Count down calendar for Movers

If you though looking for a new place to live was strenuous and time consuming – wait till you get to the moving part!

At first it may seem like you have all the time in the world, you look around make a quick tally in your mind for the number of boxes that you may need and put the whole moving project down to and afternoons worth of work over a couple of beers. And before you know it, its time to move and boy were you wrong! If you can identify with the above, then this calendar will serve as your "countdown" to moving day.

By taking the time to properly plan and prepare for you move, you will be taking the necessary steps required for a smooth move.

Six Weeks to go:

• Clean out your clutter …Take an objective look at what you own, and decide on:
  -What to take?
  -What to donate?
  -What to sell?
  -What to trash?
  Often we keep things for no apparent reason, apart from not having the time to sort through things to get ride of clutter.
  
  Things like books and magazines that you have read and will never read again. Items of clothing that are out dated and out grown? Mugs with broken handle just to name a few. What you must remember is that extra items and weight costs, extra money!

• When you have identified the items you wish to sell, decided on how you will go about selling these items:
  -WebEstate.com.fj “Buyers& Sellers” forum board.
  -Garage Sale. – Talk to neighbors and plan a “Group garage sale”
  -Informing people who you already know.
  -Ad in your local paper
  

• Organize a central file/folder for all your moving details:
  -Removal contact name number
  -Storage contact details
  -Collect all receipts for moving-related expenses. Depending on your reason for

• Plan your new set-up …Do up a floor plan of your new home and begin thinking about furniture placement. Plan our each room on an individual sheet and mark or label specific items of furniture on your diagram. Keep these floor plans in your moving folder for the time of the move.

Four Weeks to go:

• Notify post office, magazine subscriptions, newspaper subscriptions, banks about your new postal address.
  Send your friends and family a Free e-card informing with details of your new home.
• Contact and schedule a disconnection of utility services on the day following the move:
  - Gas
  - Water
  - Electricity
  - Phone
  - cable etc
  Schedule connection of these utilities in your new home a day before the move.
  
• Self-packers –start packing items that are seldom used:
  - Dinner sets
  - Special cookware
  - Decorative items & Artwork
  - Non essential clothing.
  - Photos / DVDs / CD’s
  
• While packing remember to keep each box:
  -Light enough to carry.
  -Labeled with a summary of items inside and the room it should go in.
  -Mark box “Fragile” & “This way up” as required.
  

Three Weeks to go:

• Arrange and book storage and removals.
• Self-packers –start serious packing.
• Make sure you have all important documents in 1 place (Vehicle registration / Insurance etc)
• If moving to another city, make travel and hotel arrangements.
• If your not planning to drive your car the to city your moving to, make arrangements for it to be transported.
• Plan your food purchase – buy small quantities and use up as much as you can from your pantry.
• Arrange to have your new home cleaned or plan to clean it yourself closer to the moving date.
• Arrange for your old house to be cleaned, the day after the move.
• If your children are also moving to a new school due to the move, arrange for their records to be forwarded to the new school.
• If have a bank safety deposit box, make arrangements to set-up a new one in the city your moving to and arrange to safely transfer items from your old safe box to your new one
• Now would be good time to hold a garage sale.

Two Weeks to go:

• Check with your insurance company to cancel current coverage or transfer coverage to your new home.
• Make arrangements for transporting your pets and any houseplants, because movers can't take them in the van.
• Have your car serviced if you’re transporting it yourself to the next city.
• Be sure to empty secret hiding places to remove valuables and spare house keys.

One Week Before Your Move:

• Mow your lawn for the last time.
• Dispose of toxic or flammable items that can't be moved. Drain the gas and oil from gas-powered tools such as lawn mowers; movers will not take them if full.
• Pack necessary items that should go in your car and not the moving van: your checkbook, cash, medications, essential toiletries, light bulbs, flashlight, pet food, spare glasses or contact lenses, baby or child care items, toys and car games for children and your notebook with moving information etc.
• If you have young children, arrange for a baby-sitter to watch them on the day of the move.
• Be sure to pay all outstanding bills, and notify them of your new address for any payment receipts.
• Be sure to indicate your new address on payment receipts.

One To Two Days to go :

• The movers will arrive to start the packing process. Unless you’re a self packer.
• Empty and defrost your refrigerator and freezer, clean both with a disinfectant and let them air out. Put baking soda or charcoal inside to keep them fresh.
• Arrange for payment to the moving company. The last thing you want to worry about when its time to move is payment.
• Write directions to your new home for the movers:
  -provide the new phone number.
  -Your mobile number.
  -Address etc.
• Leave your forwarding address and phone number for your home's new occupants.
• Notify police and neighbors, if your old house will be sitting vacant.

Moving Day:

• Remove linens from the beds and pack in an "open first" box.
• When the movers arrive, review all details and paperwork. Accompany the van operator to take inventory. Verify delivery plans.
• Discuss the floor plan of the house with the movers and give them a copy of where you would like particular furniture to be placed.

Move-In Day:

• Review your floor plan to refresh your memory about where you want furniture and appliances placed.
• Unpack your car.
• Make sure the utilities have been connected, follow-up on any delays.
• Confine your pest so that they are out of the way and to prevent them from running away or getting agitated by all the activity.
• Work with the movers to ensure all box and items of furniture are placed in the correct rooms.
• Once all items are unloaded, unpack only what you need for the first few days. And do the rest gradually.