With the help of a couple of books I got from some prospective shippers, I typed up a moving day checklist for everyone to use! I hope you find it helpfull. Be sure to post any additions you think would be beneficial! I'll be posting more info on things like mail forwarding and whatnot in the days to come.
Sarah
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Your Moving Day Checklist
4 Weeks to Moving Day
o Prepare a detailed valuation of your effec6s to move for insurance purposes (based on replacement value at destination)
o Dispose of any effects that you do not wish to move overseas
o Begin reducing your supply of frozen food
o Check that all passports are valid
o Make arrangements to open bank and credit card accounts at destination and request bank and credit references for use overseas
o If you are a UK national contact: Department of Social Security; Overseas Branch, Central Office, Longbeaton, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, NW98 IYX, at 0191 213 5000. Inform the Overseas section of your departure. Obtain advice regarding social security payments, as your return to the UK affects future pension and medical benefits
o Obtain your family’s medical and dental records and notify the medical authorities that you are leaving the country
o Check regulations and organise the transfer of pets
o Notify your bank of your move (if you are a UK national with a deposit account, interest earned in your absence should be free of UK tax)
o Advise any life insurance companies of your intentions and arrange continued payment of premiums if required (generally net of tax)
o Advise your shipping company of any firearms to be included in your move, so that they can advise you on the relevant regulations and arrange for proper documentation/formalities
o Schedule your move date with your shipper. More lead time may be necessary during the summer months
o Ask for final electricity, gas, water and telephone bills and arrange disconnection if required.
o Discontinue your TV License
o Do not arrange disconnection of your telephone until the end of the last day of the removal so that you can maintain contact with your shipper
o Cancel subscriptions (or arrange forwarding of any magazines, book clubs, etc.)
o Notify your children’s school and arrange for school records to be forwarded to the new school
o Cancel all rental agreements, memberships, etc.
3 Weeks to Moving Day
o Notify your shipper of your contact address and telephone number in the UK and overseas after you move out of your home
o Notify your shipper of the delivery address if known
o Arrange full insurance cover for your effects to move
o Locate marriage and birth certificates
o If you are a returning resident, locate your inbound packing inventory (this can be useful if not necessary for customs clearance)
o Make child care arrangements for moving day
2 Weeks to Moving Day
o Arrange a ‘car boot sale’ or ‘garage sale’ of any unwanted electrical and other items (if you have lots of things to get rid of make sure you start earlier)
o Disposal of alcohol, if at all possible, as this can cause problems at customs overseas. Please advise your shipper if you do intend to ship alcohol
o Arrange for all mail to be forwarded
o Advise everyone of your change of address (post office, insurance companies, credit card companies, banks, DHSS)
The Week of the Move
o Ensure that you have labelled everything clearly, i.e., AIR / SEA / STORAGE / DO NOT PACK, etc., for the packers from your shipping company
o Put to one side all personal items that you will carry with you (i.e. passports, documents, work permits, any invoices for customs, jewellery, money, airline tickets, clothing and toys, etc.). Make sure that you take enough clothes to tide you over until your air freight or sea freight shipment arrives.
o Make arrangements with your neighbours to allow enough parking space for your shipper’s vehicles on the day of the move.
o Make arrangements to transfer your pets to a friend or family member’s house for the day of the move to keep them out of the way and safe
o Re-confirm air tickets and flight details at least 48 hours before departure
o Return any rented or borrowed items, e.g. library books, video tapes, etc.
o Have all operator manuals for your electrical items ready to be packed
o Cancel any regular deliveries (milk, newspaper)
o Defrost fridge / freezer and dispose of
The Day Before the Move
o Remove all CDs from CD players (do not forget any that may be stored in the banks or turntables of multi-disc units). On the underside of the unit you will usually find a locking switch to lock the trays
o Remove tapes from VCRs and discs from DVD players. Likewise ensure that where provided the unit is locked for transport
o Remove toner cartridges from printers and dispose of them to prevent serious damage to the printer or other effects during transit. If you require shipment of cartridges, ship only unused and fully packaged units
o Information contained in your computer should be backed-up twice. Keep one copy of the back-up with a friend or family member in the UK and send one copy independently of your shipment
o Should you still have the original packaging for any fragile, electronic items such as TVs or stereos, we recommend that you advise the packers of this upon their arrival at your home. This packaging is custom-made to suit your equipment and may offer additional protection
o Set aside vital items like toilet paper and snacks!
o Check drawers and trunks for fragile items
o Place any liquids, oils, paints into sealed containers
o Dispose of any flammable liquids and cleaning products unless you intend to clean the house once everything is gone
o Take down curtains and blinds
o Find house plants new homes
The Day of the Move
o Remember to relax!
o If at all possible, try not to arrange travel overseas on the same day as the move, as this will tend to add to the stress involved. Stay with a friend, family member, or in a hotel the night of the move and leave for the airport the next day
o Show the foreman exactly which goods are to be packed, pointing out items of particular concern
o The foreman should prepare a list of each packed item e.g. ‘carton of china’ NOT a list of every item in the carton. This should be signed by him and you as a receipt for the effects being shipped
o Once the effects have been loaded and BEFORE the packers leave, check around your home making sure that nothing has been forgotten. Double check your documents haven’t been packed! Make sure you keep them well out of the way on the day of the move, perhaps storing them with a friend
o Confirm service meter readings and keep a spare copy of readings
o Switch off power and water supplies (if necessary)
o Lock windows and doors
o Drop keys off with estate agent if necessary
