As your moving day approaches, you want to make sure that you're as organized as possible so that your moving services are carried out smoothly. Below, you'll find descriptions of weekly preparation steps to take as your move approaches. We've even included specific tips for your Pack Day, Load Day and Delivery Day.
4 Weeks Before Your Move ...
- Contact A. Arnold for your free, no obligation estimate.
- Notify the post office of your new address and send change-of-address cards to friends, relatives and periodicals.
- Arrange for repairs or installations in your new home.
- Obtain forms for transferring your driver's license(s) and applying for credit.
- Notify your school(s) of your children's transfer. Check into pre-registration procedures for the new schools.
3 Weeks Before Your Move ...
- Arrange to have utilities, appliance and telephone services disconnected. Arrange for utility and telephone hookups in your new home. Be sure that services are intact at your current home until after your relocation services are scheduled to be complete.
- Obtain dental and medical records to take with you.
- If you are planning on packing yourself, now is a good time to start.
- Make any travel arrangements, including interim hotel reservations and car rental(s).
- Decide what to move and what to give away. Have that garage sale!
2 Weeks Before Your Move ...
- Return library books and anything borrowed from friends or neighbors.
- Take care of bills, stocks and investments.
- Take your pet(s) to the veterinarian for immunization and preparation for the trip.
- Pay and pick up any store layaways or items that are being cleaned, stored or repaired.
- Arrange for the transfer of any bank or other accounts.
- Drain oil and gasoline from power equipment.
- Have the car prepared for the trip. Check tires, brakes, windshield wipers, etc.
1 Weeks Before Your Move ...
- Transfer your prescriptions.
- Arrange for delivery services to be discontinued — newspapers, etc.
- Start gathering those items to take with you for your trip.
Pack Day
- 1. Plan to be at home and make yourself available to the movers the entire day of packing, if possible. Packing times vary depending on the amount of packing that is required for your moving services.
- 2. For the comfort of the children, it is often helpful to have them stay with friends or relatives during the relocation process.
- 3. Have your refrigerator emptied and defrosted prior to loading day. Pack day is the perfect day to accomplish this.
- 4. If the packers are to pack high-value items, such as silverware, artwork, etc., ask the packers to call you so that you may view the packing of these particular items. Please do not leave items such as money, fine jewelry, coin collections, etc. to be packed by the packers. These monetary items should be transported by you, your family or a trusted friend. Your carrier cannot accept responsibility for these items, and we ask that they are not among the items to be packed.
- 5. Items to be carried in your car and items you will need until after the loading process is complete should be separated so that the packers do not pack them in error. This would include any medicine, documents needed for closing at your destination, and any other important paperwork you will need during the course of your relocation services.
- 6. The packers will not pack any perishable food items, flammables, aerosols or corrosive liquids. This includes house paints, cleaners, fire extinguishers, propane tanks, etc. Please make other arrangements for the transportation of these items should you decide to take them with you.
- 7. House plants are very sensitive to environmental changes, and the risks associated with moving them are high. Many states prohibit the transportation of plants. Your carrier cannot accept liability for the demise of transported plants, nor can they care for them if storage should be required. It is best to find another home for your plants and purchase replacement plants for your new residence.
Load Day
- 1. Make yourself available for the entire day of loading.
- 2. Check the inventory to see that you agree with the notations made by the driver as to the present condition of your furniture. If there is a discrepancy, please make note of it on the same inventory sheet.
- 3. Items of extraordinary value that are being shipped by the movers, such as antiques, works of art, etc., should be noted separately on the inventory, along with their values.
- 4. Plan to leave all utilities on until the day following the loading of your household goods. Having a phone that is working is invaluable, as communication is key during any relocation service.
- 5. Walk through the house, garage, cellar, attic, backyard and any storage areas around the home to make sure all items were loaded by the movers. Check all drawers, cabinets and closets in all rooms for articles that may have been missed during the packing or loading processes.
- 6. Make travel arrangements for departure on the day after your loading.
- 7. On the day of loading, make sure the driver and the carrier are aware of how to reach you while en route and at your destination.
Delivery Day
- 1. To assure that everything that was loaded at your point of origin is delivered at your destination, you must check off the inventory yourself. Ask that the driver and helper call off the inventory numbers that are on each box and piece of furniture, and then mark off the inventory sheet as the items are called. If you choose not to check off the inventory, you will be asked to sign a waiver stating that you had the opportunity to do so. This will impact the liability for damages and missing items.
- 2. Check the condition of each piece as closely as possible upon delivery to your new home. Make a note of any exceptions to the condition of your household goods on the inventory worksheet upon delivery. There is a column on the worksheet especially for your exceptions.
- 3. Boxes that contain items of high value, such as silverware, works of art, etc., should be unpacked immediately and checked for hidden damage.
- 4. The driver is responsible for setting up the beds and reassembling any items that he/she disassembled at your point of origin. This would not include hanging pictures or other permanent wall fixtures.
- 5. If you wish to have everything unpacked, please let your carrier know ahead of time so they can make the proper arrangements to have this accomplished.
- 6. If your carrier does the unpacking, they are responsible for removing the debris from the residence. If you choose to do your own unpacking, debris removal is available. Contact your carrier to set up a pickup date and time after you have completed your packing.
- 7. Before the driver leaves, make sure you have noted on the inventory worksheet the condition of your household goods and any missing items.
- 8. In the event you should have any missing or damaged items, please call your Move Coordinator as soon as possible, and they will mail the necessary claim forms to you and start a trace on any missing items. Complete the paperwork as soon as possible and return your forms in the enclosed self-addressed, stamped envelope. You can also find these forms online in our Forms section, complete with mailing instructions.
