Moving Guide – Moving Timeline
Moving can be an exciting time full of new opportunities. It can also be a time of increased stress, tight budgets and massive to-do lists. To manage all of the components of a successful move, it is wise to plot out a moving timeline. Although some moves happen very quickly, most families have at least two months in which to execute the move. The following suggestions and tips will help you manage your time right up to moving day.
Eight Weeks Before the Move
As you plot out your moving timeline, make a master list of all of the big and small tasks you need to finish prior to moving day, like managing utility accounts at your current and new home, packing, notifying friends and businesses of your address change, etc. It is wise to keep all of your moving documents in one place for easy access.
Eight weeks before the move is a great time to contact the Chamber of Commerce in your new community to gather resources for your move. The Chamber will have a listing of local business and service providers that can be of assistance to you during or after your move. Now is also a good time to find a mover, if you want professionals to move your belongings, or line up friends and family to help on moving day.
As soon as you know you are moving, it is smart to begin to use up perishable food items and those in freezer storage. Avoid making bulk supply purchases of cleaning supplies and other household paper items.
Six Weeks Before the Move
At this point, you can start to remove items in storage spaces such as attics, basements and storage sheds to start creating an inventory of your possessions. Use this opportunity to pare down your belongings if possible. Sort your items into categories of donate, throw, and pack. If your move will require the short-term or long-term usage of additional storage, make those arrangements at this time.
Keeping your financial affairs in order is a challenging part of any move, and now is a good time to talk to the IRS or your accountant about moving costs that may be tax deductible. If your employer is pitching in with moving costs, get specifics about the assistance. Find motor vehicle registration and licensing requirements in your new community. Make a list of business and personal contacts that will need to be informed of your move.
Four Weeks Before the Move
One month before the move is a good time to get rid of those items you no longer need. If you have the time, you want to have a yard sale to generate some extra cash or donate those belongings to a worthy charity. Make an inventory list of the items you plan to move. Get the packing materials you need for items you will pack yourself. Confirm the date of your move with your moving agent or friends and family who have agreed to help you with the heavy lifting on moving day.
A bulk of the paperwork concerning your move can be done at this time. Contact the Post Office and fill out a change of address form. Send out a notification to friends and business contacts to inform them of your move. Complete change of address procedures for all of your product and service providers. See that all school and medical (including veterinary) records are transferred. Travel plans should also be made at this time.
Two Weeks Before the Move
In the two weeks prior to your moving day, you will be packing all of your personal belongings. Use good packing practices and carefully wrap and label all fragile items, pack boxes only to a weight that is safe to carry, and label each box with the room in which it belongs and a listing of the contents. If you hire a mover to pack for you, the movers will tell you when they will start packing your items (typically no more than one week before moving day).
Return all borrowed items and collect items you have loaned to others. Arrange to disconnect utility services and have them connected in your new home. At this time it is a good idea to fill any medical prescriptions and make sure you are able to get refills in your new community.
One week before your move, you can pack suitcases and other travel necessities for your trip. Secure day care if necessary.
Moving Day
On the big day, accompany your mover throughout your house as the inventory list is made. You will need to sign the Interstate Bill of Lading to verify its accuracy. Put all of your shipping documents in a safe place. Make sure your mover has your contact information and knows your travel plans. Once all of your belongings are packed, walk through the home one last time to ensure that everything has been taken. At this point you can breathe a sigh of relief that your move is underway.