Before Moving Day, Remember To

Return materials to the library (and school library) and pay any outstanding fines.

Return any movies or games which you’ve rented or borrowed.

Empty and close your Safe Deposit Box.

Pick up items from the Dry Cleaners, shoe repair, jeweler, and/or tailor.

Gather Owner’s Manuals and warrantees for major appliances which will remain in the house (oven, cook top, refrigerator, furnace, washer, dryer, etc.), as well as those for house siding, carpeting, windows, and so on. Place in an envelope or clear plastic bag, with a big “DO NOT PACK” sign on it.

Collect spare house keys from family, friends, neighbors, and under that rock in the backyard. Place with other items you don’t want packed, but will give to the new owners. Also write down the code for the security system, and give to the new owners.

Gather money or other valuables which you, or your family, may have hidden in or around the house.

Return any keys for other people’s houses, if you’ll no longer have a need for them.

Drain the fuel from your lawn mower, gas weeder, and leaf blower (or let them run until there’s no fuel left).

Properly dispose of any hazardous materials, such as paint which is not a current color used in or on the house, and gasoline.

Collect any belongings you keep at the gym or other recreational facility. Be sure your children have cleaned out their lockers at school and collected any clothing or other items they’ve lent to their friends. Check the Lost & Found at school, place of worship, and recreational facilities. Retrieve or return any tools, books, or other items you’ve exchanged with others.

Gather items for your Survival Kit (see above) and things which should stay with you during the move.

Settle all current bills, so that they don’t get overlooked in the busy-ness of the move.

Advise a close friend or family member of your itinerary and contact information during the move, in case of emergency.

Unplug electronic equipment, such as TVs, computers and stereos, and allow them to reach room temperature before they’re moved, to avoid causing damage to their components.

Drain waterbeds prior to moving day. This sometimes takes hours longer than you think it will, so allow plenty of time. Remember to unplug the mattress heater and allow it to cool before you begin draining the mattress. Check manufacturer instructions for further details.

Make sure you have mattress conditioner, the adapter, and anything else you’ll need to get your mattress set up in your new home, so that you won’t have to go looking for a store which sells waterbed supplies while you’re busy unpacking that first week. (We’ve had to do this.) Pack these things together, if possible, to make life easier for you to refill the mattress, as you begin to get settled in your new home.

Have fruit and other snacks available for you and your family, and beverages for yourselves and the movers. Put ice or blue ice into a cooler to keep things cold if your refrigerator is disconnected.

Be sure to have any packing you’re doing yourself completed before the packers come. If you’ll be packing all of your possessions, you’ll need to have everything ready to go by the time the movers arrive on moving day. If the mover determines that any of your packed boxes are not safe for transport, they will want to repack them before taking responsibility for moving them. Check out http://packersandmoversindelhinmd.in/ for more helpful tips.

Even if you have the moving company pack your belongings, there may be a few things you’d rather pack yourself—personal items you may be uncomfortable about strangers handling. If you do pack your own box or 2 for the movers to take, be sure to use a marker to label what room it should be placed in. Your movers will probably mark “PBO” on those boxes. That stands for “Packed By Owner” and releases them from responsibility in case the contents are damaged.

Be prepared with cash to tip the people who pack and move your goods, if you decide you’d like to tip them. The amount will depend on the size of your move and how much the movers set up for you (wall units, bedroom suites with light bridges, etc), as well as how comfortable you are with the movers and the services you received…anywhere from $40–60 for a small, local move to $100–200 or more for a distant move which takes up a full trailer. At least one moving company I contacted said they do not condone tipping their personnel. However, those I have tipped have really appreciated it, and I have never had a mover turn down a tip.

Take the garage door opener out of your car(s)!