So you are planning to move to another area, very exciting! Unfortunately, these days you can’t just pack up the car and go. You will need to liquidate all of your previous businesses before starting over in a new community. Here are some simple steps you can take to make starting a new life a little easier.
CONTACT YOUR BANK
Of course, you’ll want to arrange to transfer your accounts to your new area; plan to do this at least one month before your planned move-in date. This type of transfer is easy if you simply change branches. But you may be moving to a different city or state where your bank doesn’t exist. Go ahead and open your new account and order checks with your new address, but don’t close the old account until all your checks have cleared (or leave enough in the account to cover all outstanding checks, if you trust your accounting). !) And be sure to transfer the contents of your safe deposit box to your new bank.
SEND ADDRESS CHANGE
The easiest way to do this is to pick up a change of address package at the post office. This will include a form that you will return to your postmaster; Please allow at least 30 days for the change to take effect. If everyone in your household shares the same last name, you can simply fill out one form for the whole family.
But if there are several different last names in your household, fill out a separate form for each person. You should also send postcards to your friends, family, and creditors; You can have the cards custom printed or use the ones found in your change of address packet. And if you leave someone off the list, don’t worry. The postal service will generally continue to forward your mail for 12 months after your address changes (6 months for newspapers). So if you receive any items with the yellow “reshipping label”, you must tell the sender your new address.
TRANSFER IMPORTANT RECORDS
It is crucial that your family history accompany you to your new home. A delay in the transfer of vital records can cause countless delays as he tries to establish himself in a new community. If you have students in your household, you will want to contact their current schools and arrange for a transfer of student records. Also send a letter to each of your family doctors: general practitioners, specialists, dentists, chiropractors, etc. — and ask for their medical records. If you have already chosen a new doctor, have the records sent directly to your new doctor’s office. If not, ask your current doctor for some referrals in your new community. And don’t forget to change your insurance policies: property, auto and medical. This means not only changing your mailing address, but also adjusting your coverage and premiums as needed. Also talk to your agent about any additional coverage you may need for the move.
ORGANIZE ALL IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS IN ONE FIREPROOF BOX
What if disaster strikes while you’re on your way to your new home? Moving is a time of great vulnerability: all your most important documents and prized possessions are packed into boxes and stored on a truck for days or even weeks at a time. Do yourself a favor while you pack: take a moment to separate any documents whose loss will cause you INCONVENIENCE during your move. These include:
– school records / pet documents
– home purchase/sale papers
– wills/marriage/divorce papers
– financial records / share certificates
– credit card records / bank records / tax returns
– birth certificates / social security cards / passports
– moving contract / home inventory
– insurance policies (life / property / medical / auto)
These items should be stored in a small, lockable fireproof box that remains with you at all times. Whether you’re traveling in the moving truck or in a separate car or taking a plane to your new home, keep this box in your carry-on.
DELIVERY NOTICES OF CANCELLATION OR RESIGNATION
In the rush to get out the door, we often forget the most obvious details. Think of all the people who provide you with a regular service (cleaning, lawn care, deliveries, babysitting) let these people know that you are moving and will no longer need their services. Give proper notice of resignation to any club, organization, or volunteer activity in which you participate. And cancel subscriptions to local newspapers. And of course, arrange to have your utilities disconnected or changed (at least 2 weeks before your move).
TIE DOWN ANY LOOSE END
Moving is the perfect time to take care of all those little “chores” you’ve been meaning to but never got to. Clean the lockers of any club, gym or school. Retrieve and return all borrowed items from friends and neighbors. Pick up your dry cleaner and return those old library books. Next, promise yourself that you won’t pack anything in the truck that doesn’t work properly and doesn’t serve a purpose in your life. Bring items to be cleaned or repaired. Clean out anything you haven’t used in the last year. Finish pending projects or just let them go. Don’t bring a lot of unnecessary baggage to your new home.
MEET YOUR NEW NEIGHBORHOOD
Finally, take a few minutes to research your new community before you hit the road. You can contact your local Chamber of Commerce, search the Internet, or have Welcome Wagon send you an information packet. You will probably want to learn about:
– recreational activities and community events
– schools and kindergartens
– churches in your neighborhood
– restaurants, theaters, museums, zoos and other cultural activities
– Professional and employment opportunities.
Be sure to also ask for maps of your new community. You can even plan an extended trip to your new neighborhood, to help you get oriented and familiar with the amenities. With a little advance planning, you can feel right at home from the moment you move in!