Moving Timeline and Checklist
One month before your move:
- Arrange for moving your furniture and personal belongings either by hiring a moving company, or renting a truck.
Get estimates from at least three moving companies or truck-rental companies and be sure to obtain a hand truck
(appliance dolly) if you're moving yourself.
- Gather moving supplies: boxes, tape, rope, and anything else you might need.
- Plan your travel itinerary and make transportation and lodging reservations in advance if you are driving to
your new home. (Leave a copy with a friend or relative.)
- Some moving expenses are tax deductible, so you will want to save your moving-expense receipts (if the move
is employment-related) for tax deductions, including meals, lodging, and gasoline. Record expenses incurred
during your house-hunting trips.
- Develop a plan for packing, such as packing last the things you use the most.
- Notify others of your new address: post office, credit cards, newspaper and magazine subscriptions, relatives
and friends, national and alumni organizations, church, mail order clubs (books, videos, catalogues), firms
with which you have time payments, and your past employer to make sure that you receive T-4 information. Save
your old address labels to speed up filling out change-of-address forms for your new address.
- Notify federal and provincial taxing authorities or any governmental agency necessary.
Two weeks before your move:
- Notify and get refunds from your present utilities: gas, electric, water, cable, and phone. Arrange for services
at your new address. Notify long-distance phone company and arrange for service at your new address.
- Have your car serviced if you are driving a long distance to your new home.
- Recruit people to help you on moving day.
- Arrange for someone to take care of your pets and children during the move.
- Confirm moving company or rental-truck arrangements.
One day before your move:
- Keep moving materials separate so they don't get packed until you are finished.
- Pick up rental truck if you are moving yourself.
- Fill up your car with gas and check oil and tires.
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