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6 TO 8 WEEKS BEFORE YOUR MOVE

1. Make a list of items that you do not want to bring with you.
2. You may want to discard items such as books you no longer want, record albums, broken items that you have not had time to repair, etc. Reducing the weight of your shipment is useful and could possibly lower the cost of moving.
3. Fill out the printed Inventory Sheet and indicate the following;
4. Whether you want to include the option of packing everything yourself, if you require the mover to pack only the breakables or if you require the mover to pack all of your belongings.
5. You should indicate if some, or all, of your items need to be stored for a period of time.
6. Indicate which items are of special concern, such as fragile antiques, paintings, glass or marble pieces, pianos or grandfather clocks.
7. If you have pets you wish the mover to transport.
8. Make note of any items that would need special disassembling/reassembling or servicing such as gas appliances, fridges with icemakers, washer/dryers, etc.
9. Make note if there are any access problems such as parking permits and other items such as difficult access for large trucks, long distance from parking area to entrance of home or building, large furniture pieces that may not fit through narrow entrances etc.
10. Be sure to list any items outside the home that need to be move, sheds and contents, play structures, etc.
11. List items that need high value insurance coverage. If you think you may be packing some or all of your items, be aware of the ramifications/requirements regarding insurance. Items not packed by your mover are not covered by insurance unless the carton has been dropped or crushed.
12. Indicate the dates, or approximate dates, for the move if known. Be aware of time requirements such as closing dates on your old and new home, elevator service schedules, etc. Prices may vary due to the time of month or year.

4 TO 6 WEEKS PRIOR TO THE MOVE

1. If you have decided to rid yourself of unwanted items, you may then arrange to make a charitable donation or hold a yard sale. Arrange to dispose of any items not sold or donated.
2. If you have decided to pack some or all of your belongings, you may purchase packing materials such as new or used cartons, packing papers, tape, etc. from your mover
3. Make arrangements to transfer all applicable records such as school transcripts, insurance coverage, medical and veterinary records, drivers and any other licenses.
4. Check and clear tax issues on your current property.
5. If necessary, make special arrangements for appraisals on particularly high value objects i.e. art, antiques, etc.
6. Cancel or transfer any memberships/subscriptions to organizations, clubs, magazines, newspapers, return library books or other borrowed materials.
7. Familiarize yourself with your new town or city through your local Chamber of Commerce, neighborhood programs or on the web.
8. If you have children, you may want to research the schools in the area and initiate registration procedures and begin to involve your children in the move process.
9. You may want to arrange for day care or a baby-sitter for your children on your pack/move dates.
10. Confirm the packing and move date with your moving company and schedule elevator service times if required.
11. Make travel arrangements such as airline tickets, car rentals, and hotel reservations.
12. If you are packing yourself, begin packing articles not used often. Begin to clean the areas as you pack.

2 TO 4 WEEKS BEFORE THE MOVE

1. Speak to your bank regarding their branches in your new area and transfer your accounts.
2. You may want to arrange for Traveler’s cheques. Also, think of how the mover is to be paid upon delivery and make appropriate arrangements i.e. certified cheques, or prepaid.
3. Make a list of valuables to carry with you when you move such as medicine, stocks, bonds, wills, legal papers, jewelry, special collections (coin, stamp), photos, videos.
4. Arrange to disconnect/reconnect service for telephone, TV, electricity, gas or fuel supply, water etc. You will still want these services available on your move day, therefore it is best to arrange for any disconnection to take place the following day. You will also want these services on and ready when you move into your new home. Also check for any applicable deposits/refunds.
5. Make arrangements to give away any items your mover is not able to transport usually items such as house plants, flammable liquids, paints, BBQ tanks etc.
6. Complete your change of address notification for postal service.
7. Have your vehicle serviced if you are traveling by car and plan the routes you will take to your new destination.
8. Try to use up the contents of your freezer or give to friends.
9. Look at the floor plans for your new residence and plan ahead for the positioning of your furniture.

1 WEEK BEFORE THE MOVE

1. Drain all items of gas and oil such as lawnmowers, chainsaws, snowmobiles etc. If you do not, the mover will not be able to move these items.
2. Drain water hoses.
3. Ensure your moving company and driver know all of the contact numbers where you may be reached as you are traveling to your new destination. Also ensure you have the contact numbers for the moving company, driver and destination agent.
4. Your freezer and fridge should be defrosted, cleaned and dried 1-2 days before the move.
5. You may want to prepare a LOAD LAST CARTON items needed on move day and medicine cabinet contents (carry prescription medicines with you), toiletries, towels, disposable plates and utensils, basic cooking utensils, coffee/tea maker and supplies, snack food, cleaning supplies, light bulbs, extension cords, garbage bags, bedding, games for the children, pet food, etc.
6. Confirm any baby-sitting arrangements.
7. Ensure any outstanding bills for your old residence have been paid.
8. Remove any fixtures you are taking with you.
9. Clear out any safe deposit boxes and arrange to bring the contents with you rather than having the mover pack and transport the items.
10. 1Ensure all items not to be transported by the mover are put in a separate area and clearly marked “NOT FOR TRANSPORT”.

MOVE AND DELIVERY DAY

When your moving crew arrives, the driver (who is in charge of move) will present you with a Bill of Lading which will list the delivery address, transit dates, insurance coverage, cost (if you were given a guaranteed rate) etc.

It is important to review the Bill of Lading and make sure all is in order. If you detect anything out of order, point it out to the driver, who may then call his office to have the problem resolved.

Do not sign the Bill of Lading until all the terms are satisfactory and, if necessary, changes made and initialed by you and the driver. The loading process may then begin.

The driver and crew will begin to disassemble certain items (some table legs, dresser mirrors etc.) while beginning the “tag and list” process. All items moved will have a numbered, color-coded, mover’s tag or sticker placed on them. The number for each item will correspond with the inventory the crew will be taking.

The written Inventory Sheet will list each item moving, along with the condition of the item at the time it is moved including scratches, chips, dents etc. As pieces are tagged and listed on the inventory, the crew will begin to wrap moving blankets around the furniture. Some upholstered items may be stretch-wrapped with plastic.

It is advised to check each page of inventory as it is completed to ensure you agree with the condition of the pieces as noted and that all items to be moved have been included on the inventory. Your driver will have you sign all pages of the inventory before leaving and will give you a copy for your records.

If you are moving locally, it is most common for the load and delivery to take place on the same day. Therefore, items are not tagged and inventoried, as there is no delay in receiving your goods. In addition, the tagging & inventory process will add to the time taken and will increase the cost of the move. Most people follow the moving truck, once it is loaded, to the destination address for unloading.

When moving long distances, your goods should be tagged and inventoried, as delivery will occur a few days after loading. The delivery time will depend on several things such as distance, the size of your shipment, truck schedules and weather.

Your guaranteed delivery date, or a delivery spread should have been agreed upon with your representative and noted on your Bill of Lading. If you have a delivery spread, feel free to ask your driver his estimation of the delivery date. Do note the driver is giving you an estimate. Unavoidable delays may occur such as weather conditions, traffic problems and detours.

You may ask your driver for his cellular phone number to keep in contact regarding the delivery date. If he is not equipped with a phone, ask for his dispatcher’s contact number he will be reporting his status and location to the dispatcher.

If you have been given a delivery spread, it is important the driver have all contact numbers for you at your destination. The driver will need to notify you as to the delivery date 24 hours prior as you or your representative must be present for unloading.

When your shipment arrives for unloading, don’t be surprised if your driver has a different crew. On long distance moves, the driver often hires crews from the local office to assist with loading and unloading. It is standard procedure for the driver to request full payment before unloading via certified cheque, credit cards or cash.

As the unloading takes place, the crew will place your belongings into your new home at your direction. While the truck is being unloaded, the driver or a member of his crew will check the contents of the truck against the inventory taken at origin.

You should check to ensure all items loaded onto the truck have been offloaded. Ask the driver for a copy of the bingo sheet. You need to check all items at this time for any move related damage.

Should you see any move related damage, it is important that you or the driver note the specific damage next to the specific item on the inventory. This also applies for any cartons noted as damaged or crushed during the move process. You will need to keep a copy of this paperwork for claims purposes. Most companies allow up to 60 days to identify lost or damaged items.