Moving? Don't Forget to Do These 9 Things!

Moving can be hard! And we don’t mean the actual act of moving your belongings, because with the right movers, that will be easy! But it can be so difficult to remember everything that you need to get done beforehand.

Not only is packing up your entire life and shipping it to your new home top-of-mind, but moving to a new city, state or even a country can mean that you’ll have tons of loose ends to tie up before you head out.

But don’t worry – we’ve got your back!

Here is a list of things that you shouldn’t forget to do before moving:

GATHER YOUR PERSONAL RECORDS

This includes medical records, veterinary files, prescriptions or any other personal documents that you might need.

When to do it: One to two months before.  

CANCEL ANY RECURRING CHARGES

Gym membership or another location-specific subscription service? One of the most annoying things is to forget about it and suddenly get a monthly gym charge on your account for a place you don’t even go to anymore! If you belong to a gym-chain, you will likely be able to transfer your membership to a location closer to your new home, but make sure you check beforehand!

When to do it: One month before. Most gyms and subscription services require at least a 30-day cancellation notice.

INFORM YOUR CAR INSURANCE COMPANY

According to the Department of Motor Vehicles, you should notify your auto insurance company right when you decide you’re going to move. Find out if your company does business in your new location, if you’ll be removing or adding new drivers to your policy, and whether your new state requires liability insurance, because some states vary on the amount required.

When to do it: As soon as you find out you’re moving. The earlier the better.

REGISTER YOUR ADDRESS CHANGE WITH THE POST OFFICE

The USPS has a handy online form that you can fill out to register your change of address. This can come in handy before you update all your individual contacts.

When to do it: Two weeks before you move.

BRING BACK YOUR LIBRARY BOOKS

Don’t forget to return all your library books or any audio material you borrowed! While you're at your local branch, inform your library that you are going to move so they can cancel your card.

When to do it: One week before.

ORGANIZE YOUR BILLS

It’s worth it to sit down and take some time to organize your finances. For an easy transition, set up autopay for all your accounts if you can.

When to do it: One week before.

COLLECT YOUR SPARE KEYS

Did you leave any spare keys with your neighbors or in hidden locations for safe-keeping in the event of emergencies? Recollect any floaters out there in the universe before you vacate.

When to do it: One week before.

TAKE PICTURES OF YOUR ELECTRONIC SET-UP

Seriously, this will do wonders for your sanity! Before you unplug your systems, take some cellphone pics of the wiring so you can refer to them once you’re ready to set everything back up at your new home. Label those wires with masking tape for good measure.

When to do it: Whenever you’re packing up your electronics.

LEAVE THE GARAGE DOOR OPENER

Make sure you take this out of your car and leave it for the next tenants who want to park in your old garage.

When to do it: The day of your move.