Two Months Before Moving
Get Organized
- Create a moving binder and use it to organize receipts, a moving schedule, a list of things to pack, and any other moving information.
- If possible, obtain room and doorway measurements from your new home and confirm large pieces of furniture will fit inside. Draw up a floor plan and indicate the placement of furnishings to reduce time and frustration.
Purge
- Tour every room of your current home and determine which items should be discarded or donated.
- Consider a garage sale. Our brochure "How to Hold a Moving Sale" will be helpful. How to Hold a Moving Sale" will be helpful.
- Plan to use most food items before the move; perishables cannot be transported by Atlas. Remaining non-perishable food can be donated to Move for Hunger.
- J. W. Cole & Sons is not permitted to move aerosols, flammables, ammunition, or bottled gas.
Prepare to Pack
- Before receiving a moving estimate, decide which items to personally pack and which items J. W. Cole & Sons will pack. J. W. Cole & Sons provides high-performance packing materials at reasonable prices.
- Anything J. W. Cole & Sons is packing should be left in place. It's easier and safer, for example, to pack glassware right from the cabinet where it's stored.
- Read through the J. W. Cole & Sons brochure "How to Move Your House Plants," and start preparing plants for the move.
One Month Before Moving
Notify and Transfer
- Request the day off from work.
- If possible, obtain room and doorway measurements from your new home and confirm large pieces of furniture will fit inside. Draw up a floor plan and indicate the placement of furnishings to reduce time and frustration.
- Arrange to connect utilities to your new home and disconnect utilities in your previous home. Services to activate, transfer or cancel:
- Cable/Satellite TV
- Electric
- Gas or Fuel Oil
- Internet
- Laundry
- Lawn Care Service
- Newspaper
- Refuse
- Telephone
- Water
- Discontinue delivery services.
- Call doctors and dentists. They may recommend a colleague near your new home. Get copies of renewable prescriptions and request medical and dental records.
- Arrange transfer of school records.
- Transfer personal insurance records.
- Check homeowners insurance policies to determine if moving is covered. Be sure your new home is protected by transferring fire, theft, and other personal property insurance.
- Fill out a change of address form at the local Post Office or online. Notify magazines to which you subscribe. Note: You must fill out a change-of-address form for each person receiving mail at your address.
- Transfer bank accounts and ask the local credit bureau to transfer records to your new city. If you have pets, request their records from the veterinarian.
- Update current contact information and send address change notifications.
- Clubs or Associations
- Financial Institutions (Checking Accounts, Savings, Loans or Stocks)
- Friends and Family
- Insurance Companies (Life, Homeowners, Health, Auto)
- Internal Revenue Service and/or other Government Agencies
- Local Credit Bureau and Creditors (Stores, Credit Cards, etc.)
- Magazines (The Post Office provides free change-of-address cards for publishers.)
- Post Office
Three Weeks Before Moving
Make Arrangements
- Arrange to have major appliances serviced before moving them. If your move is company-paid, check with your move coordinator first.
- Moving pets? J. W. Cole & Sons Agents offer advice on the best methods to transfer pets and our brochure "How to Move Your Pets" is also helpful.
- Make travel reservations for the trip. Call Atlas World-Class Travel: 800-466-2077 or 812-421-7168.
- J. W. Cole & Sons is not permitted to take down TV antennas or satellite dishes. We can arrange this service for you.
- Cancel you cable/satellite TV service.
- Local service providers will help with the phone, internet, cable, or satellite service for your new home.
Two Weeks Before Moving
Continue Packing Preparation
- Return library books and other borrowed things.
- Collect items you've loaned, and those at the dry-cleaner, in lay-away, in cold storage, in a safety deposit box, etc.
- Protect your shipment from damage by disposing of flammables such as gasoline, fireworks, matches, cleaning fluids, bottled gas, aerosols, acids, and caustic drain cleaners, etc.
Finishing Touches
- Review and complete the Customer Responsibility/High Value Inventory Form to give to the van operator.
- Fill out a "Welcome to Your New Home" card for the new owners.
- Reconfirm travel reservations.
One Week Before Moving
Things for the road
- Set aside maps, games, snacks, flashlights, and other items to take in the car.
- Gather medicines and important papers for the trip.
- Start packing suitcases.
Finalize J.W. Cole & Sons Arrangements
- Unless another means of payment has been prearranged — e.g., credit card, personal check, or company paid — payment is due in cash, cashier's check, or postal money order before household goods are unloaded at their destination.
- Request the name, address and phone number of your Atlas Destination Agent.
House Cleaning
- Drain gasoline and oil from small gasoline-powered equipment.
- Drain water from all garden hoses.
- Defrost, clean and dry refrigerators and chest freezers.
- Dispose of any personal property or debris left behind after packing.
- Sweep, vacuum, and/or mop floors.
- Clean sinks, tubs, and counters.
- To receive the entire balance of a rental deposit, most landlords require renters to return the property to its original condition with reasonable wear and tear . Check your lease or contact your landlord for more information.
One Day Before Moving
Finish Packing Preparation
- Put non-combustible cleaning supplies, toiletries and other items in special boxes to be loaded last and unloaded first.
- Finish packing all suitcases.
Moving Day!
- Give the van operator the signed Customer Responsibility/High Value Inventory Form (this form must be signed - even if no items are listed).
- Remain availible to answer questions and to sign the Bill of Lading from J. W. Cole & Sons. Confirm your delivery date, new address and phone number where you can be reached.
- Leave the "Welcome to Your New Home" card in a conspicuous place.
- Conduct final check of every room and storage area.
- Ensure windows and doors are locked, keys are transferred and lights are out.
- Note: It's a good idea to arrive to your new home a day ahead of the van to make sure utilities are connected and to determine placement of major items.
Southwest Florida's Most Trusted Moving and Storage Company
Since 1986, J. W. Cole & Sons of Florida Inc. has had a second-to-none reputation throughout Fort Myers and surrounding cities. We ensure smooth moving experiences.
Call J. W. Cole & Sons of Florida Inc. at 239-694-3400 or connect with us online to discover why we are Southwest Florida’s most trusted Moving and Storage Company.
