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Moving Checklist
Moving Timeline Check List
One month before your move
Arrange
for moving your furniture and personal
belongings either by hiring a moving
company or renting a truck.
Accumulate
moving supplies such as boxes, tape, rope,
and anything else you might
need.
Plan your
travel route if you are driving to your new
home.
Some
moving expenses are tax-deductible, so you
should save receipts for all moving-related
expenses, including meals, lodging, and
gasoline.
Develop a
plan for packing, such as packing last the
things you use the most.
Notify the
Post Office of your move by using the
Change of Address form.
Notify
friends, family, and businesses of your
move
Notify
federal and state taxing authorities or any
other necessary government
agency.
Driver´s
License.
Two weeks before your move
? Notify
utility companies: gas, electric, water,
cable TV, and phone
companies.
? Arrange
for utility services at new
address.
? Notify
long-distance phone company and arrange for
service at your new address.
? Have your
car serviced if you are driving to your new
home.
? Recruit
people to help you on the moving
day
? Arrange
for someone to take care of your pets
during the move.
? Confirm
moving company or rental truck
arrangements
? If you are
leaving the city, notify your
bank.
One day before your move
? Keep
moving materials separate so they don't get
packed until you are finished.
? Pick up
rental truck if you are doing it
yourself.
? Fill up
your car with gas and check oil and
tires.
? Try
to get a good night's rest.
Mail Forwarding
Q.
Which form do I need to fill out to have my
mail forwarded?
A. The
Change of Address Order form supplied at
any United States Post Office.
Q.
Does each person in the household have to
have a form filled out?
A. If
each member has the same last name and they
are all moving to the same address, only
one
Change of Address form needs to filled
out. However,
if this is not the case, each
individual
must complete a separate Change of Address
form.
Q.
When does the Change of Address form need
to be sent in?
A. To
ensure that there is no unnecessary delay,
the Change of
Address form should be completed at least
30 days before you
move or at least as soon as you know the
date of your move and
the new address. The
"Start Date" will determine when the
post
office will forward your mail to the new
address.
Q. Who
else should be notified of my change of
address?
A.
Everyone who sends you mail should be
notified of your change of
address. This
includes
family,
friends, credit cards, banks, insurance
companies, doctors, dentists,
professionals,
magazines, etc. You can
get notification postcards from the post
office.
Q. How
long will the Post Office continue to
forward my mail?
A. For
most mail, it will be forwarded for twelve
months at no charge.
Third-class mail will not
be forwarded unless the sender requests it
specifically.
Q.
What are the requirements for qualifying
for a moving expense deduction on my
Federal tax
return?
A.
There are two tests, the employment test
and the distance test, that determine a
taxpayer's
eligibility. For more
information, call 1-800-829-1040 and ask
for a publication on moving
expenses, or call your personal tax
advisor.
Q. Is
there a place on the Internet to change my
address?
A.
www.usps.gov United
States Post Office or
www.addresscentral.com Move
central
Tips on Packing
Packing your household goods can save a
substantial amount of
money.
To insure safety for your belongings,
care should be undertaken to pack
properly.
Use strong
containers in good condition that can be
sealed with
strapping tape.
Keep in
mind what the box will weigh after it is
loaded. 40 to 50 pounds is considered the
maximum.
Empty
spaces in boxes should be filled with
crumpled newspaper or bubble wrap to keep
things from shifting in transit.
Books
should be stacked on end and generally in
smaller boxes than other things due to
their weight.
Label each
box after packing, so that the movers will
know which room to put it in and to help
you to prioritize which ones need to be
opened first.
Remove all
breakables from drawers before moving
furniture.
Don't pack
valuables such as jewelry, collections,
checks or savings books.
Packing
takes longer than you expect so allow
plenty of time. Pack
items that aren't frequently used first and
unpack them last.
Organization in packing will save you hours
of time and frustration in the long
run.
Items that
are no longer wanted can be donated to
charity and you may be eligible for a
tax
deduction.
Videotape Your Personal
Belongings
In recent years, the price of video cameras
has come down so low that many households
have one. Even if
you haven't gotten around to buying one
yet, you probably know someone who has one
or you can rent one at a very reasonable
price.
Most are very simple to operate and don't
require any skilled
training.
The microphone is built into most
cameras, and some don't even require
additional lighting.
Why not use this technology to make a video
record of all of the personal possessions
in your home just in case there is an
incident. If a picture is worth a thousand
words, a video with sound has to be worth
ten thousand.
Have someone help you with this simple
project. One of
you can handle the camera, and the other
can identify objects in each
room. Describe
each item as you go
along.
If it has a serial number or other
identifying mark, be sure to mention
it.
Once the videotape is made, you might
want to make a duplicate of it and
put one copy in a safe place away
from the original. Give it to a
friend or relative for
safekeeping.
Helping Children With the
Move
Show your children their new home and their
new room prior to moving. If this
is not possible, pictures or videos will
help them visualize their new
home.
Assure
children that you won't forget their
friends
Make a
scrapbook of the old home and
neighborhood.
Throw a
good-bye party. At the
party, have their friends sign a tee
shirt.
Have your
children write good-bye letters and enclose
their new address.
When
packing, give them their own box. They can
decorate if they like.
If you
move far away, buy postcards when you stop
so they can
remember the trip.
When
unpacking, allow them to unpack their
treasures.
Start a
scrapbook for their new
home.
Visit
their new school, park, church
etc. Take a
camera.
Help your
children invite new friends to the
house.
Let them
choose a new favorite
restaurant.
Encourage
them to send letters to their friends about
their new home.
Involve
your children in groups, sports, and
activities.
Remember that even if you only lived in a
home a few years, to a young child could
represent their entire
lifetime!
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