6 to 4 weeks before your move you will need to notify the following places that you are moving and schedule discontinuation of services.

Notify the post office that you are moving. An online Change of Address form is available on the United States Postal Service Web site.

Prepare a list of friends, relatives, business firms and others who should be notified of your move. The following checklist will be helpful:

Utilities/Personal Accounts

• Electric
• Pharmacy
• Gas
• Dry Cleaner
• Water
• Lawn Service
• Telephone
• Bank/Finance Companies
• Sewer
• Credit Cards
• Trash Service
• Laundry Service
• Cable/Satellite
• Auto Finance Company
• Fuel (Oil/Propane)
• Health Club
• Sewer District

Professional Services/Publications

• Doctor(s)
• Newspapers
• Dentist
• Magazines
• Accountant
• Newsletters
• Lawyers
• Professional Journals
• Broker
• Insurance Agency

Government Offices

• Department of Motor Vehicles
• Social Security Administration
• State/Fedral Tax Bureaus
• State/Federal Tax Bureaus
• City/County Tax Assessor
• Veterans Administration

Also during this time you may choose to do any of the following:

1. Have a garage sale to dispose of unwanted items.
2. Donate unwanted clothingor household goods to charitableorganizations
3. Begin to use up supplies of canned goods, frozen foods and other household items. Buy only what will be used before moving.

Two to three weeks before moving.

Preparing the family:

1. Take the family for a farewell visit to some of the places that hold happy memories.
2. Have a going away party for yourself…an open house or an informal dinner or barbecue. Keep it simple
3. Make family travel plans. Reserve hotel rooms and airline tickets as needed.
4. If driving, have your car serviced for the trip (check tires, brakes and windshield wipers, fluids, belts, etc.)

Preparing Household Items:

1. Federal law requires that you dispose of flammables such as fireworks, cleaning fluids, matches, acids, chemistry sets, aerosol cans, ammunition, and poisons such as weed killer. Drain fuel from your power mower and other machinery. Discard partly used cans of oil, paint, thinner, bleach, or any other substances that may be flammable or combustible or those stored in containers that may leak. Discard propane tanks which are used for barbecue grills
2. Set an appointment with a service technician to prepare your major appliances for shipment.
3. Have rugs and draperies cleaned. Leave both wrapped when they are returned from the cleaners.
4. Obtain a written appraisal of antique items to verify value. Avoid waxing or oiling wooden antiques (and fine wood furniture) before moving because some products might soften the wood, making it vulnerable to imprinting from furniture pads.
5. Do not clean your upholstered furniture before moving. Moisture could cause mold if furniture must be placed in storage.

One to two weeks before moving.

Plants

Decide what to do with house plants. If you're new home is only blocks away it should't be hard to transport them in your car however for those traveling for a few days you may seek a new home for your plants.

Pets

Take pets to the veterinarian. Most states require health certificates and rabies inocilations. See that identification and rabies tags are securely attached to your pet's collar.

Arrange for transportation of pets. Take them in the car or send via air. Consider boarding pets either at destination or at a kennel near your present home until you are settled in the new city.

Other Important Details:

Collect all items that are being cleaned, stored or repaired (clothing, furs, shoes, watches, etc.).  Empty your locker at your health club, or bowling alley.

Return library books and anything borrowed from friends or neighbors, and collect things you may have loaned.

Day Before Moving

Last Minute Details:

1. Check closets, cabinets, and storage lockers for any articles overlooked.
2. Unplug all electronic appliances 24 hours in advance of a move, except plasma televisions, so that they will be at room temperature on moving day. This includes home computers, stereos, and audio/video equipment.

Moving Day

Last-Minute Details:

Leave your phone connected throughout moving day. After the van leaves and you finish last-minute calls, be sure to pack the phone in one of your suitcases.

Take a Last Look Around:

1. Water shut off?
   
2. Furnace and air conditioner shut off?
   
3. Light switches turned off?
   
4. All utilities arranged for disconnection?
   
5. Windows shut and locked?
   
6. Old house keys surrendered?
   
7. Have you left anything?