Buying A Home

Moving to a new city? Parting is such sweet sorrow

• Make travel arrangements with airlines, buses, car rental agencies and hotels; plan ahead for special needs of infants and pets.
• Obtain medical and dental records, x-rays and prescription histories. Ask your doctor and dentist for referrals and transfer prescriptions.
• Check into the laws and requirements of your new city regarding home-based businesses, professional tests, business licenses and any special laws that might be applicable to you.
• Have appliances serviced for moving.
• Clean rugs and clothing and have them wrapped/packed for moving.
• Reserve the elevator if moving from or to an apartment or a high-rise condominium.
• If you plan a do-it-yourself move, recruit family and friends well in advance. Make sure to offer an appealing breakfast or lunch and beverages. Recruit more people than you need in case of last-minute cancellations!
• Reserve your rental truck, and be sure to reserve a wheeled dolly for heavy and bulky items.

Setting up your utilities. Lights, Camera, Action!

• Make a schedule and budget for utilities in your new home.
• Ask your Realtor^® or landlord for contact info for utilities companies in your new location.
• Call your new electricity, gas, oil, water, and trash collection companies to arrange service; also, if necessary, a reliable snow plow contractor. Save these phone numbers in your moving notebook and your mobile phone.
• Use your room layouts to decide how many cable outlets, phone jacks, and modems you will need; tell your providers so they can give you an accurate estimate of installation fees.
• Call a few providers for phone, TV, and Internet prices and compare rate packages for your new location; do price shopping for bundles of mobile home, phone, internet, and TV; beware that these bundle prices will increase after 6 or 12 months.
• If you use a satellite TV provider and you will be renting, check with the landlord or condominium association for rules and locations for satellite dishes.
• Inform your local utilities providers of your last service date and arrange for any final meter readings. Give them your forwarding address for final bills. Also, cancel local newspaper subscriptions.

Plan for moving pets

• If cats and dogs can be taken via car, remember to take along food, water, a leash, newspaper, or absorbent pads.
• Animals can get car-sick and will require frequent stops along the way. Also, if you plan a hotel stop, verify that the hotel allows pets.
• For moving pets long distances – learn more here.

Plan for moving house or garden plants

• Check with your local U.S. Department of Agriculture for regulations regarding moving plants from one state to another. Many states have restrictions on certain plants to prevent importing bugs or pests that can destroy valuable cash crops.
• Check out professional movers’ tips online – learn more here.

Plan for moving yard care and home maintenance items

• Empty used coals from backyard grills into safe containers for trash pickup.
• Return propane tanks to supplier; most professional movers will not transport propane.
• Drain water from garden hoses and sprinklers; clean dirt and mud from lawn and garden tools; pack them in heavy black yard bags sealed with duct tape.
• Call the Solid Waste Division in your county for disposal instructions for paint, motor oil, pesticides, dyes, andcoolants. Please do not just dump them in your sewer or trash can!

Your money and your mail

• Fill out change of address order form – learn more here.
• Fill out an IRS change of address form – learn more here.
• Make sure all your friends, family, and business associates have your new address: also, change your address for magazine subscriptions, national newspapers, alumni or political organizations, car insurance, etc. Here is a form to keep track – learn more here.
• Even if you manage bank accounts and credit cards online, you need to give them your new address for notifications and tax documents, and to avoid fraud alerts when you start charging in your new location.
• Compare banks in your new location. Decide whether to keep your current bank (if it has local branches) or open an account in a new bank.
• If you choose a new bank, have your funds wired to the new bank from your current bank. Before closing, be sure there are no outstanding checks or automatic payments that haven’t been processed. Enter instructions for automatic payments with your new bank.
• Collect valuables from your safe-deposit box. Make copies of any important documents and decide whether to hand carry them to your new address or ship by mail or express shipping service (insured and with a tracking number).
• Check with your insurance agent to ensure you’ll be covered through your homeowner’s or renter’s policy during the move. Get policies for your new location.

Let’s pack it in!

• NOTE: packing always takes longer than you expect, so start more than a week ahead.
• Take inventory of your belongings before they’re packed, in the event you need to file an insurance claim later. If possible, take pictures or video tape your belongings. Record serial numbers of electronic equipment. Make a list of which boxes contain valuables.
• Keep the following supplies handy for packing: boxes, marking pen, bubble wrap, newspaper and tissue, packing tape and scissors, tape measure.
• Use strong boxes and containers that can be secured tightly. Purchase special boxes for dishes, wardrobe, and other special items. Avoid loading more than 50 pounds into one box.
• For kitchen and bath, create one or two LOAD THIS BOX LAST for: medicines, bathroom supplies such as toilet paper, shower curtains, soap and towels, kitchen supplies for those first few take-out meals, and snacks for you and your pets.
• Create a LOAD LAST MOVE-IN box with a few essential tools: screwdrivers, scissors, flashlights, picture hooks, hammer, level, tape measure, and duct tape.
• When boxes are being loaded into the truck, make sure these few boxes are LOADED LAST so they will be UNLOADED FIRST.
• Label each box with (a) the room it will go in and (b) whether it is fragile. Pack audio-video equipment in their original boxes, if available. Label cables with colored tape and tighten transit screws. If removing screws, tape them to the objects they are removed from.
• Cushion contents with packing material such as bubble wrap, newspaper, or tissue. Save room by using towels and blankets to wrap fragile items.
• Pack books tightly in small boxes. If musty smelling, sprinkle talcum powder between the pages and wrap the book before packing.
• Have rugs and draperies cleaned before moving and leave them in wrappings for the move.
• If you will be flying, carry only a few days-worth of medicines; pack the remainder in a leak-proof container and hide them in a numbered moving box.
• Carry all valuables such as jewelry with you; also, carry spare eye glasses or contact lenses.
• Have each family member pack one or two suitcases with essential clothing and personal items, including chargers for phones and other pocket electronics.

Final countdown

• Confirm moving date and time with your professional movers or volunteer crew.
• Arrange for babysitting or pet care on moving day to reduce stress.
• Use up food items so that there is less left to pack and possibly spoil.
• Defrost your freezer and refrigerator. Place deodorizer inside to control odors.
• Give a close friend or relative your travel route and schedule so you may be reached if needed.
• Get cash or traveler’s checks for quick, available funds.
• Pick-up any dry cleaning, items in storage, or items lent to friends.
• The day before your move, return all items that will cost you if you forget: rented movies, cable boxes or satellite dishes, modems, and remote controls.

We have lift off! Moving Day

• Pick up your rented truck as early; rent a wheeled dolly and moving pads and straps.
• If using a professional mover, make sure you understand the procedures for you to track weight, delivery time, and amount due on your bill.
• Watch loading and check-off boxes on your list (you made a list, right?).
• Exchange mobile phone numbers and new address with movers, family members, and volunteers.
• Get cash or cashier’s check to pay your movers, as necessary.
• Double-check your closets, drawers, shelves, attic, and garage to be sure they are empty.

Safe landing at your new home

• As soon as you arrive, check all utilities and make sure they have been connected. If not, call your electricity, gas, oil, or water suppliers immediately!
• Watch unloading and check-off the boxes on your list; examine all items carefully before signing a receipt from the moving company.
• Locate the hospitals, police stations, veterinarian, and fire stations near your home.
• Within the first month, renew your driver’s license, auto registration, and tags.
• Shop around for new insurance policies, especially auto coverage.
• Transfer memberships in churches, clubs, and civic organizations.
• Revise your will and other legal papers to avoid longer probate and higher legal fees.
• Register to vote.
• Set up automatic monthly payments for rent or mortgage, phone, and utilities.
• Don’t overspend for new curtains, furniture, etc. Take it slowly. It’s more important to rebuild your savings after you move than to complete all of your decorating right away.’
• Ideally, you should save an emergency fund (cash, not credit cards) for 3 to 6 months of living expenses.
• Enjoy your new home!