If you are preparing to move to a new home soon, it will take some careful planning to ensure everything goes off without a hitch. Whether you are moving across the country, or nearby, everything has to be moved safely from one location to the other. There are some things you can do the week leading up to your move to ensure that you are fully prepared when moving days comes. Below is a look at the top things you should do the week before you move.
Close all Accounts
One of the things you want to make sure that you complete during your final week is to close all of your accounts. This includes contacting all of your utility companies and providing them with the date that you will be moving out of your current location. If you are moving out of your local area, then you also need to close out your bank accounts, including emptying out your safety deposit box. If your bank has a branch in the location you are moving to, you should still contact your local bank and let them know you are moving and provide them with a new address.
You should also contact your auto insurance and the DMV. Keep in mind that your auto insurance rate may change depending on the area you are moving.
Transfer School and Medical Records
If you are moving out of your local area, you also need to make sure that you transfer all your kid’s school records to the school in your new district. This may take several days, so be sure to ask for this transfer of records at least a week before you move. You should also ask your doctor to transfer the medical records for all members of the family to a new doctor where you are moving. If you do not have a doctor yet in your new location, stop by your doctor’s office and ask for your medical records to take with you.
Start Packing
The week before you move is a good time to start packing some boxes, unless you have a large home, in which case you’ll need to be well on your way. Start with things that you do not use very often, so you will not risk packing something you may need during the week. You should also start a survival kit that includes certain things you may need instant access to, such as birth certificates, social security cards, medication, prescription, and emergency phone numbers. Be sure to clearly mark this box, so it does not get accidentally packed with the other things.
Set Plans for Moving Day
If you have not yet lined up people to help you on moving day, now is the time. Keep in mind that the more people you can get to help you the faster the moving process will go. Find people who are willing to move boxes and furniture in and out of the house for you. If you have small children, it is also a good idea to line up someone to watch them for a good portion of the day. This will allow you to fully focus on moving without worrying about the kids.
Have Your Storage Container Ready
If you have not done so yet, now is the time to contact professional movers or rent a portable storage units and reserve their services for your move date. Professional movers can be quite expensive, but will do most of the work for you. Portable moving containers are more affordable and extremely convenient. You can have the portable container parked at your house for several days and fill it up at your convenience. The company will then move it directly to your new location to unpack.
If you are planning to move in the near future, completing these tasks a week before you move will help make the moving process easier. It is a good idea to make a checklist of all the things you need to complete before you move. This will help to make sure everything is done on time and your move goes off without a hitch.
