• Change your address. A change of address form is available on the United States Postal Service website and in U.S. Post Offices. Make sure you notify banks, credit card companies, insurance issuers, subscriptions, etc. And arrange with the Post Office to forward your mail to your new address.
• Set aside items you’d rather not move but don’t want to throw away. Try selling items of value through classified ads or an online retailer, like eBay, Craigslist or a local Facebook page, or hold a garage sale. Donate the rest to charity (and don’t forget the charitable receipt for a possible tax deduction!) Some organizations will even come pick items up for you.
• Notify professional services, such as doctors, dentists, lawyers, schools, insurance agents and accountants, and find new services in your destination.
• Notify governmental agencies of your move, such as the municipal tax assessor, state vehicle registration, Social Security Administration, Internal Revenue Service, Veterans Administration,
• Cancel or transfer memberships — to health clubs, groups or organizations.
• Arrange for records to be transferred — medical, school, veterinary, etc.
• Arrange to cancel existing utilities and services — heat, electric, cable, phone, water, sewer, trash collection, newspaper delivery, cleaning help, lawn service, etc. — and set up new services and utilities at your destination.
• Book travel arrangements for the move, such as air tickets and any lodging you’ll need along the way.

• Are you driving to your new home? Get your car tuned up and ready for the trip.
• Don’t forget Fido! Make any necessary arrangements for your pets — books travel reservations and/or tickets, line up boarding or pet-sitting, purchase kennels or other transport containers and obtain health certificates and/or vaccinations from the vet.
• Consult your ARS moving representative to make sure you know what cannot be transported and dispose of those items accordingly, including flammables, poisons, corrosives, ammunition and propane tanks.
• Try to use up perishable foods.

• Defrost your refrigerator and freezer and wipe up any liquid.
• Unplug electronics (except plasma TVs), so they’ll be at room temperature for the move.
• Drain gas and oil from yard equipment, grills, heaters, etc.
• Fill any prescriptions you, your family or pets will need during the move.

• Complete any inspections, cleaning, repairs and modifications to your new home before moving items in.
• Create and display a floor plan to guide unloading and placement of furniture and items.
• Check your furniture and household items to make sure nothing is missing and/or damaged. If there is damage, report it to your moving representative.
• Leave electronics turned off for a day to adjust to room temperature before plugging them in.
• Update your vehicle registration, drivers license, voters registration, homeowner’s or renter’s insurance, subscriptions, memberships, etc.
• Compile and store receipts from moving expenses. You might be able to deduct them from your taxes, or be reimbursed from your employer.
• Enjoy your new home!

• Pack breakables in clothing, towels and bedding. You’re bringing it all along anyway!
• Use suitcases, bins, laundry baskets, etc. as packing containers.
• Pack lightweight clothes, towels or linens in dresser drawers.

Write up a list of what you’ll pack and when. Start with out-of-season items. Then pack things you don’t use often. Save the items you use regularly until right before your move. That helps in loading your moving container, too — the things you won’t need soon will be in the back, and the items used daily will be right in front where they’ll be unloaded first.

Clearly mark every box and container with the room it’s from, its contents, what priority it will be to unpack, whether there’s anything breakable and whether the box is heavy. Use different colors and a consistent format to help identify each box at a glance. Example: Kitchen, Pots and pans, High (priority). Or: Bathroom, Toiletries, Medium (propriety), Fragile. Or: Office, Books, Low (priority), Heavy.

Plates and Pictures should be packed vertically, rather than stacked. They’re less likely to break that way. But still put some paper/padding between them.

For anything that has to be disassembled, keep all the parts together. Put screws, bolts, brackets, curtain rings, etc., in plastic zip-top bags and tape them to the item.

Before unhooking electronics, take a photo while everything is connected, so you’ll know how to reconnect the cords at your new place.

Though we don’t suggest you use garbage bags for any of your belongings when you move, if you must, buy a color you don’t use for trash so you don’t accidentally throw out important items. Or ask us about our 1/2 priced used boxes that will actually protect your belongings.

Pack a bag with all your daily essentials as though you were going on a trip for work or vacation. That way you’ll have a change of clothes and all your necessary toiletries, medications and personal items handy when you get to your new place, without having to rummage through boxes.

Pack valuables and important documents separately and transport them yourself. Now would be a good time to purchase a locking safe if you don’t already have one.

Cover the openings of bottles with plastic wrap, then replace the cap. This works for toiletries, soap containers, jars in the fridge, etc. For extra protection, pack those items in plastic bags, and make sure to stand them upright in a box, then clearly mark the box as containing liquid items, and note which end must remain up.

If possible, do any cleaning, painting, repairs or modifications before unloading furniture and household goods.

• Pack heavier items in smaller boxes. Lighter items can go in bigger boxes. Heavy boxes are hard to carry. Trust us.
• Pack heavier items on the bottom and lighter items on top.
• Find the perfect fill. Don’t overstuff a box, and don’t make it too heavy to safely lift and carry. Try to pack contents firmly so items don’t shift, and so the box can be stacked without crushing inward.

American Relocation Services has been moving companies, offices and households in, out and across the state of Alaska for over 20 years. We are active members of the International Association of Movers and the American Moving and Storage Association. We value our business performance and we work to continually improve our service for our customers.

We can customize a moving plan to suit your needs. From our full-service White Glove option to our budget option, Pass the Palette, we have an option that’s right for you. Visit out Moving Solutions page for our menu of services and get a FREE estimate today.

Each move is different, and ARS offers a wide variety of services to meet your individual needs and budget. Call for a price quote today. As always, estimates are free!

Click the Get A Free Estimate link to begin the process. To book a move, click the Start Your Move Here link. Tell us what/how much you have to move, your current location, where you’re going, when your shipments needs to leave and arrive at your new destination, and how much packing/loading/unpacking/unloading help you’d like in the process.

And contact us for more information, at 907.561.5166

Business moves are simplified and stress free when you choose American Relocations Services as your trusted moving company. We can transport filing cabinets, desks, modular systems, office furniture, computer systems and much more. In addition to packing, crating, unpacking and debris removal, American Relocation Services can provide you with additional customized services to ensure that every detail goes according your business’s needs. Ask a moving representative how American Relocation Services can assist your company with an upcoming move.

Just let us know of any changes to your moving plan, such as adding or removing items to be moved, or changes in scheduling, as soon as you can. Changes might affect your price quote. Please let your moving representative know of any changes as soon as possible so we can update your plan and keep your move on track.