Do you have corrugated boxes, packaging tape and numbers dancing in your head? If so, you have either received your military orders to transfer to Hill AFB or you have received confirmation from your employer that you are relocating to Utah for a job transfer. Your moving date is quickly approaching and although you may not feel the urgency to dance like the zoo animals in Madagascar to the song, I Like to Move It, Move It-your mind is likely dancing around with that same rhythm with all the many to-do’s you have on your checklist(s).

If you find yourself running in circles asking the question, "Where do I start? I only have 1 month before my moving date!" No need to worry! To have an organized plan, you also need to have a great beginning and you found that beginning right here in Part 1 of my 5 part series which will cover:

• Preparing for Our Move...1 Month Away to the Big Day! (Part 1)
• Two Weeks to Our Move and Counting Down(Part 2)
• My Children…Moving to Utah
• My Pets…Moving to Utah
• My New Home…Arriving in Utah

Food Fill your house with 30 days worth of food by planning your menus, grocery list and shopping trips around your move. That way you will have less to worry about on your moving day and you won't have food that will spoil or go to waste.

Reservations If you are in need of a moving company, portable storage and transportation it is a great time to have all of this in order and confirm your dates with each company. This also includes airline tickets, rental cars and short term stay reservations for hotels.

Inventory Make record of all your belongings, take pictures, video, jot down serial numbers and save the information on a disk or gig stick and keep in a handy place during your travels. In the event you have to put in an insurance claim, you will have all the information available.

Financial Accounts Locate a financial institution near your new home and set up a savings & checking account. Most financial institutions have an online system in which you can complete the process and save you time once you arrive to your destination.

Schools and College Notify each of the schools for your children to let them know of your move and ask for a list of what your children may need to do to wrap up their grades with the current school. Turn in any documentation that is required for the school and obtain school records to take with you. Also read, My Children…Moving to Utah. If you are currently in college be sure to notify the school of your move so that you can finalize any requirements for your grades and have your credits transferred to you new school. You may also want to contact the Transfers Guide in Utah to help with credit transfers to your Utah college.

Pets Do you have furry little friends to bring along? Finalize all arrangements with the airline if you are flying, make a care box for your pet if you are traveling in a car so that it’s easily accessible on your drive and follow my checklist in My Pets…Moving to Utah.

Medical, Dental and Prescriptions Contact all your medical and dental doctor’s offices to obtain copies of your medical records. This is also a great time to refill prescriptions and have them transferred to a local pharmacy near your new home.

Licenses Once you arrive in Utah you will need a new driver’s license, business license and animal license. Being aware of the Utah state laws regarding these items will help you transition with ease.

Copy, Scan and Save All Important Documents You can copy all these items to a disc, save them on your computer, save them on a gig stick and make extra copies of birth certificates, marriage license, passport, drivers license, will, social security card, living will, life insurance policies, 401k, IRA’s, certificates, savings bonds, mortgage deeds, military records, tax returns, automobile titles, pay stubs, warranties, receipts, insurance papers, profit sharing, savings plans, appraisals, surveys, immunization records for children and pets, business licenses, school records for your children and yourself if you are in college, medical records, veterinarian records, dental records, W-2’s, resume, employer records, stocks, divorce decrees and anything else that you feel should follow under this category. I would recommend putting these items in a plastic tote, seal it up securely to prevent any water damage and if you are driving, keep the tote in your car with you.

Change of Address Start out by changing your address with the post office or you can go into your local post office and fill out a form with an effective date upon your departure. I have utilized the online service with USPS in the past, which provides a secure site and it’s so simple to do. Call, email or use online services to update your address for financial obligations, magazine subscriptions, financial institutions, IRS, credit card companies, family and friends.

Transferring Memberships Church, gym, clubs, groups and organizations.

Canceling Memberships Any club, group or organization that is not located around your new home.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

If you are considering buying or selling a home in Utah, you deserve local expertise and advice to be provided by a professional in real estate. Julie Neerings, GRI is a Utah REALTOR® providing full time, professional real estate services to home buyers and sellers in the cities of Layton, Bountiful, Woods Cross,Murray, West Valley, West Jordan, South Jordan, Riverton, Herriman and all surrounding cities in Davis County and Salt Lake County.

You may be relocating to or from Utah due to a military relocation or civilian job transfer, if that is the case, when searching for a real estate professional outside the state of Utah, please feel free to Contact Me or call me at 801-859-9381 as I am more than honored to provide to you the contact information of exceptional agents across the U.S. and Canada.