| | What to Do Before You Move |
| Two months before moving |
| ¨ | Sort through your belongings to reduce the number of things to move. |
| ¨ | Have a garage sale or donate items you no longer need. |
| ¨ | Decide whether to move yourself or hire professionals. Make reservations with a moving company or truck rental company. Tip: Call three companies for estimates to compare. |
| ¨ | Gather packing supplies: boxes, packing material, tape, felt markers, and scissors. |
| ¨ | If you’re moving a long distance, make travel arrangements with the airline, hotel, and rental car agency. If you’re driving to your new home, get maps and plan your travel route. |
| ¨ | Save all moving receipts. Some moving expenses are tax deductible. Check the current tax code for requirements. |
| ¨ | Place your legal, medical, financial, and insurance records in a safe and accessible place. |
| ¨ | Purchase insurance coverage for valuables to be moved. |
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| One month before moving |
| ¨ | Start packing items that aren’t regularly used such as off-season clothes and decorations and items in storage areas (garage, attic, and closets). |
| ¨ | Make travel arrangements for your pets. |
| ¨ | If you’re driving, get your car tuned up. |
| ¨ | Get medical records from your doctors, dentist, optometrist, and veterinarian. |
| ¨ | Send items (rugs, drapes, clothing, quilts, bedding) to the cleaners. |
| ¨ | Back up important computer files to floppy disk. |
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| Two weeks before moving |
| ¨ | Contact your utility companies and notify them of your move. |
| ¨ | Sign up for services at your new address. |
| ¨ | Contact your long distance phone company and notify them of your move. |
| ¨ | Call friends and family and recruit help for the moving day. |
| ¨ | Confirm your travel reservations. |
| ¨ | Arrange to close or transfer your bank account, if appropriate. Pick up items you’re your safety deposit box. |
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| One week before moving |
| ¨ | Pick up items from the cleaners, repair shops, or friends. |
| ¨ | Pack a survival kit of clothes, medicines, special foods, etc. to carry you through the day while you unpack. |
| ¨ | Finish packing all boxes minus what you’ll need in the final week. |
| ¨ | Inform the post office of your upcoming move. |
| ¨ | Send change-of-address cards with your new address and phone number to: |
| ¨ | Friends and family |
| ¨ | Banks, insurance companies, credit card companies, and other financial institutions |
| ¨ | Magazines and newspapers |
| ¨ | Doctors, lawyers, accountants, realtors, and other service providers |
| ¨ | State and federal tax authorities and any other government agencies as needed |
| ¨ | Workplace, schools, and alma maters |
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| The day before |
| ¨ | Set aside moving materials, such as tape measure, pocketknife, and rope. |
| ¨ | Pad corners and stairways of house. |
| ¨ | Lay down old sheets in the entry and hallways to protect floor coverings. |
| ¨ | Remove hanging fixtures. |
| ¨ | If you are moving yourself, pick up the rental truck and a dolly to move heavy boxes. |
| ¨ | If you are driving, check oil, tire pressure, and gas in your car. |
| ¨ | If you are flying, make sure you have tickets, charge cards and other essentials. |
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