Moving tips

1 Week Out

• Separate the items you'll take with you and which items you want the movers to take.

• Do a walk-through of your home to make sure you haven’t overlooked repairs that have to be done before you leave.

• Mark the boxes for the movers with stickers designating directions such as "Fragile," "Do Not Load" and "Load Last."

• Disconnect and clean any appliances that will be moving with you and those that will remain. Empty, defrost and clean your refrigerator and freezer, and clean your stove at least 24 hours before moving to give them time to air out. Baking soda is useful for getting rid of any odors.

• Prepare “necessities” bags for each family member of items you will need while your goods are in transit … such as diapers, toiletries, change of clothes, etc. Pack your suitcases and confirm travel arrangements for you and your family.

• Make sure your moving company has the address and phone number of your new home. You should also provide an address and phone number of where you can be reached until you will get to your new home.

• Arrange for payment to the van line agent. Confirm with your van line what methods of payment it accepts. Generally this will be cash on delivery (COD).

• Verify the insurance you have chosen with your van line agent. Refer to our “Insurance and Liability” guide for more information.

• Settle any outstanding bills with local merchants.

• Gather keys, alarm codes & garage door openers and be prepared to hand them over to the new owner or real estate agent.

•Disconnect and disassemble your computer system before your move. Back up all your computer files on a disk. Consider taking all back up files and disks with you in the car or whatever mode of transportation you will be using to get to your new home. Remember, exposure to extreme temperatures can damage your software.

• It’s a good idea to notify the police and a trusted neighbor if your old home will be unoccupied after you move.

• Make childcare and pet care arrangements for moving day.