Lake Lanier Homes | Moving Timeline

Real Estate Tools | Buying | Selling

Planning ahead is the real key to a successful move. The following checklist is divided into five sections: six weeks, four weeks and two weeks before you move, the moving day, and finally arriving at your new home.

Six Weeks Before You Move

Make an inventory of everything to be moved. Decide what goes with you, what to sell at a garage sale or give away.
Contact the moving companies for estimates.
If your employer helps pay moving expenses, confirm what preparations, if any, you must make.
If you're making your own moving arrangements, select a mover and get cartons and packing materials to start packing NOW.
Contact your insurance agent for transfer coverage, especially for out-of-town moves.
Ask your Realtor® to obtain a map and area information about your destination city.

Four Weeks Before You Move

Notify individuals, companies, and institutions of your change of address. Don't forget your accountant, ALUMNni association, appliance service contractors, attorney, banks, book clubs, catalog merchants, charitable organizations, credit cards, dentist, doctors, employer, frequent flier programs, insurance companies, IRAs, lending institutions, magazine and newspaper subscriptions, stockbroker and veterinarian.
Contact the utility companies for refunds or deposits and establish turn-off dates.
Dry clean clothes to be moved and pack them in protective wrappers.
Service power mowers, boats, etc. that are to be moved; drain all gas and oil to prevent fire in the moving van.
Make arrangements for the transfer of your children's school records.
Select a new day care center/preschool in your destination city.
If your car or other possessions are not fully paid for, get permission to move them. Have your present bank arrange credit references for establishing new accounts in the city to which you are moving.
Remove jewelry and other valuables to a safe deposit box to prevent loss during the move.
Finalize arrangements with the moving company.
Notify friends and relatives of your move.
Give away your house plants, or arrange transportation. (Most moving companies will NOT move plants.)
Contact the utility companies in your destination city to establish service in your new home. Inquire about fees or deposits and information requested.

Two Weeks Before You Move

Transfer or close the checking and saving accounts and move the contents of your safety deposit box to the bank in your new community. Arrange for payment of the moving company upon arrival at your new home.
Call your local telephone company to establish a date for phone service to begin.
Pack items you won't need over the next two weeks. Pack a separate carton of cleaning products and utensils.
Have the car serviced for your trip.
Arrange for pet travel.
Dispose of all flammable liquids such as spray paints, solvents and thinners and gasoline.
Return/retrieve all borrowed/loaned items.
Check and inventory all furniture for dents and scratches; notify the moving company of your inventory and compare on the final day.
Cancel all newspapers, garden services, etc.
Order checks with your new address.
Make arrangements with your Realtor® to transfer keys, garage door openers, warranty papers, etc. to the new owners.
Confirm arrangements with the moving company.

On Your Moving Day

Plan to spend the entire day at the house. Last-minute decisions must be made by you. Don't leave until the movers have all gone.
Hire a sitter or send the children to a friend's house for the day.
Stay with the moving van's driver to oversee the inventory.
Tell the packers and/or driver about fragile or precious items.
Double check with the driver to insure that the moving company record shows the correct delivery address.
Confirm arrival time with the moving company.
Leave keys with your Realtor®.
Make a final check of the entire house before leaving.

After Arriving at Your New Home

Check pilot lights on the range, hot water heater and furnace.
Install new batteries in smoke detectors.
Notify the post office to begin mail delivery and obtain any mail that has been held for your arrival.
Have your new address recorded on your driver's license.
Register your car soon after arrival in a new state or you may incur a penalty.
Visit city officers and register to vote.

Enjoy Your New Home and Neighborhood!