Tips

• Take inventory of your home. Decide what to keep and what to give away. Donate items that you no longer want or have a yard sale.
• Buy a large accordion file for all important moving-related documents. Many moving expenses are tax deductible, so keep all receipts. Use this file to also organize important household papers.
• Check on insurance coverage for your possessions while in storage.
• Ask your pharmacy about transferring your prescription to a pharmacy closer to your new location.
• If you have school-age children, talk to your current school and the new one to find out how to transfer your child.
• If you will be changing banks, open your accounts and order new cheques in advance.
• Start packing belongings that you don’t often use.
• Make sure you filed a “Change of Address” form with the post office.
• Arrange to have your utilities stopped at your old address a day after you’ve moved out, and request that any deposits be returned. Call the local utilities serving your new address to have service connected a day before you move in.
• Depending upon your circumstances, the list of utilities might include telephone, heat, electric, water, cable, garbage pickup and so on.
• Once you have your new phone number, call your long distance carrier and sign up for, or transfer, special savings programs and services.
• Cancel (or transfer) newspaper delivery at your old address.
• Pack a “survival” kit: Identify what each person in your household must have while you are in the midst of moving – from special foods to prescription drugs.

• Make sure your goods are dry and clean before you put them into storage. Drain and wipe down freezers, refrigerators and washing machines. Leave appliance doors slightly ajar. Use valuable storage space inside appliances for small items.
• Pack your property into similar sized cardboard storage boxes.
• Fill storage boxes to capacity, using soft padding where appropriate. Partially full or bulging boxes may collapse or tip over.
• Pack heavier items like files and books in smaller boxes so they are not too heavy.
• Label or number boxes for easy reference and keep an inventory of what you have stored.
• Protect fragile items with bubble wrap and avoid putting heavy items on top.
• Use wardrobe boxes to keep clothes and draperies in shape.
• When storing mattresses and box springs do not allow the mattress to bend or fold because the interior springs could break or possibly push a spring out through the cover of the mattress. Do not place mattresses or box springs in direct contact with concrete floors or against concrete walls. Place mattresses in plastic covers to prevent soiling. Both mattress and springs should be stored in a standing position, not laid down flat. Do not place any heavy items on top of a mattress in storage.
• Remove all perishable and inflammable items like food, aerosols, batteries and oil and gasoline.

Caution. It is against the law to store materials that are hazardous or combustible such as gasoline, solvents, paint, etc. Drain all remaining gasoline from lawn mowers, power tools, boats, snowmobiles, etc. before storing them.