Moving Checklist for Your Indianapolis Move
Busy Bee Movers wants to enable you with the resources to yourself for an early move with our moving guide. Our moving guide is also a great way to involve the entire family in the move and to spread some of the responsibilities to each person, including your children.
6-8 Weeks Before Moving:
- Organization is the key for a smooth move and this is the time to start getting the details of your move.
- This is the time to decide what items you wish to transport to your new home. If you decide to dispose of items that you don’t need you should either donate them to a charity or consider having a garage sale. Contact a local charity or pick a date at least two weeks before moving date for the garage sale. Advertise the garage sale locally. Team up with your neighbors who want to sell some of their old belongings, and plan a large neighborhood “sale”.
- Start collecting suitable moving and packing supplies if you plan to do your own packing or partial packing. You can purchase all these materials from your agent or a moving supply company. All boxes that you purchase from us or a moving supply company are specially designed for the moving industry to prevent any damages to your belongings. Getting boxes from other sources may create some difficulties when packed in the van. These boxes may be unusual sizes and they may not be strong enough to prevent damages to items packed inside.
- Think about your new home layout and start thinking about where you’ll place the furniture. Create a floor plan of your new home that will prevent the stress of making decisions when your furniture arrives at your new home.
- Get familiar with your new community. Request information on schools, community programs, parks and recreation from the local Chamber of Commerce.
- All travel arrangements (hotel, flights, car rental, etc.) for your family should be made at this time. Try to keep your plan as flexible as possible to accommodate any schedule changes or delays.
- Keep all receipts for moving related expenses in a designated moving folder. Many moving expenses are tax deductible. Obtain an IRS Change of Address form, Form 8822, by calling (800) 829-1040 or click here on IRS. You will be able to download and print form 8822 and most other IRS tax forms; e.g., Form 3903 to help deduct moving expenses.
- Finalize all real estate and rental needs.
- Contact your insurance agent to transfer medical, property, fire and auto insurance.
- All medical and dental records should be placed in a safe and accessible place. Be sure to include prescription, vaccination records and eyeglass specifications.
- Plan on taking all important documents, such as wills, stock certificates, and another one of a kind items (jewelry, coin collection, photos etc.).
4 Weeks Before Move
- Submit a Change of Address form to the post office.
- Arrange special transportation for your pets and plants.
- Contact utility and related companies (gas, electric, oil, water, telephone, cable TV and trash collection) for service disconnect/connect at your old and new addresses. However, remember to keep phone and utilities connected at your current home throughout moving day.
- Contact insurance companies (auto, homeowner’s or renter’s, medical and life) to arrange for coverage in your new home.
- If you’re packing yourself, purchase moving boxes from your local uhaul. Pack items that you won’t need in the next month.
- Plan a garage sale to sell unneeded items or arrange to donate them to charity.
3 Weeks Before Move
- Make travel arrangements and reservations for your moving trip. However, don’t make plane reservations for the same day that you’re moving out. House closings are often delayed, and other unexpected situations often arise.
- Collect important papers (insurance, will, deeds, stock, etc.).
- Arrange to close accounts at your local bank and open accounts in your new location.
2 Weeks before moving
- Transfer all prescriptions to a drugstore in your new city. Call your bank to find out how to transfer your accounts. Clear all your safety deposits boxes.
- Disassemble and disconnect your computer system before your move. Back up all your computer files on a disk. Consider taking all back up files disks with you in the car. Exposure to extreme temperatures can damage your software.
- Make final packing decisions. Clean and clear your home including closets, basement and attics and the items that you will take.
- Dispose of items that represent a hazard and are not allowed to be shipped.
- Tape and seal all cleaning fluids that are non-toxic, non-flammable in plastic bags.
- Drain your lawn mower, snow blower, power tools of all the oil and gasoline to ensure safe transportation.
- Schedule appliance disconnection and preparation with a service provider.
- If you need to store anything call your van line agent about storage options available.
- Inform gas, electric, cable, and telephone services of your move. Arrange to have them disconnected from your present home the day after your scheduled moving day. Sign up for services at your new address and connect them on your moving in day.
- Have your automobile serviced if your travel is by car.
1 Week Before Move
- Settle any outstanding bills with local merchants.
- Don’t forget to withdraw the contents of your safety deposit box, pick up any dry cleaning, return library books and rented videotapes, etc.
- Take pets to the veterinarian for any needed immunizations. Get copies of pets’ veterinary records.
- Drain gas and oil from power equipment (lawn mowers, snow blowers, etc.).
- Give away plants not being moved.
- Prepare specific directions to your new home for your moving company. (Include your itinerary, emergency numbers, etc.)
2 Days Before the Move
- Defrost your freezer and refrigerator. Block doors open so they can’t accidentally close on pets or children.
- Have your major appliances disconnected and prepared for the move.
- Pack a box of personal items that will be needed immediately at your new home. Have this box loaded last or carry it with you in your car.
- Organize and set aside those things that you’re taking with you so that they don’t get loaded on the van in error.
- Contact your relocation consultant to confirm arrival time of the moving truck, as well as to notify them of any last minute details.
1 Day before moving day
- Pack a box of things you’ll need as soon as you arrive at your new home. (This might include non-aerosol cleaning supplies, disposable plates and cups, light tools, snacks, bathroom items and trash bags.)
- Take this box with you or have the driver load it last and unload first. This is usually the day packing is done.
- Make sure all packing services have been performed before you sign for them.
- Defrost, thoroughly clean and dry refrigerator.
Moving out day
- Be on hand when the driver arrives and throughout the loading process. (If you won’t be there, make sure someone will be there to direct the movers. Make sure the driver has in writing the name and phone number of that person.)
- Accompany the driver during inventory. Check on the condition of your goods as they are loaded.
- Make a final tour of your home. See that nothing is overlooked.
- Sign the bill of lading and make sure your new address and phone number are correct.
- Lock all windows and doors, and turn off all switches.
Moving in day
- Arrive at your home a day ahead of time, if possible, to make sure utilities are connected and to plan the placement of major items in your home.
- Be on hand to pay the driver with cash, traveler’s check, certified check or money order prior to your goods being unloaded
The Best Indianapolis Moving Company
Busy Bee Movers is an Indianapolis Area moving company, offering local, national and storage solutions. Need the best moving services in the Indianapolis Area for your next move? Call Busy Bee today for outstanding moving service!