| One of your first steps, when you're getting ready | | | | portions of prepaid cable tv service or health club |
| to move, is to pick up a stack of change-of-address | | | | memberships. |
| cards from the post office. Yes, old-fashioned | | | | Be sure to notify anyone who calls with regular |
| go-by-snail post cards! You'll want to notify everyone | | | | service at your home pool or water maintenance, |
| in your address book and | | | | diaper service, pest control, home cleaners, |
| also.accountant.attorney.charge card companies.church | | | | landscapers. |
| or synagogue.dentist.doctor.insurance | | | | Inquire about transfer of medical or school records. |
| companies.magazines.organizations you belong | | | | Drive around town picking up dry cleaning, returning |
| to.schools.social security administration.voter | | | | library books and emptying lockers. |
| registration.and of course, the post office itself. It will | | | | Start preparing for your garage sale, driveway sale, |
| forward first-class mail for one year. For parcels and | | | | moving sale or whatever they call it in your town. |
| publications, you must agree to pay additional | | | | Movers charge by the pound. Get a ballpark figure of |
| postage. | | | | how much that might be, and you'll find it easier to |
| You'll also want to leave your new address and | | | | decide if the battered baby stroller really has |
| phone number with the buyer of your home, so | | | | sentimental value, and whether it pays to take the |
| anything that gets lost in the shuffle can be | | | | refrigerator along. |
| forwarded to you promptly. | | | | Remember that you're going to have to go through |
| As you approach your moving date: | | | | all your belongings before you're done anyhow. Culling |
| Set up final readings on gas, electric and water | | | | out the rejects will make the packing simpler. After |
| meters. Check whether you made deposits, years | | | | the garage sale's over, you can phone a charity to |
| ago, that should now be refunded. | | | | have the leftovers picked up. (Be sure to save the |
| Discuss with your insurance agent the amount of | | | | receipts for tax-deductible contributions.) |
| refund due on homeowners insurance you'll be | | | | And all that's before you've even interviewed movers |
| cancelling. Refunds may also be due for unused | | | | or started packing! |