Checklist for keeping your relocation organized:

4 Weeks Prior to your relocation:

• File a change of address form with your local Post Office.
• Notify creditors, magazines and book and music clubs of your new address.
• Retrieve your family’s medical records, and ask doctors and dentists (if possible) to recommend a colleague in your new city.
• Decide which items can be sold, discarded or donated.
• Complete your own inventory of your possessions, including date purchased and estimated value.
• Notify the local utilities at your origin/destination to have service turned off/on as needed. 
• Notify your children’s schools, your church and other organizations of your impending mover.

3 Weeks Prior to your relocation:

• Decide which items you will be packing yourself.(Please refer to our section on Self-Packing Tips, as well as What Not to Pack additional advice)
• Sketch out a general floor plan of your new home to determine the placement of furnishings.
• Make a list of important names, addresses and phone numbers, and be sure to take your phone book with you.
• Notify Sunset Moving & Storage if anything about your move has changed (dates, etc.)
• Make arrangements to move your plants and pets.(Please refer to our section on Relocating Pets)
• Contact your bank and transfer the contents of your safety deposit box.  
• Check your homeowner’s policy to see if moving is covered by your insurer.
• Transfer insurance to cover fire, theft and personal property at your new home.

2 Weeks Prior to your relocation:

• If shipping an automobile, top off fluids like oil and antifreeze, but make plans to have the gas tank less than half-full.
• Arrange for the proper servicing of all appliances at your origin/destination.
• Dispose of flammable items such as gasoline, matches, bleach, cleaning fluids and aerosol cans. (Please refer to our section on What Not to Pack for additional advice)
• Finalize your plans for larger items (TV antenna, swing set, trampoline, etc.).

1 Weeks Prior to your relocation:

• Arrange for the payment of your move. Unless your move is being billed to your employer or previous credit approval has been secured, payment by cash, certified check or money order is required before unloading at destination.
• Make arrangements to disconnect/connect local phone service at your origin/destination.
• Determine which items you will be taking with you (jewelry, etc.) Pack and set them aside in a designated area.
• Drain the fuel from lawnmowers and other gas powered equipment.

1 Day before Your Move:

• Pack a box of things you’ll need as soon as you arrive at your new home. Take this box with you, or have your driver load it last and unload it first.
• This is usually the day packing is done; verify all packing services have been performed before signing for them.
• Defrost, clean and dry your refrigerator.