The Ultimate Moving Checklist

Eliminate Uncertainty with a Moving Plan

As the Toledo moving leader, our team has the best recommendations to stay organized during your up and coming move. We compiled the Ultimate Moving Checklist to keep you on track. From requesting a quote, to utilities, getting expert help, packing—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 quote. Schedule an appointment for a move representative to view your home (either face-to-face or virtually), discuss your move details and prepare a moving estimate.
• If your employer is paying for your move, refer to their moving quote policy to determine what services your employer will cover.
• Do you prefer to do any of the packing—or will you have it done by our professional packers? We are eager to discuss all the packing services with you.
• Show your move representative everything that is going to be moved. Any items you don’t disclose or that are added later to the shipment will increase the cost, even if you’ve been given a binding moving quote.
• Review the “Your Rights and Responsibilities” and be sure that you understand the extent of your liability.

7 Weeks Out: Sign your estimate and book your move

• Authorize your moving quote| only after you make sure that you understand the document. If you have questions, be sure to ask your relocation expert. We want to provide all the help that you may need.
• Lock in your moving day and confirm your moving plan when you book your relocation.
• Keep the contact number and title of your moving consultant accessible, and feel free to ask questions or request 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 cards, and magazine subscriptions.
• Change your information with medical providers, lawyers, accountants, and other service providers.

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

• Go through every area in your house to decide on what will go with you and what will stay behind.
• Host a garage sale to dispose of any things you don't need.
• Give away your unused clothing, furniture or other household goods (pots, pans, dishes, bedding, etc.) to your preferred Toledo charities. Don’t forget to grab donation receipts showing the items’ approximate value for potential future tax deductions.
• If you are packing yourself, begin now so you are not panicked at the end. Some items that are good to start with are books, off-season clothes, collectables.

4 Weeks Out: Check in with your mover

• Inform your relocation specialist if you add or subtract items from your planned moving quote or if there are any changes to your move-in or move-out date.
• Be sure that your relocation specialist has your future address and contact number where you can be contacted.
• Verify that your relocation specialist knows of any extra locations to collect or drop off items to a alternate site – verify this is part of your moving quote.

3 Weeks Out: Prepare your friends and family

• Take the family for a last visit to some of their favorite places that hold happy memories.
• Have a farewell party for the children and their friends.
• Enjoy yourself… an outdoor barbecue. Keep it simple.
• Book family travel plans. Book hotel rooms and airfare as needed.
• If you're driving, have your auto 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.
• consider about what belongings you will have to have for the trip and for your first night in your new home. Set them aside so they don’t accidentally get packed.
• You must dispose of flammables such as fireworks, cleaning fluids, matches, acids, chemistry sets, aerosol cans, ammunition, and poisons such as weed killer. Empty gasoline from your mower and other yard tools and make sure all caps are tight. Disposve of partly used cans of oil, paint, thinner, bleach or any other chemicals that could be flammable or combustible or those stored in containers that could leak. Please read the full list of prohibited items.
• Dispose of propane tanks for barbecues.
• Arrange to have utilities disconnected. Plan to keep utilities in service through moving day.
• Get your carpets and curtains cleaned. Leave them wrapped when you get them back from the cleaners.
• Obtain a written appraisal of antique items to verify value. Avoid waxing or oiling wooden antiques (and fine wood furniture) before moving because some of these products might soften the wood, making it vulnerable to being damaged.
• Do not clean your upholstered furniture before moving. Moisture may result in mold if furniture has to be placed in storage.

2 Weeks Out: Plan for your pets

• Make sure you have made travel plans 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 ensure you have all required health certificates or inoculations – every state has different rules.
• Retrieve anything you had cleaned, stored or fixed.
• Clear out your locker at the club, bowling lanes or other facility.
• Give back anything you’ve loaned from neighbors, including library books.
• Collect any auto-refilled medications that may be ready.
• Be sure you haven’t overlooked any of the important things.
• Have you packed or disposed of everything that’s not moving? Be sure to advise your relocation specialist to see if that alters your moving quote.
• Have you verified all the specifics with your moving manager?

1 Week to go: Last minute details

• Ensure that all mechanical and electrical equipment is thoroughly checked for shipping prior to the arrival of the moving truck. As usual, reach out to your coordinator with any questions.
• Keep packing, selling, and organizing your belongings accordingly.

One Day Away

• Indicate any breakable items needing careful handling. If certain things shouldn’t be packed or moved, tag them appropriately. Sticky notes work well for this!
• Label any items or boxes you will want as soon as possible when the truck unloads at your new home (valuables, electronics, etc.).
• If you are doing the packing yourself, make sure everything is packed up before moving day. When they arrive, the van operator will check to see if boxes have been properly packed.
• 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 in advance of a 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 on hand to see that all of your belongings are loaded; remain close by until loading is done. After making a final tour of the house, inspect and sign the inventory. Get your inventory copy from the mover and put it in a safe place.
• Your move manager will check in with you on load day to be sure your expectations are being met. Keep your cell phone handy!
• There will be some required paperwork on the big 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 items are moved and is also your receipt for the shipment.
• Let the van operator know how to contact you, including contact numbers, email address, and address, pending the arrival of your belongings at your new home.

Take a last look around

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

Delivery day

• Make sure to be available to accept delivery. If you cannot be there in-person, be sure you authorize an adult to be your representative to accept delivery and pay any fees for you.
• Two adults present is optimal for delivery. One may direct the crew and answer questions, the other may solely be in charge of marking off the inventory and ensuring all items have arrived.
• On the day of delivery, the van operator will try to contact you by phone and may stop by your new home if they are unable to reach you. If you or an authorized individual cannot 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 is any change in the condition of your property from what is noted on the inventory, note the discrepancy on the van operator’s version of the inventory. When you sign the inventory, you’re accepting receipt and condition of all items on the inventory.
• When unloading, each piece of furniture will be placed as you direct, including the laying of rugs and re-assembling 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 determine where each piece of furniture should go.
• Keep all documents pertaining 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 prevent damage, leave appliances and electronics turned off for about 24 hours while they come up to new room temperatures.

Settling in: one week after move

• The time has come to make it official! Check in with your local post office for any mail being held and ask for mail delivery to begin.
• Check state (and local) requirements for vehicle registration and a driver's license.
• You might want to select an attorney to discuss laws that pertain to your new state, county and/or town. Be sure to cover such matters as wills, property transfers, and investment laws, insurance laws, inheritance regulations, taxes, etc. Most laws apply as soon as residence in the new state or city is established.