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Check your credit!  If renting your new home, try to obtain a current credit report.  If purchasing a home, be sure to check on your credit report to make certain there are no errors!

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Look into getting moving and/or storage insurance to cover your items during the move.

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Using a Mover?  Start getting estimates from moving companies.  Try to shop around as much as possible for the best rate.  Don't forget to check on insurance during your move.

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Self Move?  Select the rental truck you want to use.  Be certain to reserve it well in advance since reservations may fill up quickly at certain times of the year. Remember to obtain insurance for your load when you are moving as homeowner's insurance does not cover off-premise items if stolen, lost or damaged.

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Pets:  Check on possible quarantine and/or vaccination requirements for your pet, especially if you are moving out of state or overseas.

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Children:  If you have small children, be certain to research child care options in your new area.

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Children: Contact us for a complete listing of schools with contact information, to asses the quality of school districts for your destination.

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Overseas:  Confirm validity of passport. If you do not have one, be certain to get one well in advance.

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Overseas:  Talk with consulate about the steps necessary to obtain a visa, if required.

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Make a Moving File to store receipts, records, and important papers related to your move.  Take these in the car with you.

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Begin removing unwanted or unneeded items from your attic, garage, basement, or storage.  Plan to donate these or sell them.  You may want to list them on e-Bay or Yahoo Classifieds.

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Check to make certain that you have returned all borrowed items including video rentals and library books.

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Gather important documents (birth certificates, immunization records, insurance documents, etc.) and place them in a briefcase, strongbox, or other secure place to insure that they do not get misplaced during the move.

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Using a Mover:  Get in touch with a moving company and set a date for the move.  Fill out any necessary paperwork, and be certain to get moving insurance if you need it.  Check with your insurance agent about off-premises personal items to be certain you have full coverage.

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Overseas:  Research the customs and laws of the country you are moving to.  If you have not been there, try to visit before you move.

þ SIX WEEKS TO THE MOVE

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Update your car registration and driver's license with your state's motor vehicle department.  You may also need to notify your auto insurance carrier.

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Make item donations.  Remember to collect receipts for tax purposes.  Contributions may be a deductible item on your tax return.

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Sell your old and unwanted stuff on Yahoo! Classifieds or E-Bay or hold a garage sale before you pack.  It costs money to move unwanted items.

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Notify your dentist and doctor of your move and ask for referrals.   Make certain you insurance covers the doctor/dentist in your new area.

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Forward or cancel any monthly services, subscriptions or memberships.

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Pets:  Make certain you have transportation arrangements for your pet.  Buy a carrier.

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Pets:  Notify your veterinarian of your move.  Obtain any records for your pet, and ask for a referral.

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Children:  Select a school for your children and arrange to transfer immunization records and transcripts.  Try to visit the school before deciding if this is possible.

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Research the financial situation in your new hometown.  Open a new bank account and change your currency if necessary.

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Make reservations for a room at a local motel for the night before moving day.  This is the best way to make certain you can get a good night's rest and a shower while all your things are packed up.  For local "Area Lodging" check the link near to bottom of this page.

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Contact utilities to cancel or transfer accounts. 

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Overseas:  Research driving laws in your new country.  You may need to apply for a foreign driving permit.

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Overseas:  Make certain you have current vaccination records.  Make certain you receive recommended vaccinations for the country you will be moving to.

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Overseas:  Research insurance options in your new country.  Your US insurance may or may not be valid after you move and you may need to buy new insurance in your new country.

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Fill out an official address change of addresses for the United States Postal Service.  As you pay your monthly bills be certain to send in your change of address.

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Notify all important business and personal contacts of your new address.  Fill out changes of address for creditors and magazine subscriptions.

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Leave a forwarding address with the next tenants or owners of your home if possible.

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Self Move:  Buy boxes and packing material.  A wonderful way to store and move your items are in plastic containers.  They are almost as cheap as buying boxes and they last longer.  If you will continue to store these containers are more pest and insect proof.

þ THREE WEEKS TO THE MOVE

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Start Packing:  Begin with rooms of the house you don't use as much and finish with the kitchen.  Choose a room of the house to serve as a temporary storage area for packed boxes.  Check out our How to Pack section for tips on how to pack like a professional!

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Check into storage options for those items you cannot move immediately and may need to store temporarily.

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Make an inventory of important and/or expensive items in your home as you pack.  Try to take photographs of these items if possible.  You may need this inventory for insurance purposes in case items get lost or damaged in the move.

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Children:  Start involving your children in the move.  Make it exciting by having your children pack some of their own things, and letting them figure out new layouts for their rooms.

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Children:  If you have young children, arrange for a babysitter on moving day.  You can concentrate on the move knowing your children are watched and safely out of the way.

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Go back through each of your "Week by Week" to do lists and make certain you have completed all your items.

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If you live in a high rise apartment, be certain to reserve an elevator for the day of your move.

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Close any local bank accounts and open new ones in your new location.  Try to get checks printed with your new address as soon as possible

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Make certain you do not forget to clean out and close your safety deposit box at your local bank.

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Drain gas from any gas powered equipment before you pack it up.  Try to make disposable arrangements for any oil, gas, or other hazardous substances you will not be able to move, use, throw away, or give to family, friends, and neighbors.

þ ONE WEEK TO THE MOVE

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Make backup copies of important files on your computer before packing it.  Take your computer with you.  Do not put it on the moving van.

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Service your car, especially if you're traveling to your new place by car.

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Have a party to use up perishable food items, beverages, and alcohol.  Donate food items you don't consume to a shelter or food bank.  Put Charcoal in your Refrigerator, even if you are leaving it for the new homeowner, to absorb odors, unplug it and prop the door open to prevent mildew.

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Confirm any travel plans or reservations you may have made for moving day (flights, hotel, rental cars, etc.)

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Using a Mover:  Confirm arrangements with your moving company.

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Refill Prescriptions

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Pets:  Pack a travel case for your pet.

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Be certain to have some cash on hand for the day of the move.  You may need it to tip movers, buy snacks, etc.  If you are moving out-of-state, keep in mind that some businesses may not accept out-of-state checks.

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Begin cleaning your house.  Make certain to defrost your refrigerator and freezer if it is not self-defrosting.

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Do a final walk-through of your old residence, checking closets, drawers, etc.  Turn off all lights, lock all doors and windows, and leave keys with your old property manager or REALTOR if you sold your home.  Leave old keys, garage door openers, broiler pans, landscape/house plans and instructional manuals needed by the new owner with Realtor or in a kitchen drawer.

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Self Move:  Pick up your rental truck and any moving equipment you may need.

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Let close friends or relatives know the route and schedule you will travel including over night stops.  Use one person as message headquarters.

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Pets:  Keep your pet confined on the day of the move.  Make certain they are in a safe place away from the hubbub of the move with plenty of food and water.  Consider taking a dog or cat to the kennel for the day.  But don't forget to pick them up on time.

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Pets:  If you boarded your pet during moving day, don't forget to pick them up and introduce him to your new home slowly.  Be certain they will not be able to run back to the old house for the first few days.

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Children:  If you left your small children with a sitter or day-care don't forget to pick them up in time.

þ AT THE NEW ADDRESS

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Obtain Certified Check or Cashier's Check necessary for closing the Real Estate Transaction at your new home.

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Check on service of telephone, gas, electricity, water and garbage.

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Check pilot light on stove, hot water heater and furnace.  That gas company will do this when turning on your service.  If the meter is just being read, these items should automatically stay on.  Call your utilities and ask that the meter be read when the old owner turns off service so it will automatically stay on in your name.

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Ask Mailman for any mail he may be holding for your arrival.

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Have a new address recorded on your driver's license.

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Register your family in a new place of worship.

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Register children in school.

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Arrange for medical services:  Doctor, Dentist, Vet, etc.

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Transfer funds, arrange check-cashing.

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Arrange credit references.

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Notify Insurance Companies:  Life, Health, Fire and Auto.

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Check to determine whether or not your Will or Trust requires updating to be valid.

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Pets – Investigate and observe local ordinances.

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Driver's License - When establishing residency you should get your vehicles registered and obtain your driver's license. Be prepared to surrender your current driver's license and have the following items with you:

• Current Driver's License

• Proof of Vehicle Insurance

• Title to your vehicles