Moving Checklist

Six to Eight Weeks Before Moving Day

Call to schedule to relocation date for all local moves. If moving long distance, call us to set a date to visually survey your home and prepare an estimate.
If your company is paying for your  move, refer to their moving policy to  determine the services the mover will  be authorized to perform.
Do you want to do any of the packing — or will you have it done by  our experienced packers? We will be happy to discuss packing  services with you.
Show us everything that is going to be moved.

Any items you fail to disclose or that are added later to the shipment will increase the cost, even if you have been given a binding estimate.

Four to Six Weeks Before Moving Day

Places to Notify:

Notify the post office that you are moving.
Prepare a list of friends, relatives, business firms and others who  should be notified of your move. The following checklist will be helpful:

Utilities:

Electric
Pharmacy
Gas
Telephone
Cable/Satellite
Fuel (Oil/Propane)

Personal Accounts:

Dry Cleaner
Water
Lawn Service
Bank/Finance Companies
Health Club
Credit Card Companies
Laundry Service

Professional Services Publications:

Doctor(s)
Newspapers
Dentist
Magazines
Accountant
Newsletters
Lawyer
Professional Journals
Broker
Insurance Agency

Government Offices:

Licensing Office
Health Card Office
Revenue Canada
City/County Tax Assessor
Veterans Administration

Miscellaneous:

Have a “garage sale” or use an online auction service to  dispose of unwanted items.
Donate unwanted clothing or household goods to charitable  organizations. Obtain receipts showing the items’  approximate value for possible tax deductions.
Begin to use up supplies of canned goods, frozen foods and other  household items. Buy only what will be used before moving.

Two to Three Weeks Before Moving Day

Working With us:

Notify us if you add or subtract items from your planned  move, or if there are any changes in dates. Be sure to supply  us with a destination address and phone numbers where  you can be reached.
Confirm any extra stops required to pick up or deliver goods to a  location other than the main pickup or delivery points.
If your car is being moved, be prepared to drive it to a suitable  loading site. Also be prepared to pick up your car at a suitable  destination location.

Preparing the Family:

Take the family for a farewell visit to some of the places that hold  happy memories.
Have a going-away party for the children and their friends.
Have some fun for yourself…an open house or an informal  dinner party or a barbecue. Keep it simple.
Make family travel plans. Reserve hotel rooms and airline  tickets as needed.
If driving, have your car serviced for the trip (check tires,  brakes and windshield wipers, fluids, belts, etc.)

Preparing Household Items:

Federal law requires that you dispose of flammables such as  fireworks, cleaning fluids, matches, acids, chemistry sets, aerosol  cans, ammunition, and poisons such as weed killer.
Drain fuel from your power mower and other machinery. Discard  partly used cans of oil, paint, thinner, bleach, or any other  substances that may be flammable or combustible or those  stored in containers that may leak. Please read the complete  list of non-allowables.
Discard propane tanks which are used for barbecue grills.
Set an appointment with a service technician to prepare your  major appliances for shipment — or have us send someone  out who is authorized to perform this service.
Set a date for having utilities disconnected. If possible, plan to  keep utilities in service through moving day.
Have rugs and draperies cleaned. Leave both wrapped when  they are returned 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 products might soften the wood, making it  vulnerable to imprinting from furniture pads.
Do not clean your upholstered furniture before moving. Moisture  could cause mold if furniture must be placed in storage.

One to Two Weeks Before Moving Day

Pets and Plants:

Decide what to do with house plants. Bowen Moving cannot safely  move your plants because they may suffer from lack of water  and light as well as probable temperature changes while in  the van.

Alternatives:

Give them to friends or relatives.
Donate them to a hospital or other organization.
Include them in a garage sale.

Take pets to the veterinarian. See that identification and  rabies tags are securely attached to your pet’s collar.
Arrange for transportation of pets. Take them in the car or send via  air. Consider boarding pets either at destination or at a kennel near  your present home until you are settled in the new city. Ask us for  a copy of our “Moving With Pets” booklet.

Other Important Details:

Collect all items that are being cleaned, stored or repaired  (clothing,furs, shoes, watches, etc.).
Empty your locker at the club, bowling alley or gym.
Return library books and anything borrowed from friends or  neighbors, and collect things you may have loaned.

Day Before Moving Day

Working With the Packers:

Point out to the packers any extra-fragile items needing special  attention. Mark appropriately any items you do not want packed  or moved, as well as cartons you will want first when the van  arrives at destination.
If you are doing your own packing, make sure everything is ready  to go before moving day. Upon arrival, the van operator will check  to see if boxes have been properly packed. Collect things you definitely want packed together, such as  children’s toys, and place in separate groups. Unplug all electronic appliances 24 hours in advance of a move,  except plasma televisions, so that they will be at room  temperature on moving day. This includes home computers,  stereos, and audio/video equipment.

Last Minute Details:

Check closets, cabinets, and storage lockers for any articles  overlooked.
Be on hand when the service representative arrives to prepare your  appliances for shipment. It is your responsibility at your expense, to see that all  mechanical and electrical equipment is properly serviced for  shipping prior to the arrival of the moving van. If you have failed to  have an article serviced, the van operator may load and haul it but  will mark the inventory sheet “Not Serviced.”

Moving Day Working With the Mover:

It is your responsibility to see that all of your goods are loaded, so  remain on the premises until loading is complete.
After making a  final tour of the house, check and sign the inventory. Get your  copy from the van operator and keep it for your records.
Approve and sign the Bill of Lading/Freight Bill. It states the  terms and conditions under which your goods are moved and is  also your receipt for the shipment.
Be sure to complete and sign  the declared valuation statement.
Complete and sign the High-Value Inventory form, whether or  not items of extraordinary value are included in the shipment.
You  also need to sign and date the “Extraordinary (Unusual) Value  Article Declaration” box on the Bill of Lading, if applicable to your  shipment.
Make sure the van operator has the exact destination address.
Be  sure to let the van operator know how you can be reached,  including phone numbers, pending the arrival of your household  goods.

Last-Minute Details:

Leave your phone connected throughout moving day. After the van  leaves and you finish last-minute calls, be sure to pack the phone  in one of your suitcases.

Take a Last Look Around:

Water shut off?
Furnace shut off?
Light switches turned off? All utilities arranged for disconnection?
Windows shut and locked?
Old house keys surrendered?
Have you left anything?

Delivery Day

Working With the Van Operator:

Be on hand to accept delivery. If you cannot be there personally,  be sure you authorize an adult to be your representative to accept  delivery and pay the charges for you.
On the day of delivery, the van operator will attempt to contact you  by phone and/or will make an appearance at residence if he is  unable to reach you. If you are unable to accept delivery of your  shipment within the free waiting time (i.e., two hours) after  notification of arrival at destination, you may request waiting time  until delivery can be made.
Check your household goods as they are unloaded. If there is a  change in the condition of the property from that noted on the  inventory at the time of loading or if any items are missing, note  discrepancies on the van operator’s copy of the inventory sheet.  By signing the inventory sheet, you are acknowledging receipt of  all items listed. Personally report any loss or damage to your  salesperson or move coordinator.
When unloading, each piece of furniture will be placed as you  direct, including the laying of rugs and setting up any beds  disassembled at origin. However, appliances and/or fixtures will NOT be installed. At your request, and at an additional charge, your salesperson or move coordinator can arrange for this service. The mover is not obligated  to rearrange your furniture.
Place a floor plan of your new home by 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 possible damage, television sets, other electronic  equipment and major appliances should not be used for 24 hours  after delivery, allowing them time to adjust to room temperature.

One Week After Move

Settling In:

Check with your new post office for any mail being held and ask  for delivery to start.
Check requirements for auto registration and a  driver’s license.
You may want to select an attorney to discuss laws that pertain to  your destination city. Be sure to cover such matters as wills, transfers of property and investments, insurance regulations, inheritance laws, taxes, etc. Most laws affect a family as soon as residence in the new state and city is established.