5 – 6 weeks before
- Passports and visas are valid.
- Are permits required, e.g. for residency, work, vehicles or firearms.
- Are there any vaccination requirements?
- Do you have your travel documents and tickets.
- Do you have personal documents, e.g. birth and marriage certificates and medical records.
- Do you need to advise your solicitor, bank, doctor, dentist, insurance company
- Cancel subscriptions to clubs and magazines
- Notify your children’s school
- Obtain invoices for new purchases (for customs import formalities).
- Read the ‘Client Responsibilities’ form provided by your dedicated move coordinator and discuss any concerns
3 – 4 weeks before
- Valuation for insurance and complete the insurance proposal forms.
- Dispose of unwanted items that need not be shipped.
- Inform contacts of number and/or address for after you have moved but before you leave the country (if required).
- Inform everyone of your contact address and phone number if shifting overseas.
- Enquire about obtaining a VAT refund on new purchases.
- Get final accounts for gas, water and electricity.
- Clear all outstanding credit agreements.
- Cancel all rental agreements.
- Reduce stocks of food and beverages.
- Call and confirm your removal date.
- Arrange banking facilities at your new country
1 – 2 weeks before
- Organise for mail to be forwarded to the new address.
- Clean garden tools, bicycles, etc.
- Organise care for children and pets on moving day.
- Organise for mains services to be disconnected.
- Inform your newsagent and milkman and clear their dues, if any.
- Empty lockers at school and work.
- Return or retrieve any items on loan.
- Drain fuel from motor mowers.
- Dispose-of plants and perishable food.
- Check your own travel arrangements.
1 – 2 days before
- Separate all personal items which are to be carried along, e.g. keys, documents, passports, tickets, certificates, currency, clothing, etc.
- Disconnect, clean and dry any electrical appliances that you wish to ship.
- Disconnect lights for shipment and make wiring safe.
- Dismantle furniture items.
- Loosen fitted carpets at the edges.
- Fridge/ freezer emptied and cleaned
- Organise with neighbours to leave sufficient parking space before the removal vehicle arrives.
- Remain available in case the packers have any questions.
- Just before leaving, check all rooms, cupboards and walls to make sure nothing is left behind.
- Take the address of the remover’s agent overseas with you.
- Receive confirmation of moving crew’s arrival time.