Moving questions

[tzikeh]

So, I'm moving from one apartment to another in a month's time. I have made a list of things I need to do, and was staring at it, thinking, I just *know* I'm forgetting stuff.

And then I thought - hey! There are 150 other people I can ask to look it over and offer suggestions!

So - folks, if you can think of anything about moving (to an apartment) that I've blanked on - drop me a comment, wouldja?

***

Call the following utilities / providers to shut off service to current residence and start service in new residence:

gas / electric / cable / satellite / phone /

Pack a suitcase as if travelling for five days (clothes, toiletries, etc.) so that the entire contents of life are not in boxes.

Pack everything else. ;)

Contact credit card companies / magazine subscriptions with new address.

Email friends / family with new address.

Let HR know new address.

Set up forwarding at post office.

Alert DMV to change of address.

Hire reputable moving company to do all heavy lifting.

Hire piano moving company with crane to move piano back to New Jersey.

Take all area rugs to be cleaned during move.

Measure doors / windows at new apartment to gauge maximum entry space - sell anything that will not fit.

Discontinue bottled water delivery (yay filtered-water-dispensing fridge!).

Call soon-to-be-previous landlord to enquire about security deposit return.

***

What am I missing?

ETA: The bank! Checks with my new address!! AIE!

Comments

[mamadeb.livejournal.com]

Acquire boxes/packing material/tape/sharpies.

[tzikeh.livejournal.com]

Aha! Supplies! Yes, precious... supplies...

[movies-michelle.livejournal.com]

Do you need to contact your insurance companies? Especially if you have renter's insurance, but also if you have any kind. With auto insurance, your rates might change, depending on the neighborhood you're moving to--although I get the idea that you're not really moving very far away.

Sounds like you have a good handle on the basics, though. Other things will occur to you as you go, as well.

[tzikeh.livejournal.com]

Oh, yes! Actually my auto insurance won't change, but since the piano is going away I can significantly reduce my renters' insurance.

[luminosity]

Throw stuff away. Be merciless. Take a cold, hard look at that *whatever*, walk away, and then come back to it and throw it out.

Do laundry as close to moving day as possible.

Find the numbers for Goodwill or Salvation Army and see if they do pick up for stuff that you are getting rid of.

Put toilet paper in your five day suitcase. :)

[tzikeh.livejournal.com]

Yeah - I actually just hauled nineteen bags of clothes to the thrift store.

NINETEEN.

And I'm not quite done.

<sigh>

arg. hit send too soon...

[taraljc.livejournal.com]

Compare list of kitchen items with roommate, and purchase anything you'll be losing when you move out?

Put toilet paper in new bathroom and paper towels in new kitchen in advance. Trust me.

Ditto paper plates and plastic cups.

Make sure phone service is set up, and TV is set up before cable guy comes. Learned this one the hard way.

ETA: file boxes are a godsend, and you can get 'em for about $1 each at any office supply store. They're small enough that even pakced full of books, you can still lift them, and useful for putting stuff into storage in closets/basement.

[elke-tanzer.livejournal.com]

Make sure you're registered to vote with your new address (and with your party affiliation if you want to vote in the primaries).

Make sure your address is up to date on retirement and investment information and beneficiary records, medical insurance, with your doctors and dentist and pharmacy (you may need to transfer your prescription history to a drugstore closer to your new place).

Yeah, get checks printed with your new address, let your bank know, and make sure nothing will mess up any direct deposit stuff you have set up.

Keep a bucket of cleaning supplies with paper towels and kleenex at both places, because cleaning before you put the furniture down on top of the dirt is better, and cleaning up the old place after the furniture is moved usually means that I want the cleaning stuff that's already at the other place...

Once you're moved, let all your friends and family know your new address...

Actually, my marriage and divorce checklists might have other stuff that might jog your memory to take care of move stuff...
http://www.livejournal.com/users/elke_tanzer/42219.html
http://www.livejournal.com/users/elke_tanzer/42301.html

Good luck with the move!

[axiom_of_stripe]

* keep all your cleaning supplies unpacked

* keep out a sleeping bag or sheets and sofa cushions to sleep on until your bed arrives

* keep some minimal cooking supplies unpacked

* buy food for the new place and bring it with you

* keep the telephone unpacked, or in an immediately locatable place

* get some fast-food menus and phone numbers for the new location

* find information on the nearest emergency clinic for the new location

[darthfox.livejournal.com]

get some fast-food menus and phone numbers for the new location

she means delivery menus and numbers, of course -- C has this tendency to refer to things by almost, but not quite, the right name. (so of course people knew what she meant and didn't need to point it out; but then we'd miss the fun of making fun of her. [g])

[runs away]

i'm a big believer in setting up the bed immediately upon arriving in the new place -- there may be boxes everywhere and it may look like the unpacking will never, ever be done, but you'll have a place to sleep. also the shower curtain. things you won't have the energy to deal with when you're tired.

pack fragile things in a box small enough to put on the front seat of your car and bring with you by hand.

i have nothing else non-obvious; you and the previous commenters seem to have it pretty well covered ... (whoever was talking about toilet paper is exactly right.)

[axiom_of_stripe]

don't make me kick you in the head. ;)

[destina.livejournal.com]

Notify the IRS so you can get your tax forms mailed to you in the right place. This is especially important for people who are leaving the state. *g*

[katrimae.livejournal.com]

Be sure you have a master list of all your important documents -- insurance information, credit card numbers, phone numbers you really can't lose. In fact, have two copies. Keep one with you while you move and give the other to a friend you trust more than life itself.

Have enough cash on hand to get you through the first two days or so for things like emergency cab fare/roadside assistance, pay phones, takeout meals, emergency reading material... if all goes according to plan and you don't need to spend all of it, call a florist and buy pretty flowers for your new place.

[loreleif.livejournal.com]

gas / electric / cable / satellite / phone

And ISP?

[tazical.livejournal.com]

Well, I dunno what you've missed but that's sure going to help me when I move out next month. Heh. I like people that do all my work for me- want to call my electricity board as well?

[tzikeh.livejournal.com]

LOL! Yeah, I thought of that - if people are moving, their friends should point them here!

[jackiekjono.livejournal.com]

Carefully label all AV and computer equipment and cables (wire end A goes into slot A, etc.) This will save lots of ditzing around later. Oh - and if your cable will not be set up before you move, make sure someone catches the absolutely cannot miss shows for you.

1. Clean everything
2. Put up shower curtain
3. Assemble bed
4. Set up computer and AV
5. Take a break to spend time with kitty who will be freaking out about now.

[cereta.livejournal.com]

Make an inventory of what is in what box. Trust me.

Also, the Other Half's terrific idea last time we moved was to put color-coded stickers on the boxes that indicated what room they should be put in.

Make sure to keep kitty supplies with you, and buy fresh litter.

[killabeez.livejournal.com]

Also, the Other Half's terrific idea last time we moved was to put color-coded stickers on the boxes that indicated what room they should be put in.

This is a great idea -- and put indications of what's inside on the tops and sides of the boxes. Sucks having to unstack boxes to see what's in them.

[amilyn.livejournal.com]

I am sad that the piano will have to go back East.

Do you have a reputable moving company in mind? Because the one that Jill has used twice and I've used once is fantastic and efficient and I can give you the number.

[tzikeh.livejournal.com]

I do have one in mind, but I'd love to call yours for comparison shopping. Drop me an e-mail?