Moving Checklist

Three months prior to moving

To Do	Check When Done	Notes
Start saving for non-reimbursable moving expenses.
Discuss the moving process with your children to overcome their fear of relocation.
Start planning for special moving needs if you have an infant.
Notify your landlord you will be moving, but do not give him or her an exact date right now.
Begin making shipping arrangements for your vehicle(s) if necessary. If you are using your base transportation office, schedule a counseling session.
Start to keep track of tax deductible moving expenses.
Make an inventory of possessions and valuable items (take pictures or video tape). Get appraisals for antiques or collections.
Start organizing personal records like birth certificates, insurance papers or warranties.
Make a list of whom to notify concerning your move and forwarding address.
Let clubs/organizations that you belong to know you are leaving. Transfer your membership if possible.
Take care of necessary medical, optical or dental appointments. Obtain your records or find out how to forward them later.
Have Power of Attorney or Letter of Authorization drawn up for unforeseen circumstances.
Go through closets and drawers to sort through clothes and other items to give away or sell.
Make sure all tags and stickers from previous moves are removed from furniture and household items.
Stop making any purchases that will be delivered to your home.

Two months prior to moving

To Do	Check When Done	Notes
Start using up canned foods and other consumables.
Have an "inventory session" to decide what you need to take with you and what you can get rid of.
Begin sorting out and disposing of items you don't need. You can sell them through garage sales or go to an online marketplace such as eBay.
If you are buying a new home at your new location, you should choose one as soon as possible, arrange financing, and set tentative closing dates.
If you require child care at your new location, start looking into options.
If you have school-age children, check school schedules and enrollment requirements at your new location.
If you plan to take a vacation on the way to your new address, make all your reservations as soon as possible.
If you have a car, truck or auto, be sure that all maintenance and repairs are taken care of now.
Contact your insurance company about protection for auto(s), home and household storage, and high-value items.
If you have pets, have them checked by a local vet, and be sure that all vaccinations and inoculations are up to date. Get a copy of your pet's medical records.
Close out any local charge accounts.
If necessary, open up an account and a safe deposit box at a bank at your new location.
Check expiration dates on major credit cards you plan to use during travel.
Contact the Department of Motor Vehicles at your new location for information about changing your driver's license and registration.

One month prior to moving

To Do	Check When Done	Notes
Schedule pickup and delivery dates with your mover, and arrange for storage if needed.
Verify your move-in schedule with real estate agents and landlords, and arrange for temporary housing/lodgings if needed.
Obtain change of address cards from the post office. Send out change-of-address card to the post office, your friends, relatives and magazines.
If you haven't found a new residence yet, obtain a post office box or forwarding address for your mail until you have a permanent address.
Get rid of any unwanted items around your house (furniture, clothes, etc). Hold a garage sale or donate them to charity. Keep any receipts from your donations for tax purposes.
Arrange to pick up your children's school records or get the proper procedures for sending the records to their new school.
Arrange for letter of transfer from local church and clubs, including Scouts or other national organizations.
If your family is driving in two or more vehicles, buy some short-range walkie-talkies so you can keep in touch while you're on the road.
Arrange with your employer to forward tax withholding forms.
Spouse and children with part time jobs should give notice.
Ensure that all health, life, fire and auto insurance is up to date, and inform these companies of your new address.
Return library books and other borrowed items.
Ensure that your vehicle(s) are in good running condition and that all required maintenance has been completed.
Record serial numbers of electronic and other important equipment.
Fill out an IRS change of address form (available from the IRS in PDF format).
Have appliances serviced for moving.
Notify your credit card companies of your new or temporary address.
Cancel all local deliveries and services, such as newspapers and diaper service.
Switch utility services to your new address. Inform electric, disposal, water, newspaper, magazine subscription, telephone and cable companies of your move, and cancel any local subscriptions or services (i.e., pool, diaper, fuel delivery) if necessary. If you have placed any deposits, get your refunds.

One - two weeks prior to moving

To Do	Check When Done	Notes
Reconfirm your packing, pick-up and delivery dates with your mover.
Close out safety deposit box if you have one.
Buy a bunch of ziplock bags -- these will come in handy when packing large sets of small items, like silverware, or for components of furniture that need to be broken down (i.e., screws, bolts).
Make copies of any important documents before mailing or hand-carrying them to your new address.
Remove wall accessories such as drapery rods, small appliances, food and utensil racks.
Pull out all items from beneath stairways, attics or any other area that does not allow full standing room.
Drain garden hoses.
Drain oil and gas from lawn mowers and other gas operated tools. Disconnect spark plugs.
Dispose of flammables such as fireworks, cleaning fluids, matches, acids, chemistry sets, aerosal cans, ammunition, oil, paint and thinners.
Refillable tanks must be purged and sealed by a local propane gas dealer. Discard nonrefillable tanks. Some carriers do not permit shipment of any propane tanks.
Disassemble outdoor play equipment and structures such as utility sheds.
Disassemble electronic components such as stereos and VCRs. Place original packing boxes (if they are in good condition and you want the movers to use them) by the equipment. If you decide to pack the item in the original carton yourself, leave the boxes opened so items can be inventoried.
If you have a computer, "park" hard disk drive units, then disconnect computer systems. Place floppy disks in protective cases before packing into cartons.
If you are using your vehicle, make sure that it is in good running condition and that all required maintenance has been completed.
Give a close friend or relative your travel route and schedule so you may be reached if needed.
Retrieve any developed film, dry cleaning or other items.
Renew and pick up any necessary prescriptions. Pack medicine in leakproof, spillproof containers.
Set aside cleaning materials to be used after packing and loading.
Plan menus from what you have remaining in the freezer and cabinets.

Last few days prior to moving

To Do	Check When Done	Notes
Separate items that will not be packed, including suitcases.
Keep a household inventory list on hand to carry with your personal luggage.
Make a complete inventory of all the boxes you will have moved to your new location -- you will need to check this later after you move in.
Attach colored stickers to your boxes to correspond with rooms in your new home where you want your boxes to go. If you are using movers, prepare a color-coded map of your new house, so they'll know exactly where to take your belongings.
Make sure that cash, jewelry, important documents, your checkbook and other valuable items are secure and placed with the suitcases and other items you are hand-carrying yourself. Do not ship jewelry.
If you are renting a truck or other vehicle for your move, check it over to make sure everything is running properly.
Make sure the condition of belongings is accurately noted. If anything is marked "scratched, dented or soiled" also note the location of such problem.
Confirm child care and pet arrangements if necessary.
Clean and dry refrigerator and freezer. Allow to dry one or two days with doors propped open. Note: Families with children or pets present should block the doors from accidentally closing. To avoid a musty odor you can place several charcoal briquettes in a stocking or sock in both the freezer and refrigerator compartment.
Discard partly-used cans and containers of substances that might leak.
Carefully tape and place in individual waterproof bags any jars of liquid you plan to take with you.
Remove outside TV and radio antennas.
Remove air conditioners from windows.
Remove pictures and mirrors from walls.
Disconnect gas and electrical appliances. Moving companies are NOT required to perform the disconnects or to reconnect at the destination address.

The Day of the Move

To Do	Check When Done	Notes
Get up early and be ready for movers to arrive. Do not have dirty dishes in the kitchen, or dirty clothes in hampers or lying around the house. Take all trash out of the residence.
Have coffee, cold drinks and snacks for yourself (and packers if you wish). This is going to be a very long day ...
Be sure that you or someone assisting in your move is at home at all times -- Most moves are conducted during normal business hours.
Make sure cash, jewelry, important documents, checkbook and other valuable items are secure (put them in the trunk of your car along with your suitcases and what ever else you take with you). Do not ship jewelry.
Get pets under control before movers arrive. If necessary, ask a neighbor to keep them for you if you haven't made boarding arrangements.
Double-check closets, drawers, shelves, the attic and garage to be sure you have packed everything.
Have a marker handy to make extra notes on boxes.
If you are hand-carrying any boxes with you, be sure to mark "DO NOT MOVE" on them clearly.
Carry a box of "basics" you'll need on move-in day (i.e., tools, paper products, housecleaning supplies, emergency kits, etc.).
Verify that mover's inventory is detailed, complete and accurate. Do not accept any "miscellaneous" labels or entries (especially on high value items).
Watch loading and unloading, and examine all items carefully before signing a receipt.
Make sure the condition of belongings is accurately noted. If anything is marked "scratched, dented, or soiled" also note the location of such entries.
Check the entire house before releasing the packers, to make sure that nothing is left behind which needs to be moved. The packers are not required to return to the residence after they have been released.
Leave all the old keys that are needed by the new tenant or owner with your Realtor or a neighbor.
Carry travelers checks for quick, available funds. You should have enough to cover the cost of moving services and expenses until you are settled in.
Hand-carry finance, medical and dental records.

Upon Arrival

To Do	Check When Done	Notes
Arrange for phone, gas, and electricity to be connected.
Check the pilot lights on the stove, water heater, incinerator and furnace.
If you are moving to a new state, register your car and get a new driver's license as soon as possible.
Connect with medical serivces in your new location, such as doctors, dentists, etc.
Before the moving van arrives, clean the hard-to-reach places in your new residence.
When the movers arrive, check their inventory against the one you made prior to departure -- they should match.
Register your children in school.
Connect with medical serivces in your new location, such as doctors, dentists, etc.
Know in advance where to place each piece of furniture. The mover is required to place each piece only one time.