60 days prior
- Remove unnecessary items from your attic, storage shed, etc.
- Use things you can’t move, such as frozen foods and cleaning supplies
- Start a possessions inventory
- Solicit estimates from three moving companies – moving.com
- Call your insurance agent to find out how your policy will cover your move
- Start a folder to begin collecting all moving papers and receipts
- Prepare a list of things to transfer – school records, medical records, car registrations, driver’s license, change of address, utilities, etc.
45 days prior
- Contact the IRS or your CPA for tax-deductible information
- Evaluate your possessions – Can you donate anything? Do you need it all?
- Notify people of your move – friends, relatives, professionals, creditors, subscriptions, etc.
- Find healthcare professionals and hospitals at your new location
- Clean your closet
- Hold a moving or garage sale or donate items to charities
- Choose a mover or decide to move yourself
- Contact your mover to ask about insurance
30 days prior
- Send furniture, drapes and carpets for repair/cleaning as needed
- Gather auto licensing and registration documents, medical, dental and school records, birth certificates, wills, deeds, stock and other financial documentation
- Contact gas, electric, water, telephone, cable, and trash collection companies for service disconnection and connection at your old and new addresses.
- Request refunds on unused homeowner’s insurance, security deposit with landlord and prepaid cable service
- Notify your gardener, pool service, etc.
- Contact insurance companies (auto, homeowner’s, medical and life) to arrange for coverage in your new home
15 days prior
- Make travel plans
- Arrange for childcare on moving day
- Arrange for special transport for your pets and plants
- Service your car for the trip
- Contact your moving company and review arrangements for your move
After Closing
- Complete change of address via the post office and online services for the following:
- Banks
- Charge cards
- Religious organizations
- Doctor/dentist
- Relatives and friends
- Income tax bureau/Social Security Administration
- Insurance broker/lawyer/CPA/stockbroker
- Magazines
- Post office
- Schools
- Notify the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) of your new address
- Set up Utilities
Moving Day
- Carry enough cash to cover cost of moving services and expenses until you make banking connections in new city if needed outside of a debit and credit card
- Carry jewelry and important documents yourself, or use registered mail
- Plan for transporting of pets
- Double check closets, drawers, shelves to be sure they are empty
- Leave old keys, garage door openers and instruction manuals needed by new owner or tenant
At Your New Home
- Check on service of telephone, gas, electricity, water and garbage
- Check pilot light on stove, water heater and furnace
- Ask mail delivery person for mail they may be holding for your arrival
- Have new address recorded on driver’s license and car registration
- Register children in school