The Ultimate Moving Checklist

Eliminate Uncertainty with a Moving Plan

As the Farmington Hills moving experts, our team is familiar with the best suggestions to stay organized during your forthcoming move. We created the Ultimate Moving Checklist to guide you leading up to the big day. From obtaining a moving estimate, to setting up your utilities, professional services, packing your belongings—we got it all covered here.

8 Weeks Out: Schedule an In-Home or Virtual Estimate

• It's the time to contact us for a moving estimate. Schedule an meeting for a move representative to view your home (either in-person or virtually), discuss your move details and prepare a moving estimate.
• If your organization is paying for your move, refer to their moving quote guidelines to determine what services your employer will cover.
• Do you want to do any of the packing yourself—or will you have it done by our pack crews? We are eager to discuss all the packing services with you.
• Provide your move representative everything that will be moved. Any items you fail to disclose or that are added to the shipment later will increase the cost, even if were given a binding moving quote.
• Review the “Your Rights and Responsibilities” and make certain that you understand the extent of your liability.

7 Weeks Out: Sign your estimate and book your move

• Approve your moving quote| only after you fully understand the paperwork. If you have questions, be sure to consult your sales representative. We want to assist you in any way we can.
• Confirm your moving day and confirm your moving schedule when you officially book your move.
• Keep the phone number and name of your relocation specialist within reach, and feel free to ask questions or ask for more useful suggestions.

6 Weeks Out: Notify Your Utilities and Service Providers

• To make sure your mail gets to your new address, tell the post office that you are moving. You can complete an online Change of Address form on the United States Postal Service website.
• Update your address with your financial institutions, insurance providers, credit card companies, and magazines.
• Update your information with doctors, attorneys, accountants, and any other professional services.

5 Weeks Out: Determine what to toss, sell or give away

• Go through every room in your house to sort through what will come with you and what will be left behind.
• Have a yard sale to sell any things you don't need.
• Donate your unwanted clothing, furniture or other household goods (pots, pans, dishes, bedding, etc.) to your preferred Farmington Hills charities. Don’t forget to grab proof of donation showing the items’ value for potential tax deductions.
• If you are packing yourself, begin now so you are not stressed at the final stages. Some items that are perfect to start with are books, out of season clothes, decorative items.

4 Weeks Out: Check in with your mover

• Inform your moving consultant if you change the list of items to be moved or if there are any updates to your moving schedule.
• Be sure that your move coordinator has your future address and phone contact where you can be contacted.
• Verify that your point of contact knows of any additional stops needed to collect or drop off items to a secondary location – verify this is listed on your moving quote.

3 Weeks Out: Prepare your friends and family

• Take the family for a final visit to some of their favorite places that hold happy memories.
• Have a farewell party for the children and their friends.
• Celebrate… an informal get-together. Keep it simple.
• Make family travel arrangements. Book lodging and flight tickets as needed.
• If you'll be driving, have your mechanic check out your car. (check tires, brakes, windshield wipers, fluids, belts, etc.).
• If you are flying, make sure you have your airfare and other necessary transportation booked.
• Think about what items you will have to have for the trip and for your first night in your new home. Set them aside so they won’t accidentally get packed.
• Dispose of any flammable items such as fireworks, cleaning fluids, matches, acids, chemistry sets, aerosol cans, ammunition, and poisons such as weed killer. Drain gas from your power mower and other machinery and make sure all caps are tight. Throw away partly used cans of oil, paint, thinner, bleach or any other liquids that are flammable or combustible or those stored in containers that might leak. Please read the complete list of non-allowables.
• Discard propane tanks which are used for barbecue grills.
• Set a date for having utilities disconnected. Plan to keep utilities on through moving day.
• Have rugs and draperies cleaned. Leave both wrapped when you get them back from the cleaners.
• Get a written appraisal for your antiques. Avoid waxing or oiling wooden antiques (and fine wood furniture) before your move because some of these products could soften the wood, making it susceptible to being damaged.
• Do not clean your upholstered furniture before moving. Moisture can result in mold if furniture has to be placed in storage.

2 Weeks Out: Plan for your pets

• Make sure you have arranged transportation for your pets. If you need to kennel them or entrust them with pet-sitters, double-check those plans now.
• Bring your pets to the vet and make sure you have all required vaccination records or inoculations – every state has unique requirements.
• Retrieve anything you had cleaned, stored or fixed.
• Empty your locker at the club, bowling alley or other facility.
• Give back anything you have loaned from neighbors, including books from the library.
• Collect any recurring medications that may be waiting for you.
• Be sure you have not missed any of the important things.
• Have you packed or gotten rid of everything that is not relocating? Be sure to notify your move representative to see if that alters your moving quote.
• Have you confirmed all the details with your relocation coordinator?

1 Week to go: Last minute details

• Ensure that all mechanical and electrical equipment is adequately prepped for shipping prior to the arrival of the truck. As per usual, contact your coordinator with any concerns.
• Continue preparing and packing, selling, and preparing your stuff accordingly.

One Day Away

• Point out any extra-fragile items needing special treatment. If certain items should not be packed or moved, tag them appropriately. Post-it notes work well for this!
• Identify any items or boxes you will want immediately when the truck gets to your new home (valuables, electronics, etc.).
• If you’re doing your own packing, make sure everything is ready to go before moving day. When they get there, the van operator will look to be sure boxes have been secured properly.
• If Corrigan is helping you pack, collect things you definitely want packed together, such as children’s toys, and group them in separate groups.
• Disconnect all electronic appliances a day before the move, except older plasma televisions, so that they will be at room temperature on moving day. This includes home computers, stereos and audio/video equipment.

Moving day

 

• Make it a point to be available to see that all of your things are loaded; remain nearby until loading is finished. After making a final tour of the house, double-check and sign the shipment inventory. Get your copy of the inventory from the moving company and keep it safe.
• Your move manager will check in with you on load day to ensure your expectations are being met. Keep your phone handy!
• There will be some required paperwork on moving day:
• High-Value Inventory Form: complete and sign stating if any items of extraordinary value are included in the shipment.
• Bill of Lading: states the terms and conditions under which your goods are moved and is also your receipt for the shipment.
• Be sure toet the van operator know how to contact you, including phone numbers, email address, and destination address, pending the arrival of your belongings at your new home.

Take a last look around

• Is the water shut off?
• Did you turn off furnace and air conditioner turned off?
• Did you switch off light switches turned off?
• Are all utilities arranged for disconnection?
• Are the windows shut and locked?
• Have you turned in the old house keys?
• Have you left anything in small closets or cabinets?

Delivery day

• Make sure to be available to accept delivery. If you are unable to be there physically, be sure you authorize an adult to be your proxy to accept delivery and pay any applicable charges for you.
• Having two adults on-site is ideal for delivery. One can direct the crew and answer questions, the other may solely be in charge of marking off the inventory and ensuring all items have been delivered.
• On the day of delivery, the van operator will try to contact you by phone and may visit your new home if they are not able to reach you. If you or an authorized individual are unable to accept delivery of your belongings within the allocated time (i.e., two hours) you can request more waiting time until the delivery can be made.
• Check your household goods as they are unloaded. If there are any discrepancies in the condition of your property from what is noted on the inventory, note discrepancies on the van operator’s version of the inventory. When you sign the inventory, you’re acknowledging receipt and the condition of all items listed.
• When unloading, each piece of furniture will be positioned as you direct, including the laying of rugs and setting up any beds taken apart at origin.
• It always helps to have a guide. Place a map of your new home near the entrance, which the movers can use to see where each piece of furniture should go.
• Keep all documents related to your move in a safe place. You will need them for verification of moving expenses when you file your federal income tax returns.
• To help avoid possible damage, leave appliances and electronics turned off for about one day while they come up to new room temperatures.

Settling in: one week after move

• It is time to make your move official! Check in with your destination post office for any mail being held and ask for delivery to commence.
• Check state (and local) requirements for auto registration and a driver's license.
• You may want to select an attorney to discuss legal requirements that pertain to your destination state, county and/or city. Be sure to cover such matters as wills, property transfers, and investments, insurance laws, inheritance laws, taxes, etc. Most laws take effect as soon as residence in the new state and city is established.