The SchoolMatch® Seven Weeks to a Smoother Move
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Seven Weeks Before the Move
- Review your SchoolMatch® report card.
- Begin a file with all of your paperwork related to the move.
- Visit your child's school(s) to arrange transfer of permanent student records. If moving your child to a magnet, alternative, charter or private school, check to see if there is a waiting list or additional application procedure.
- Check with the school and community recreation departments about available extra-curricular activities (sports, music, etc.)
- Select a high-performing Realtor® to list your existing home.
- Secure a change-of-address kit from your local post office and a mail-forwarding card.
- Make a list of friends, neighbors, colleagues, relatives, magazine subscriptions, credit card companies, insurance companies, banks, former employers and others you need to notify of your move.
- Send an e-mail to the Visitors and Convention Bureau and Chamber of Commerce in your new location requesting area information and information packages.
- Schedule estimates with household goods and moving companies.
- If you have a floor plan of your new home, make decisions about where existing furniture and appliances should be placed.
- Secure rules and regulations of your new neighborhood development or association.
- Make decisions about furniture and appliances you don't care to move.
- Gather instruction manuals for appliances that stay in the current home for the new owner and be certain such manuals are available for the new home.
- Begin to remove clutter and unwanted items from your home.
- If you are covered by an employee relocation policy, read the regulations carefully.
- If you are not covered by an employee relocation policy, check with your accountant or tax advisor to see which moving expenses are tax deductible.
- Identify childcare resources in your new neighborhood.
- Inquire about any special legal requirements such as professional licenses or rules for home-based businesses that might affect you or your spouse.
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Six Weeks Before the Move
- Take photographs of or videotape your major possessions, especially appliances and furniture.
- Inventory your possessions.
- Obtain copies of your financial, legal, medical, dental and your pet's veterinarian records or have them forwarded to the new service provider.
- Subscribe on-line or through the mail to the newspaper in your new community.
- Make arrangements for storage if necessary.
- Have artwork, heirlooms and antiques appraised.
- Open bank accounts in your new community.
Five Weeks Before the Move
- Select and contract with a moving company including itemized costs for packing, insurance, loading, special charges, etc.
- Work with mover regarding method of transportation of any vehicles.
- Select a locksmith to change locks on your new home.
- Arrange for any repair work needed to be made on the new home.
- Complete a change-of-address form with the Internal Revenue Service.
- Make travel arrangements, if necessary.
- Consider transferring memberships in civic organizations, clubs or religious groups.
Four Weeks Before the Move
- Make arrangements to transport pets.
- Schedule packing days for your professional mover and/or yourself.
- If you are moving yourself, order materials such as tape, boxes and padding.
Three Weeks Before the Move
- Contact public utilities (electricity, natural gas, and water), wired telephone, cellular telephones, Internet access, waste removal and television cable/satellite providers in both your existing area for disconnection and new community for connection.
- Dispose of items such as flammable liquids.
- Make arrangements to clean your existing home.
- Check with your homeowners and auto insurance carriers for transfer of coverage.
- If you have small children, arrange for a sitter for moving day.
- Make arrangements for travel for family pets and plants.
Two Weeks Before the Move
- Begin using food, aerosol sprays and other perishable items.
- Pack your vital documents such as financial records, birth certificates, marriage license, vehicle titles, passports, medical records and tax records in a waterproof/fireproof container.
- If you are crossing state lines, check on driver and automobile licensing.
- Return any borrowed items from friends, neighbors, libraries, etc.
- Secure radon test on new home.
- Cancel newspaper delivery.
- Cancel waste removal service.
One Week Before the Move
- Make arrangements to close your bank accounts: checking, savings and safe deposit box(es).
- Purchase moving insurance if you have valuable artwork, antiques or collections.
- Drain oil and gas from lawnmower, snow blower, etc.
- Give plants you cannot move to neighbors and friends.
- Return any leased equipment such as cable boxes.
- Secure any dry cleaning or other externally serviced items.
- Defrost, clean out and air out refrigerators and freezers.
- Clean kitchen stove.
- Be sure you have a payment ready for the mover.
- Purchase Traveler's Checks.
Moving Week or Shortly Thereafter
- Meet your child's new teacher(s) and school administrators.
- Be sure all locks have been changed.
- Have a professional set up major appliances/furniture such as a natural gas dryer, pool table, icemaker on refrigerator, sound system, etc.
- Obtain local emergency numbers and post them.
- Design a fire evacuation plan.
- Test smoke, security, sump pump and carbon monoxide detectors and alarms.
- Check your inventory.
- Set up cable or satellite service.
- Subscribe moving expenses to your employer.
- Submit claims for any damaged items to your mover.
- Secure a safety deposit box at you new bank.
- Secure a local telephone directory.
- Study maps of the new area.
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