Moving is a
time-consuming process and it cannot be done
overnight. Though it can be emotionally
disturbing for some and psychologically
unnerving for many; moving actually requires
so much of our time, resources and energy.
Nonetheless, one should start preparing for
their move at least six weeks prior to the
moving date, to avoid any last minute
hiccups.
The clock is ticking away! The countdown has
begun.
Only six more
weeks to go for your move:
 Things to
carry: Choose all those items that need
to be carried. Sort out the things to see if
you really require those broken items, books
in tatters etc. Beware; every item you are
carrying is going to affect the bill you are
going to pay. May be it’s time for you to
bid good-bye to them. Hold a garage sale or
else give them away to some charity.
Moving Folder: Moving involves loads
of paper work that needs to be saved for
future reference. Create a ‘moving’ folder
where in you can safely place all the bills,
statements, contract papers etc. pertaining
to your move. When you need to look for any
bill, it will be quite easy for you to
locate and thus will help you save your
time.
Tax-cut: Check, if you are entitled
to any kind of concession in paying taxes.
Moving file can be used not just for filing
the bills but also for keeping all those
designs, brochures, maps and other such
information in tact that will be of great
use to you before and after the move as
well.
Do you have any plans for your new home? Be
it the lay out of the room or the list of
furnishings you might need to adorn your
rooms. A chart displaying beautiful colors,
that you would want your rooms to be
splashed with or a brochure displaying
colorful tiles that you are longing to see
in your kitchen; save all of them in that
very folder. Do file them neatly in the
folder; so that once the items are unloaded
you can start making arrangements right
away.
Relocation charges: In case you are
relocating due to professional reasons find
out from your employer, if they are ready to
offer you any relocation charges.
Collect documents: You need to
collect various documents before you move
like – your kids’ school record, your
medical record from the doctor etc. Apply
for the same and even seek referrals
wherever necessary.
Four weeks to
go:
Look for a
storage point to store your items safely and
find out the charges you need to pay for it.
Intimate your relatives and friends about
your move and the subsequent change of
address. Change the address for all your
magazine subscriptions too.
Check for the insurance coverage at your new
place. Talk to the insurance agents over
there.
Make necessary transport arrangements for
your trip. Book the air tickets for your
family and arrange a special kind of
transport for your pets etc.
Take your pets to a veterinarian and find
out from him about how to prepare your pet
for the move and precautions you need to
take for your pet’s sake.
Arrange to disconnect:
Several utilities used by you like
electricity, water, cable T.V. etc. needs to
be disconnected right after your move.
Arrange for connecting the same at your new
place before you reach it.
Self-packing: If you are planning to
do some of the packing by yourself, then
it’s the time to start. Start packing all
those things that you might not need during
the last weeks of your stay.
Three weeks
before your move:
Now that you’ve
entered the third week before you are
moving, it’s time to gear up and get serious
with the things.
Move all the packed cartons into a store
room or to some other corner of the house
where kids won’t be able to reach.
Enlist the items separately, that need to be
unpacked immediately once the truck reaches
the destination.
Finish the food: Stop stocking things
in your fridge and pantry. During the move,
it will be difficult to carry too many items
along. They might even get spoiled. Buy food
items that will last till the moving day
only.
Bank deals: Transfer all your bank
statements to the bank at your new place. In
case, if you have any deposits to be
transferred, do so without a fail.
Two weeks before
the move:
Only two more
weeks to go and you are all excited about
the move.
Automobile servicing: Get your car
serviced in case you are planning to travel
by car.
New home cleaning: Cleaning the new
home will be easy as it is empty.
Health check-up: Find out what health
policies does the State you are moving to
has in place. Get a thorough health check-up
and the required vaccinations done by your
doctor.
Make sure the place you are moving to allows
pets and get the certificate of vaccination
from the veterinarian.
One week before
the move:
As you are about
to move within a few days, there is no time
to lose.
If there are
any hazardous chemicals with you, dispose
them off. To carry them would be
dangerous and illegal too.
Start
packing your suitcases.
Arrange for
a baby-sitter to take care of kids on the
moving day.
Finish
paying all the bills and necessary dues .Do
give them your new address for further
contact.
Return your
library card and the books you have taken.
If you have
anybody else’s belongings with you, return
them without fail.
Two days to go:
Movers would
have already initiated the packing process.
Inform the
truck operator of your new address and give
him the necessary guidelines about how
to reach the place. Do give him your
contact number and ask him to give you a
buzz when required.
Give your
new address and contact number to the
entrants of your old home, so that they can
contact you in future.
Remove all
the contents from your refrigerator and
clean it thoroughly.
Take out the
curtains, curtain rods, bulbs etc.
Keep an
extra pair of clothing, disposable plates &
glasses; some food items and children’s
games ready for the moving day.
Have some extra packing materials at hand.
You can use it to pack any left over items
in the end.
Moving day:
Moving day is
going to be a long and strenuous one and
might need all your attention and patience.
Prepare yourself mentally for the hectic
schedule ahead.
-
Keep
kids and pets out of the movers’ way.
Explain the importance of this day to
kids before hand and give them necessary
instructions to conduct themselves. You
can even ask the elder ones to take care
of the younger kids.
-
Talk to
the movers and get all your queries
answered.
-
Create
some space for dumping all those items
that need not be moved.
-
Empty
all your cupboards and clean the entire
home and garden.
-
Do not
leave any cash or other valuable items
outside.
-
Go
through your moving checklist once
again.
-
Before
making any payment to the mover, do go
through the terms & conditions of the
moving contract once again.
Loading:
Loading should
be done by the professional crew to avoid
mishandling of items.
-
Be with
the loading crew through out the loading
process.
-
Instruct
the loading crew, about items that need
to be handled with extra care and
caution.
-
Ask your
mover to find out, if you have to pay
any tips to the loading crew.
Weigh the
shipment: The container should be
absolutely empty when it reaches your home.
Enquire, if the ticket given to you by the
shipment people has all your details or not.
Measures to be
taken while moving:
Spread the
floor covering on the floor before moving
the things out for loading. Do the same
before unloading the things at new home
as well.
Right after
loading, go and check your home thoroughly.
In case, if you have forgotten any items
on the attic or so, you can ask the crew to
load them into the truck.
If you have
any packed items waiting to be loaded, in a
separate storage unit, do inform the
movers about them in advance. Movers
might charge you extra for this kind of
loading.
Carry your
interstate health certificate and that of
your pets. You might be asked to show it during your move.
The day after
the move
You have moved
into your new home successfully. Now what?
Give some rest to your tired body and let
everybody settle down.
-
If there
is any final cleaning to be done in your
new home, then do it now.
-
Start
unpacking slowly and try taking your
kids help for this.
-
Locate
the malls, hospitals and schools near
your home.
-
Check
out the availability of service
providers like doctors, veterinarian
etc.
-
Usually
ten day period will be given for you to
notify the Department of Motor vehicles
about your move. Do so, by giving
your new address to them.
-
Register
yourself in the county clerk’s office
near by and ask for a new Voter
identification card.
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