Moving Day Countdown At Least One Month Before The Move Clean out your closets, attic, basement, cupboards, toy chests and bookshelves. Discard anything you don't want or need. Consider having a tag or garage sale. Donate unwanted items to charitable organizations (i.e., hospitals, nursing homes, day care centers, libraries and thrift shops). Obtain receipts for tax purposes. Evaluate whether to ship your appliances. Consider age, size and color. If your stove, refrigerator, washer or dryer won't match or fit in your new home, consider selling them. For example, don't move a gas stove or dryer into an all-electric house. Also, consider selling chandeliers and ceiling fans with your home unless you have a special or sentimental reason for taking them along. Make a complete inventory of items to be moved. Decide if you will move all your plants or just your favorites. Use up your frozen foods. They CANNOT be safely shipped. It is also advisable to reduce your supply of canned goods. Notify the security company, lawn or snow-removal services or any other regular services of your vacating date. Notify your post office, publications, and correspondents of change of address and date of move. Check your savings and checking accounts. Plan for transfer of deposits so you won't lose interest. Your bank can be used as a credit reference. Arrange to collect any advance deposits or security deposits on utilities or rentals. Check your homeowners insurance. Any prepaid balance may be applied to your new residence. Be sure to coordinate with your insurance carrier so your new residence is covered immediately. Check on club membership fees. The money may be refunded or, if allowed, you might consider transferring/selling the membership to a friend. Check with your veterinarian regarding any travel preparation needed for your pets. Check your employer's policy on pet transportation coverage. Register children for school; transfer all necessary school records. Plan shipment date to occur after closing on your new home. At Least Two Weeks Before The Move Contact telephone, electric, gas and water companies to confirm specific date on which to discontinue services. Verify this date with your mortgage consultant. Advise utility companies in your new location when to start new services. (Waiting for service to begin can often result in costly hotel and meal expenses.) Check new driver's license and auto registration requirements. Advise dairy, laundry, newspaper carrier and trash hauler to discontinue services. Be sure to clean out school or gymnasium lockers. Ask your present physician(s) and dentist for referrals in the new location. Transfer medical records and get copies of prescriptions. If members of the family have any ongoing medical or dental treatment programs, arrange for the payments to be pro rated with the professional in your new area. Transfer insurance records. Verify that all your policies provide adequate coverage for your new location. Arrange for the transfer of valuables. Check contents of your safe-deposit box. DO NOT SHIP any valuables (such as jewelry, insurance policies, legal documents, currency, stamp and coin collections) with the moving company. Either carry them with you or send by insured or certified mail. DO NOT SHIP combustible and flammable items. These include oil-base paints, bleach, cleaning and lighting fluids, matches and ammunition. All aerosol cans (including hair sprays, shaving creams, deodorants, household cleaners, insecticides, tarnish removers and car cleaners) should be eliminated from the shipment. Use up or discard these items. One Week Before The Move Keep a detailed record and receipts of your moving expenses for income-tax purposes. This includes transportation, lodging, meals, etc. Drain gas and oil from lawn mowers, chain saws, snow blowers, etc. Gas grills and kerosene heaters must be empty. Cars and motorcycles should ha