Six to Eight Weeks Before Moving Day

Working With the Mover

• Phone your United Van Lines agent. Specify the exact date you want to move and when it will be convenient for the agent to visually survey your household goods and prepare an estimate.


• Let the agent know if your company will be paying for the move.


• Before the agent arrives, tour your house from attic to basement. Include the garage, patio and storage shed. Decide what to move and what to discard. Remember that the cost of moving an item may be greater than the cost of replacing it.


• Decide whether you want to do any of the packing–or whether you will have it done by our experienced personnel. Our agent will be pleased to discuss packing services with you. However, if you prefer to do it yourself, ask for our free "Doing Your Own Packing" booklet. In addition, you may want to purchase packing materials from your agent. If you do, the cost of the materials and any delivery charge will be added to the Bill of Lading.


• Show our agent everything that is to be moved. Specify articles that are to be packed so that the estimate will include these charges and be as accurate as possible. Any items you fail to disclose or that are added later to the shipment will add to the cost, even if you have been given a binding estimate.


• Remember–unless the estimate is binding, it is not the final cost.


• The total charge will depend on the actual weight of your household goods after they are loaded on the van, plus the cost of any extra services performed by the United Van Lines agent.


• Make certain that you fully understand the extent of the carrier’s liability ( see section titled "Loss and Damage Liability") in case any of your goods are lost or damaged. The extent of the carrier’s liability is governed by the declared valuation statement on the Bill of Lading.


• Sign the Order for Service after you are sure you have a clear understanding of each section. If you have questions about any section, ask the agent to explain.


• Keep handy the telephone number and name of a contact person at the local agency.

Preparing the Family

Contact UniGroup Community Profile Center to request information about your new city and ask any special questions you may have about moving.

Explain the reason for the move to the children in the family. Tell them of the advantages of moving to a new city–new things to see and do, new places to visit, new friends to make. Ask for United’s "Moving With Children" booklet.

In Search of a New Residence

• If you haven’t already done so, place your home on the market as soon as possible. If you have an apartment, notify your landlord of your moving date.
• Arrange for a house-hunting trip to the new city. Or, if this is not possible, get in touch with a real estate agent or two and ask for help in locating a house or apartment. You may want to subscribe to the local newspaper in advance of your move. The Sunday edition usually contains a large real estate section. It can be very helpful in giving you some idea of the type of housing available in the new city, as well as providing information (from ads) about living costs.
• When looking for a new home, take along a tape measure and a list of the exact dimensions of each of your major appliances and other large pieces of furniture. Measure the areas provided for them to be sure your appliances and furniture will fit.
• Establish credit in the new city. Ask your present banker to recommend a correspondent bank. Arrange for the transfer of funds and contents of your safe deposit box. Have the local credit bureau send your rating to the one at your destination. Also, ask the bank to serve as a credit reference.

• Check personal insurance policies to see whether moving is covered. Transfer fire, theft, and other personal property insurance to ensure coverage at the new home.

• Gather information on prescriptions and dates of last examinations. Be sure to check current phone numbers and addresses of your physician, dentist and hospital This will help you at destination when transferring health records.
• Ask your dentist and doctor to recommend colleagues in the new city. See if your physician offers a records request form.
• Transfer, sell or resign memberships in clubs or associations.
• Report your move to any lending agency with which you do business. A lender’s permission may be required to move personal property in which the lender has an interest.
• Arrange for the closing or transfer of charge accounts. Do not discard present items such as credit cards and hunting/fishing licenses until you are sure they’ll have no value in your new home.
• Give your new address to your former employer so that a copy of your W-2 form can be forwarded.
• Arrange with the school authorities for transfer of the children’s school records and credentials–or secure transcripts of the records from the school, if you prefer to take them along.

• Start collecting suitable containers and packing materials if you plan to do the packing yourself.
• Set goals and deadlines to ensure that all packing is completed by moving day. You may want to pack one room per week.
• Separate and mark any goods that will be going into storage.

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Four to Six Weeks Before Moving Day

Places to notify

• Let the post office know when you’ll be moving and what your new address will be; a temporary forwarding address may be necessary if you do not have a permanent one by the time you move. As an alternative, the post office will hold your mail and forward it upon written instructions from you.

If you want to rent a post office box in the new city, you must do so in person. All post office box rentals are for a minimum of six months.

First-class mail is forwarded free of charge for one year.

Magazines and newspapers are forwarded for 60 days. Standard Mail (B), formerly called fourth-class/parcel post, is forwarded locally for 12 months at no charge. You pay forwarding charges if you move outside the local area.

Only one change-of-address card (Form 3575) is necessary per family if everyone in the household is moving and if all persons have the same last name. For other cases, one change-of-address card per person can be used. Mover’s Guides, which contain Form 3575, are available at your local post office, from your postal carrier or via the Internet at www.usps.gov/moversnet.

Use the postcards included in the Mover’s Guide to notify your correspondents of your new mailing address. Publishing companies prefer at least four weeks’ notice–preferably six. Early notification of your new, complete mailing address, including ZIP code, can avoid postage-due costs and eliminate the delayed receipt of your magazines and other publications.

• Prepare a list of friends, relatives, business firms and others who should be notified of your move. The following checklists will be helpful, or click here for a printable PDF of the following list:

• Ask UniGroup Community Profile Center for addresses of utility companies in the new city. If access to the premises can be arranged, it may be possible to have the utilities connected before your arrival.

Miscellaneous

Consider having a "garage sale" to dispose of unwanted items. (For information on this subject, ask for United’s "Pre-Planning A Garage Sale" booklet.) If you donate clothing or household goods to charitable organizations, obtain receipts showing the items’ approximate value for possible tax deductions.

Begin to use up supplies of canned goods, frozen foods and other household items. Buy only what will be used before moving. Consider making shipping arrangements for frozen foods with the local frozen food locker plant. Due to the possibility of spoilage, it is not advisable to move foods on the van unless all of the following conditions are met…

1. They are in a freezer operating at a normal deep-freeze temperature at the time of loading. ( Check your freezer operating manual for suggested normal freezing temperatures.)
2. The distance to be moved is not over 150 miles and/or delivery will be made within 24 hours.
3. No storage of the shipment is necessary.
4. No preliminary or en route servicing of any kind is required.

• Fill out your own "Personal Household Inventory" using the form in the back of this guide. Completing your own inventory can help you determine the amount of declared valuation for the shipment. List, as nearly as possible, the year of purchase and original cost of each item. Attach any invoices or records of purchase to the completed inventory.
• If you are being relocated at your company’s request, find out what portion of your moving expenses the company will pay. If your company has a written moving policy, ask for a copy of the document.

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Two to Three Weeks Before Moving Day

Working With the Mover

• Notify your United Van Lines agent if you add or subtract items from your household goods shipment or if there are any changes in dates of the move. Be sure to also supply the destination location, contact address and phone numbers where you can be reached.


• Confirm with your agent any extra stops required to pick up or deliver goods to a location other than the main pickup or delivery points.


• If your car is being moved on the van, you are responsible for driving the car to a suitable site for the van operator to load it. You are also responsible for picking up your car at destination. If the car is being transported by car carrier, it can be loaded at your residence and delivered to your new home. In some cases, car shipments are consolidated and need to be dropped off and picked up at predetermined locations.

Discuss these details with your United Van Lines agent

When shipping an automobile, a boat or a trailer, it is imperative to properly service the vehicle prior to loading.

To service an automobile…

• Arrange for the gasoline tank to be at least one-half full.
• Test for sufficient antifreeze fluid in the cooling system.
• Check oil level.

Preparing the Family

• Take the family for a farewell visit to some of the places that hold happy memories.
• Have a "going away" party for the children and their friends. This gives the youngsters a chance to tell all about the "wonderful new city we’re moving to" and to invite their friends for a visit later.
• Have some fun for yourself... an open house or an informal dinner or barbeque. Keep it simple, without elaborate preparations. It’s the guests who are important.
• Make family travel plans. Reserve hotel or motel rooms as needed. You may wish to guarantee them on a major credit cards in case of late arrival.
• Have your car prepared for the trip. Check tires, brakes and windshield wipers. If needed, have the car serviced.

Preparing Household Items

• To guard your household goods against damage that could be caused by fire, explosion or leakage in the van…

1. Dispose of flammables such as fireworks, cleaning fluids, matches, acids, chemistry sets, aerosol cans and ammunition, and poisons such as weed killer. Your United agent can provide you with a complete list of "non-allowables."
2. Drain fuel from your power mower and other machinery, and discard partly used cans of oil, paint, thinner, bleach or any other substances that may leak.
3. Carefully tape and place in individual waterproof bags any jars of liquid you plan to take with you, such as prescription medication.
4. Discard propane tanks which are not allowed on the van.

• Have rugs and draperies cleaned. Leave both wrapped when they are returned from the cleaners.
• Obtain a written appraisal of antique items to verify the value. Avoid waxing or oiling wooden antiques (and fine wood furniture) before moving because some products may soften the wood, making it vulnerable to imprinting from furniture pads.
• Set an appointment with a service technician to prepare your appliances–or have your agent send someone out–at least the day before moving. Pre-as well as post-moving service may be needed for your washer, dryer, ice maker, grandfather clock, satellite dish, water bed, computer, etc. Third-party servicing will likely be needed before moving such items as hot tubs, large-screen televisions and some exercise equipment. Think twice before dismantling your outside TV antenna for moving–a new one may cost less than moving the present one.
• Set a date for having utilities disconnected. If possible, plan to keep your utilities in service through moving day in case last-minute calls or cleanups are necessary.

Pets and Plants

• Decide what to do with house plants. United Van Lines cannot accept responsibility for safely moving your plants because they may suffer from lack of water and light as well as probable temperature changes while in the van. You may prefer to transport your house plants in the family car or ship them by plane. Other alternatives: give them to friends or relatives, donate them to a hospital or other organization, or include them in a garage sale. Some states permit the entry of all house plants; others admit them in accordance with specific rules and regulations. Ask for a copy of our "Moving With House Plants" booklet.
• Take pets to the veterinarian. Most states require health certificates and rabies inoculations. See that identification and rabies tags are securely attached to the pet’s collar.
• Arrange for transportation of pets. Take them in the car or send via air. Consider boarding pets either at destination or at a kennel near your present home until you are settled in the new city. Ask for a copy of our "Moving With Pets" booklet.

Other Important Details

• Collect any merchandise in layaway at local stores.
• Collect all items that are being cleaned, stored or repaired (clothing, furs, shoes, watches, etc.). Empty your locker at the club, bowling alley or gym.
• Return library books and anything borrowed from friends or neighbors, and collect things you may have loaned.

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Three Days Before Moving Day

Working With the Mover

• When household goods are professionally packed, the packing is usually done the day before the actual move. Plan to be at home during the packing process to answer questions. You can take advantage of this time by reading, writing letters or catching up on paper work.


• While your agent can move valuables such as money, credit cards, stamp collections, or other items of extraordinary value if specifically notified prior to the move, we strongly recommend that you take such items with you. (See the "Take-With-Me" inventory sheet in the back of this guide.) Or, check with your local bank or post office for alternate methods of transporting your valuables. In addition, check to see if your homeowners’ insurance will cover these items after you leave your old address. You may need special insurance coverage. Remember that any items of extraordinary value must be noted on the High-Value Inventory form so that they are not limited to minimal liability (see page 9). Be sure the form is ready for the packers on packing day.

Preparing the Family

• Pack suitcases for the trip to the new home. Put in some extra clothing for emergencies.
• Consider packing a picnic lunch to eat while traveling. Take along some snacks such as fruit and cookies for the children. Include towelettes for a quick cleanup.
• Arrange for a baby sitter for moving day, or have older children look after the younger ones.

• Pack an "Instant Aid" box containing things which may be needed immediately upon arrival at your new home. Package each group of items in a large paper bag and clearly label. Here are some suggestions, or click here for a printable PDF of the following list:

Ask to have the "Instant Aid" box loaded last on the moving van and unloaded first. Or, take it in the car if there is room–you may be able to use the contents before the van arrives at your new home. When the box is opened, save any paper bags for holding refuse.

Last-Minute Packing

• Check contents of drawers. Remove all spillables or breakables. Soft goods such as blankets, pillows, blouses, shirts and lingerie may be left in drawers. Do not overload drawers by adding sheets and tablecloths because this can damage the furniture during transit.
• Pin clothing to hangers if it will be moved in wardrobe cartons so that vibration or bumps will not cause items to slip off. If your shipment is going into storage for an extended period of time, consider replacing metal hangers with paper-covered or plastic hangers to avoid possible rust damage to your clothing.
• Remove any items left in the attic or other storage areas.
• Empty the refrigerator and freezer so that they can dry at least 24 hours before the movers arrive. Be careful not to overlook the defrost water pan. Failure to have the appliances completely dry can lead to mildew, mold and unpleasant odor. A more detailed explanation can be found in United’s "Moving Appliances & Other Home Furnishings" booklet. Ask for a free copy.
• Be sure the water is emptied from your steam iron.
• Complete the "Take-With-Me" inventory in the back of this guide.
• Launder all soiled clothing prior to the day the appliance service technician is expected.
• Take the telephone directory with you. It can be useful in contacting former doctors, dentists, etc. It will also be a great help when you make out your holiday card list.

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The Day Before Moving Day

Working With the Packers

• Point out to the packers any extra fragile items needing special attention. Mark appropriately any items you do not want packed or moved, as well as cartons you will want first when the van arrives at destination.
• Remind the packers to leave open the cartons containing your high-value items for the van operator’s inspection.
• If you are not having your valuables forwarded through a bank, keep them with your suitcases and other items that are going with you. To avoid any confusion, place these things in the trunk of your car, but only if you will be driving your car. Do not place any personal belongings in your vehicle if it will be shipped on the van or by car carrier. Another option is to put the items in a closet with a sign stating, "DO NOT PACK & DO NOT LOAD."
• 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.
• Have dishes washed and dried. Leave them in the cabinets. It’s easier for the packers to remove and pack them from normal storage areas.
• Collect things you definitely want packed together, such as children’s toys, and place in separate groups.
• Leave mirrors and pictures on the walls. However, any items that have been permanently attached to the premises, such as can openers, drapery rods, mirrors, towel bars or wall-to-wall carpeting, must be detached in advance if they are to be moved.
• Leave beds assembled; sheets, blankets and spreads should be removed. If a water bed is being moved, you or a third party should drain and disassemble it according to the manufacturer’s instructions for safe and proper handling.
• Unplug all television sets 24 hours in advance of a move, if possible, so that they will be a room temperature on moving day. Moving a set in which heat is still retained could cause internal damage.
• If you are doing your own packing it must be completed the day prior to loading.

Preparing the Family

• You may want to spend your last night before the move at home. However, with everything packed, your family may be more comfortable in other quarters. Consider spending the night with friends or at a hotel or motel.

Last-Minute Details

• Check closets, cabinets and storage lockers for any articles overlooked.
• Take pets to the transportation agency or boarding kennel. If you take them to your new home in the car, be sure you have food and water dishes for use during the trip.
• Be on hand when the service representative arrives to prepare your appliances for shipment.
• Decide whether or not to let friends help tomorrow. Moving day is a busy one, and too many people trying to assist will cause confusion.

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Helpful Links

www.weather.com

• Local & regional weather & travel information

www.movecentral.com

• Fill out your change-of-address form online

www.makethemove.com

• Transfer all your utilities and other services free

www.city.net

• Information on U.S. cities

www.thetrip.com

• Travel and regional information

www.homefair.com

• An incredible array of helpful items for planning and executing your move