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By the time your move is one week away, you've already done a lot of packing, done a home inventory, hired movers if you're going to use them, had necessary renovations to the new place completed, arranged for mail forwarding, and arranged for the utilities to be turned on at the new place, right? If not, you need to move very quickly to take care of those items, and then proceed to these:

1) Call your utility companies to arrange a day for the utilities in your current home to be shut off. Be sure to get an order confirmation number, and call after the fact to be sure the job's been done. Warning: Don't agree to leave the utilities on for the new owners unless they're people you know and trust. You could wind up being liable for months of someone else's bills.

2) If your new place is empty go to it, if possible, and give it a thorough cleaning. Remove any items left by the previous owners unless you want to keep them. Introduce yourself to the neighbors and get recommendations for any service people you may need, such as landscapers and painters. If you're moving to a house, and the place is beginning to look neglected, arrange for lawn care and landscaping to begin immediately.

3) If you're buying or selling a place, contact your attorney to check that all closing documents are in order on both sales, and schedule a time and place for both closings. If the closings cannot be completed on the same day for any reason, arrange for temporary housing for yourself and your family if needed.

4) Call the movers to reconfirm the day and time of their arrival, and the day of delivery. If friends or relatives are helping you move, reconfirm their availability and time of arrival. If you're meeting any repairmen or service people, check those dates as well.

5) Make a final disposition of property you don't intend to take by discarding it, donating it to charity, or taking it to a consignment shop or auction house. Don't attempt to have a garage sale this close to moving day. You have too many other things to do.

6) Call the school in the new location to be sure that arrangements for your children's enrollment are in order. If you're close by, go ahead and enroll them, help them select their classes, and obtain the list of needed supplies.

7) Call the post office in the new location and make sure they know there's a new owner so your mail does not get returned. If you need constant medical care, locate your new doctors and make an initial contact with them.

8) Be sure you have a copy of your city's and homeowner's association ordinances. Take special note of regulations regarding the hours when lawns may be mowed and watered, restrictions on parking of vehicles and use of a dumpster, and so forth.

9) Make a list of items to put in your "open first" box and begin packing those you can do without. Be sure to include toiletries, toilet paper, and basic utensils, as well as tools you may need for quick fixes.

10) Relax and put your feet up. Its almost over!

Learn more about this author, Emily Wickersham.
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