• Arrange for closing or transfer of charge accounts.
• Check personal insurance policies to see whether moving is covered. Transfer fire, theft and other personal property insurance to ensure coverage at the new home.
• Obtain transcripts of the children's school records and credentials from school authorities or secure transcripts of school records if you prefer to take them along.
• Gather medical and dental records including vaccination data, medical prescriptions, dates of last examinations, history of past illnesses and so on.
• Ask your doctor and dentist to recommend colleagues in the new city. Be sure to check current telephone numbers and addresses of physicians, dentists and hospitals, which will help when transferring your records.
• Obtain letters of introduction from your church, organization, club, and business associations.
• Transfer, sell or resign memberships in clubs or associations. Report your move to any lending agency with which you do business. A lender's permission may be required to move personal property in which the lender has an interest.

Four to Six Weeks before Moving Day

Planning Your Packing

If you plan to do the packing yourself, start collecting suitable containers.

You can purchase specialized containers from most moving companies, such as:

• Small cartons for heavy items (books, record albums, and tools)
• Wardrobe containers
• Large cartons for bulky items (pillows, blankets, and stuffed toys)
• Medium-sized cartons for bulkier but not so heavy items (towels, linens, and small appliances)

Collect other packing materials

• White paper
• Tissue paper
• Paper towels
• Non-printed paper
• Newspapers
• Tape or strong twine for sealing containers
• Scissors or sharp knife (keep out of children's reach)
• Felt marker to mark containers
• Notebook and pencil for listing contents
• Labels or stickers (available from moving company)

Packing tips

• Set goals and deadlines to ensure that all packing is complete by your moving day. You may want to pack one room per week.
• Attach a list of contents to each carton.
• Separate and mark goods that will go into storage.
• Consider having a garage sale to dispose of unwanted items.
• If you donate clothing or household goods to charitable organizations, get receipts showing their approximate value for tax deductions.
• Remember that the cost of moving an item may be greater than replacing it. Begin to use up large supplies of canned goods and frozen foods.

Places to Notify of Impending Address Change

• Utilities
• Electric
• Gas
• Water
• Telephone
• Heating fuel
• Trash removal

Professional services

• Doctor
• Dentist
• Accountant
• Lawyer
• Real estate agent
• Stock broker

Insurance agents

• Life
• Health
• Fire
• Auto
• Boat

Established business accounts

• Motor vehicle department
• Finance companies
• Banks
• Department stores
• Government and public offices
• Social Security Administration
• Federal and state income tax offices
• Publications
• Newspapers
• Magazines
• Credit card companies
• Bankcards
• Oil companies

Personal

• Relatives and friends
• Business associates
• Book and record clubs
• Schools and colleges
• Church
• Landlord, if you are a tenant / Tenants, if you are a landlord.

Two to Three Weeks before Moving Day

Let the post office know your moving date and new address. If you do not have a permanent address by the time you move, the post office will hold your mail and forward it upon written instructions from you. Phone the local business office of the telephone company. They can make arrangements for service in your new home and, on request, give out your new number when your present number is called.

Contact all service companies as listed:

• Electric
• Gas
• Water
• Fuel
• Cable TV