Your Comprehensive Moving Checklist
Whether you’re preparing for a small or big move, corporate or residential storage, Desert Moving recommends making necessary arrangements at least four weeks ahead of the big day. This allows you considerable time to consider requirements and contingencies that will ultimately make for a more convenient moving process for you as well as your hired local movers.For everything you may need to accomplish and attend to, below is a detailed checklist for your relocation needs:
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4 Weeks Before
- File a change of address request with your local Post Office.
- Notify creditors, magazine subscriptions, and club memberships of your new address.
- Visit the family doctor and obtain copies of your family’s medical records. If possible, ask your physicians to recommend a trusted colleague within reach of your new address.
- Sort which household items can be sold, discarded, recycled, donated, or may me moved to a residential storage.
- Draw up an inventory of each belonging, including important details like date purchased and estimated value.
- Inform local utility companies at your current/ new address to turn off/ on the respective services, as needed.
- Inform your children’s schools, your church, and other organizations, which you are a member of, of your impending relocation.
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3 Weeks Before
- Finalize which items you will be packing yourself.
- Have a sketched out general floor plan of your new home to determine the placement of furniture and appliances.
- Create a handy list or take a convenient phone book with you, filled with important names, addresses, and contact numbers.
- Inform our local movers at Desert Moving Company & Storage Services of pertinent information about your move, including significant change in relocation schedule, if there are any.
- Make necessary and proper arrangements for moving your plants and pets.
- Visit your local bank and make needed transfers of the contents of your safety deposit box.
- Check your homeowner’s policy and see if moving is covered by your insurer.
- Ensure the transfer of insurance to cover fire, theft, and personal property, at your new home.
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2 Weeks Before
- If you’ll be shipping an automobile, top off fluids like oil and antifreeze, and make arrangements to have the gas tank less than half full.
- Plan your own trip to your destination and make the special travel arrangements, as needed, for your family.
- Ensure the proper servicing of all appliances at your current location and destination.
- Properly dispose of flammable items, including gasoline, matches, cleaning fluids, aerosol cans, and bleach.
- Cancel regular services in your area, such as newspaper delivery, trash pick-up, clean-up, and lawn service.
- Finalize your plans for large furniture and appliances.
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1 Week Before
- Finalize payment arrangements with Desert Moving’s local movers. Except when your move would be billed to a corporate account or your employer, or previous credit approval has been secured, payment by cash, certified check, or money order to the assigned driver is required before unloading any belongings.
- Transfer bank accounts to avoid losing any interest.
- Make arrangements to disconnect, connect, or transfer local phone service at your origin and destination, as applicable.
- Finalize and separate personal items which you will be taking with you, such as jewelry and small gadgets. Be sure to properly pack and set them aside in a designated area.
- Use up all frozen foods or simply give them away.
- Drain fuel from lawnmowers and other gas-powered appliances and equipment.
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1 day Before
- Set aside a box of things you’ll need as soon as you arrive at your destination. Either take this box with you, or have the designated Desert Moving driver load it last and unload it first.
- Ensure every item to be moved is packed and boxed up; verify all packing services have been performed before signing for them.
- Defrost, clean out, and dry your refrigerator.
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Moving Day
- Arrive at your new home before the shipment and be present when our local movers deliver your belongings. If this is not possible, designate an authorized person to oversee the unloading of your possessions and communicate the name and contact number with Desert Moving’s designated driver.
- Check the condition of each item as they are inventoried and loaded.
- Make a final tour of your home or property and ensure that nothing has been overlooked or unnecessarily left behind.
- Before signing the Bill of Lading, double-check if the new address or the destination of the shipment, phone number, and other pertinent details are correct.
- Turn off all switches, close up all windows, and lock all doors.
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Moving in
- Make sure utilities are connected.
- Plan the placement of major items in/around your home.
- Be present, or communicate the same to your authorized representative, in order to ensure payment to the driver prior to the unloading of your belongings.