Moving in to a new house is exciting, and it certainly should be. It’s a wonderful feeling to turn a key and walk into the door of your new home. Moving out, however, can be a pain–having to juggle many things at once. We’ve seen many families through the process, and we want to make it as simple as possible for our clients.

That’s why the Power Team Texas Realty Team have compiled this checklist for you make sure you get everything important crossed off. That’s one less worry!

Six Weeks Before Moving

• Decide what needs to be moved, donated, sold and discarded.
• If applicable, check with your employer to find out what moving expenses they will pay. Become familiar with the relocation policy and the benefits provided.
• Set aside items that you would like to include in a garage sale, decide on the date and time, write and schedule the advertisement.
• Set aside items that you are planning to donate to a charity. Contact the charity to schedule pick up time and be sure to save the receipt for tax purposes.
• Create a general inventory of what you are planning to move and select a mover. Get cartons and packing materials so that you begin packing some things as your time allows, unless you will have someone packing for you. Make arrangements with mover for payment of services, once you arrive at your destination.
• Contact insurance agent and provide information necessary to transfer/cancel insurance coverage.
• Return anything that you may have borrowed and retrieve anything you might have lent out.

Four Weeks Before Moving

• Notify all magazines, credit card companies, newspaper, etc. of change of address. Arrange for delivery of the newspaper in your new location, if desired.
• Obtain pet and immunization records from veterinarians.
• Contact utility companies for refunds of deposit, determine turn-off date as well as arrange for utility services in the new location with appropriate turn-on times.
• Service power mowers, boats, etc. that are to be moved. Drain all gas/oil to prevent fire in moving van.
• Check with doctors and dentist for references in your new community and get copies of all family records and prescriptions.
• Get children’s school records.
• Check freezer and plan to use of food over next 2-3 weeks.
• Make arrangements for television, computer and similar equipment hook-up at your new home so that they will be readily available to you upon move in.
• Decide a plan for how to transport jewelry and other valuables. Rent a safe deposit box or find another safe place to prevent loss before and even during the move.
• Give away or arrange for transportation of house plants (most moving companies will not move plants, especially in winter). Plants also can be sold at a garage sale or given as thank you gifts.
• Set aside any pamphlets, operating information, guarantees or warranties that relate to items in your home. It would even be helpful to provide a list for the new owners as to how to operate different systems in the home, if this information has not previously been communicated.
• Schedule house cleaning and/or other home services for the day following your move-out.
• Make travel and/or lodging arrangements for the day after loading.
• Create a diagram of where furniture is to be placed in each room so that the driver won’t need your help and the delivery process will be much smoother.

One Week Before

• Transfer or close checking and savings accounts. Arrange for cashier’s check or money order to pay moving company on arrival to new community.
• Have automobile serviced for trip.
• Go the your local Post Office to obtain a change-of-address kit or go to www.moversguide.com to complete change of address forms.
• Check all furniture for dents and scratches and create a list of these.
• A complete inventory must be created including all items, boxes, etc. that are included in your move. This is typically accomplished by your mover, but you must have a list of your own against which to make a comparison of their records on the final day.
• Disconnect computers, stereos, VCR’s, etc. or make provisions for assistance with this task. Be sure to package all cords and remote controls in a safe place.
• Dispose of all combustibles and spray cans (spray cans can explode or burn). Items that cannot/should not be moved with the mover include: items of value (i.e. jewelry, legal documents, etc.) flammable items, combustible items, aerosol cans, hazardous materials, gasoline, plants, ammunition and explosives.
• Pack a carton of sheets, towels, etc. so that you will not have to rummage through boxes for these items when you first arrive at your new home.
• Separate cartons, luggage and other items you need for personal travel or plan to take with you and clearly mark them as DO NOT PACK.
• Organize at least one room in the house for packers and movers to work freely.
• Cancel all newspapers, lawn service, pool service, etc.
• Review the entire list to make certain that you haven’t overlooked anything. Check and double-check everything you have done before it’s too late.

Moving Day

• Someone will need to be at the house the entire day, as last minute decisions must be made by you and inventory must be overseen. Don’t leave until after the movers have gone.
• Hire a sitter or send the kids to a friend’s house for the day.
• Prepare a carton with essentials you will need immediately upon arrival at your new home (e.g., toilet paper, cleaning materials, tools, coffee and pot, soap, paper towels and plates, etc.) and mark the carton UNLOAD ME FIRST.
• Point out fragile or precious items to the movers and the driver.
• Go through each room and area of the house and be sure that everything has been removed.
• Clean out your refrigerator, wash and dry the interior and exterior and leave a deodorizer to keep it fresh-smelling. Unplug it if necessary.
• Approve and sign Bill of Lading; if possible accompany driver to the weigh station.
• Double check with driver to make certain moving company records show the proper delivery address for your new house. Verify the scheduled delivery date, too.
• Give driver phone numbers where you can be reached in the local area and at each location you plan to visit until and including the day your shipment will arrive.
• Get phone numbers from the driver so that you can reach him while he is in route.
• Disconnect all utilities and advise the Realtor who sold or is selling your house.
• Lock all doors and windows. Advise your Realtor and neighbors that the house is empty.