How To Move: Checklist For Moving Out! {PRINTABLE FILE}

How to move yourself out of your house is easier than ever with this 6 week moving checklist!  This moving calendar was a huge lifesaver while I was moving out of Texas to Ohio.

Simply print out this freebie and move yourself with less stress because you have everything you’ll need in one place on this moving calendar. Simply print out the contents of this file and let me do the organizing for you!  {wink}

The Tip Junkie Creative Community has 51 moving tips and printables as well as 23 checklists you can print out for free!  So be sure to search there if you’’re looking for more help.

How To Move

Simply click the 6 week moving checklist, link below.  You can pop it onto a clipboard or hole punch it into a three-ring binder to keep all of your moving calendar, checklists, contracts, and receipts in one place.

   Free Printable File:
6 Week Moving Checklist (9520 downloads )

 

Moving Out

I created the checklist to start at six weeks out with tasks through to 30 days after moving day.  However if you don’t have that much time to prepare, don’t stress.  You can do as much {or as little} as the checklist suggests.  Since moving isn’t an every day occurrence ~ this is simply a checklist to remind you of some of the tasks you might need to do.  {wink} Feel free to use this free moving checklist as you like!  I tried to make it generic enough that it would work for almost everyone ~ whether you’re single moving into a one bedroom apartment or a family of five {like mine} moving across the country into a 4 bedroom home.  {I’ve got your back!}

Checklist ~ Things To Do To Move Out

The following steps are what you will find on the Tip Junkie FREE Moving Checklist.  Remembering how to move can be difficult if you haven’t done it in a while.  So, here are some tasks that you might need to accomplish while you’re moving out.  If they don’t apply to you, simply cross them off.  {knuckle bumps}

Six Weeks Before

1.   Get estimates and hire Movers. 2.  Get estimates and schedule a Rental Truck. Start with asking friends for recommendations and get quotes from at least two licensed companies. Here are several questions to ask:

• Are on-site estimates offered?
• How is pricing determined?
• Will the movers pack items? (If so, at what additional cost?)
• Is the quote binding or nonbinding?
• What insurance is included?
• What additional charges may arise?
• Request a copy of the signed contract.
• Go to protectyourmove.gov to learn more about your rights and responsibilities as you prepare to work with a moving company.

Contact your insurance company to see if you’ll need additional coverage (optional). 3.  Make the arrangements for school transfers. 4.  Ask for doctor and dental referrals, arrange for transfer of medical and dental records.

• Check all of your prescriptions to make sure that you won’t run out in the middle of your move.  {note: You will transfer any prescriptions in week 2}

5.  Create your Moving Binder to hold all move-related paperwork (checklists, contracts, receipts).

• Moving Schedule
  • Start gathering boxes
  • Garage sale? Donate unwanted items.
  • Staging Home
  • Buy Moving Supplies
  • Room Color Chart – for packing tape
  • Mover & Rental Truck
    • Coordinate Family or Church help to load truck {if applicable}
    • Potential New Home –  Print outs to keep track of the properties that you’ve found online to tell your realtor about, or schedule to see yourself.  Be sure to make notes onto each sheet as  you see it in person or find out more info from your realtor.
    • Move of pets?
    • Move of plants?

6.  Create your Property Binder for your new home.

• Have utilities and phone/Internet services disconnected in the old home the day after you leave and installed in the new home the day before you arrive.
  • Electricity
  • Gas
  • Water/sewer
  • Telephone/ DSL
  • Garbage / recycling
  • Cable / satellite
  • Home warrantee information {new appliances}
  • Vendor recommendations
• Transfer homeowner’s/rental insurance
• Call a locksmith to have your new home’s locks changed on moving day or before.
• Arrange to have a cleaning company prepare the new home before you arrive and tidy the old home after you leave if desired.
• School District Maps
  • Contact names, phone numbers, emails
  • Ask:  what paperwork needed for transfer kids, address any special needs or concerns
• Room By Room Survey
  • Repairs Needed
  • Estimates
  • Receipts
  • Warrantees

Five Weeks Before

1.  Conduct a Room By Room Survey. Sort items to keep, donate, discard, and sell. {fill out checklist} 2.  Plan a garage sale. {optional} 3.  Start using up food and cleaning supplies. 4.  Schedule carpet and/or drapery cleaning. 5.  Start spring cleaning the house or hire house cleaning. 6.  Have valuable items appraised. Photograph or videotape them. Upload images onto the computer, and save them to a CD. 7.  Begin packing items that aren’t used frequently like seasonal items and rarely used gadgets.

Four to Six Weeks Before

1.  Gather packing supplies, including:

• Boxes (various sizes; wardrobe boxes)
• Box cutters
• Tape (packing, colored tape, and blue painters’)
• Tape dispensers
• Wrapping material (bubble, plastic, packing paper, tissue paper)
• Labels {print box labels}
• Remember to order specialty items like dish boxes, wardrobe boxes, and mattress bags if your mover is not supplying them.

2.  Fill out change-of-address cards with post office. 3.  If you’re moving locally, put in for vacation time at your job for the days surrounding your move and schedule a babysitter if needed. 4.  Do an inventory of high-ticket items and videotape or photograph these items. Note any existing scratches, dings, or damage to your furniture.

Three Weeks Before

1.  Pack contents of garage, attic, and storage areas, as well as other infrequently used items, like books. 2.  Assign a color to each room. Mark boxes and furniture with appropriate stickers. 3.  Label and number each box. Keep a master inventory list with contents of each box. 4.  Make travel arrangements for the move. {make checklist} 5.  Arrange to have a cleaning company prepare the new home before you arrive and tidy the old home after you leave if desired. 6.  Cancel all utilities and phone/Internet services disconnected in the old home the day after you leave.

• Electricity
• Gas
• Water/sewer
• Telephone/ DSL
• Garbage / recycling
• Cable / satellite

7.  Get the word out to friends and family members that you’re moving. Send them an e-mail with your new contact information or consider sending moving announcements to friends and family.  {or announce on Facebook} {link to moving announcements}

Two Weeks Before

1.  Gather valuable paperwork, jewelry, and small family heirlooms. Keep these special items separate from your moving boxes and make a plan for transporting them by hand or via a trackable shipping service with insurance. 2.  Withdraw cash to tip the movers and make sure you have enough cash, checks, or a credit card to pay for any unexpected expenses.  Get a cashier’s check made for the movers if necessary. 3.  Refrain from doing too much grocery shopping or buying in bulk before the move. 4.  Pack the bulk of your items. 5.  Have utilities and phone/Internet services connected and installed in the new home the day before you arrive.

• Electricity
• Gas
• Water/sewer
• Telephone/ DSL
• Garbage / recycling
• Cable / satellite

6.  Transfer prescriptions. 7.  Change address or cancel.  Make a list of businesses you will need to contact in order to change your address. Don’t forget to list your online accounts too Including:

• Newspaper
• Magazines
• Bank Accounts
• Health, life, and auto insurance policies
• Credit card bills
• Employer

8.  Call a locksmith to have your new home’s locks changed on moving day or before. 9.  Complete a change-of-address form online (usps.com) or at the post office. 10.  Notify magazines, newspapers, banks, and credit card companies of your new address. 11.  Request a relocation package from chamber of commerce of your new town.

 One Week Before

1.  Print an information sheet for the movers. Include the old and new addresses, directions, and your cell phone number.  Check in with the moving company one last time to confirm arrival time, cell phone numbers, and last minute details. 2.  Set aside enough clothing for 2 weeks, plus a suitcase or more for those items.  For instance, get each family member to pack a suitcase like they are going on a two-week vacation. Remember all toiletries and comfortable clothes for unpacking. 3.  See if you have accumulated anything else in your “donate,” “pitch,” or “sell” piles for one last pickup or drop off to your chosen charity. 4.  Put small valuables and important documents in a box or bag. Ask a friend to hold on to it until you’re settled, or lock it in the trunk of your car on moving day. 5.  Discard all hazardous materials that can’t be moved in the moving truck.  {paint, chemicals, aerosol cans} 6.  Create a last-out, first-in box with all day-to-day necessities, including any of the following that are applicable:

• Bedding
• Towels
• Toiletries
• Toilet paper
• Basic tools
• Cleaning supplies
• Medications
• Camera (to document items broken in transit)
• Snacks
• A few dishes and utensils

7.  Back up all computers and have a plan in place for checking e-mail and paying bills online while your computer is in transit, if needed. 8.  Hire a cleaning company to come in and do a quick clean after the movers leave or schedule a day that you will come back and make sure that everything is clean and in place for the new owners.

Three to Five Days

1.  Defrost Freezer 2.  Empty Ice maker and ice cube trays (turn off ice maker) 3.  Clean fridge, stove, and oven. 4.  Disconnect and drain appliances fore move. 5.  Drain fuel from power equipment and lawn equipment. 6.  Close out safe deposit box 7.  Confirm arrival time of movers 8.  Confirm pick-up time of rental truck 9.  Have payment, water, and snacks ready for movers. 10.  Gather and clean outdoor furniture 11.  Return cable box, cable modem, DSL, if necessary 12.  Organize keys 13.  Finish cleaning house 14.  Prepare food for moving day. 15.  Finish packing.

Moving Day

1.  Do a walk-through before movers arrive to make sure everything is packed.  Double check all cupboards, closets, dishwasher, and that other appliances are empty. 2.   Disassemble beds. 3.  Make sure there are no items left behind. 4.  Give keys to the real estate agent or landlord. 5.  Arrange for someone to direct the movers at your new home.

Moving Into Your New Home

1.  Check items off the inventory list as they are unloaded. 2.  Inspect for damages. Photograph relevant items before signing the release (sometimes referred to as a bill of lading). 3.  Test faucets, toilets, utilities, phones, smoke detectors, and security systems. 4.  Turn on water heater if necessary. 5.  Begin to unpack.

• Flatten boxes. Set them out for recycling, or store for future use.

Within 30 Days After Move

1.  Change Address:

• Driver’s license
• Voter registration
• Auto registration

2.  Establish a safe deposit box 3.  Enjoy creating new memories in your new home!

Also available is this from Tip Junkie : DIY Home Improvement Binder!

More Moving Tips:

• 16 Creative Change of Address Cards
• DIY Home Improvement Binder {free printable}

 

If you love this free printable– then you’ll find HUNDREDS more just as creative over on the Tip Junkie Free Printable site!

Thanks Ladies. I just adore these tutorials! Feel free to grab my “I was featured on Tip Junkie” blog button. You earned it! {knuckle bumps}

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Creating Memories that Endure,

Laurie

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