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Health & Fitness

Making Your Move Less Stressful...A Checklist To Make Sure Things Get Done

Things To Do ASAP After Deciding To Move:
-Contact a moving company & tell them the dates you plan to move
-Decide if you are going to pack for yourself or have the movers do it
-Transfer or resign from organizations & associations
-Collect suitable containers & packing materials if you plan to pack yourself
-Start to use things up that are harder to move or in some cases, can't be moved such as frozen foods, canned goods & flammable household aerosol cleaners.  Buy only what you will use before moving.
-Prepare a list of friends, relatives, business firms & others who need to be notified of your move.
-Consider having a garage sale to dispose of unwanted items.
-Assemble packing materials such as boxes, markers, labels, newspapers, utility knife, packing peanuts/bubble wrap, packing tape, furniture pads, dolly & scissors.
-Pack an "Instant Aid" box containing things you will need upon arrival such as sponges, paper towels, powdered detergent, paper plates, toothpaste, light bulbs, hammer, trash bags, hand soap, toilet paper, scissors, utility knife, first aid kits, snacks, pencils & paper, masking tape, towels & shelf liners

Things To Do 30-60 Days Before The Move:
-Establish credit in your new city.  Arrange for a transfer of bank account funds & the contents of your safety deposit box
-Check personal insurance policies to see whether moving is covered.  Transfer fire, theft & other personal property insurance to ensure coverage at your new home
-Gather information on prescriptions.  Get current phone numbers & addresses of your doctor & dentist
-Arrange to transfer school records & secure transcripts from the local school district you are leaving.  Get copies of your records from doctors, dentists, accountants, etc...
-Plan to cancel all utilities
-Pick up all dry cleaning & anything left at the tailor
-Set a date to cancel the newspaper
-Alert the post office that you will be moving.  If you don't know your permanent address, the post office can hold your mail for you.  Send out change-of-address cards.  First-class mail is forwarded free of charge for one year; newspapers & magazines-60 days
-Take your car in to have it checked for the upcoming road trip
-Transfer all prescriptions to your new pharmacy
-Have rugs & draperies cleaned & keep them in bags until the movers arrive
-Take pets to the veterinarian; most states require health certificates & rabies inoculations for licenses
-Collect all items being repaired, cleaned or stored
-Return library books & anything else you may have borrowed


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