What to Do 4-5 Weeks Before Your Move

So, the major decisions have been made and you’ve begun the countdown in earnest to your big moving day. You’ve hired packers and movers or you’ve begun the process of packing some rarely used items yourself. Now what?

Planning for Your Address Change

Once you are down to four to five weeks before moving day, you’ll want to contact your local post office for change of address forms. This is one of the most important things you will need to do when moving, since mail is only forwarded for a short time. You will, of course, want to notify friends, family, and your current employer, along with anyone else who contacts you by mail, about your address change. Don’t forget to give this information to schools, doctor’s offices, utility companies, and your banks and creditors as well.

Sorting Through Your Belongings

At this point, you’ve probably already started sorting into piles the things you want to keep and the things you are not taking with you. This is the perfect time to start labeling these items for a yard sale. Begin by advertising in your local paper and on any local online sites at your disposal. Any items not sold can be donated to your local charity and should be tax deductible, but be sure to ask for a receipt.

You’ll also want to decide which items you are carrying with you versus what will be packed out of reach. Some items you should consider keeping on you are identification cards, medical records, jewelry that is irreplaceable, daily prescriptions, and a list of the new contact numbers you’ll need when arriving at your new home.  If you have antiques or other valuable that are being packed and moved for you, this is a great time to have them appraised and to videotape or photograph these items with a date stamp in case any questions should arise.

For a final note, this is the time to stop buying canned and frozen goods unless absolutely necessary. Use up as much of your food as you can before moving day so you don’t have to discard it. The less you have to sort through, the more time you’ll have to devote to other things. This is also a great time to call to schedule maintenance on any major appliances you plan to take with you.

Insuring Your Belongings

One last item you should check into is what types of insurance coverage are available for your belongings. If you are using a packing and/or moving company, what do they offer? With your existing renters or homeowners policy, are there any provisions for moving your items, or can they be added? If you are moving anything of value, then this is definitely worth checking into.

Following these simple tips will help make your move a more pleasant and time managed experience. As a result, the moving process can be much easier than you may have anticipated.