Moving Into Your New Home

The activities of moving day are different from typical daily living. You may hear yourself asking questions such as “Where’d we get all this stuff?” or “Did you remember to bring the toilet paper?” The following checklists can make moving a bit less chaotic.

Before carrying in the first box or piece of furniture, inspect your home again for damage that may have occurred during work on last-minute items. Though not a common event, such damage can occur without your builder’s knowledge. If it has, notify the builder immediately and follow-up in writing.

Take precautions to protect vulnerable surfaces such as hardwood or resilient floors. Cover rails with moving pads or blankets. Remove doors where furniture might be a tight fit. You can protect carpet with ribbed, plastic runners.Professional movers should have insurance for any damage they might accidentally cause. Friends and relatives will not. They are also unlikely to have the training and practiced skills of professional movers. If you are moving yourself, organize the schedule to avoid rushing and include rest breaks. People who are tired or in a hurry are more likely to hurt themselves or your belongings.

Whatever else is going on, at dinnertime assemble the family for your first meal together in the new home. Sit across the card table form each other, smile, and say “We made it.”

Moving Preparation Checklist

Compare proposals of professional movers
Costs for services such as packing and unpacking
Costs of packing materials and boxes
Distance and weight charges
Insurance
Availability and notice needed
Self-move
Make truck reservation early
Include a reservation for a dolly, a hand truck, and moving pads
Reconfirm a week prior to your move
Involve children in planning and preparing for the move
Donate unwanted items
Return borrowed items
Properly discard flammable materials
Empty refrigerator
Create a file for storing documents about your home and manufacturer’s literature.
Retain receipts for tax purposes. Moving costs may be deductible
Send change of address cards to magazines and book clubs 6 weeks prior to your move. Also notify relatives, friends, and your newspaper delivery person. (The U.S. Postal Service provides a free kit that includes change-of-address cards for various purposes, money-saving tips, and other information on moving. Ask for it at your local post office. Postal Services website, www.usps/gov/movers.net/ provides similar information, and you can fill out the forms on-line.
Give the forwarding order to your current post office a month prior to your move to assure uninterrupted service.
Transfer or start utility services
Water and sewer
Gas
Electric
Telephone
Cable television
Trash collection
Security service, if applicable
In some regions, having a professional spray the home for insects (fire ants, for example) before furniture is in place is wise.
Register children in their new schools
Transfer medical and dental records, if necessary.
Arrange for homeowner insurance and obtain the certificate you need for closing
Order checks with your new address and update financial records
Update your driver’s license and your vehicle and voter registrations.

Packing Materials

Boxes of various sizes, cartons for mattresses
Packing tape and heavy cord
Packing paper, newspaper, bubble wrap
Labels to identify boxes (include a number, room/name); “Fragile” labels for special items
Markers
Master packing list (List each box by number with name/room and a brief description of contents.)
Scissors
Furniture pads, blankets, rugs

Moving Day Necessities

Children’s toys and games
Toilet Paper
Beverages and Snacks
Paper Towels
Soap and hand towels
Trash Bags
First-aid kit
Prescription medication
Medical supplies for special needs
Paper pad and pen
Shelf liners
Small tools
Tape measure
Scissors
Screw drivers
Hammer
Ice maker hook-up kit
Dryer vent flex hose
New hoses for washing machine
Picture hangers
Plant hooks
Scratch cover stick or liquid
Phone and Phone book

One last suggestion—moving into a new home is a lot of work. However well you have planned the details, becoming truly settled takes most families a long time. Be realistic in your expectations and enjoy the process of making your new house into your new home.