About Moving
.
Your Guide To Moving
For Long Distance Moves
Plan Ahead By:
Possibly plan a garage sale! Deciding what to move, and what not to move, to your new house.
Getting estimates from several moving companies, or truck rental companies, depending on how you are planning to make the move.
Planning your travel itinerary, and making transportation, and lodging reservations ahead of time. (Leave a copy with a friend, or relative.)
Transferring your bank accounts. They will be happy to open your accounts by mail.
Contacting your local credit bureau to find out if they are on the same system your new Olympia WA home town subscribes to; if not, they will be able to transfer your credit file.
Request files from doctors, and dentists, including eye glass prescriptions, dental x-rays, and vaccinations.
Obtaining your children's school records to make for an easier transfer.
Drawing up a floor plan of where your furniture should go. This will help avoid confusion for you and your movers.
Paying existing bills, and shutting local charge accounts.
Recording expenses incurred during your house-hunting trips. You will, also, want to save your moving expense receipts (if the move is employment-related) for tax deductions.
For Local Moves within Thurston County Washington!
Plan Ahead By:
Deciding what to move, and what not to move. Possibly plan a garage sale (extra cash & less to move).
Getting estimates from several moving companies, or truck rental companies if you are moving yourself. Be sure to obtain a hand truck (appliance dolly), if you are moving yourself.
Arranging transfer of children's school records, if applicable.
Drawing up a floor plan of where your furniture should go to avoid confusion for you, and/or your movers.
Arranging any special movers, such as for an expensive piano, or such as is needed to break down, and move, a pool table, or above-ground swimming pool.
Don't Forget To:
Cancel, or transfer, deliveries, newspaper, garbage collection, etc.
Coordinate the transfer of gas, electric, (water & sewer when not handled by title company.) with the next resident of your old home, as well as with the previous owner of your new house, so as to avoid lapses in service, and extra re-start charges.
Check on personal items that may be at the photo shop, bank safe deposit box, a neighbor's house, on lay-away, or in the repair shop (i.e., shoe repair, jewelry store, small appliance repair or dressmaker).
Make arrangements for relocating your plants, and pets.
Save the phone book from your former city residence for tying up loose ends, or for future correspondence.
Transfer insurance policies, or arrange for new ones.
Gather all valuables, jewelry, important papers (birth certificates, deeds, documents) to take with you personally.
Have the car serviced for the trip.
Pack an arrival kit of needed items just in case you arrive before the mover.
Get refunds from your present utility, and phone, companies, and arrange for service at your new Olympia WA home.
Purchase moving insurance. Your mover's liability for lost, or damaged, goods, will not equal their replacement cost.
Appraise valuable items, such as antiques, art pieces, etc. Check with your attorney about your will if crossing state lines.
Ask for professional referrals if available (i.e. doctor, accountant, etc.)
Change these addresses: Post Office, charge accounts, subscriptions (at least four weeks in advance), relatives, and friends, national, and alumni, organizations, church, mail order clubs (books, tapes, catalogues), firms with which you have time payments, past employer in order to receive your W-2 form.
Save your old address labels to speed up your change of address forms.