According to the Holmes and Rahe stress scale, moving and changing residences is recognized as one of the most stressful life events. The website www.ehealthMD.com actually lists it in its top five most stressful life events. We’ve prepared this guide to help reduce your stress to the greatest extent possible and to help maximize your time and efforts. Please feel free to contact us at any time during this exciting and challenging time for you.

One to two months before the move.

• Figure out what you’re going to get rid of before the move, have a garage sale and/or donate your unwanted items to charity.
• Get boxes and packing supplies. Boxes can be purchased at a local UPS, Fed Ex and your local Post Office locations. You can also use the internet to find boxes and packing supplies by simply typing ‘moving boxes’ and ‘supplies’ into a search engine. One other source is your local grocery or liquor store. If you go into your local grocery store or liquor store, they will either give you boxes they have left over, or set some aside for you after their next delivery.
• Begin packing up things you do not anticipate needing until after the move such as collector items, antiques, photo albums, etc. Make sure each box is labeled with the room it will be going into in your new home. Put all valuable jewelry aside and take it with you on the move.
• Put all important documents, such as closing documents, movers contract, wills, stock certificates, medical records and financial records, together and aside in a safe place.
• Get firm quotes from at least three (3) moving companies. Consider purchasing movers insurance. There are four movers’ insurance options. The first is Basic Value Protection- it does not cost you any money and the mover’s maximum liability is generally $0.60 per pound per lost or damaged item. The second option is Depreciated Value Protection- this option usually costs between $0.0102-$0.017 times the total weight of your belongings and the mover will either repair any damage to your satisfaction or pay up to $2.00 for each pound of the total weight for lost or damaged items. The third option is Replacement Cost- this option usually costs between $0.0044 and $0.0073 times the total weight of your belongings and the mover will either repair any damage to your satisfaction or pay up the full declared value less a $300.00 deductible or $3.50 times the weight of your total shipment, whichever is greater. The last option is Full Replacement Cost- this option will cost you between $0.0062 and $0.0103 times the total weight of your belongings and the mover will either repair any damage to your satisfaction or pay full replacement cost with no deductible. After reviewing your options and comparing rates, reserve a moving company for the date of your anticipated closing.
• Get familiar with your new community. Google your new city name or visit chamber of commerce to learn about restaurants, schools, clubs/organizations, etc. You may also use www.city-data.com or http://www.citytowninfo.com/places and type in your new city/town to get additional information.
• Make sure your pets are up to date with all of their shots, many cities and towns will require proof of same. You should call the City/Town Clerk’s office in your new city or town to find out their specific requirements.
• If you are selling a home, you will need to call your local fire department to request an inspection so that you may obtain a smoke detector certificate and a carbon monoxide alarm certificate, which are required upon the sale of a home. The law requires that carbon monoxide detectors be installed on every level of the home and within 10 feet of each bedroom and habitable parts of attics and basements. There is a nominal charge for this inspection and if issued at the same time, only a single fee will be charged.
• If you are renting, provide written notice of your intent to move to your landlord in the manner provided in any tenancy agreement.
• If possible, take measurements of your new home to make sure that larger pieces of furniture will fit.

A couple of weeks before the move.

Utilities

• Cable/Telephone/Internet
  You can transfer your service right online depending on who your service provider is (i.e. www.Directv.com, www.verizon.com, www.comcast.com, www.dishnetwork.com or www.rcn.com/boston) or Call ‘ Direct TV’1-800-531-5000, Verizon’ 1-800-VERIZON (1-800-837-4966), Comcast’1-800-XFINITY (1-800-934-6489), Dish Network’1-855-318-0572 or RCN’1-800-746-4726.
• Electric
  National Grid-or whoever your provider is, you can order new service or switch your current service by going to their website at www.nationalgridus.com or by calling them at 1-800-322-3223. NStar- you can order new service or switch your current service by going to their website at www.nstar.com or by calling them at 1-800-592-2000.
• Gas
  National Grid- you can order new service or switch your current service by going to their website at www.nationalgridus.com or by calling them at 1-800-233-5325. NStar- you can order new service or switch your current service by going to their website at www.nstar.com or by calling them at 1-800-592-2000.
• Propane/Oil
  You can search for local propane/oil companies by performing a Google search. You will want to compare prices. Once you have chosen a company, you will want to schedule delivery services for them to deliver to your home.
• Trash Company
  If your new city/town has public garbage pickup, you will want to call the city/town clerk and find out the schedule, procedure and items allowed. You will also want to ask the clerk about recycling as it is mandatory in some cities and towns. If trash pickup is not serviced by your new city or town, you will need to find a private disposal company and schedule weekly pickups with them.
• Water
  If your water supply is serviced by your new city or town, you will want to call them and tell them your name and date of closing so that they may change the account information over to your name as of the date of closing. Let each provider know the date of closing, where they should send you final bills, and the date you are moving into your new residence. Schedule your new installation(s) at your new home.If you are selling a home, you will need to call your local municipal water department to request that they read your water meter and issue you a bill 1-2 days before closing. You should pay the balance for these bills and bring the paid receipts with you at closing
• Keep receipts related to moving expenses, many are tax deductible.
• Register your children at their new school. Once you choose the school which your children will attend, call the school or see if they have a website and request an application package. Send in the application and have all of their records transferred to the new school.
• Call your insurance agent and cancel the insurance on your home as of the date of closing. Set up insurance on your new home. Inform your auto insurance provider of your new address as find out what your new insurance rate will be based on where your new home is located.
• Pick up a Change of Address form at the Post Office or go to www.usps.com/ccmove and follow the prompts to inform the Post Office of the date that you wish for your mail to start going to your new address.
• Make a list of everyone you will need to notify of your change of address including creditors, the IRS, your bank, health providers and family and friends.
• Change your address with the Registry of Motor Vehicles and/or Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV). You can go to http://www.massrmv.com/ if you live in MA to change it there for free or go to a nearby branch and fill out the form.
• Cancel/Transfer landscaping service, pool service, alarm service, pest control, and/or snow plowing.

A week before the move.

• Return any borrowed items to the library
• Pick up any dry cleaning.
• Cancel/Transfer newspaper delivery.
• You may order or transfer a subscription by either visiting their websites or contacting them by phone at the phone number provided.
• Transfer your medical records to your new doctor’s office. You can do this by contacting your old doctor’s office, giving them your new doctor’s office and asking them to forward your records, or you may simply pick up the records yourself and deliver them to your new doctor’s office.
• Transfer any pet records to any new vet. You can do this by contacting your old vet’s office, giving them your new vet’s office and asking them to forward your records, or you may simply pick up the records yourself and deliver them to your new vet’s office.
• Transfer all prescriptions to a pharmacy near your new home. You can do this by contacting your new pharmacy and asking them to transfer your prescriptions from your old pharmacy. You will then provide them with the old pharmacy’s phone number and they will take care of the rest. Be sure to give your physician your new pharmacy’s contact information.
• Finish packing the rest of your items, leaving out only what you anticipate you will need from now until a couple of days after closing.
• Go through your closets, basement, attic and all other storage areas to ensure that you have not missed anything.
• Drain your lawn mower, snow blower and power tools of all of their oil and gasoline for safety during the move.
• Cancel automatic payments for your mortgage with your bank if you are selling a home. Set up automatic payments with your bank for your new mortgage payment, if applicable.
• Breakdown outside furniture, playground equipment, gym equipment, bedroom sets, etc. Also disconnect your gas stove, washer, and dryer yourself. This will save the mover’s time thereby saving you money.
• If you are selling a home, estimate the oil level (or have your oil delivery company approximate it) and bring your most recent oil bill with you at closing so that the amount of oil in the tank can by multiplied by the latest price per gallon as shown on the statement and you can receive a credit from the buyer for the leftover oil.

A day before the move.

• Pack a box of things you’ll need as soon as you get to the house and take it with you in your car such as cleaning supplies, bathroom items, trash bags, disposable plates, cups, plastic ware, a first aid kit, paper towels, a hammer, screwdriver, a flashlight, a gallon of water, snacks, drinks and if applicable, baby food, diapers, and supplies.
• Defrost, empty and completely clean the refrigerator.
• Make sure your home is in ‘broom swept’ condition for your buyer/landlord.

The day of the move.

• If there is snow on the ground, make a clean pathway from the truck to your home’s door.
• Be available to watch over and direct the movers. If you haven’t paid the movers already, be sure to have cash on hand for the day of the move.
• If you are a tenant, take photos of the condition of the apartment at the time of your vacating in case this is needed in any security deposit or related dispute with your landlord.
• Do a final walk-through to insure that you are not leaving anything behind.
• Lock all windows and doors and turn off all light switches.

After the move.

• Go through the list you made before the move and notify everyone of your new address. You can notify them using email or postcards. Personalized postcards can be created, printed and sent to you for a nominal fee at www.vistaprint.com, and www.staples.com
• Register your pet(s) with the city/town clerk’s office.
• Register for voting at your new town/city hall at the city/town clerk’s office.