6-8 weeks before your move
-Even though you’ve already contacted
your movers to schedule your move by now, get
in touch with them again to confirm that everything
is in place and that you’re in agreement
about pricing and payment. Double check that
any special arrangements you’ve specified
are being handled, and confirm the dates and
times of your movers’ planned services.
-Since you’ve got a couple of months to work with, this
would be a great time to plan for a yard sale. Go through your
closets and storage spaces and carefully decide which of your
belongings are worth taking up the costly space of moving trucks
or vans and which are better left behind. Anything left unsold
at the end of the yard sale can be donated to charity- some
organizations will even come to your home to pick up your tax-deductible
contributed items.
-This is also a great time to begin planning for the supplies
you’ll need for your move. If you’re going to pack
your belongings yourself, you’ll need to purchase boxes,
strapping tape, and bubble wrap or ink-free newsprint. These
materials can be purchased through your mover. The boxes sold
by moving companies and related suppliers are specifically designed
to be durable and sturdy enough to hold up under a move’s
conditions. Don’t rely on collecting boxes from grocery
stores to save money on your move, as the use of these boxes
will result in damaged property and wasted time. Professional
grade boxes come in all the shapes and sizes you’ll need,
and some are even fitted with special inserts to protect your
glassware and other fragile items.
-Now is the perfect time to start investigating your new community.
The Internet is a great resource for learning about local schools
and organizations, and you can also contact your new town’s
Chamber of Commerce for more information.
-Since your new home is likely to have a different layout
than the one you’re in now, think about how you’ll
arrange your furniture when you get there. This will help you
to give helpful instruction to the movers when they arrive,
and can also save you time in the long run.
-Since you’ve probably been focusing on the travel plans
for your property up until this point, now is a good time to
start thinking about how you and your family will get to your
new destination. Make flight or car rental arrangements as soon
as possible, and if you’ll need to stay at a hotel you
should make those reservations now.
-Get in touch with your realtor and confirm that all of the
details are in place for the sale of your old home and the purchase
of your new home.
-Designate a special file or folder for receipts and other
documents specific to your move. Your moving related expenses
may be tax deductible, so you’ll need to hang on to those
receipts until tax time.
-If you have borrowed library books, organize them for return
now. Additionally, gym memberships and other local memberships
will need to be canceled, so organize your schedule to include
those tasks.
-Get in touch with your insurance company or agents to organize
the transfer of your auto, home, and other policies.
-Designate a file box for irreplaceable documents like wills,
medical records, and certificates as well as valuables like
jewelry and family heirlooms. These will not be packed with
the rest of your property, and will instead be carried with
you during your travels.
-Contact your children’s new schools to arrange registration
and the transfer of school records.