Our Moving House Checklist will help you prepare for moving homes. Your choice of mover can make a world of difference. Men That Move boast a solid reputation for being dependable and caring. Every member of our staff has been professionally trained to meet our stringent standards of quality performance.
Our Moving House Checklist is a great way to ensure you’ve got everything ready for move.
Decide, before the mover arrives, what you want to go and what you want to stay. If an entire bedroom set is to be given away, you will not want the cost of moving it figured into the overall estimate. Household moves are usually based on volume, the distance in travel and the size and number of packing cartons and services you will need.
You do not want to pack what you do not want to take with you, so start taking stock of all your belongings.
Start putting away items you are not using regularly such as good china, out-of-season clothing, and the contents of your attic and basement.
Clean items before packing to save time when unpacking.
If possible, send rugs, drapes, and quilts to be cleaned. Keep a list of all that you send out so you can be certain everything comes back.
Keep things that belong together in the same carton: pans with their lids, stationery with envelopes, coffee pot with cord, stereo with associated plugs and wires, etc. Tape small articles with masking tape, so they are not lost or thrown away when you unpack.
Pack books flat so their spines do not break, and put them in smaller cartons so they won’t be too heavy to lift. Add additional packing material to empty corners so the books will not slide around. It is best to pack in the same carton books that will be shelved together.
CD’s, cassettes, and music records should be stacked in small cartons and labelled so movers can store them in the coolest part of the container.
Packers should pack lamps and remove bulbs before wrapping the base in a tower or blanket.
Shades can be nested inside one another and packed in a separate box. Use packing material (not newspaper) to fill in extra space.
Do not add heavy linens to drawers of furniture.
Leave rugs, pictures, and mirrors in place. The movers are best prepared to pack and wrap these.
Hanging clothes are best moved in the moving company’s wardrobe cartons.
Fold curtains and linens so they can be draped over a hanger. They too can be moved in a wardrobe carton.
Provide each child with a moving box for special treasures, label it “LOAD LAST, UNLOAD FIRST.”
Establish a box for those items you will need while moving and unpacking, and keep this box handy so you can add to it as you pack.
Number each box, then label it as to its contents and the room where it will go. Movers usually do this for you, but you need to tell them to write specific information on the boxes and tell them not to mix items that belong in another room.
Start making a list of all the companies to which you will need to advise of your change of address before you leave. You can send them a notice in several ways:
If you have a computer, do a mail-merge document to create a form letter.
Use standard post office change of address cards. If you have a computer, you can print labels to make the job easier.
Fill in the change-of-address section of your bills or statements.
Later, we will remind you in this checklist, to notify the post office of your forwarding address and give you other instructions.
Confirm packing and moving dates.
Ask your veterinarian about animal tranquilliser and be sure all vaccination papers are in order.
Confirm where you will be staying the night after your old house is packed if your household move is a very large one and the unpacking needs to be done the following day
Begin to use up food from the refrigerator and freezer, and only re-stock with what you will need during the next month.
Notify schools to forward transcripts or have them ready to take with you.
Visit your family doctor and dentist for a final check-up and get your immunisation injections (if necessary). Gather medical and dental records for all members of the family. Be sure to collect allinformation on allergies and special prescriptions, and request recent x-rays (both dental andmedical x-rays), as well as mammograms. Keep each person’s records in a separate folder
Collect baptism certificates, or any other records from the church or place of worship.
Collect original birth certificates, passports, and any other identification papers, and make aphotocopy as backup for your spouse. Keep them all together, categorised in a binder with clear plastic protective pocket sheets.
Return all you have borrowed and collect all you have loaned out.
Call your favourite charity for pick-up of items you want to give away.
Deliver or have picked up the items you plan to give to friends.
Arrange to have all utilities disconnected at your old home after departure. Plan the disconnection for later than your moving date so you will not be without utilities. Then instruct the companies as to where the final bill should be sent.
Call your insurance agent for policy changes. Also, discuss any special coverage that might be necessary during the move.
Pick-up any items you might still have at the cleaners, laundry, or repair shop.
Go to the post office to:Have them forward all your mail to your office address or your new home address if you already know it.
Send address change notices to your friends. Include your new telephone number, fax, and email address.
Arrange for a babysitter to look after the children on moving day if you feel they will get in the way and you will get stressed out.
Confirm appointments with the exterminator, the cleaning team, or the window washer.
Pack suitcases with the clothing and items you will need during the move.
Mark “DO NOT MOVE” on any items you plan to take with you.
Tape shut the tops of bottles and items that might spill.
Type out directions to your new home for the movers, with instructions where to park, etc.
Empty and defrost the refrigerator and freezer. Let them air for 24 hours. Place baking soda inside to deodorise.
When the movers arrive to pack any items you have requested, point out fragile items as well as items not to be moved. Ideally, place stickers on items that should not be packed or moved.
As movers pack, work with movers by quickly checking the contents of each packed box. Label it according to its new location (master bedroom, kitchen, study, etc.).
Finish packing personal items and double check hand-carry bag items.
Make a final inspection of your home to check for details that need to be taken care of before the next day.
For the next morning, plan a simple breakfast that can be eaten on paper plates – or better still, plan to eat breakfast at a local restaurant!
Some movers will require 1 day to pack depending on the quantity of household goods that you are shipping.
Strip the beds, but leave the bottom fitted sheets on mattresses and the bed assembled.
Have the vacuum handy to clean behind the refrigerator and elsewhere to leave the place in good condition for the new owner or tenant.
Include your children in the day’s activities if you feel that they are worried, and that it would alleviate their anxiety. Let them see that all their treasures are being packed with the rest of the household belongings. Movers will generally let children visit the back of the van to see that indeed, everything is going. Perhaps a friend or babysitter can assist you with the children’s care, particularly with meals etc.
As the movers are finishing, make a final tour of the house to be sure you have everything. Do not forget the vacuum!
Check, sign, and save a copy of the packing slip. Be sure the address is correct!
Confirm delivery time.
If it is summer, turn the air-conditioning system off before leaving. If it is winter, turn the heater off.
Make sure all the windows and doors are closed and locked, and the lights are switched off.
When you move into your new house do not forget to call a locksmith for new locks.
Don’t forget your moving house checklist, so you can mark everything things to do later
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