Make Moving Easier Complete Guide for a Long-distance Move | Page 9
Make any final appointments for your family and pets. This will give you time to find a
good doctor once you've made the move.
If you're selling your home, look for a real estate agent to help you develop a timeline for
listing.
12 Weeks Before Moving:
Determine how you and your family will be traveling. Plane? Train? Automobile? Book
tickets, if needed, and make arrangements for shipping cars, motorcycles, or boats.
Finalize your mover. Get confirmation in writing about the date and time of the move, as
well as insurance policies and budget estimates.
If you have kids and are moving in the middle of the school year, find a new school and
make the necessary arrangements for enrollment.
10 Weeks Before Moving:
Tell older kids about the move. This time frame gives them the opportunity to say good-
bye to their friends, prepare a moving packing list for their belongings, and get excited
about their new hometown.
If possible, get the blueprints for your new home. This will give you time to start planning
out what furniture goes where, and if you're downsizing, what might not fit. There's no
point in moving furniture across the country if you're going to get rid of it upon arrival.
8 Weeks Before Moving:
Make a list of items that will need to move with you rather than the movers or via mail.
This includes important documents, jewelry, computer backups, and items the movers
might not be willing to transplant, such as firearms or alcohol.
Purchase packing supplies, including boxes, tape, bubble wrap, and zip ties.
6 Weeks Before Moving:
Start packing items you won't need in the next six weeks. This could include out-of-season
clothing, holiday decorations, book and movie collections, or formal dishware you use
once a year.
Check with your insurance provider to see if your coverage transfers, and if there is extra
protection you'll need at your new home. For example, if you're moving from the Midwest
to a hurricane-prone state, you might want to add flood insurance to your policy.
If you rent and your lease will not be up before the move, start looking for a sublessee.
4 Weeks Before Moving:
Check in with your physicians, children's schools, car service shops, and other places you
frequent for appointments. Make sure you have either hard copies of important records
or the ability to access this information online.