Moving a family, whether across town or across country, is a complicated task. You may well hear yourself asking questions such as “Where’d we get all this stuff?” or “Where’s the plates?” The following hints and checklists can make moving a bit less chaotic.

Before carrying in the first box or piece of furniture, inspect your home carefully. While Key Land Homes stands behind our craftsmanship, we do not cover any damage caused by movers or moving into your home.

Take precautions to protect vulnerable surfaces such as hardwood or resilient floors. Cover rails with moving pads or blankets. Remove doors where furniture might be a tight fit. You can protect carpet with ribbed, plastic runners.

Professional movers should have insurance for any damage they might accidentally cause. Friends and relatives will not. They are also unlikely to have the training and practiced skills of professional movers. If you are moving yourself, organize the schedule to avoid rushing and include rest breaks. People who are tired or in a hurry are more likely to hurt themselves or your belongings.

Whatever else is going on, at dinner time assemble the family for your first meal together in the new home. Sit across the card table from each other, smile, and say “We made it.”

Moving Preparation Checklist

Compare proposals of professional movers:

• Costs for services such as packing and unpacking
• Costs of packing materials and boxes
• Distance and weight charges
• Insurance
• Availability and notice needed

Plan a self-move well in advance:

• Make truck reservation early (6-8 weeks, or more)
• Include a reservation for a dolly and moving pads
• Reconfirm one week prior

General Moving Items:

• If you have children, involve them in planning and preparing for the move
• Create a file for storing documents about your home and manufacturer literature
• Retain receipts for tax purposes. Moving costs may be deductible
• Donate unwanted items and return borrowed items
• Send change-of-address cards to friends, credit companies, stores, magazines and book clubs six weeks prior to your move. Please note, you can manage this online at USPS.com or by picking up a change of address kit at your post office.
• Give the forwarding order to your old post office one month prior to assure uninterrupted service
• Register children in their new schools
• Transfer medical and dental records, if necessary
• Arrange for homeowner insurance and obtain the certificate you need for closing
• Order checks with new your address; update financial records
• Update your driver’s license, car and voter registration
• Properly dispose of flammable or hazardous materials that should not be moved

Packing Materials

• Boxes of various sizes; cartons for mattresses
• Packing tape and heavy string
• Packing paper, newspaper, bubble wrap
• Labels to identify boxes (include a number, room/name); “Fragile” labels for special items
• Markers
• Master packing list (list each box by number with name/room and brief description of contents)
• Scissors
• Furniture pads, blankets, rugs

Moving Day Necessities

• Children’s toys and games
• Toilet paper
• Beverages and snacks
• Paper towels
• Soap and hand towels
• Trash bags
• First aid kit
• Prescription medication
• Medical supplies for special needs
• Pad and pen
• Shelf liners
• Small tools: Tape measure, scissors, screwdrivers, hammer
• Ice maker hook-up kit
• Dryer vent flex hose
• New hoses for washing machine
• Picture hangers
• Plant hooks
• Scratch cover
• Phone and phone book

One last suggestion – moving into a new home is a lot of work. However well you have planned the details, becoming truly settled into your new home takes most families some time. Be realistic in your expectations and enjoy the process of making your new house into your new home.