Moving Checklist Part 2
Missed part 1? Find it right here.
4-5 Weeks before Moving
Stock up on moving supplies. That means everything from boxes, tape, labels, markers, bubble wrap, sanity…OK, the last one I am just kidding about. But the better prepared you are now the more sanity you will have on moving day, so stock up!
Contact the post office and fill out your Change of Address form. In fact, you can now complete this entirely online through the Canada Post website! I recommend taking advantage of their online system since the post office can often have inconvenient hours.
Notify your utility companies, cell phone and internet providers and all banks and credit unions where you have accounts. Don’t forget any newspaper or magazine subscriptions.
Register your children at their new schools. Many schools will allow you to tour the building and let your little ones find their new classrooms ahead of time. Maybe even meet their new teachers now, so they are not meeting them on their first day.
If you have pets, make sure you have crates or carriers to keep them safe. Check to see if there are ownership requirements in your new town or if you are crossing provinces or cities. And again, don’t forget their vet records and vaccination history. You can probably even ask if your current vet can recommend a new one in the town where you are moving.
2-4 Weeks before Moving
This is when the real action begins! You will have a lot to do, so plan wisely. Make sure you don’t have any doctor’s appointments or other prior commitments during this time. The less you have to do outside your moving tasks, the better.
Contact your utility companies to schedule the disconnection of your current services and set up connection at your new home. Be flexible here. If you expect everything to work out perfectly to the minute, you are setting yourself up for headaches later. Make sure you have some movies on hand and in your car on moving day, so if the cable guy is 4 hours or a day late getting to your home (we have all heard the horror stories here), you have something to entertain the kids, and even yourself with until it is all set to go.
Start moving items to your storage unit. Follow the list you made and make sure you don’t miss anything.
If you have small children, you may want to schedule a babysitter for moving day; easier for you, and safer for them. Make sure if you do set up a babysitter, that it is at their home and away from the stress of moving. If you are moving far away, like across the country, have one of your friends or family members keep them occupied in the new home in one room with activities, make that their job for the day. That way your kids are out of the way, and you won’t have to worry if they are hungry or anything – because your on-site helper can take care of all of that for you!
If you are moving out of town, you should return library books or any items you’ve borrowed from your neighbors. And, remember, get back anything they’ve borrowed from you! If you lent something out that you really don’t care about, let it go…less to move.
Designate a box or two for valuables or important things you do not want on the moving truck. This box will stay with you and in your car at all times. Use this for items like medications, cell phone, purse and wallet, keys to the new home, medical records and documents related to the move like the contract with the moving company.
If you have a long drive ahead of you, consider having your cars serviced now. You really don’t want any of the vehicles being used for the move to break down when you are in a caravan of two trucks and four cars on a major highway. That will delay everyone and can raise the stress level a lot. Not to mention the added cost of towing or repair that could have been dealt with ahead of time.
Don’t forget your Safe deposit box! If you have one of these at a local bank, arrange to empty the contents and prepare them for the move. Make sure you set up a new one at your new bank. If the drive isn’t too far away, it may be best to take your valuables straight to your new bank and get it done in one day.
The last part of our moving checklist is coming next week!
