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Let This Check-List Help You Oranise Your Move
Here you will find a full book's worth of useful information to use when moving. Moving can be one of the most stressful times in a person’s life so start planning early, making arrangements, and writing a list of everything you need to do.
If you're hiring a moving company, you'll need to start the process. Before you hire, know what to look for and how to choose the best. Contact a minimum of three different companies. To help with your questions, read questions to ask the moving company, then write out your questions in a moving book and use the book every time you call a company.

Finding a moving company is only the beginning, and offers various options. Some people prefer to use a well established company and wouldn’t consider anything less with there personal belongings. While other people would consider other options and frankly it comes down to your budget and who you trust more. Once you have called at least three companies it would also be a good idea to construct a budget and work out how much everything is going to cost.

Your moving timeline might differ if you are selling a house and have accepted a quick closing date. Push everything forward as necessary to accomplish your move as quickly and easily as possible.


Eight Weeks Before You Move
• Purchase a book or binder, and keep notes on your move.
• Obtain a floor plan of your new residence and decide what household goods you want to keep.
• Take an inventory of all household goods.
• Decide if you're going to move yourself or hire professionals.
• Choose a mover.
• Will you need to purchase additional insurance? Find out how much the moving company will cover, then contact your insurance agent and ask if your homeowners or rental policy can apply to moving your household goods.
• Arrange to transfer or obtain your child's school records.
• If you need to use storage facilities, check out your options, compare prices and book the space.
• Make a running list of people you need to notify of your change of address. Keep it handy (on the refrigerator) so you can add to it as the days tick by. Or print out the Change of Address checklist to ensure you don't miss anyone.
• Start looking at what, if any, packing supplies you'll need. Make a list, and if you're ordering off the Internet, order your supplies now.
• Purchase a lockable box and/or file box to keep important documents. Start collecting and sorting your records. Keep adding to it as you begin to pack.
• Complete any home improvements/repairs you have agreed to do.
• Start keeping track of all moving expenses, because some might be tax deductible.


Four Weeks
With a month to go before the big day, you may be feeling like you'll never get it all done, but trust me, you can! All you need to do is take a breath, stop looking at the big picture and start concentrating on the small steps.
• Contact your utility and service companies to arrange the date when your service can be disconnected, and if needed, the date it is to be reconnected in your new home. This can include telephone, Internet, television, gas, water and electricity. Make sure you ask that services be disconnected after your move date.
• Make all your travel plans such as flights, hotels or calls to family members you might need to stay with at your destination or along the way. If you're driving your pets, make sure you have the necessary cages and documents.
• Decide what needs to travel with you, including clothing, games for the kids, books, toiletries, etc.
• Once you've decided what will travel with you, do a test run to make sure it will all fit in your luggage, backpack or the boot of your car.
• Begin dismantling any outdoor furniture or children's play areas, including slides and swings. Check the garage and storage areas to determine what needs to be packed. These areas are often overlooked when packing the rest of the house. Start finding new homes for your plants, if you know they can't go with you. If you are moving plants, make sure you know how they'll be transported.
• Register your move at the local post office.
If you're driving to your new home, get a detailed map and plot out your route. Write out directions and give them to your movers.
• Keep packing! By now, you probably have a few boxes packed, maybe more, and they're starting to get in the way. If you have spare rooms - any room that you don’t use on a daily basis – use this space as your "moving room". Boxes you've packed, items that need to be moved, can all be stored here. And if this isn't a space that's used much, pack its contents first so you'll have more space to work in.


Two weeks
Two weeks to go... We're almost there! This is the most stressful period, when it feels like there will never be enough time to finish everything. Maybe it's time to call in some help. Rally some friends or family or neighbors, offer them a glass of wine and hand them a box. Most people are glad to help out, plus it gives them all a little extra time to spend with you before you leave.
• There are some things your children can pack safely without too much supervision, starting with their room. This will help your children have time to say "goodbye" to what's familiar and provide you with some much needed assistance.
• Arrange for a babysitter for moving day. It's better if they're out of the house completely, so you're not distracted and they aren't in the way. And sometimes, if children are having a difficult time with the move, being there while they're memories are being loaded onto a truck can be traumatic.
• If you have pets, confirm their travel arrangements if they are not traveling with you.
• Return all library books. Even if you're in the middle of reading a good thriller, take those books back! It's a good idea to get them out of the way when you're packing and just so you don't pack them accidentally.
• Get your car fully checked and serviced. While you're at the shop, ask your mechanic if he can recommend any service stations in your new city.
• Prepare your car registration and insurance. Notify the Land Transport Authority of your new address.
• Call your insurance company to cancel or transfer your current home coverage.
• Transfer all prescriptions to a pharmacy in your new city. If you're moving out of country, make sure you have enough medication to last until you get settled.
• Arrange for parking for the moving van. Make sure the moving van can fit in your driveway or on the street and that the distance from the van to the front door does not exceed what the moving company allows.
• Safely dispose of all hazardous household chemicals like paint, oil and solvents.
• Start eating items in your freezer and pantry. Try not to buy too many groceries right now or if you have to, only buy essentials and items that you'll eat in the next two weeks.
• Pack up your garage and spare room. These areas sometimes take longer than expected so it's better not to leave them until the end. Continue packing. Try to label each box with what's inside, where it goes and any special instructions. Be as detailed as you can.
• This will make it easier when you're unpacking to know what needs to be unpacked first. You can even put a big bright sticker on the boxes that contain your essentials, for easy identification. Just make sure you put the sticker on at least two sides.
• Make arrangements for disposal of any petroleum bottles, i.e. BBQ bottles, these can't be transported with your regular items.


One week Remaining
With only 1 week remaining, you're probably feeling a little nervous, a little excited and very impatient. It's likely that you're running on very little sleep, so make sure you don't pack the coffee maker just yet. I find it's always one of the essentials that usually travels with me in the car, needing to keep good friends close at hand.
• Transfer bank accounts and close safety deposit boxes.
• Buy traveler's checks or purchase foreign currency.
• Pack a a suitcase with clothes and toiletries you'll need for your trip and the first night in your new home.
• Pack a box marked "Do Not Move" and use it to pack the items you'll need to survive a few days in your new home. Take this box with you in the car or on the plane.
• Contents should include some of the items on this list, such as traveler's checks, but don't forget essentials such as toilet paper, contact lenses, pet food, medication and your handy dandy moving journal that you started in week 8!
• Pay any remaining bills and close off the accounts.
• Empty your lawnmower, power tools, and anything else motorized, of fuel. Make sure you've properly covered sharp blades.
• Call the moving company or any other company you've hired to assist in your move.
• Confirm their arrival times and parking strategies and go over all arrangements to ensure everything is on track.
• Dissemble remaining furniture. Even beds can be taken apart and mattresses set on the floor. Any of the more difficult tasks you tackle now, the less stress as you near the end.
• At the beginning of the week, figure out a simple meal plan. Decide what or where you'll eat the night before your move and each night in between. Buy only those food items you need to get by.
• Finish the majority of the packing and that all boxes are clearly labeled with room destination, contents and instructions (Fragile!, This End Up!, etc...)


Two days before
There are just two days left before you say goodbye to your old bedroom, your old backyard where you had some great barbecues, and to the familiar sounds of your neighborhood. Probably by now you're ready to go, just wishing it would all be over, anticipating the new start. But hold on; there's still some things you need to take care of that need to be done in the next two days.

• Defrost your refrigerator and freezer. Clean it well then allow it to dry for at least 24 hours. If you're moving your refrigerator yourself, make sure you have all the necessary tools to do so.
• Check to make sure you have all vital documents and items that you'll be taking with you: passport (if needed), directions, maps, cash, new keys, rental agreement (if needed), etc...
• Keep all documents related to your move within easy reach, yet where they won't get lost in the current chaos.
• Pack up a box of items you'll need when you get to your new place. (Coffee maker, coffee, tea, cups, dish towel and all my cleaning supplies, including dish soap. I also make sure I pack some paper towels or cleaning sponges.)
• Do check-up phone calls. Call the city or your apartment manager to confirm that the moving truck has permission to park and ensure you have the right permit. If the parking is not secured, you could end up paying for long carry charges.
• Disassemble last pieces of furniture, including the beds. You'll have to sleep on just the mattress for your final night, but this will save you time in the morning. There's nothing more frustrating than waiting until the morning of your move to discover that you don't have the right tools to take the bed apart, or that it doesn't come apart very easily.
• If you are moving out of the country close all bank accounts if you haven't done so already. Or if you're transferring to another branch, call your bank to confirm that the transfer has been set up. Pack your valuables with your vital documents.
• Pack up your computer and all peripherals.


Moving Day!
Set your alarm early because it's moving day! This is the day you've been waiting and planning for for the past eight weeks and now it's finally here.
• Make sure you get plenty of sleep, take the children to a babysitter or neighbors, drink lots of coffee and get ready for the final tasks in your soon-to-be old home.
• Pack up the remaining items such as the bedding and towels.
• When your movers arrive, go through your home with them to ensure that any fragiles or large items are identified. This will help the movers ensure your things are properly loaded and protected.
• Make sure you've placed all items not going with the mover in a separate place with all boxes well marked. I usually keep one bathroom for just such purposes, making sure there is a spare washroom or that the facilities can still be used by both you and the movers.
• Be present when your items are tagged by the moving company to ensure everything is marked properly and in case the movers have any questions. You'll also be signing the final document outlining which items were loaded on to the truck. It helps to confirm each piece before it leaves your home.
• Before the moving truck pulls away, do a final thorough check to ensure everything has been loaded.
• Make sure the moving company has your new address and a contact telephone number in case they need to reach you.
• Check all paperwork before you sign the bill of lading. Keep your copy of the bill of loading and inventory list in a safe place.
• Do any last minute cleaning.
• Leave your new address and contact information for the new tenants or your landlord so that any stray pieces of mail can be forwarded.
• Take one last look around, shut off all lights, say goodbye and lock your front door for the very last time.
• You've done it! You've moved! Congratulate yourself and get ready for a new adventure...