Visual timeline to cover the month before the move
6 MOVING CHECKLIST
Daily checklist with detailed instructions to keep your move organized and efficient
9 MOVING COMPANIES
A hand-curated list of well qualified Austin moving companies for local and long distance moves
10 MORE RECOMMENDATIONS
A curated list of recommended Austin businesses available to help ensure your first few weeks in your new home run smoothly
14 WHOM TO NOTIFY
All parties who need to be notified of your move and change of address from government agencies to local utilities and how to contact them
Whether you’re upsizing, downsizing, relocating or buying your first home, you are opening new doors and settling into the next chapter of your life. While moving can be a stressful time, Gottesman Residential Real Estate is here to guide you with experience, due diligence and a lot of organization.
TIMELINE MOVING
30 DAYS BEFORE
• Purge and Donate
• Research + Reserve Movers
• Begin Packing
• Let Someone Else Pack
• Schedule Essential Services: Have Home Cleaned, Lawn Mowed, etc
• Notify the Post Office
• Transfer Services + Utilities
• Alert Other Companies
• Send Moving Announcements
• Rent Storage Unit
• Distinguish Valuables
• Notify Mover of Hazards
12 DAYS BEFORE
To make your move easier, we’ve created this timeline to help maximize the use of your time. We love to cross off lists, so the next pages provide specific details about each step so you can keep on top of it. Don’t forget to set reminders on your smart phone calendar to ensure no task is overlooked.
• Confirm + List Services
• Pack Essentials Boxes
• Plan for Baby/Pet Sitters
• Photograph Fragile Items
• Call Locksmith
• Essential Services: Have Home Cleaned, Lawn Mowed, etc
• Clean Out Fridge/Pantry
7 DAYS BEFORE
MOVING DAY!
• Turn Everything Off
• Keep Any Paperwork
• Have Trash Bags on Hand
• Keep Cleaning Wipes Handy
30 DAYS BEFORE
Purge + Donate: Begin purging any unwanted, unneeded, or unused items before you move, as most moving companies charge per box or item. Many charities will come to your doorstep to pick up your unwanted belongings. Schedule a free donation pick up at Austin Habitat for Humanity ReStore.
Research + Make Reservations: Reserve a licensed and insured moving company. See our list of recommendations on page 9.
MOVING CHECKLIST
Begin Packing: Use speciality boxes for mirrors, kitchen glasses, televisions, and wardrobes. Use packing peanuts or white packing paper instead of newspaper to avoid ink bleeding in the Texas heat. Use colored tape to designate boxes to certain rooms for movers (i.e. kitchen supplies have blue tape, items in green-labeled boxes go to the master bedroom, etc.).
Let Someone Else Pack: Outsource all packing, moving, unpacking, and organizing. The services offered by B. Moore Organized will cater to your moving and unpacking needs (512.663.3761).
Schedule Home to be Serviced: Plan ahead for a thorough cleaning, have the lawn mowed, and any necessary maintenance tasks.
12 DAYS BEFORE
Notify the Post Office: USPS will forward your mail for one year while you update your new address with the necessary organizations. The process is simple, free, and easy to do online.
Transfer Services + Utilities: Notify the City of Austin for utilities, Texas Gas, and your Internet, phone, cable providers, of your move. Don’t forget to disconnect subscriptions such as Nest and Ring if needed. Schedule appointments for service installation if necessary.
Alert Other Companies: This includes your employer, the government, credit card companies, insurance providers, banks, and schools. Update the shipping address for subscription-based services like magazines and newspapers.
Send Moving Announcements: Paperless Post has great options to send either via email or snail mail.
Rent a Storage Unit: Anything not going in your new home can be stored away. This is especially necessary for large furniture and seasonal items.
Distinguish Valuable Items: Separate important items like heirlooms and legal documents from the rest of your belongings to personally deliver to your new home.
Notify Mover of Hazards: Items like aerosols, ammunition, and even nail polish remover are considered hazardous materials and are illegal to ship without notifying your mover.
Apply for Residential Parking Permit: If applicable, gather necessary parking stickers, permits, and access codes for the new home. Neighborhoods like Travis Heights, SoCo, Downtown, and the East Side use permits.
7 DAYS BEFORE
Confirm + List Services: Be aware of the name, contact information, the exact services you are paying for, and the policies of the companies involved in every aspect of your move. Make note of the people who you confirmed with and discuss these services.
Pack Essentials Boxes: Include toiletries, linens, snacks, a change of clothes for each family member, tape measure, and a boxcutter.
Plan for Baby/Pet Sitters: Hire a babysitter or a petsitter if necessary for the day of the move and the first few days in your new home.
Photograph Breakables and Electronics: You’ll have a record if anything gets damaged during the moving process and you’ll also be able to reassemble confusing cords back into your television.
Have Home Serviced: Before moving out, ensure your home is in top shape for the next occupants. Schedule a thorough cleaning, have the lawn mowed, and take care of any necessary maintenance.
MOVING
CH ECK LIST
7 DAYS BEFORE CONT.
Call a Locksmith: Arrange a time to have all the locks changed and get new keys for each family member. Designate a secret hide-a-key location as family members get used to new locks.
Clean Out Fridge / Pantry: Dispose or pack the remaining food out of fridges, freezers, and pantries.
MOVING DAY!
Turn Everything Off: Make sure all electronics and appliances are unplugged and all lights are off.
Keep Any Paperwork: Keep all paperwork including receipts and contracts in a separate folder.
Have Trash Bags on Hand: Unpacking produces a lot of trash, and it is necessary to have plenty of trash bags on hand to contain that waste. Remember, most moving materials can be recycled!
Have Cleaning Wipes on Hand: Hidden dirty cracks and crevices will appear as furniture is moved out, keep cleaning wipes handy for messes at the old and new houses.
Have Dinner Delivered: Don’t plan to cook for the first few days of being in your new home. DoorDash and Favor are available to deliver meals from most restaurants in Central Austin, and the surrounding areas, that offer take-out. Instacart with deliver groceries within two hours for as little as $3.99.
We’ve moved a few times and so have our clients. These are recommended moving companies we’ve personally had great experiences with each one. This list is not intended to limit your choices in any way.
AUDIOVISUAL CONSULTANTS
Bond’s TV & Electronics | 512.476.3551
Lone Star Video Audio | 512.694.5750
Vox Integrations | 512.300.0756
CLEANING: EXTERIOR
Capitol Chimney | 512.982.6392
JM’s Window Cleaning | 512.524.2503
Pink’s Window Service | 512.766.1976
Sunn Window & Gutter Cleaning | 512.444.5505
Top Hat Chimney Sweep | 512.200.7113
Westlake Power Washing | 512.280.1649
CLEANING: FLOORS
Boatright Hardwood Floors | 512.454.3641 Deep Eddy Carpet Cleaning | 512.452.9916 The Steam Team | 512.451.8326 Stone Care of Texas | 512.250.2613
Wildflower Organics | 512.320.0449 | 524 N Lamar Blvd c101
JUNK REMOVAL
College Hunks Hauling Junk | 512.865.6500
Trade Ready LLC | 512.422.9142
LOCKSMITH
Cothron’s Security Professionals | 512.472.6273
Hulk Locksmith | 512.902.9212
ORGANIZERS
B. Moore Organized | 512.663.3761
California Closets | 512.441.6061
ORGANIZERS (continued)
Crosswell Organizing | 281.546.9484
Graceful Spaces Organizing | 512.953.3348
Jenny Stone Designs | 512.771.4795
Methodize Austin | 512.355.1057
Pretty Neat | 512.203.7151
Simplified Austin | 512.636.9448
Simply Organized | 737.288.0806
WHOM TO NOTIFY WHEN YOU MOVE
Home Services & Utilities
• Telephone, Internet, and Cable Provider
• Spectrum
• AT&T U-Verse
• Grande Communications
• Google Fiber
• City of Austin for Electricity, Water, Wastewater, and Trash in Austin
• Texas Gas Service
• West Lake Hills for Sewage and Wastewater in Westlake
• Home Security Company
• Magazine, Newspaper, Periodical Subscriptions, and streaming services
Government
• U.S. Postal Service
• Internal Revenue Service *If you move after filing a tax return but before you get your refund, you will need to fill out Form 8822 and send it to the IRS.
• Voter Registration *When you change your address, your old voter registration card won’t be valid anymore, even if you stayed in the same state.
• Department/Registry of Motor Vehicles
Professional Services
• Attorneys
• Accountants
• Insurance Company
• Doctors, Dentists, Pharmacists, and Other Medical Professionals
Finances
• Banks
• Credit Unions
• Loan Companies
• Credit Cards, Charge Accounts, and Subscription Services
• Finance Companies
• Car Loans or Leases
• Financial Aid Office
At Gottesman Residential Real Estate, we pride ourselves in being a full service brokerage. We hope this guide has made your move a little less stressful. If anything comes up during the process, please don’t hesitate to give us a call. Your success is our success, and we want to make this transition as smooth as possible. call us: 512.451.2422 visit: GottesmanResidential.com stop by: 1501 Enfield Road
