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Make your move stress-free! Use this moving planner to keep track of your move in the months leading up to the big day. We have thought of everything you might need before, during, and after your move.

8 Weeks Out: Schedule an In-Home Estimate

  • Call Chipman and set up an appointment with a moving consultant to survey your home and prepare an estimate.
  • If this is a company paid move, consult the company's moving policy to determine the services we'll be authorized to perform.
  • Determine if you'll do any or all of the packing. Your moving consultant can explain our full or partial packing services.
  • Show your moving consultant every item you are moving, remember your basement, attic, and storage unit. Any items you fail to disclose or that are added later to the shipment will increase the cost, even if you have been given a binding estimate.
  • Read the "Your Rights and Responsibilities" brochure to make certain that you fully understand the extent of Chipman's liability.

7 Weeks Out: Sign your estimate and book your move

  • Read and sign your Estimate, also know as the Order for Service. Make sure you have a clear understanding of the entire document. Contact your move coordinator if you have any questions.
  • Select a move-out date and confirm your moving plan when you officially book your move.

6 Weeks Out: Notify Your Utilities and Service Providers

  • Turn in a Change of Address form to the post office.
  • Change your address with your banks, insurance providers, credit cards and magazine subscriptions.
  • Update your information with doctors, lawyers, accountants and any other professional services.

5 Weeks Out: Determine what to toss, sell or give away

  • Avoid unnecessary costs and hassles. Go through every room in your house and determine what items you are moving and which ones to get rid off.
  • Donations, garage sales, and online auctions are great ways to dispose of unwanted items. If you make a substantial donation, don't forget to grab receipts showing the items' approximate value for possible tax deductions.

4 Weeks Out: Check in with your mover

  • Notify your move coordinator of any changes to the shipment, if you have added or removed items, or to the moving dates.
  • If you have any extra stops to pick up or deliver goods to a location other than the main pickup or delivery points, make sure to confirm this with your moving coordinator.
  • If we are transporting your car, make arrangements to drop it off at the loading site and to pick it up at your destination.

3 Weeks Out: Prepare your friends and family

  • Have a going-away party for your family and friends. It could be an informal dinner or barbecue.
  • Make all travel arrangements for you, your family, and your pets. Reserve hotel rooms and airline tickets as needed.
  • If driving, have your car serviced for the trip and research any stops you'll need to make along the way.
  • We recommend you make a travel and first night kit. Set these items aside and inform your family and packing crew on moving day, so they don't get packed accidentally.
  • If you're packing yourself, start now so you aren't overwhelmed at the last minute. Start with out of season items, books, and decorations.
  • Dispose of flammables such as propane tanks, fireworks, cleaning fluids, matches, acids, chemistry sets, aerosol cans, ammunition and poisons such as weed killer. Drain fuel from your power mower and other machinery and tighten all gas caps. Discard opened cans of oil, paint, thinner, bleach or any other substances that may be flammable or combustible or those stored in containers that may leak. Read our list of Non-Allowables.
  • Schedule an appointment with a technician to service your major appliances, or have your moving consultant set up this service for you.
  • Contact your utilities company and schedule a date to have them disconnected. If possible, keep your utilities in service through moving day.
  • Have rugs and draperies cleaned. Leave them wrapped when they are returned from the cleaners.
  • Obtain a written appraisal of antique items to verify value. Avoid waxing or oiling wooden antiques (and fine wood furniture) before moving because some products might soften the wood, making it vulnerable to imprinting from furniture pads.
  • Do not clean your upholstered furniture before moving. Moisture could cause mold if furniture is placed in storage.

2 Weeks Out: Overlooked Items

  • Take your pets to the vet and make sure you have any required health certificates or inoculations – every state has different requirements.
  • Pick up anything you had cleaned, stored or repaired.
  • Empty your locker at the club, gym or bowling alley.
  • Return anything you have borrowed from friends, neighbors, or library.
  • Make sure you have not forgotten any critical items.

1 Week to go: Last minute details

  • Be on hand when the service technician arrives to prepare your appliances for shipment.
  • Make sure that all mechanical and electrical equipment is properly serviced for shipping prior to the arrival of the moving truck. Reach out to your move coordinator with any questions.

The Day Before

  • Mark any items that should not be moved, packed, or that are extra-fragile and need special attention.
  • Label any items or boxes you will want unloaded first when the truck arrives at your new home (valuables, electronics, etc.).
  • If you are doing your own packing, make sure everything is ready to go before moving day. Upon arrival, the van operator will check to see if boxes have been properly packed and labeled.
  • If Chipman is helping you pack, group items you want packed together.
  • Unplug all electronics 24 hours in advance of a move, except plasma televisions, so that they are at room temperature on moving day. This includes home computers, stereos and audio/video equipment.

Moving day

  • We recommend you are present for all the packing and loading of your goods. Make a final tour of the house, and check and sign the inventory. The van operator will provide you with a copy.
  • Check in with your move coordinator and confirm all moving services.
  • Complete the necessary paperwork:
  • High-Value Inventory Form: complete and sign stating whether or not items of extraordinary value are included in the shipment.
  • Bill of Lading/Freight Bill: states the terms and conditions under which your goods are moved and is also your receipt for the shipment.
  • Confirm the exact destination address, and your contact number with the van operator.

Take a last look around

  • Water shut off?
  • Furnace and air conditioner shut off?
  • Light switches turned off?
  • All utilities arranged for disconnection?
  • Windows shut and locked?
  • Old house keys surrendered?
  • Have you left anything?

Delivery day

  • Be present at our destination to accept delivery. If you can't be there in-person, authorize an adult to be your representative to accept delivery and pay the charges.
  • If you or an authorized individual cannot accept delivery of your belongings within the free waiting time (i.e., two hours) you may request more waiting time until the delivery can be made.
  • Check your household goods as they are unloaded. If there is any change in the condition of your property from what is noted on the inventory, note the discrepancies on the van operator's copy of the inventory. By signing the inventory, you are acknowledging receipt and condition of all items listed.
  • If possible, place a floor plan of your new home at the entrance, for movers to use as a guide when determining where to put each piece of furniture.
  • Each piece of furniture will be placed as you direct, including the laying of rugs and setting up any beds disassembled at origin. If you would like for your mattresses to be unpacked or appliances to be installed, arrange this service with your moving consultant or move coordinator beforehand.
  • Keep all documents pertaining to your move in a safe place. You will need them for verification of moving expenses when you file your federal income tax returns.
  • Leave appliances and electronics turned off for about 24 hours while they adjust to new room temperatures.

Settling in: one week after move

  • Check in with your new post office for any mail being held and ask for delivery to start.
  • Check state and local requirements for auto registration and a driver's license.

You may want to select an attorney to discuss laws that pertain to your destination state, county and/or city. Be sure to cover such matters as wills, transfers of property and investments, insurance regulations, inheritance laws, taxes, etc. Most laws affect a family as soon as residence in the new state and city is established.

We provide top tier moving and storage solutions to residential movers. You can trust that your furniture, technology, and fixtures will be transported and stored with the utmost care and following your directions.

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