Moving Check List printable pdf download

T H E

O N LY

M OV I N G

CHECKLIST

Yo u ’ l l E ve r N e e d

BEFORE THE MOVE

W EEKS

Keep, sell, give, or trash

Investigate companies

to help with your move

Go through your home and decide which

things are worth the trouble to move, which

•Professional movers

you could potentially sell, which you might

•Truck rentals for a DIY move

want to donate, and which you should throw

away.

•Maid service to clean after you’re moved out

Create a binder

Create an inventory

of your home

Gather important information and

documents regarding your move, such as

Focus on the most important and/or valuable

moving company estimates, purchase or

things to you. You will be using this list at the

rental agreements for your new home, an

end of the move to make sure that everything

inventory of items that could potentially get

made it safely. It’s also a good idea to take

lost or damaged during the move, or even

pictures of items that may get damaged to

this checklist.

show their condition prior to the move.

Plan what will go where

Organize school records

in your new home

If you have children, arrange to have their

records transferred to the new school they’ll

If you can, acquire a floorplan of your new

be attending after the move.

home. Plot out where you intend to place

your furniture. If there is a piece that won’t fit,

it' s best to figure that out now before you go

through the trouble of moving it.

BEFORE THE MOVE

W EEKS

Slow down on your

Begin gathering boxes and

grocery shopping

other shipping containers

Start using up the things that you don’t

You can order specialty containers, such as

want to move, such as perishable and

wardrobe boxes for hanging clothes. You can

frozen foods, cleaning supplies, paper

also gather boxes from stores that have

goods, etc.

discarded them or from friends who may have

recently moved.

BEFORE THE MOVE

W EEKS

Sell what you can,

Donate anything in good

where you can

condition that you

weren't able to sell

If you have a significant amount of items

that you have decided to sell, organize a

Give to friends, or donate to a local charity.

garage sale to get rid of them. You can also

Make sure to get receipts for the

sell any extra things online.

approximate value of the donated items for

potential tax deductions later.

Throw away anything that

you’re not moving, selling,

donating, or giving away

Be aware that there may be a limit on what

you can put out on the curb each week, so you

may need to do this over the course of two or

three weeks.

BEFORE THE MOVE

W EEKS

Select your moving

Reserve a rental truck

company

If this is a DIY move, reserve your truck rental.

Assuming you will be using one, and

confirm your appointment. Make sure to

Start packing

get written confirmation of the

appointment, costs, and any other details.

Start with the things that you will not be

When getting an estimate (it will be more

actively using before you move, such as books

accurate if you have them actually come

(If you’re a voracious reader, don’t worry! You

to your home), be certain to inform the

can leave a few unpacked to tide you over for

representative of any additional services,

the next few weeks!), specialty kitchen

such as additional stops at storage

appliances, and out-of-season clothing.

facilities to pick up additional furniture,

other items to be moved that may be in

your attic or garage, and whether you have

Label each box as you fill it

any furniture that may require special care

in moving, such as a piano.

Label each box as you fill it, indicating in which

room in your new home it belongs. This will

facilitate the move-in process on the other end.

Separate Valuables

Change your address

Jewlery, important documents, etc. Keep them

•Post office ( )

in a box that you will transport personally.

•Banks

•Credit card companies

•Doctor’s offices

•Insurance providers

•Lawyers

•Magazine subscriptions

•Your children’s school (if you are staying in the

same school district)

•Your employer (if you are keeping the same job)

BEFORE THE MOVE

W EEKS

Cancel/Transfer Utilities

Arrange childcare

If you have small children, arrange for a

Contact your current utilities providers

and confirm the days they will each be

babysitter on moving day.

disconnected. Then set them up at your

new home.

Say your goodbyes

Forward your medical

records

Schedule any goodbye parties or stops.

Have your current healthcare providers forward

your medical records to your new provider. If

Confirm travel plans

you haven’t yet decided on healthcare providers

in your new location, then ask for copies of the

If you are driving overnight on your move,

records for yourself and ask for

confirm your travel plans. Book hotels or plan

recommendations.

stops you may need to make on the way.

BEFORE THE MOVE

W EEKS

Schedule work off

Confirm your rental truck

Arrange to take the day off from

Reconfirm your appointment with

work on the day of your move.

the movers or your truck rental.

Dispose hazardous

materials

Such as gasoline and propane, prior to moving.

BEFORE THE MOVE

W EEK

Set aside things you’ll need on

the first night in the new house.

Put together a box or two of things that you will want/need on your first night in the

new home. Label it something along the lines of “Pack last.” That way, it will be the last

thing in the truck, and the first thing out of the truck on the other end.

BEFORE THE MOVE

F EW DAYS

Double check all of the details

•Reconfirm your appointment with the movers, including what time they will arrive and

what time they expect to be done. Also, make sure that they have your phone number,

in case there are delays or complications. If this is a DIY move, then remind anyone who

has offered to help.

•Plan your payment method. If you haven’t already arranged to pay with a credit card,

have cash or a money order prepared. And don’t forget a tip for the movers. Ten to 15

percent of the total fee is considered a good tip, though exceptional work, or handling

exceptionally difficult pieces of furniture (pianos, sofas containing heavy fold-up beds,

etc.) could merit a higher tip.

•If you have small children, check in with the people who will be taking care of them

and make sure that your schedules are coordinated.

•If you will be moving your refrigerator and/or freezer, now is the time to empty, clean,

and defrost it.

MOVING DAY

Print a floorplan for movers to

Take inventory notes

reference where boxes belong

Keep track of things as they are loaded

into the truck and compare them to the

When moving your belongings into the new

inventory you prepared.

home, it is helpful to have a floorplan of the

house printed and posted at the entrance, clearly

labeled, so that people can easily reference

where each box or piece of furniture belongs.

Check and report

Do a final walk-through of

damages

your old home

•Are all windows closed and locked?

Double check the house and furniture for

•Have you left anything behind?

damage that may have happened during the

move. Be sure to report damages to the moving

•Are the heater and/or air conditioner turned off?

company. Compare your belongings to the

•Is the water shut off?

inventory you created prior to moving.

•Have you turned in all the house keys and garage

door openers?

•Have you arranged for all of the utilities to be

disconnected with their respective providers?

•Are all doors closed and locked?

•Is there anything else that you may

have forgotten?

AFTER THE MOVE

Make sure you are familiar

Learn about the area

with your new home.

Become familiar with your neighborhood

Locate the following:

and city. Meet your neighbors and locate

each of the following:

•Circuit breaker

•Grocery stores

•Gas line shut-off

•Gas stations

•Water line shut-off

•Restaurants

•Water heater

•Police stations

•Furnace/Air Conditioner

•Fire stations

•Previously-installed connections for

•Hospitals

internet access and television hookups

•Post offices

•Your children’s school

Double check old mailbox

Update your driver’s license

If possible, have a friend or neighbor check the

Don’t forget to change your driver’s license and

mail at your old home for a few weeks after

car registration information! Typically, you are

you move to make sure that nothing is missed.

given between 10 and 30 days after moving to

Even if you fill out a Change of Address, some

make this change, but each state’s laws vary,

mail can potentially slip through.

so be sure to check with the Department of

Motor Vehicles in your new location.

Find companies to help with your move »

SOURCES:

Moving Check List

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