
- Change address at post office (effective
on moving day). Keep a list of needed
address changes; check off as notified.
Change magazines and other computer-addressed
mail now.
- Start a file of vital papers and reminders
(an accordion file or three-ring binder
with pocket dividers keeps them in their
proper categories).
- Get estimates from moving companies.
Plan ahead if moving in peak season
of June through September.
^back
to top
M-Day Minus Five
Weeks
- Select a moving company, confirm moving
date and decide who will pack: professionals
or family. Paid packers typically come
the day before M-day.
- Start sorting. Decide what to move,
what to sell, give away, discard. Take
cuttings or give away extra houseplants.
Trim down as much as possible before
takeoff. Be ruthless.
- Sketch floor plan of new home, decide
furniture placement.
- Inventory possessions, with value
and year of purchase if possible. Photo
or video records are ideal.
- Start do-it-yourself packing: seldom-used
dishes, glassware, books, off -season
cloths, workshop, garage, garden tools,
and hobby equipment. Establish staging
area for packed cartons in extra room
or garage.
TIP: Do you have a lot of books?
You can sometimes save money mailing these
rather than shipping them by van. Remember
to take your old phone books for reference,
and get new town directories ASAP.
^back
to top
M-Day Minus Four
Weeks
- Take care of legal contracts (by self
or with the help of an attorney, insurance
agent, accountant and/or a relocation
advisor). Included: credit cards, bank
accounts, charge accounts / utilities
and telephone service / memberships
in social, athletic and religious organizations;
make arrangements to move membership
/ insurance: homeowners, automobile,
medical life and disability / employment
agreements / wills, trust and other
legal or financial matters; safe deposit
box / leased products and services.
- Make sure employer has new address.
Get letters of reference to establish
credit in new location.
- Talk with veterinarian about moving
pets; get records. Allow extra time
id needed shots require a waiting period
in between. Check airplane restrictions.
^back
to top
M-Day Minus Three
Weeks
- Arrange for children's medical/dental
records, birth certificates and school
transcripts. Ask doctors, dentists to
recommend colleagues in the new area.
- Fill prescriptions and get copy from
doctor for new pharmacist or optometrist.
- Drop off dry cleaning (make a note:
remember to pick it up!).
- Pick up anything being repaired, serviced
or on layaway.
^back
to top
M-Day Minus Two Weeks
- Check address-change list. Everyone
notified?
- Make reservations, have car serviced
for the trip. Earlier ticketing can
save money, but risks partial loss if
changes are needed. Best to provide
breathing room
- Collect children's games, activities
for the trip.
- Arrange to have major appliances serviced
for move, if needed. Check owners' manuals.
- Start packing often-used belongings
(do-it-yourselfers).
- Plan farewell parties and visits for
this week.
^back
to top
M-Day Minus One Week
- Return borrowed items, library books;
collect anything borrowed by friends
and neighbors.
- Cancel newspaper delivery, effective
on M-Day.
- Plan meals and snacks, to minimize
shopping and use up on-hand food. Have
"quick-fix" foods ready for
M-Day, or plan to eat out/carry in.
- Consider having kids go to friends/babysitter
for M-Day.
- Arrange to have utilities turned on
in the new location on estimated move-in
date.
- Empty oil and gas from lawnmower and
other equipment.
- Pack everything in kitchen that can
be done without until unpacked at new
home.
^back
to top
M-Day Minus One Day
- Empty, defrost and clean refrigerator.
Leave door open to dry well.
- Get travelers checks. Empty safe deposit
box. Consider cashier's check for opening
checking account in new town and certified
check for house closing. Make arrangements
to pay movers (personal checks may not
be accepted).
- Finish packing suitcase with personal
belongings to use until van arrives
at new home.
- Finish packing kitchen things.
- Pack "CARE" carton of essentials
(coffee pot, toiletries, canned and
dry food, can opener, light bulbs, trash
bags, sauce pan, etc.) to be loaded
last and unloaded first.
- Load the car, if driving to new home.
Pack favorite picnic food to save money.
^back
to top
M-Day
- Strip beds.
- Load last-minute items in car
- Be available to movers for questions/suggestions,
but don't try to supervise the van packing.
Mark boxes (colored stickers are ideal)
for room placement in new house. Check
inventory carefully. Be sure movers
know how to contact client en route
and in the new town before their arrival.
Give them a map to the new house.
- Check the rooms, cupboards, closets,
drawers, dishwasher, and washer/dryer.
Empty garbage.
- Sweep or vacuum (borrow neighbor's
equipment).
- Leave appliance manuals, warranties,
neighbors' names, service companies,
drawing of things in yard that don't
show (like bulbs). Give new owner the
new address so stray mail can be forwarded.
- Say goodbye to the house with final
check. Lock up. Leave keys and garage-door
opener in designated place. Take off.
^back
to top
Moving In
- Be at new home a day ahead of van,
if possible, to be sure utilities are
connected and to plan for placement
of furnishings.
- When movers arrive, open the "CARE"
package and start feeling at home.
- As movers unload, direct the placement
of furnishings. Give them a floor plan
sketch. Check each item off inventory
sheet.
- Check exterior of cartons for damage
before signing receipt.
- Celebrate! Go out or carry in for
dinner.
^back
to top |
 |
