Moving Planner

1. Call your Moving Coordinator: We will be happy to prepare an estimate for you.
2. Company Moves: If your company is paying for your move, refer to their moving policy to determine the services the mover will be authorized to perform.
3. Estimate: Explain to the moving coordinator everything that is going to be moved. Any items you fail to disclose or that are added later to the shipment will increase the cost, even if you have been given a binding estimate.
4. Moving Resources: Check out our Moving Resources page. You can get tools and tips, plus much more to help make your move simple.

1. Reserve your move dates and confirm rates, dates and your crew by officially booking your move.
2. Sign your Estimate/Order for Service after you are sure you have a clear understanding of each section. If you have any questions your moving coordinator will be happy to explain. We are here to assist during every step of your move.
3. Keep the phone number and name of your move coordinator handy; feel free to ask questions or request more moving tips.

1. Post Office: Get change of address cards from your local post office or change your address online at the United States Postal Service website.
2. Financial: Change your address with your banks, insurance providers, credit cards and magazine subscriptions.
3. Professional: Update your information with doctors, lawyers, accountants and any other professional services.
4. School: Arrange to transfer school records.

Sign your Estimate and book your move

1. Sort: Go through every room in your house to sort through what will move with you and what will not. We recommend the following order: Clothes, books, papers, miscellaneous, sentimental items, photos.
2. Sell: Have a garage sale or online auction to dispose of any unwanted items.
3. Donate: Donate your unwanted clothing, furniture or other household goods (pots, pans, dishes, bedding, etc.) to your favorite charities in town. Don’t forget to grab receipts showing the items’ approximate value for possible tax deductions.
4. Dispose & Recycle: Be sure to check the non-allowables list for items not allowed in your shipment. If you are unsure of how to properly dispose of these items, visit earth911.com to help you find appropriate recycling centers in your neighborhood.

1. Notify your moving coordinator if you add or subtract items from your planned move or if there are any changes in dates.
2. Be sure to supply your moving coordinator with the destination address and phone numbers where you can be reached.
3. Confirm any extra stops required to pick up or deliver goods to a location other than the main pickup or delivery points – make sure this step is listed on your personal moving checklist.
4. If your car is being moved, be prepared to drive it to a loading site for auto transport. Also be prepared to pick up your car at your destination location; again, your moving coordinator is here to help. Do not be afraid to reach out if you have questions.

1. Farewell Visits: Take the family for a farewell visit to some of the places that hold happy memories.
2. Children Party: Have a going-away party for the children and their friends.
3. Adult Function: Treat yourself and your friends/relatives to some fun with an open house or an informal dinner or barbecue. Keep it simple.
4. Travel Plans: Make family travel plans. Reserve hotel rooms and airline tickets as needed.

1. Service Vehicle: If driving, have your car serviced for the trip (check tires, brakes and windshield wipers, fluids, belts, etc.)
2. Airfare: If you are flying, make sure you have your airfare and other necessary transportation booked.
3. Boarding: Book any hotels or stops you’ll need to make along the way.
4. First Night: Think about what items you’ll need with you for the trip and for your first night in your new home. Set them aside so they don’t accidentally get packed.

1. Cleaning: Make a “survival closet” of things you will need for the final clean-up and include snacks for the last day.
2. Packing: If you’re packing yourself, get a head start now so you aren’t overwhelmed at the last minute. Books, out of season clothes and decorative items are a great place to start.
3. Packing Tips: Read our packing tips and plan your approach.

1. Limit groceries: Try to only buy the groceries you need for preparing meals. This will keep you from having to throw out all the perishables in your fridge. When going through your pantry, try to donate any food that has a decent shelf life but don’t want to take with you.
2. Dispose Non-Allowables: You must dispose of flammables such as fireworks, cleaning fluids, matches, acids, chemistry sets, aerosol cans, ammunition and poisons such as weed killer. Drain fuel from your power mower and other machinery. Discard partly used cans of oil, paint, thinner, bleach or any other substances that may be flammable or combustible or those stored in containers that may leak. Please read the complete list of non-allowables.
3. Discard: Discard propane tanks which are used for barbecue grills.
4. Major appliances: Set an appointment with a service technician to prepare your major appliances for shipment.
5. Utilities: Set a date for having utilities disconnected. If possible, plan to keep utilities in service through moving day.
6. Cleaners: Have rugs and draperies cleaned. Leave both wrapped when they are returned from the cleaners.
7. Antiques: Avoid waxing or oiling wooden antiques (and fine wood furniture) before moving because some products might soften the wood, making it vulnerable to imprinting from furniture pads.
8. Upholstered Furniture: Do not clean your upholstered furniture before moving. Moisture could cause mold if furniture must be placed in storage. Check out our tips for moving antiques.
9. Owners Manuals: If possible, get owner’s manuals for appliances in your new home.

1. Travel Plans: Make sure you have made travel plans for your pets. If you need to board them or leave them with friends, confirm those plans now.
2. Vet: Take your pets to the vet and make sure you have any required health certificates or inoculations – every state has different requirements.

1. Cleaners: Pick up anything you had cleaned, stored or repaired.
2. Locker Room: Empty your locker at the club or gym.
3. Returns: Return anything you have borrowed from friends or neighbors, including library books.
4. Cancel: Cancel newspapers, Internet, cable TV, security, pest control, cleaning help, lawn maintenance, and any other services you receive.
5. Disconnects: Schedule disconnects for utilities such as gas, electric, water and the telephone. If you have a landline, do not disconnect it until after your move. Arrange for refunds that are due, and schedule connections for your new residence.

1. Make sure you have not forgotten any of the critical items.
2. Have you packed or gotten rid of everything that’s not moving?
3. Have you confirmed all the details with your move coordinator?

1. Change of Address: Mail in your change of address forms.
2. Appliances: Be on hand when the service representative arrives to prepare your appliances for shipment.
3. Make sure that all mechanical and electrical equipment is properly serviced for shipping prior to the arrival of the moving truck. As always, reach out to your move coordinator with any questions.
4. Clean the stove and finish up any last minute cleaning before move day.

1. Fragile items: Point out any extra-fragile items needing special attention. If certain items should not be packed or moved, mark them appropriately.
2. Proper labeling: Everything that needs specific labeling such as electronics or fragile items need to be clearly marked. Indicate your name and the room to which each carton should be delivered at destination on the label. Tape a sign on the door of each room at destination corresponding to the carton labels so movers can get the cartons into the proper rooms quickly.
3. Packing: If you are doing your own packing, make sure everything is ready to go before moving day.
4. Unplug Appliances: Unplug all electronic appliances 24 hours in advance of a move, except plasma televisions, so that they will be at room temperature on moving day. This includes home computers, stereos and audio/video equipment.
5. Clean Refrigerator: Clean the refrigerator, then defrost and dry.
6. Cash: Get enough cash to tide you over. Cash comes in handy if you need to order pizza during your move, or dinner in your new place!
7. Neighbors: Say goodbye to your neighbors!

1. Monitor: Make it a point to be on hand to see that all of your goods are loaded; remain close by until loading is complete. Make a final tour of the house and check that all items to be moved have been placed in the moving truck.
2. Ask Questions: Check in with your move coordinator and ask any important questions about your moving services.
3. Paperwork: There will be some necessary paperwork on the big day.
4. Contact: Be sure to let your move coordinator know how you can be reached pending the arrival of your belongings.

1. Water shut off?
2. Furnace and air conditioner shut off?
3. Light switches turned off?
4. All utilities arranged for disconnection?
5. Windows shut and locked?
6. Old house keys surrendered?
7. Have you left anything?

1. Authorized Adult: Be on hand to accept delivery. If you cannot be there in person, be sure you authorize an adult to be your representative to accept delivery and pay the charges for you.
2. Contact Person: On the day of delivery, the Driver will attempt to contact you by phone and/or will stop by your new home if he/she is unable to reach you. If you or an authorized individual cannot accept delivery of your belongings within the free waiting time (i.e., two hours) you may request more waiting time, at an additional charge, until the delivery can be made.
3. Damaged or Missing Items: Check your household goods as they are unloaded. If there is any change in the condition of your property from what is noted on the inventory, note discrepancies accordingly. By signing the paperwork, you are acknowledging receipt of all items listed.
4. Unloading: When unloading, each piece of furniture you may direct as to which room you would like it placed.
5. Floor Plan: It always helps to have a guide. Place a floor plan of your new home by the entrance, which the movers can use to determine where each piece of furniture should go.
6. Documents: Keep all documents pertaining to your move in a safe place.

1. It is time to make it official! Check in with your new post office for any mail being held and ask for delivery to start.
2. Check state (and local) requirements for auto registration and driver’s license.
3. You may want to select an attorney to discuss laws that pertain to your destination state, county and/or city. Be sure to cover such matters as wills, transfers of property and investments, insurance regulations, inheritance laws, taxes, etc. Most laws affect a family as soon as residence in the new state and city is established.