Moving Timeline
8 Weeks Before
- Decide whether you're going to move yourself or hire a moving company. If you decide to do it yourself, determine what size truck you will need and make a reservation with a rental company. If you're hiring professionals, start researching companies, determining their availability on your move day and securing estimates for the job. Then, book your movers based on estimates received.
- Organize your home and identify certain belongings that you should not bring with you. Once you have this completed, plan a yard sale or donate the items that you will not move to charity.
- Create an inventory by room of the belongings that will be transported.
- If you have children, contact the school they'll be attending and arrange for a transfer of their school records.
4 Weeks Before
- If you're a renter, ensure that you've given your landlord sufficient notice to satisfy the requirements of your rental agreement.
- Call your doctors and dentists and request copies of your medical and dental records.
- Contact your insurance companies (medical, vehicle, homeowners/renters) to notify each of your address change and to update your policies, if needed.
- Make sure to back up your computer in order to protect against the loss of personal documents and print out any documents you might need during your move.
- Arrange to have your auto registration transferred.
- Complete a change of address with your credit card company and/or Social Security Services.
2 Weeks Before
- Complete a Change of Address form online via the USPS website.
- Dispose of flammables, corrosives and poisons.
- Confirm travel arrangements for your family and any pets.
- Notify your phone and cable company as well as your utilities (water, gas, electric) that you'll be moving and set a services shutoff date that falls 1-2 days after your move.
1 Week Before
- Confirm pickup day/time with your movers or reservation with your truck.
- Send out your moving announcement to friends, family and any business contacts.
Get Ready to Move: Top 10 Tips for Getting Started
- Make a Plan
- Create a Timeline
- Set a Budget
- Do it Yourself vs. Hiring a Pro
- Make a Moving File
- Make Sure You're Insured
- Get Your Records
- Update Your Address
- Don't Forget Your Utilities
- Announce the Big Move
Get Ready to Move: Top 10 Tips for Getting Started
Make a Plan
Develop a list of tasks that need to be completed before your move, determine what updates need to be made at your current and future homes before moving day, schedule a day to organize your belongings and determine what moves, what will be donated or sold and what will be thrown away.
Create a Timeline
Track back from your move day and plot out when all of your moving tasks need to be completed. An effective timeline will ensure that your move is hassle free. Also, planning ahead can save you money since you will have time to compare and negotiate rates and prices in advance.
Set a Budget
Based on the distance and size of your move, determine how much you can spend to close up your own home, move all of your belongings and settle into your new place. Setting your budget in advance will allow you to plan your move within your budget's parameters.
Decide to Do it Yourself or Hire a Pro
Determine if you can move your home yourself based on the size and contents of your move and if you have the time to complete all of the work. Reach out to at least 3 moving companies to receive estimates on your job. Compare pricing and based on your budget, identify if you have the funds to hire movers. If you decide to handle the move yourself, start organizing and/or purchasing all of the items needed for the move and make a reservation for a moving truck. The items we recommend you have on hand are boxes, packing tape, scissors, a utility knife, moving blankets, bubble wrap, a hand truck, gloves & permanent markers.
Make a Moving File
This essential organizational tool will help you keep track of everything from moving estimates and receipts to other documents like to do lists and contacts sheets that will make your move a breeze.
Make Sure You're Insured
Contact your insurance provider to confirm all needed policies will transfer, including homeowner, health and automobile.
Get Your Records
Secure copies of any legal and financial records that you will need during or after the move and make sure to keep them in a secure place so they don't get lost in transit.
Update Your Address
Forwarding your mail is a crucial step to pulling off a successful move. Updating USPS with your new address ensures that your credit card statements, cell phone bill and other private information are forwarded to your new address. This can easily be done on USPS's website. Also, don't forget to contact your family's schools to transfer your children's records, compile medical and dental records including prescriptions and shot records and ask your veterinarian to transfer records.
Don't Forget Your Utilities
With so many things to coordinate during your move, many people forget to turn on and off their utilities. It's a good idea to schedule your service around two weeks in advance. You should keep your current utilities in your old house running for at least two days after you move and to have your future utilities turned on two days in advance.
Announce the Big Move
Send out paper and/or electronic announcements with your new address the week before you move, letting friends and family know where you will be living.
