Tips on How to Prepare your Move

Planning is the key to a successful relocation and these tips on how to prepare your move will help you to make a smooth and stress-free move. Please take time to refer to the tips for moving, which will remind you about the actions you need to take in the weeks before you relocate.

House moving tips for nine to twelve weeks before the move

• Establish tentative dates for your move and start the planning process.
• If your company is paying for the relocation, check the relocation policy to find out about what expenses will be reimbursed by the company.
• Notify your landlord about the move, or start the process of selling your house.
• Start hunting for a new home in the city where you are moving.
• Decide about whether you want to do some of the packing yourself or if you will use professional packers.
• Start the process of selecting a moving company.
• Make a list of people who need to be notified about your move. You will need to inform relatives, friends, the Post Office, utilities, publications, the IRS, etc.
• Ask your accountant or the IRS about tax-deductible moving expenses, and keep all receipts for moving expenses in a folder.
• Start sorting your things and decide about what you intend to take with you. Plan a garage sale for the things you don’t need, or donate them to a charitable organization.  

Household moving tips for six to eight weeks before the move

• Make arrangements to rent or buy a home in the town, to which you are moving.
• Select a relocation company and make arrangements for your move.
• Show the mover’s representative everything that has to be moved and obtain a moving companies estimate. Read about your rights and responsibilities and sign the moving estimate only after you have clearly understood everything. Obtain the phone number of the person you are dealing with.
• Make a floor plan of your new home and decide about the position of every piece of furniture.
• Make tentative travel arrangements for yourself and your family. You may be able to get the cheapest air fares, if you book air tickets at least 30 days in advance.
• Start the process of registering in schools in the new city and transferring school records.
• If you plan to do the packing yourself, start looking for professional quality moving boxes and supplies.  
• Collect all important documents like medical records, wills and stock certificates and keep them in a folder. Carry them yourself when you move.
• Gather all valuables like jewelry, collectibles, photographs and carry them yourself when you move.
• Open a bank account in the new town and make arrangements for a safe deposit box.
• Donate the things you don’t need to charity or arrange a garage sale. Get a receipt, since you may be able to claim a tax deduction on what you donate.   
• Talk to your insurance agent about transferring automobile, property and medical insurance.
• Find out about the requirements for license plates or registration and for new driver’s licenses.
• Search for employment opportunities for your spouse and kids.
• Obtain the contact numbers of utilities and find out about the necessary formalities or requirement for deposits, before services will commence.
• If you have not been able to find a home, you can consider having your mail forwarded to a Post Office box.   

Move tips for four to five weeks before you move

• Contact utility providers at your new and old homes and inform them about the date when you will be moving. This includes electricity, gas, telephone, trash collection and cable television.  
• Contact the Post Office and fill out the change of address form, which is also available at www.usps.com.
• Inform relatives, friends, banks, insurance companies, credit card companies, doctors, dentists, service providers, associations, clubs, periodical subscription providers, etc.
• Make lists of things you don’t want to take, those you will take with you, and those that will be transported by the mover.
• If you are doing the packing, learn about how to pack your things and ask your kids to help.
• Start consuming supplies of frozen food and only buy the things that you can consume before you move.
• Arrange a garage sale or use an online auction service to clear out things you no longer need.   
• Schedule pick-up and delivery dates with the moving service and arrange for storage, if it is required.
• Talk to your real estate agent or landlord to confirm your schedule.
• If you are planning to transport expensive items like antiques, have their value assessed.

Moving packing tips for two to three weeks before you move

• Make final arrangements with auto movers, to ship your car and if you plan to drive, have it serviced.
• Clear out all parts of your home, including the attic and basement.
• Make final decisions about packing and clear out your home.
• Have draperies and rugs cleaned.
• Drain oil and gasoline from all your power equipment. 
• Dispose of propane tanks.  
• Discard flammable or combustible substances like oil, paint, acids, and fireworks. Seal all non-flammable non-toxic liquids with tape in plastic bags.
• Arrange to cancel regular services like newspaper and trash collection from the day of the move.
• Make arrangements to have utilities disconnected on a particular date and inform them about your forwarding address.
• Contact utilities in the new city and make arrangements for services to be commenced on a particular date.
• Some states don’t permit the entry of house plants, so give them away or donate them to a charity, hospital or other organization.
• Return everything that you borrowed, like library books and take back things you have lent.
• Inform the house movers, if there is any change in your plan or if you need any additional services like packing, unpacking or storage.
• You can transport your pets by air or take them in the car. Obtain health certificates and arrange for rabies shots, since these may be required in some states. Attach identification and rabies tags securely.
• Collect all personal records from school, lawyers, accountants, doctors, dentists, etc.
• Transfer prescriptions to the new city.
• Make all financial arrangements like settling outstanding bills, transferring bank accounts, clearing safe deposit boxes, informing your broker, etc.
• Clean out lockers in school, gyms, etc.
• Back-up your computer data and disassemble your computer.   

Packing moving tips for one week before you move

• Mow your lawn and make any minor repairs that your house may need.
• Disconnect and clean all appliances. Empty and defrost your refrigerator, at least 24 hours before you move.
• Separate the items that you will take with you and those you want the movers to take.
• Confirm travel arrangements for your family and pack your personal belongings.
• Give your household moving agent the address and contact number of your new home and any other contact number where you can be reached.
• Ask the house moving agent if you will be required to pay cash on delivery (COD) and make arrangements.
• Check to see what the insurance coverage that you have arranged covers.
• Collect keys, garage door remote control and alarm codes, in one place, so you can hand them over, when you move.
• Notify the police, if your home will be unoccupied for a long time.
• Prepare the items you will need, while your possessions are in transit. Collect the clothing and toiletries that you will need on the first night that you will spend in your new home.
• Tell the packers about things you will need first, when you reach your new home and point out fragile items.
• If you are doing the packing yourself, make sure that everything is packed and ready to go, before the day of the move. Use labels like “Fragile,” “Load last” and “Do not load.”

Moving out tips for moving day

• Clean out the home and check every closet and every room.
• Arrange for a baby sitter to look after your kids, during the loading and unloading process.  
• Be present when the movers and packers arrive and stay at home until the last item has been packed. If you cannot be present, ask a family member or friend to be there. Ensure that the person is aware of the arrangements you have made with the company.
• The driver will inspect each item at the time of loading. Check the inventory of the home movers, to see that you agree with the comments about the condition of your furniture. Take photographs, if necessary. 
• Exchange contact details with the agent.
• Give clear directions to the driver, about the route to your new home.
• Hand over keys, garage door remote control and alarm codes, before you go.
• If you are wondering about how much to tip movers, you may like to tip $20 per person, depending on the quality of service. It may also be nothing or much higher, depending on how helpful they are.   

This moving tips checklist is intended to help you remember most of the important things you need to take care of, before you move, though it does not claim to be all-inclusive.

To get free moving companies quotes from reputed budget movers in your area, please fill out the form provided on our website. We will never give your contact details to anyone, without your permission.

Please feel free to e-mail us for any additional moving and packing tips, you need. We wish you luck for a smooth and stress-free move.