Here is a guide in creating a moving timeline to keep your move organized.
It’s really never too soon to begin planning for a move, and veteran movers have found that a comprehensive moving timeline is the best strategy to ensure a smooth relocation. Our moving timeline is also a great way to involve the entire family in the move by spreading some of the responsibilities to each person, including your children.
Eight Weeks Before You Move
- Contact your mover to make arrangements for moving day.
- Remove items from your attic, basement, storage shed, etc.
- Start to use up things you can’t move, such as frozen foods and cleaning supplies.
- Contact the chamber of commerce or visitor’s and tourism bureaus in the community your moving to for information on your new city.
Six Weeks Before Move
- Submit a Change of Address form to the post office.
- Arrange special transportation for your pets and plants.
- Contact utility and related companies (gas, electric, oil, water, telephone, cable TV and trash collection) for service disconnect/connect at your old and new addresses. However, remember to keep phone and utilities connected at your current home until moving day.
- Contact coverage companies (auto, homeowner’s or renter’s, medical and life) to arrange for coverage in your new home.
- If you’re packing yourself, purchase moving boxes from your local Pinpoint Movers and ask about free delivery options. Pack items that you won’t be needing in the next month.
- Plan a garage sale to sell unneeded items or arrange to donate them to charity.
Four Weeks Before Move
- Submit a Change of Address form to the post office.
- Arrange special transportation for your pets and plants.
- Contact utility and related companies (gas, electric, oil, water, telephone, cable TV and trash collection) for service disconnect/connect at your old and new addresses. However, remember to keep phone and utilities connected at your current home until moving day.
- Contact coverage companies (auto, homeowner’s or renter’s, medical and life) to arrange for coverage in your new home.
- If you’re packing yourself, purchase moving boxes from your local Pinpoint Movers and ask about free delivery options. Pack items that you won’t be needing in the next month.
- Plan a garage sale to sell unneeded items or arrange to donate them to charity.
Three Weeks Before Move
- Make travel arrangements and reservations for your moving trip. However, don’t make plane reservations for the same day that you’re moving out. House closings are often delayed, and other unexpected situations often arise.
- Collect important papers (coverage, will, deeds, stock, etc.).
- Arrange to close accounts at your local bank and open accounts in your new community.
Two Weeks Before Move
- Have your car checked and serviced for the trip. Also, make sure that your automobile is prepared (filled with the necessary antifreeze/coolant, for example) for the type of weather conditions you’ll be traveling in.
- If you’re moving out of or into a building with elevators, contact the building management to schedule use of the elevators.
- Contact your moving company to review and confirm all arrangements for your move.
One Week Before Move
- Settle any outstanding bills with local merchants.
- Don’t forget to withdraw the contents of your safety deposit box, pick up any dry cleaning, return library books and rented DVDs, etc.
- Take pets to the veterinarian for any needed immunizations. Get copies of pets’ veterinary records.
- Drain gas and oil from power equipment (lawn mowers, snow blowers, etc.).
- Give away plants as the movers will not be able to transport them in their truck.
- Prepare specific directions to your new home for your moving company. (Include your itinerary, emergency numbers, etc.)
Two to Three Days Before the Move
- Defrost your freezer and refrigerator.
- Have your major appliances disconnected and prepared for the move.
- Pack a box of personal items that will be needed immediately at your new home. Have this box loaded last or carry it with you in your car.
- Organize and set aside those things that you’re taking with you so that they don’t get loaded on the moving truck in error.
- Contact your relocation company to confirm arrival time of the moving truck, as well as to notify them of any last minute details.
Moving day
- Make sure that someone is at home to answer the moving teams questions.
- Record all utility meter readings (gas, electric, water).
- Read your bill of lading and inventory carefully before you sign them. Keep these — and all related papers — in a safe location until all charges have been paid and all claims, if any, have been settled.
If you follow the Pinpoint Movers moving timeline for moving, you’ll feel a sense of accomplishment as items are checked off. Moreover, as the weeks roll by, your moving timeline will help ensure that nothing has been overlooked or omitted from your planning. That alone will go a long way toward relieving some of your anxiety.