Moving Tips

1. Give your forwarding address to the post office, usually 2 to 4 weeks ahead of the move.

2. Notify your credit cards, magazine subscriptions, and your bank of your change in address.

3. Develop a list of friends, relatives, and business colleagues who need to be notified of the move.

4. Arrange to have utilities disconnected at your old home and connected at your new one.

5. Cancel the newspaper.

6. Check insurance coverage for moved items. Movers usually only cover what they pack.

7. Clean out appliances and prepare them for moving, if applicable.

8. Note the weight of the goods you will have moved, since long-distance moves are usually billed according to weight. Watch for movers that use excessive padding to add weight.

9. Check with your condo or co-op about restrictions on using the elevator or particular exits.

10. Have a “open first” box with the things you will need most—toilet paper, soap, trash bags, scissors, hammer, screwdriver, pencils and paper, cups and plates, water, snacks, toothpaste, etc.