available free at the post office, to
magazine publishers and organiza-
tions with which you are affiliated.
Most magazines request four to six
weeks' notice. Provide change of ad-
dress notice on credit card bills and
leave forwarding instructions with the
post office. Let your friends and
neighbors know of your new address.
This also is a good time to request
help you may need with packing and
moving. If you are moving yourself,
schedule a moving party, providing
pizza and beverages for anyone who
can help.
Take inventory of borrowed or lent
items. Return what is not yours, and
retrieve your items. Mailing that
hedge trimmer across the miles to its
owner will be expensive as well as a
nightmare to package. Dispose of
flammable liquids, such as gasoline
or oil. Is there gasoline in your lawn
mower?
Two weeks before you move, con-
tact local utility companies to advise
of a date to disconnect service. Ar-
range for utility service in your new
home. Clear up outstanding ac-
counts, particularly if you are leaving
the area. Plan carefully for the transfer
of checking and savings accounts.
Open an account in advance in your
new community so you have access
to money, but make sure your old ac-
count stays open until all checks have
cleared.
If you are driving a distance, ser-
vice your car before you move. Car
problems in an unfamiliar communi-
ty can be troublesome. This is also
a good time to make appointments
with doctors and dentists, arranging
for a final check-up and discussion
of potential problems of which to ad-
vise a new doctor.
Begin packing early, particularly
those items seldom used. If you have
hired a moving company, request
boxes and packing paper. A local
grocery or drug store is a good
source for boxes for the do-it-yourself
mover. Ask for boxes in advance.
Smaller stores may receive shipments
only once a week and will only give
away boxes if you are there at a
specified time to pick them up. Col-
lect both large and small boxes,
keeping in mind that filling a large
box with books or records will make
moving them difficult, at best.
Photocopy paper boxes make ex-
cellent moving boxes because of
their strength and well-fitting lids. If
you do not have access to such
boxes, check with friends. Large of-
fices empty these boxes on a daily
basis.
Have plenty of packing supplies
handy. Save old newspapers for
packing material. For delicate items,
you may want to purchase special
packing boxes or materials to ensure
safe moving. Wardrobe boxes may
be purchased for hanging clothes at
many trailer rental locations.
Begin packing early,
particularly those items
seldom used. If you have
hired a moving company,
request boxes and
packing paper.
Be creative in your packing, par-
ticularly with odd-sized or fragile
items. For example, move mattresses
with old sheets on them as a protec-
tion from dirt. An antique floor lamp
rolled up in a rug, or a crystal
decanter packed in the middle of
bath towels adds increased
protection.
Of course, creative packing can
lead to confusion when unpacking.
Make sure all boxes are clearly
labeled with their contents. Mark
boxes "fragile" which have breakable
items. For those items too precious
to risk damaging, move by hand.
Make a list of items to pack
separately; items needed on the road
(maps, prescription medicines, toys
for children); items needed to settle
in (cleaning supplies, light bulbs,
tools); and those items you will need
within the first few days of arrival (food
and utensils for the first meals). Pack
a suitcase which you could live out
of if it should become necessary.
Keep important papers, such as
medical records and insurance
policies in one place where they can
be retrieved quickly if needed!
Anticipate the worst possible
weather for the season and plan ac-
cordingly. Check with a local
greenhouse for advice on moving
specific houseplants. Finally, don't
pack possessions without cleaning
them. There is no sense in moving
household dirt, and you're more likely
to have the energy for cleaning at the
beginning of the move, rather than
after you've arrived.
Contact your real estate agent or
new landlord to determine if there are
local ordinances for large deliveries.
If you are moving into an apartment,
ask about service entrances or
elevator rules.
Keep careful records of all your
moving expenses as they are incur-
red. Some may be tax deductible.
The moving day has finally arrived.
Make sure someone is home to meet
the mover and point out items to be
loaded onto the truck. If you are
handling your own move, organize
loading to maximize space in the
truck and to ensure that the heavy
box of books does not get loaded on
top of your china. Friends are
wonderful for hoisting those boxes,
but you, or someone who is familiar
with your possessions, should
oversee the loading process.
Before leaving, make a final check
of all rooms, closet shelves and other
spots where items may have been
overlooked. Have an empty box han-
dy for those "found" items, or items
which didn't seem to fit in anywhere
else. Turn off all lights and close and
lock all windows and doors. Leave
your keys with the real estate agent,
landlord or new owner.
When you arrive at your new home,
make an initial survey of each room.
Check the fuse box or circuit
breakers to make sure everything is
turned on. Is the house or apartment
in the condition you expected? Now
is the time to raise any concerns
regarding unexpected defects in the
home or apartment; three weeks after
you've moved in may be too late. Call
family or friends to let them know you
have arrived safely at your new home.
Make sure you are there to meet
the movers to avoid possible addi-
tional charges.
SPRING '89
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