|
30-60 Days Before you Move
|
Planning
|
Book your moving company or rent a truck. Fill out paperwork, and get moving insurance.
|
|
|
Pick up boxes and packing materials. Notify your movers of how many boxes they will need.
|
|
|
Make airline and hotel reservations if necessary.
|
Packing
|
|
Begin removing unwanted or unneeded items from your attic, garage, basement, or storage. Sell, give away or discard anything you don’t want to take with you.
|
Important Documents
|
|
Birth and marriage certificates
|
|
|
Medical and immunization records
|
|
|
Military and school records
|
|
|
Deeds and wills
|
|
|
Insurance records
|
|
|
Vehicle registrations
|
|
|
Bank accounts
|
|
|
Settlement papers
|
|
|
All other documents that would be difficult or impossible to replace
|
|
|
Make a Moving File to store receipts, records, and other documents related to your move.
|
|
|
|
|
Begin packing seldom-used items such as out-of-season clothes, seasonal decorations, books, silver/china
|
|
|
Return all items you have borrowed and collect all the things you have lent
|
|
|
Gather important documents and place them in a safe location. Plan to keep these with you on the day of the move.
|
Children
|
|
Research childcare options in your new area and make child care arrangements.
|
|
|
Select a school for your children, and arrange to transfer immunization records and transcripts.
|
Pets
|
|
Make sure you have transportation arrangements for your pet. Consider buying a carrier.
|
|
|
Notify your veterinarian of your move. Obtain any records for your pet, and ask for a referral.
|
Overseas
|
|
Make sure your passport is current and valid.
|
|
|
Contact the consulate for the country you are moving to ensure that you have all proper paperwork prepared and available.
|
|
|
Obtain a visa if you will need one.
|
|
|
Make sure you have current vaccination records and receive recommended vaccinations for the country where you will be moving.
|
|
|
Research driving laws in your new country. You may need to apply for a foreign driving permit.
|
|
|
Research insurance options in your new country.
|
|
|
Research the customs and laws of the country where you are moving.
|
|
|
Research the financial situation your new country. Open a new bank account and change your currency if necessary.
|
|
|
Check on possible quarantine and/or vaccination requirements for your pet.
|
Planning
Change of Address Notification
|
|
Telephone
|
|
Internet
|
|
|
Electricity
|
|
Gas
|
|
|
Water/Sewer
|
|
Other Utilities
|
|
|
Banks & creditors
|
|
|
Newspaper and magazine subscriptions
|
|
|
Business and personal contacts
|
|
|
Insurance companies – home, auto, life, other
|
|
|
Other
|
|
|
|
Fill out an official change of address with Canada Post.
|
|
|
Contact utilities and arrange disconnect/connect dates.
|
|
|
Notify all other important contacts of your change of address.
|
|
|
Update your car registration and driver's license.
|
Packing
|
|
Start packing. Begin with rooms of the house you don't use as much and finish with the kitchen. Choose a room of the house to serve as a temporary storage area for packed boxes.
|
|
|
Make an inventory of important and/or expensive items in your home as you pack. Photograph these items if possible. Keep the inventory and photos with you during the move in case items get lost or damaged.
|
|
|
Make arrangements to store any items you cannot move immediately.
|
Children
|
|
Start involving your kids in the move. Make it exciting by having your kids pack some of their own things, and letting them figure out new layouts for their rooms
|
|
|
If you have young children, arrange for a babysitter on moving day.
|
Pets
|
|
Plan to keep your pet confined on the day of the move. Consider taking a dog or cat to the kennel for the day.
|
|
1-2 Weeks Before you Move
|
Planning
|
|
Confirm arrangements with your moving company or truck rental company.
|
|
|
Confirm any travel plans or reservations you may have made for moving day (flights, hotel, rental cars, etc).
|
|
|
Service your car, especially if you're traveling to your new place by car.
|
|
|
Close any local bank accounts and open new ones in your new location.
|
|
|
If you live in a high-rise apartment, be sure to reserve an elevator for the day of your move.
|
|
|
Plan to use up perishable food items.
|
Packing
|
|
Pack items you can live without over the next two weeks such as tapes/CD’s, pots & pans, yard equipment, seldom-worn clothing.
|
Your “Move-In” Box
|
|
Garbage cans and bags
|
|
|
Cleanser and sponges
|
|
|
Paper towels, plates and cups
|
|
|
Linens / towels
|
|
|
Flashlight
|
|
|
Extension cords
|
|
|
Can opener
|
|
|
Toolkit
|
|
|
Light bulbs
|
|
|
|
|
Drain gas from any gas powered equipment before you pack it up. Make disposal arrangements for any oil, gas, or other hazardous substances you will not be able to move, use, or throw away.
|
|
|
Make backup copies of important files on your computer before packing it up.
|
|
|
Pack a move-in box of helpful items to get you settled in. Plan to have this with you on the day of your move.
|
Planning
|
|
Be sure to have some cash on hand for the day of the move. You may need it to tip movers, buy snacks, etc…
|
Packing
|
|
Clean your house as you pack. Defrost your fridge and freezer.
|
|
|
Pack suitcases with the personal items you will need until the move is completed.
|
|
|
Make a list of the items you will take with you in your car. If possible, place them all together in one room with labels clearly marked DO NOT MOVE.
|
Pets
|
|
Pack a travel case for your pet.
|
Packing
|
|
Pack toiletries and other personal items.
|
|
|
Put the items you will be taking with you in your car.
|
Moving
|
|
Pick up your rental truck and any moving equipment you may need (dollies, carts, furniture pads, etc…)
|
|
|
Get copies of any papers you sign.
|
|
|
When the loading is complete, do a final walk-through of your old residence, checking closets, drawers, etc to make sure that nothing has been left behind. Turn off all lights, lock all doors and windows.
|
|
|
Leave a forwarding address with the next occupants of your home.
|
Pets
|
|
Keep your pet safely confined on the day of the move, away from the hubbub. Make sure they have plenty of food and water
|
|
|
Introduce your pet to your new home slowly. Be sure they won't be able to run back to the old house for the first few days.
|
|
