Help me make a Moving Check List
 

Alright- I move in less than 2 weeks and the roommate and I haven't really done too much towards preparing for the move (bad, I know)
So today I should be at work but I am preparing a check list of things to do and getting some of them done.

Help me make the list- what things am I likely to forget to do before I move and that I need to do?

Have your mail forwarded
Utilities- off in old place, on in new place

Start throwing stuff you aren't taking with you out
Start cleaning

Fill out a postal change of address form. I do it online for a buck because it's only a dollar and I HATE THE POST OFFICE!

-Rudey

And you need to do it at least 3 weeks in advance...otherwise your old place will continue to get your mail. I also hate the post office.

I just moved so here's some advice:

1) Box up everything. Even things you think you can easily carry over...box them up. It's so much easier to have everything thrown into a moving box than trying to carry each item by itself.

2) Give about a one month notice to your creditors and magazines about your address change.

3) Make a list of everything you'll need for your new place.

4) Anything that you will not need for the next two weeks, box it up now to get it out of the way.

5) Mark all the boxes with labels such as "kitchen- dishes", "bathroom- linens", or "office- computer software". This way, if you need something that is already in boxes sometime during the next two weeks, you can easily find it.

6) Collect newspaper and wrap your breakables in that. It works well and it's a lot cheaper than buying bubble wrap.

7) Clean out your old place so that you get your deposit back.

8) Before moving anything into your new place, CLEAN IT! Most apartment complexes do not do a thorough cleaning of apartments before moving their tenants in. If the tenant before you was a McNasty, you'll end up showering in their filth.

Yes, do the address change with the USPS online. However, also call and change your address with your credit cards, car loan, insurance, magazines, or anyone else who regularly sends you mail. The mail forwarding is not very good. You should only depend on it to catch mail that falls through the cracks.

I have been getting my ex-husband's mail forwarded to me NOT BY MY CHOICE because they are too dumb to read the whole name on the label before forwarding it.:mad:

People have said before, moving is an excellent time to get rid of all the stuff you really don't need that you have been hanging onto!

Good luck!

I'm also moving in two weeks. This will be the first time I have to worry about utilities. I'm not sure how to set up water, electricity, & cable. I guess I should just call the respective companies & ask? I just don't want to get taken for a fool & pay extra for something I don't need.

Call your apartment complex. They should have a list of the utility companies that service your apartments with the phone numbers. With electricity and water, just call them and give your address and the date you want the service to begin. That's it!

With cable, depending on your provider, ask what their rates are for each package and if they're running any specials. Choose the one that fits your needs the best.

That sounds fairly easy. I should probably do all of that today considering I move August 7th...

Thanks!

There's some useful information here.

Be sure to specify that your utilities should be shut off the day AFTER you move out of your old place and turned on the day BEFORE you move into the new place. Utility companies can turn things on/off at any time on the day you specify, and you don't need your electricity or phone going out in the middle of the move.

Label everything and keep a list, especially if you are using movers. Also, don't let them take any valuables, computer equipment, or important/identifying documents.

Get rid of, or use up, any hazardous materials (bleach, propane tanks, etc) and anything perishable - or be prepared to transport them yourself. You will also have to transport live plants yourself.

Make an "unpack me first" box or bag that includes things like box cutters, scissors, tape, cleaning supplies and paper towels, toiletries, snacks, any prescription medications, and a first-aid kit.

Reserve an elevator in both the building you're moving out of and the one you're moving into, if applicable.

Plan out where all your furniture should go in the new place, so you don't end up moving your couch half a dozen times.

Good luck with the move! :)

Stupid question the wise ones who have moved may be able to answer for me:
Food in a deep freeze.
Deep freeze goes on the truck sometime on Saturday, 31st and within 24hrs will be plugged in at the new house.
Will the food in the deep freeze be safe since nobody will be opening it?

If you have any big items or items in general you don't want to move, see if anyone wants to come and take it off your hands. They have places to advertise on craigslist.com. You'd be surprised on how many people respond to this list and especially the "free stuff".

Yeah, we have one like that here: cheggpost.com but it's down right now. I think most of us college people have one designed for our local area.

Hmmm on the deep freeze question. Is it possible you can take all the things from the freezer and put them in a bin or cooler with ice and transport them yourself? I know the freezer can thaw things if your electric if off for a while so it could become bad. Its always a chance you could take. I know when I moved I borrowed 3 HUGE coolers from my parents and packed all fridge things I wanted to keep and freezer things and added ice to them and brought them over myself. It was much easier and the things didnt spoil that way.

I know when you thaw a freezer it takes time to thaw it all out, but its a chance that some things could become bad. Though Im not a good person to ask lol, I dont cool much so Im not sure about kitchen and food questions lol.
;)

re: deep freeze

I just realized that my roommate can get dry ice from work and that should keep everything properly frozen for 24hrs.

Re: frozen food - I would be very hesitant to do that, especially if the weather will be hot. Anything that thaws substantially will have to be cooked immediately or discarded, and a lot of things can thaw in 24 hours in hot weather. It would be better to try to use up as much of it as you can. If you have family/friends who will be helping you move, maybe you can throw a BBQ as a thank-you in advance?

Edit: If you have dry ice, you might be ok. I'd still try to use up stuff as much as possible, though.

now if I can just get the roommate off his behind to help me get everything ready.
The utilities are in his name and he hasnt called despite me harping for a few days now.

3 weeks! Eeeek! How annoying.


Thanks for the list tho, I'm signing a lease Friday moving in next week and this was all really helpful.

OK, this isnt the same question, but I guess related.

While in school I always kept my parent's home address as my permanent address. However, now I have graduated and moved into a new apartment recently.

Am I required to change my address from my parents house on my driver's license, other paperwork, etc.?

Its just that I already have a feeling my roommate is going to want to move to be with her boyfriend at the end of our lease. I just dont want to go through changing everything and the cost of it, when I just go by my parents 15 minutes away if something comes to the house I need. I just think when I get a place that will be more permanent it would be good to change everything then.

Baby wipes are great for cleaning (and come in 160-packs!).

I just finally changed my address when I moved into my condo in August. For the three years I lived in Boston before that, my license had my parents address on it.

Ex-Mr 33 kept his parents' address for YEARS after he moved here - partly to get out of emissions testing - and there was never a problem.

I used my parent's address as my default address on everything until they moved out of their house earlier this year. :)

Thanks.

That's good to know.

I will probably not go through the hassle of changing then.

Yeah, but then everythign you own ends up smelling like old lady.

The clorox wipes are the way to go...

I still have my mom listed as my permanent addy. I have moved 14 times in the last 10 years. I have been at this addy for three and a half years, but you never know....

My employer is paying for the moving company that will be packing, loading and moving my stuff. Should I still be tipping the movers in this case? If so, how much? I have no idea what the cost is because I'm not picking up the tab?