One of the worse things that can happen to you is to watch the moving truck pull away from your house and realize they packed all your important documents you meant to pull together before they arrived, and forgot!
Here is a short list of items you should set aside before the movers arrive. And don’t let them pack them!!
Passports and Visas (even if you aren’t moving out of the country)
Driver’s Licenses
Professional licenses, skill qualifications, and work permits
Birth certificates (originals or copies)
Marriage or Divorce Certificates
Vaccination Records
If moving with a pet, take their vaccination records as well. (It wouldn’t hurt to get a copy of the pet’s veterinary records to provide to their new doctor)
Veteran Records (DD214, Health, Retirement, etc.)
Social Security Numbers/Cards
Car Title(s) (If you are moving your vehicle to another state, you will need it for registration or ownership transfer)
Insurance Policies (health, auto and home)
An up-to-date Address Book (it is important to notify all relevant service providers, persons and institutions that you are changing address – post office, cable and internet provider, insurance company, bank, school, local authorities, magazines, newspapers, club memberships, electric/water/gas/phone company and other utility companies.)
School Records (if you are enrolling children in a new school – or college transcripts if you or a child are transferring to a new one)
Financial records, to include bank statements, receipts, account information, credit cards, saving statements, tax documents, and loan documents
Manuals, contracts and warranties for any household appliances you may be moving with you. If some of the items are dismantled, manuals may be needed when you try to reassemble them. Also, without a warranty you cannot obtain any kind of service in case any of household items get broken.
A list of all your current service providers, persons and institutions that you will need to send a change of address to. Also, having those account numbers handy may save you money when setting up service at your new address.
Take your moving-related documents with you, such as the moving estimate and quote (binding or non-binding estimate), bill of lading – a contract between the moving company, your customer receipts (that might be used for tax deductions when the move is completed), moving insurance, and inventory list.
Remember as moving day draws near, there are going to be dozens of things you will need to do and a lot of unplanned for activities (friends and colleagues wanting to take you out for coffees, lunches, dinners and such), so plan as far ahead as possible and get your special box together with all the documents listed above. Shred any documents with personal information on them that you are not keeping. Clear out your home office as much as possible.
themovewithsusantillman 