Wheeler's Moving And Storage Checklist
- PLANNING YOUR
MOVE
From choosing your moving company to settling
into your new home, the following Moving Planner Checklist guides you to make
sure nothing is overlooked and everything goes smoothly.
Starting early is helpful and will make the whole process easier. However, if
you started late, don’t worry, we have provided many resources here to help you
get through it quickly. Six to Eight Weeks Before Your Move - Choose a
moving company (Click here “How to choose a Moving
Company”)
- Create a "Moving Planner Folder" file using an
organizer folder with pockets to keep track of all your moving details and
collect your receipts for moving-related expenses.
- Start to use up things you can't
move, such as frozen foods and cleaning supplies.
- Learn about your new city and
community (Click here “Moving to a New City”)
- If you're moving at an employer's
request, verify your moving budget and your responsibilities.
- Obtain information about what
moving expenses may be tax-deductible.
- Make a list with three columns: items to leave
behind, items for moving company to move, and items you'll move by yourself. For
each item you are not going to take with you, decide whether you'll sell it,
give it away to charity, or otherwise dispose of it before your move. (Click here “Inventory Wizard”)
- Make a list of everyone you need to
notify about your move: friends, professionals, creditors, subscriptions, etc.
- Begin to enjoy the local paper in
your new community
- Locate all motor vehicle registration and
licensing documents.
- If you will need to store some of your
belongings, make the necessary arrangements now. (Click here “Find Storage”)
- Collect all your personal records
(school, medical, legal, and accounting). Ask for referrals where possible.
Five Weeks Before Your Move - Submit a
Change of Address form to the post office. (Click here “Change of Address”)
- Arrange special transportation for
your pets and plants.
- Arrange to Disconnect/Connect all utilities
(gas, electric, oil, water, telephone, cable TV, and trash collection) at your
old and new addresses. Keep phone and utilities connected at your current home
throughout your moving day. (Click here “Change Utilities Wizard”)
- Arrange for insurance coverage in
your new home (auto, homeowner's or renter's, medical, and life) (Click here “Insurance”)
- Plan a garage sale to sell unneeded
items or arrange to donate them to charity.
- If necessary make travel
arrangements and reservations for your moving trip.
- Collect important papers
(insurance, will, deeds, stock, etc.)
Four
Weeks Before Your Move - Create a
floor plan of your new home and begin thinking about where you'll want to place
furniture. Advance planning eases the stress of making major decisions when your
furniture arrives at your new home. Mark and label specific pieces of furniture
on your diagram and put it in your Moving Planner Folder.
- If you're moving out of or into a
building with elevators, contact the building management to schedule use of the
elevators and inquire about any other guidelines that must be followed.
Three Weeks Before Your Move - If
you're packing yourself, ask your moving company to deliver an assortment of
boxes, this service should be free and you should only have to pay for the boxes
you use. Start packing items you will not need to use until after your move. (Click here “Packing
and Supplies”)
- Have your automobile serviced if you're
traveling by car.
Two Weeks Before Your Move - Contact
your Moving Consultant to review and confirm all arrangements for your move. (Click here “Moving
Consultants”)
- If you're doing your own packing, Start
Packing. Label the contents of all boxes and pack carefully. Box essential items
together and write "Open First/Load Last" on these boxes. When you move into
your new home, you'll be able to easily identify these boxes and find essential
items. It's a good idea to let a professional mover pack any fragile and
valuable items. That's what they do for a living and they have proven methods
for keeping your items safe. (Click here “How To Pack”)
- Arrange to close accounts at your
local bank and open accounts in your new locale.
- Don't forget to withdraw the
contents of your safety deposit box, pick up any dry cleaning, return library
books and rented videotapes, etc.
- Drain gas and oil from power equipment (lawn
mowers, snow blowers, etc.).
- Some state laws prohibit the moving of
houseplants. Consider giving your plants to a friend or local charity.
- Make sure to notify your Moving
Consultant if you add items to, or subtract items from, your planned household
goods shipment or if there are any changes in the dates of your move.
One Week Before Your Move - Check
back through your Moving Planner Checklist to make sure you haven't overlooked
anything.
- Prepare specific directions to your
destination for your moving company. Make sure your Moving Consultant knows the
phone numbers where you can be reached until you get into your new home. (Click here “Destination Information”)
- Defrost your freezer and
refrigerator. Block doors open so they can't accidentally close on pets or
children.
- Have your major appliances disconnected and
prepared for the move. (Again, your relocation consultant can help with
arrangements for a third party to provide these services.)
- Prepare a "Trip Kit" for moving
day. This kit should contain the things you'll need while your belongings are in
transit. Make sure to load your Trip Kit into your car to avoid it being loaded
into the van by mistake.
- Pack a box of personal items that will include
all your jewelry and small valuables. Take this box in the car with you.
- Call ahead to confirm the utilities
are connected at your new home.
- Contact your Moving Consultant to confirm
arrival time of the moving van as well as to notify them of any last minute
details.
Moving Day - Strip
your beds, and make sure the bedding goes into a "Load Last" box.
- Make sure that someone is at home
to welcome your movers and answer any questions. Your Van Foreman should present
you with a “Your Right and Responsibilities” brochure. (Click here “Right
and Responsibilities”).
- It's important that an adult be authorized to
take your place if you are unable to be present at any time while the movers are
there. Let your Moving Consultant know to whom you have given this authority. Be
sure that your chosen representative knows exactly what to do. Remember - this
person may be asked to sign documents obligating you to charges.
- Accompany the Van Foreman as he or
she inspects and tags each piece of furniture with an identifying number. These
numbers, along with a detailed description of your goods and their condition at
the time of loading, will appear on the inventory. Read your Bill of Lading and
Inventory carefully before you sign them. Keep these -- and all related papers
-- in a safe location until all charges have been paid and all claims, if any,
have been settled.
- It is your responsibility to see that all of
your goods are loaded, so remain on the premises until loading is completed.
Move In Day - Review
your floor plan to refresh your memory about where you want furniture and
appliances placed.
- Plan to be present when the moving van
arrives. Be prepared to pay the mover before unloading. Have payment on hand for
your moving charges. Unless other billing arrangements were made in advance,
payment is required upon delivery in cash, traveler's checks, money order or
cashier's check. Moving Companies do not accept personal checks.
- One person should check the
inventory sheets as items are unloaded. A second person should direct the movers
as to where to place items.
- Once all items are unloaded, unpack only what
you need for the first day or two. Focus on creating a sense of home for your
family. Give yourself at least two weeks to unpack and organize your belongings.
- Contact your Moving Consultant and
inform them of the level of Quality and Service you received during the moving
process.
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