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8 Weeks Before Moving: |
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1 |
Call several movers for estimates. Remember,
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on-site estimates are always more accurate.
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2 |
Be sure to get references from prospective movers.
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3 |
Calculate possible expenses you will incur when
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moving to determine if you will need financial
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assistance.
(e.g. pet care, hotel costs, home
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deposit, etc.)
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4 |
Once you've chosen your mover, discuss costs,
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packing, timing, and insurance.
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5 |
Create a "move file" to store important information
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and collect receipts for moving-related expenses.
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6 |
Ask the Internal Revenue Service for information
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about tax deductions on moving expenses and what
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receipts you'll need to keep.
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7 Weeks Before Moving:
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1 |
Prepare an inventory of everything you own. Break
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this inventory into three separate categories: (1)
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items to be handled by the mover, (2) items to be
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handled by yourself, and (3) items to leave behind.
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2 |
Stock certificates, wills and other one-of-a-kind
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items (jewelry, photos, and home videos) are
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difficult or impossible
to replace. Plan to carry them |
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with you instead of packing them.
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3 |
Three good ways to rid yourself of items no longer
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needed, would be: (1) determine if family members
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or friends could use unwanted items, (2) host a |
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garage sale, or (3) donate to charities. These
can |
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help to raise a little extra cash or serve as a tax
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deduction.
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4 |
Arrange for disposal of items not sold or donated.
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5 |
Contact your insurance agent to transfer property,
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fire, auto and medical insurance.
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6 |
Organize dental and medical records. Be sure to
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include prescriptions, eyeglass specifications, and
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vaccination records.
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7 |
Inquire about changes that may occur in your auto
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licensing and insurance when moving.
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8 |
Notify your children's school(s). Make arrangements
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for records to be forwarded to the new school
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district.
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6
Weeks Before Moving: |
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1 |
Contact any clubs or organizations you are
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associated with for information on transferring,
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selling, or ending your
memberships.
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2 |
Start becoming acclimated to your new community.
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Familiarize yourself with your new shopping districts,
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location of
hospitals, police and fire departments.
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Contact the Chamber of Commerce or Visitor's
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Bureau to request information on schools, parks,
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and recreation, community calendars and maps.
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5 Weeks Before Moving:
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1 |
Start including your children in the process. Make it
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exciting and fun by having your kids do some of
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their own
packing and labeling.
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2 |
If you plan to do any part of the packing, start
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collecting suitable containers and packing materials.
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(Usually the
moving company you have selected can
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supply the necessary boxes, etc. for a nominal cost).
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3 |
When no longer required, cancel local deliveries.
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4 |
If you have pets, call your new township to determine
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if there are any specific requirements for pet
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ownership.
Obtain veterinarian records. |
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5 |
Register your children in their new schools.
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4 Weeks Before Moving:
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1 |
If applicable, contact building management to
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inquire about scheduling your move date and time.
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Certain buildings
may have date and or time |
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restrictions as to when moving can be done.
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Remember to keep this in mind when
planning to
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move, especially if you are doing your own
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packing. If you cannot finish packing by your move
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date, you could accumulate unforeseen costs. |
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2 |
Contact your moving company to schedule your
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move date. It is always easier to change your
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move date than to
reschedule at the last minute.
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3 |
Fill out a US Postal Change of Address form.
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4 |
Close any local charge accounts.
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5 |
If necessary, make airline, hotel, and car rental
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reservations.
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6 |
Notify insurance companies of your move. Transfer
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all insurance on your home and possessions.
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7 |
Contact utilities for disconnection or transfer and
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possible refunds. Since you will want to have your
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utilities (electric,
gas, phone, etc.) still connected on
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moving day, arrange to have them
disconnected / |
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transferred to the new owners
after your scheduled |
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move-out.
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3 Weeks Before Moving:
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1 |
If necessary, arrange for a baby-sitter, pet sitter,
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or a place an elderly person can stay on moving day.
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You may
need someone to keep them safe during
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the busy loading process.
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2 |
While you are sorting through your belongings,
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remember to return library books and anything else
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you may
have borrowed. Also remember to collect |
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all items that are being cleaned, stored, repaired
or |
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were borrowed from you.
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2 Weeks Before Moving: |
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1 |
Call ahead to have utilities connected at your new
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home.
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2 |
Make final packing decisions. Start packing items
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you don't use often.
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3 |
Clean and clear your home, including closets,
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basements and attics. (Think about hiring a house
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cleaning service
to assist you in this process).
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4 |
Call your bank to find out how to transfer your bank
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accounts.
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5 |
Each year many people move without clearing their
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safety deposit boxes. Don't be one of them.
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6 |
You should carry valuables with you. If you've hidden
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any valuables around the house, be sure to collect
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them before
leaving. Some state laws prohibit the |
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moving of house plants. Consider giving your plants
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to a friend or local charity.
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7 |
Plan meals that will use up the food in your freezer
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and refrigerator. |
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8 |
Have your automobile serviced if you're traveling by
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car. |
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9 |
Transfer all current prescriptions to a drugstore in
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your new town.
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10 |
Dispose of flammable items such as fireworks,
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cleaning fluids, matches, acids, chemistry sets.
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aerosol cans, paint,
ammunition and poisons such
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as weed killer.
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11 |
Drain all the oil and gasoline from your lawn mower
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and power tools to ensure safe transportation. Refer
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to your
owner's manual for specific instructions.
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return
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1 Week Before Moving: |
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1 |
This is the week to tie up loose ends. Check back
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through this guide to make sure you haven't
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overlooked anything.
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2 |
Your moving company should have provided you
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with various labels for your goods. These can |
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include
"Do Not Load," "Load First," "Load Last," |
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and "Fragile." Take special care to label your |
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goods appropriately. |
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3 |
Pack suitcases and confirm your families travel |
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arrangements (flights, hotels, car rental, etc.). Try |
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to keep your
plans as flexible as possible in the |
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event of an unexpected change of schedule. |
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4 |
Make sure your moving agent knows the address |
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and phone number where you can be reached if |
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you are not going
directly into your new home. |
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5 |
At least one day before moving, empty, defrost, and |
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clean your refrigerator and freezer. |
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6 |
Prepare a "Trip Kit" for moving day. This kit can |
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contain such items as snacks, games for kids to |
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keep them occupied, first aid supplies, etc. If you |
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are stopping overnight be sure to pack items such |
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as toothbrushes,
night clothes and other essentials |
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you'll need while your belongings are in transit. |
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return
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Moving Day! |
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1 |
Strip your beds, and make sure the bedding goes |
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into a "Load Last" box (well marked bed linens), or |
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pack them in
the appropriate dresser drawer for |
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easy bed making the first night in your new home. |
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2 |
Make sure to be on hand when the movers arrive. |
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It's important that an adult be authorized to take your |
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place if you are unable to be present at any time |
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while the movers
are there. Let the agent know to |
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whom you have
given this authority. Be sure that |
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your chosen representative knows exactly what to |
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do. Remember--this person
may be asked to sign |
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documents
obligating you to charges. |
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3 |
Confirm the delivery date and time at your new |
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address. Write directions to your new home for |
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the van operator,
provide the new phone number, |
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and include phone numbers where you can be |
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reached in transit. Make sure to
take along |
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the destination agent's name, address, and |
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telephone number. |
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4 |
Always try to spend as much time with the mover as |
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possible. If you have special instructions, like what |
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to load
first and last, make sure it is explained to |
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your mover. Communicate well with the movers. If |
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you choose to have your
mover handle your |
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valuables or other
fragile goods, tell the mover in |
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advance. Be sure to check the shipping invoice |
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and make note of the shipping number of these |
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containers. |
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5 |
When the van operator arrives, review all details |
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and paperwork. Accompany the driver as
he / she |
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inspects and tags
each piece of furniture with an |
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identifying number. These numbers, along with |
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detailed description of your goods and their |
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condition at the time of loading, will appear on the |
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inventory. |
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6 |
It is your responsibility to see that all of the goods |
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are loaded, so remain on the premises until |
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loading is completed.
To insure that nothing gets left |
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behind,
always do a final inspection of the |
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premises. Do not sign any releases
without |
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completing this inspection. |
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7 |
If you get to the destination before the mover, be |
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patient. They might have encountered traffic or |
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some other type
of delay. |
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8 |
Since you'll probably want to clean before the |
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furniture is unloaded, make sure your vacuum is |
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packed last, so it
can be unloaded first. |
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return
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Move-in Day: |
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1 |
The van operator will contact you or the |
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destination agent 24 hours prior to the expected |
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arrival time. This allows
time to locate you and |
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arrange
for unloading. If for some reason you |
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cannot be reached, it is then your responsibility |
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to contact the destination agent. |
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2 |
Be sure you're there when the movers arrive. Plan |
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to stay around while they unload in case they have |
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any questions.
If you cannot be there personally |
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be sure to authorize an adult to be your |
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representative
to accept delivery and pay the |
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charges for you. Inform the destination agent of |
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your chosen representative's name. Your |
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representative will be asked
to note any change in |
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the condition of your goods noted on the |
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inventory at the time of loading and to note any |
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items missing at the time of delivery. |
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3 |
Have payment on hand for your moving charges. |
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Unless other billing arrangements were made in |
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advance, payment
is required upon delivery in cash, |
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traveler's checks, money order or cashier's check. |
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Most of the time personal
checks are not accepted. |
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4 |
Check to make sure the utilities have been |
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connected and follow up on any delays. |
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5 |
Make sure your phone is connected. Ideally, you |
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should have the phone company hook it up the |
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day before
"move-in day." |
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6 |
Confine your pets to an out-of-the way room to help |
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keep them from running away or becoming |
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agitated by all of the
activity. |
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7 |
It is a good idea to review your floor plan so you can |
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tell the movers where to place your furniture and |
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appliances. |
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8 |
Plan to be available to direct them as they unload. |
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To prevent possible damage to televisions, stereos, |
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computers, and other electronic equipment and |
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major appliances--do not use for 24 hours after |
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delivery, allowing them time to adjust to
room |
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temperature. |
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return
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Information provided by Moving.com |
