During our recent move we were reminded of some important lessons. The most important was: plan ahead! We put together this moving checklist to help your next relocation go smoothly. Tuck this sheet away in a safe place so you'll have it handy.

Two Months:

• Contact moving companies. Call at least three moving companies to compare rates and services. Try to get about three quotes and then take the middle price. Beware incredibly low "sucker" quotes. You don't want to trust all your worldly possessions to a second-rate moving company.

Most movers charge according to weight and distance traveled, so you'll need to "guestimate" the weight of your belongings and know the distance of your move before you call. For weight, you can guesstimate 1,000 to 1,500 pounds per room (use the high end when dealing with large appliances). On average, a family of five in a three-bedroom home will have 10,000 pounds of furniture and 100 boxes (an average box weighs about 40 pounds).
During your initial call, ask about any extra charges (for carrying things up stairs or elevators, long walks, pianos or heavy items, etc.). Having your movers do the packing will add about 30% to your bill, so we suggest you pack as much as you can yourself. If you want the movers to pack for you, we still suggest you pack delicate items (your grandmother's china, your crystal, etc.) yourself.
Straight Talk Tip: If possible, avoid moving after the 25th and before the 2nd of the month, and avoid Saturdays. You'll pay top dollar during these busy moving times.
• Take an inventory of your home, room by room. This list will help you and your movers.
• Decide what you can leave behind. You should consider leaving behind big items that will be expensive to move. Also leave behind custom drapery or furniture that would be of interest to potential buyers.

You should also get rid of books you never read, clothes you never wear and items you never use. A local charity will be more than happy to take these items off your hands (and you may get a tax deduction out of it). If you have enough stuff you don't want to take with you, consider having a garage sale before you move.

• If you're relocating for your job, see if your employer offers any assistance.
• Start saving receipts for moving expenses – a plain manila envelope will do. Many moving expenses are tax-deductible, so ask your tax advisor.



Six Weeks:

• Request copies of all personal records from your doctor and dentist. That way you won't be hit with the expense to have a test repeated. Also, have prescriptions filled for drugs you take regularly so you can take your time choosing a new doctor. A new pharmacy can call your old pharmacy to have your prescriptions transferred once you arrive. If you have pets, be sure to get their records from the vet.
• Contact your insurance agent to transfer your coverage. Also, find out if your homeowners insurance covers your belongings during the move. If not, find out what type of coverage your moving company offers. You may want to consider buying insurance from your moving company if you have a lot of valuables.
• Pick up a change of address kit from the post office. Send change of address cards to friends and family, banks, subscriptions, mutual funds, etc. Also, send change of address cards with the bills you pay.
• If you have children, contact schools about enrolling. You can get a list of schools in your new area from your real estate agent, your kids' current school or the county school board in your new area.
• Send the IRS a change of address form (Form 8822), which you can get from your post office. Disappearing from the IRS might sound appealing, but all it really means is that you'll have to hunt down your tax forms next year instead of having them delivered to your doorstop.
• Gather packing supplies. You should have a few rolls of packing tape, markers, bubble wrap, newspaper and tissue paper (for items newspapers will stain). You can buy boxes from your mover, but they're expensive. Instead, stop by your local department store. They will often give you large, clean boxes for free.

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