MANAGING THE MOVE

* To save time and eliminate confusion, draw a floor plan of your new home ahead of time. Sketch in and number your furnishings the way you want them arranged. Tag furniture pieces to correspond to the floor plan so the movers know where to place each piece.

* Be sure to be on hand during packing, pickup and delivery of your belongings. If you cannot be there, ask a friend or relative to be on hand. If utilizing a moving service, the mover should issue you an inventory of all items. Make sure the inventory is correct and legible before you sign it.

* If your friends are helping you move, have as much as possible packed ahead of time and ready to be loaded into the moving truck. Don't expect your friends to pack your belongings. Be sure to have plenty of soda and snacks, and send out for takeout food if the work goes into lunch or diner hour.

* Keep children and pets out of the way of movers.

MOVING OUT

* Confirm the arrival time with moving company.

* Keep important documents and keys handy.

* Make a final inspection to be sure nothing is forgotten.
Look through closets, attic, and garage.

* Turn off lights, close and lock windows and doors.

* Leave keys with me your real estate agent or
landlord.

* Leave home only after the moving truck is on its
way.

IN TRANSIT

* Keep important papers and documents with you.

* Make sure you allow enough time to get to your
new home before the movers.

* If you are moving over a long distance, keep in touch with the moving company so they are able to notify you of any delays they may be having.

* If you drive to your new location and arrive late in the evening, spend the first night at a motel rather than trying to "settle in" when everyone's tired. Everything will seem much more manageable in the morning.

WHEN YOU ARRIVE

* If possible, hire a cleaning service to help you clean the house, either before the movers arrive or after they've left.

* Make sure all goods have been removed by the previous owner before you take possession of your new home.

* If you've hired a professional mover, make sure you have the payment ready when the truck arrives as specified in the agreement. On interstate moves, if the charges exceed the written estimate, you are responsible for the estimate plus ten percent of the balance when your goods are delivered. Any remaining amount is usually due within 30 days.

* Check your list of contents against the list of what is delivered, and inspect all boxes for damage

* Unless you've hired the movers to unpack, don't try to unpack everything at once. Sort boxes so that you only have to unpack what is necessary. This gives you the time to organize your space as you go.

MOVING IN

* Meet the movers promptly

* Supervise placement of furniture

* Check circuit breakers or fuse box to be sure all power is on

* Check the pilots on the stove

* Install or check batteries on smoke detectors.