Storage + Moving COUNTDOWN

Plan a no-surprise, stress-free—or at least a stress-reduced—move. A move will never be completely stress-free,
but here are some steps to eliminate as much worry as possible. So before you find yourself surrounded by
cardboard boxes and packing tape, review this week-by-week checklist. An organized move is an easier move!

Two months before   Create a Moving/Storage Folder for estimates, receipts and papers. Check with the IRS to check what expenses can be deducted. Budget for moving and storage expenses. Research your new community, via the Internet, by contacting the Chamber of Commerce for a new resident packet and by subscribing to the newspaper. Obtain a floor plan of your new home, decide the function of each room and what furniture will work. Seven weeks before   Conduct an inventory of household. Decide what you will move and what you will discard. Note items of special value. Contact your insurance agent and confirm your possessions are insured during the move and storage. Arrange for insurance on your new home. Search for healthcare providers in your new location. Assemble medical and dental records and gather all valuable personal papers such as birth certificates, legal and financial records. Arrange to transfer your children’s school records and pet’s veterinarian records. Contact health clubs, etc. to find out how you end, sell or transfer membership. Six weeks before   Confirm container delivery dates and obtain written confirmation of all costs. List valuable or difficult to replace items and those requiring special packing or extra insurance coverage. Decide whether to ship by certified mail, carry with you or arrange for special handling. Plan a moving sale or contact your local charities to dispose of unwanted items. Decide what to do with items you are prohibited or unable to move or store, such as frozen foods, bleach, aerosol cleaners and anything flammable. Five weeks before   Hold a moving sale or donate items to charity. Get a receipt for tax purposes on donated items. Obtain boxes and other packing supplies such as tape, bubble wrap, packing paper, permanent marker and labels. Separate moving boxes by size and place appropriate size in each room. Begin packing items you use infrequently. Plan for needed short-term or long-term storage. Send furniture, drapes and rugs for repair or cleaning. One month before   File a change-of-address at the post office or online at www.usps.gov. If you are unsure of your new address, ask that the mail be held at their post office in your new city. Alert the following about your move—in writing, by phone or online: banks, credit card companies, brokerage firms, insurance agent, utilities, HR department, doctors and vet. Change your address with publications. If you have a number of subscriptions, try www.oneswitch.com, a website that forwards your new address to periodicals. Request refund of last-month deposits with services, such as the utilities company. Make travel plans, including travel arrangement for pets. Call your newspaper and arrange cancellation date. START PACKING. Here are a few essential packing tips...Label each box with the room location and include a description of the contents. •   Pack heavy items in small boxes and light items in large boxes. • Wrap heaviest items with bubble wrap or packing material and place on the bottom of the box, with lighter items wrapped and packed on top, separated by bubble wrap. • Fill all empty space with packing material to prevent shifting during the move. • Double box fragile items and label as FRAGILE to alert yourself or helpers to handle with extra care throughout the move. • Tops and sides of boxes should not bulge or sag, as under-packed and over-packed boxes are more susceptible to damage. • Pack books flat and alternate bindings to prevent damage • Pack plates on their edges in double-wall corrugated dish boxes. • Dividers for dishes and glasses will keep these items safe.

Three weeks before   Make childcare arrangements for moving day. Return all library books; pick up all dry cleaning or items out for repair and retrieve any items out on loan. Arrange with utilities on both ends for dates of termination or turn-on. Be sure to disconnect the day after you leave and connect the day before you arrive. Notify friends and family of your new address and phone number. Two weeks before   Reserve elevator on container loading or unloading dates. Have your automobile(s) serviced; ready auto registration and insurance records for transfer; and notify State Motor Vehicle Bureau of your new address. Decide if you will keep your plants or give them away. Withdraw items and close safety deposit boxes. Confirm travel arrangements for family and pets. Assemble important information about the house for the new owner, along with a note containing your new address so they can forward any stray mail. Dispose of any remaining prohibited items and those too dangerous to move or store including flammable liquids. One week before   Transfer all bank accounts and notify any creditors of your move. Designate and label “last load” items. Drain all gas and oil from your mower and other motors, water from hoses and waterbeds and drain all water from washing machine. Fill prescriptions needed for the next few weeks and forward prescriptions to a pharmacy at your destination. Two days before   Defrost, clean and dry refrigerator and freezer. Finish packing and prepare an “essentials” box. Set aside items you will personally transport to your new home, include jewelry, vital documents, money and valuable small items. Pack suitcases for everyone in the family. Day of move   Use moving blankets to wrap furniture, appliances, TV’s or other large objects. To keep large items clean, use mattress bags, furniture bags and stretch wrap. Check every room, closet and cabinet one last time before the containers are closed and removed. Give the driver directions to your new home, as well as the information where you can be reached during the move or while your things are being stored. Take note of utility meter readings. Keep a friend or family member informed of your whereabouts in case of an emergency. Moving in   Take the time before your containers arrive to ensure your utilities have been connected; and all appliances and systems are working properly; and arrange for necessary repairs. Confirm that your mail is making it to your new address or pick up any mail being held. Be on hand to answer any questions and give directions. Carefully check for obvious external damage to the container. After the move   Keep receipts and all documentation in your Moving/Storage Folder and store it in a safe place. Get a new driver’s license and tags for your automobile; and register to vote.