MOVING
CHECKLIST
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Review your relocation package if you have
one, and determine what expenses will be paid by your
company.
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Start a log of moving expense receipts (some
many be tax deductible)
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Get written estimates from moving companies.
Include their written commitment of pickup and delivery
dates. Check the limits of insurance that they offer, and if
it covers replacement costs. Purchase additional insurance
if necessary.
-
Arrange for storage facilities – if required.
-
Contact your bank and arrange for transfer of
accounts if necessary, order cheques with new addresses,
clean out safety deposit boxes.
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Submit change of address forms. Mail
postcards to friends and family.
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Give day care centre proper notice of
withdrawal.
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Contact schools and arrange for transfer of
students records.
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Contact your doctors for medical records and
possible referrals to new physicians.
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Change your insurance policies on property,
auto and medical.
-
Organize all important documents in a
fire-safe box. Some things you want to include are school
records, home purchase/sale agreements, will, marriage /
divorce papers, pet documents, financial records, stock
certificates, birth certificates and passports.
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Give notice of resignation to any clubs,
organizations or volunteer activities you belong to.
-
Cancel newspaper subscriptions.
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Arrange for hotels, rental cars or temporary
housing if needed.
2
weeks before the Move
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Take ruthless walk-through to determine what
you really want to take.
-
Tag the rest of it and hold a garage sale; or
call a charity for pick up.
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Clean out club, gym and school lockers; pick
up all drycleaning.
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Arrange for disconnection or changeover of
utilities.
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Have measurements taken of the rooms in your
new residence and use floorplans to determine where
everything will go.
-
Begin packing less used items. Number
and label each box, and keep an inventory. For more
valuable information, see packing tips.
-
Retrieve and return all borrowed items from
neighbours and friends, return library books.
-
Clean out cupboards and plan remaining meals
so you can pack what you don’t need, and don’t buy any more
perishables than you have to.
1
week before the move
-
Make an inventory list of all items going
with you personally. Keep valuable and irreplaceable
items such as jewellery and heirlooms with you, not movers.
-
Confirm arrangements and dates with moving
and storage companies.
-
Confirm arrangements with auto and pet
transporation companies.
-
Confirm hotel, rental car or temporary
housing accommodations.
-
Clean out and defrost the deep freeze.
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Disassemble furniture and other items.
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Be sure to check yard and sheds for items to
pack.
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Inform all friends and relatives of your
forwarding address. If your phone service won’t be
instantaneous, arrange for a temporary voice mailbox.
-
Take pictures of furniture or get fabric
samples for anything you will want to reference for colour
or decorating before the goods are delivered to your new
home.
-
Set aside a box of cleaning supplies and the
vacuum cleaner.
-
Begin making a “Survival Box” for the move.
This should include paper, pens, stamps, envelopes,
cellophane and heavy duty tape, scissors tape measure, paper
cups, ziplock bags, paper plates and towels, plastic
utensils, facial and toilet paper, instant coffee or tea,
sugar and coffee creamer, soap, moist towelettes, aspirin,
bandaids, can opener, bottled water, travel alarm,
flashlight, small tools kit, trash bags, snacks and drinks,
children’s games, address book, spare car keys, phone books
for the city you are leaving and for your destination.
1-2 days before you leave
-
Clean and defrost refrigerator.
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Purchase travellers checks for trip expenses.
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Reconcile and close bank accounts, unless you
will be using another branch of the same bank.
-
Conclude financial matters relating to the
sale or lease of your home.
-
Movers or your family should complete packing
of all household goods for the move. Make sure all boxes are
clearly marked.
-
Confirm delivery address, directions and
delivery date with the movers.
-
Carefully supervise the move. Make sure
boxes are clearly marked and your instructions are
understood.
-
Clean you home and check entire grounds
before leaving.
-
Turn off the geyser and thermostat.
Make sure all windows and doors are closed and locked, and
all extra appliances are turned off. Leave forwarding
address, garage door openers and any keys, if agreed to, to
the new owners or renters.
-
If your home is going to be vacant when you
leave, make sure a relative, estate agent, neighbour or
friend has the keys and are able to contact you. Also,
notify your insurance agent and police department that the
home is empty.
Arrival
Day
-
Check to
make sure that all utilities are on and working properly.
-
Let family
or friends know you have arrived safely. Check in with
your employer and real estate agent to confirm itineraries.
-
Supervise
moving crew on location of furniture and boxes. Begin
unpacking necessary basic first – basic kitchen utensils,
bath toiletries, etc.
-
Give the
kids a job to do – let them start their rooms.
Usually, the kitchen and the kids rooms are the best to set
up first, as it helps them feel at home.
-
Go over the
Bill of Landing from the moving company very carefully
before signing; check for damaged goods first, as this is
usually binding once signed.
Now relax, order dinner out,
and take a long hot bath…….you deserve it!!!!!
Packing
Tips
-
Label each box with the room it belongs in
and its contents.
-
Drain all fluids from power and yard tools so
they won’t leak. Dispose of ll corrosive and volatile
chemicals such as oil, antifreeze and gasoline.
-
After cleaning the refrigerator, allow the
door to remain open for a while to decrease the humidity in
the appliance. Place a piece of coal or a layer of
baking soda inside to prevent mildew and musty smells.
-
Pack a safe or fireproof box with important
records such as birth certificates, marriage certificates,
medical records, school records, passports, per records,
credit card and banking details, tax returns etc.
-
Use strong containers and twine packing tape.
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Try not to exceed 20 kgs in each packed
container.
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Place heavier items on the bottom and lighter
items on top.
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Protect finished surfaces with paper to avoid
marks and scratches.
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Use plenty of padding (clean crumpled paper,
bubble wrap etc) to cushion contents. Recycle
materials as much as possible.
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Pack containers tightly to avoid shifting.
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Fragile items should be packed with extra
care in their own compartmentalized boxes.
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Wrap electric items individually before
packing and cushion well.
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Make certain all liquids and foodstuffs are
in sealed containers.
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Don’t overload chests and dressers with
clothing and linen items. This could cause furniture joints
to separate and collapse.
-
Do not wrap lamp shades in newspaper; the ink
can rub off and stain them. Wrap them in sheets or
towels.
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Once you vacate your property, any fixtures
or items left behind become the property of the new owner.
Make a “extra” final sweep.
-
Have a master inventory list of all boxes and
their contents, according to the rooms.
-
If you’ve hired a moving company, let them
pack mirrors, furniture and pictures to prevent rubbing and
possible breakage.
How to avoid
the top 10 relocation headaches
Number
10
Not having enough details and demographics about you new
hometown.
Gather as much
information as possible about your new destination, from sources
such as Executive Mobility, location magazines, websites, etc
Number
9
Not having you home priced and showable for selling
Check you home
thoroughly for all needed repairs before listing it for sale.
Pay attention to details such as gapped caulking, chipped tiles,
paint….it’s often said that little things that potential buyers
will notice. Have your home professionally cleaned, including
carpets.
Number 8
Poor research of what your money can buy you in your new city
Many factors
such as differing salary, cost of living, taxes and housing
costs affect what the Dollar/Euro/Pound can buy in different
countries.
Number 7
Not getting a mortgage / bond pre-qualification letter before
house-hunting
While
prequalifing with a mortgage/bond company doesn’t provide final
loan approval, it does give you a realistic price guideline and
shows sellers that you are a serious and qualified buyer.
Another valuable tool is your credit rating…its smart to see
what it contains – clear up any inaccurate information before
pre-qualification.
Number
6
Not protecting yourself with the best home inspection possible
This goes for
both the home you are selling and the one you are buying,
although who pays for the inspection (buyer or seller) is
negotiable in each separate contract.
Number 5
Not setting up adequate interim housing between destinations
When you first
arrive in your new town, you’ll most likely need to find
temporary housing arrangements until you can close and move into
a new home, or find a temporary rental.
Number 4
Your spouse having difficulty with a career transition
If your spouse
had to quit his or her job for the relocation, or if both are
looking for new opportunities via the move, the economic and
emotional well-being of the family. Most people fail to
utilise and take advantage of the resources available for their
career needs. The key to this endeavour is building and
cultivating a networks of contacts. This network can be
started with family and friends and grow from their.
Number 3
Difficulty finding the best schools and daycare providers in the
new city.
Families
considering a relocation are wise to place the quality of their
children’s education and care at the top of their priority list.
Evaluating schools and child care options of each neighbourhood
before you make the final housing choice is important.
Number 2
Children feel lost and experience a wide range of
emotions during a relocation.
They may feel sad and angry about leaving their friends and
familiar surroundings. Moving can be a traumatic or a
positive experience, and how often we present and handle it is
what swings the pendulum one way or another. Often we, as
adults, are under so much stress and have so many details to
handle during a relocation that we can become too focused on
what needs to be done. The temptation is to get settled in
as soon as possible so that the family will feel at home in
their new surroundings; but taking time to talk with your
children about their feelings and allowing them to adjust is
vital.
Number 1
Being hit with a case of “culture shock” after your move.
When people are
physically removed from their cozy secure existence and
transplanted into another culture, the changes can be
traumatizing. Culture shock can manifest itself in
headaches, stomach aches, impatience, difficulty sleeping and
possible anger. These feelings can and do pass in time; if
they do not; consider seeing a doctor.