A checklist will keep you on track for a successful move.  The following is a suggested checklist to help with preparing for moving day:

Six – Eight weeks prior to moving day:

• Make a master list of all of your belongings that will be moved.  On a separate list, list items that will be given away, sold or discarded.  Make plans for a garage sale and if you will need a special trash pick up.

Four – Five weeks prior to moving day:

• If you will be hiring movers, make sure to secure their services now.  Depending on what services you need, it may take time to make all of the arrangements.
• Do change of address forms to submit to the post office, contact your bank and insurance companies to update them with your new address and information.
• Start packing nonessential items.  Arrange for a storage facility if necessary.

Two – Three weeks prior to moving day:

• Hold a garage sale to sell anything that is not going with you to your new home.
• For your pets, make any special arrangements needed for their care on moving day.
• Contact utility companies to change your utilities to your new address so they will be operational and ready for you.

One week prior to moving day:

• Reconfirm all arrangements with movers, storage facility and for your pets.

One – Two days prior to moving day:

• Do any last minute packing, cleaning and defrost the refrigerator and freezer, if needed.

On moving day:

• Reconfirm with movers where they will be going and supervise the move making sure everything is going to where they belong.

• Research. It is important to be able to compare services with several companies to better find the one that is best for you, in services offered as well as price.  You can check online, the yellow pages or ask for referrals from friends who have used moving services recently.
• Reliability. Make sure that the mover that you are considering has been licensed by the DOT (Department of Transportation), bonded and insured company.  Check with the local Better Business Bureau (BBB) to inquire if there are complaints listed in the moving company’s record.
• To go or not to go. Decide exactly what will be moved and what will be sold, given away or discarded.  Also, decide what will be packed by the moving company and what will be packed by you.  Please note that if any of this changes on moving day, it may affect the total cost.  It is also important to mention any unusual circumstances on either end of the move such as parking issues, access to the location, any time-of-day restrictions or if there are any stairs or elevators at the location.
• Get estimates. Explain all of your requirements to the moving company.  The clearer you are as to what is going on the truck and your needs, the more accurate your estimate will be.  Make sure to ask how long a company’s estimate will be valid and what type of estimate it is, binding or non-binding.  Also ask for references.
• Loss or damage coverage. Understand clearly the amount of protection that is provided.  While all licensed movers are required to provide liability for the value of the items that they are transporting, there are different levels of liability and they may not cover everything.

• If you are going to hire movers, the sooner you contact them, the better.  They are busy and if you wait, may not be available when you need them.
• Of your belongings, decide which to keep, sell, give away or throw away.  The less you have to move, the better and if you are hiring movers, it will save you money if you only move the items that you need to.
• Moving can be a lengthy process.  Build in time between when you have to move out of your current home and when you can move into your new home.  This will give you a chance to complete any cleaning, painting and etc.
• Take any measurements needed at your new home, such as for windows and room dimensions.  Also, make a note of where all electric, phone and cable outlets are located to help you decide where you will put your belongings.
• So that your utilities will be hooked up by the time you move, contact the utilities companies to move your services ahead of time.

You may be excited to move to your new place, however packing may fill you with dread.  Here are some helpful packing tips:

• Start early.  You do not want to be packing up last minute on moving day.
• Make sure you have strong boxes and packing tape readily available.
• Pack one room at a time to avoid feeling overwhelmed.
• Pack important and valuable personal items separately to carry with you on moving day.  You should also include any day-to-day essentials you may need.