Move-in Checklist
If you plan ahead, you can make your move less stressful.
One Month Before:
- Interview and choose a moving company. Reserve the date.
- Gather and keep all important papers in an accessible place (i.e., medical, bank, insurance and school records).
- Gather and keep all important phone numbers in an accessible place.
- Send out change of address cards to important contacts (i.e. banks, credit cards, dentist, doctors, insurance, subscriptions and friends/relatives).
- Beg, borrow or buy sturdy boxes, lots of boxes"you"ll need more than you think!
Two Weeks Before:
- Fill out a mail forwarding card at the Post Office.
- Start packing: label your boxes with contents, room destination (boys room, girls room, master) and "Open First" for essentials.
- Label boxes with "Fragile" or "This Side Up" when appropriate.
- In the "Open First" box, include a bottle of champagne and glasses"you"ll deserve a celebration!
- In the "Open First" box you will also want to include toilet paper, medications, first aid kit and light bulbs.
- Get rid of STUFF"decide what to move, donate or sell, remember STUFF requires stuff management; stuff management during a move is difficult.
- Plan connect/disconnect dates with gas, electric, and cable TV companies.
- Set up phone and water service at your new residence.
- Evaluate your furniture for special needs. Pianos, large wall units and sofa beds may need special equipment"notify the moving company of any special needs.
The Big Day:
- Don"t panic!
- Keep important documents, phone numbers, camera and keys handy.
- Confirm arrival time with movers.
- Double-check closets, basement, attic, garage for pets and children.
- Supervise the movers with loading furniture/valuables.
- Meet movers promptly at your new home.
- Walk the movers through your new home to identify the rooms (remember, you put room destinations on your boxes), place stickies on door frames to identify rooms.
- Guide movers on placement of furniture/boxes"go ahead and try the sofa on two or three walls, remember they are paid to move your furniture; your spouse will thank you.
- Unpack the boxes you labeled "Open First".
- Pop the top on the bottle of champagne and toast to your new home.
- Make all beds first; you never know when you will need to rest.
- Have a housewarming party!
For Do-It-Yourself Moving:
- Unless you are moving just down the street, get help!
- Reserve your moving truck at least two weeks in advance.
- Make sure you get a big enough truck.
- Beg, borrow or buy sturdy boxes, lots of boxes"you"ll need more than you think!
- Pack carefully and don"t overfill the boxes"remember, you"ll be moving this stuff.
- Load carefully"lift with your legs, not your back.
- Evaluate your furniture for special needs"pianos, large wall units and sofa beds may need extra muscle to move.
- Make all beds first; you never know when you will need to rest.
- Have a housewarming party!