Moving into a new home is often one of the most thrilling times of your life. It can also be very stressful, but with proper planning, can be fun and exciting.  As you know, there are many responsibilities that accompany the moving process, and overlooking even the simplest of those may cause unexpected setbacks for you. We want your entire home buying experience to be as enjoyable as possible - to help achieve that, we have compiled the following moving tips and checklist to help facilitate your move. We hope they will help you and your family make a smooth transition into your new home!

9 - 10 Weeks Prior to Move

• Talk to your Lennar New Home Consultant to establish tentative walk-through and closing dates. It is important that you continue frequent contact with your Lennar New Home Consultant up until the time of closing to verify these dates. Please keep in mind that due to the complexity of the building process and the fact that we want to make sure that every component of your home is up to our standards of quality, these dates are subject to change.

• Assemble a "Moving Planner" which includes a schedule, your moving checklist and a place to save all estimates and receipts associated with your move.

• Start getting to know your new Community.  As you continue to learn more about your new Community, the Internet is a great information source.  You may also be able to obtain a relocating package from the local Chamber of Commerce. Some things you may wish to inquire about include the following:
  • local utility companies
  • Internet service providers
  • schools & day care establishments
  • accessibility to hospitals, fire stations and police stations
  • doctors, dentists, optometrists, pharmacies
  • veterinarians
  • banks
  • places of worship
  • health facilities
  • shopping establishments
  • storage facilities
  • lawn & pool maintenance services
  • house cleaning services
  • snow removal services
  • community organizations, such as sports or arts groups

• Take an inventory of your possessions.  Document with photos and record serial numbers when applicable.  This will be your "inventory sheet" and will help you make sure that all of your possessions arrived in good order as you are unpacking.

7 - 8 Weeks Prior to Move

• Check back in with your Lennar New Home Consultant to review your walk-through and closing dates.  Please keep in mind that due to the complexity of the building process, these dates are subject to change.

• Start sorting through your belongings to determine those items you plan to discard.  Arrange to have a garage sale or ask a local charity to pick up the discarded items.

• Consult with your accountant to determine any moving expenses that may be tax deductible.

• Establish your budget for moving expenses and start obtaining estimates from moving companies or services. When establishing your budget, account for the cost of special boxes that you may need to purchase for transporting your wardrobe and fragile belongings.

• Arrange to have any pertinent school or day care records transferred to your new Community. Be sure to check school schedules and enrollment requirements.

• Contact your insurance agent(s) to transfer your policies (health, fire, dental, homeowners, life, and automobile) and inquire about any changes that may adjust your policies. Also, verify that moving is covered in your policy - if not, invest in mover's insurance.

4 - 5 Weeks Prior to Move

• Check back in with your Lennar New Home Consultant to review your walk-through and closing dates. Please keep in mind that due to the complexity of the building process, these dates are subject to change.

• Take an inventory of items that are of significant value or difficult to replace - such as antiques, art collections, jewelry, wills, stock certificates, photos, home videos, etc. Shipping valuable items via Certified Mail or Federal Express and personally moving them are options to consider.

• Make as many of your travel arrangements (flights, hotels, car rentals, etc.) as possible.

• Consume or discard food items that are perishable or cannot be moved - such as frozen foods.

• Obtain a Change-of-Address kit from your Post Office and start making a list of people and businesses to notify of your move, including family, friends, health care providers, banks, and business associates.

• Choose the moving company that best accommodates your needs and budget. Confirm delivery dates and moving services in your Purchase Agreement.

• Most moving companies have a list of items that they will not move - such as plants, firearms, and flammable items. Make arrangements to have those belongings moved separately.

• If you are planning to do the packing yourself, stock up on packing supplies (boxes, tape, labels, markers, newspapers, bubble-wrap and any other item that you think you might need.) When labeling your boxes, note the contents inside the box, whether they are fragile and the room in which they belong. Make a note if an item/box needs to be opened first upon arrival - for instance, bath and bedroom items may be the first you want to unpack.

2 - 3 Weeks Prior to Move

• Check back in with your Lennar New Home Consultant to review your walk-through and closing dates and times.

• There are a number of services that you will need to transfer. Some of those services are non-transferable and must be disconnected then reconnected. Regardless, here are some services to start looking into: newspaper delivery, cable, electric, fuel, gas, telephone, water, garbage collection, storage facilities, lawn maintenance, pool maintenance, housecleaning services, internet services and health clubs.

• Determine what you'll be taking with you on moving day - such as important or irreplaceable items, toys/games for kids, snacks and a first aid kit.

• Confirm delivery dates with movers.

• If necessary, schedule to have your car serviced for the trip.

• Make sure all of your dry cleaning has been picked up, return any books that belong to the library and collect or return any items on loan.

• Contact your new city's Department of Motor Vehicles to determine driver's license requirements, and transfer plates and/or registration on your vehicles.

• Select a bank in your new city - transfer existing and/or set up new accounts, and obtain a safety deposit box if needed.

1 Week Prior to Move

• Check back in with your Lennar New Home Consultant to review your closing date and time.

• Reconfirm delivery dates with movers.

• Contact your title company or closing attorney a day or two before closing to determine the exact amount of the cashier's check you will need to close your loan.

• Consider purchasing travelers checks in case of an emergency or unplanned event.

• Stock up on at least two weeks' worth of prescriptions.

• When packing, properly dispose of all flammable items such as aerosol cans, paint, gasoline and any other items that your mover will not move and you do not plan to take with you.

You're Home!

• When unpacking, account for all of your belongings by checking them against the inventory sheet that you created prior to moving.

• Be sure to register to vote in your new Community.

And last but not least, relax and enjoy your new home!