Chicago Moving Checklist

Here are some suggestions to help you organize and plan your move before and after.

Before the move

• Plan your travel itinerary. Make transportation and lodging reservations in advance.
• Send change of address to the Post office (give forwarding address), charge accounts and credit cards, subscriptions (change notice requires several weeks), and friends and relatives.
• Contact gas, electric, and telephone companies in new location to arrange for immediate service. Visit our utilities page for contact info.
• Arrange insurance on the new home prior to the transfer of property.
• Arrange for your present bank to establish credit references for new bank accounts.
• Discontinue deliveries, electricity, water, gas, newspapers, and garbage collection, etc.
• Obtain copies or transfer your children's school records.
• Obtain records from doctors and dentists, including eyeglass prescriptions, dental X-rays, and vaccinations.
• Cancel club memberships.
• Transfer car title registration, if necessary, as well as driver's license, city windshield sticker, and motor club membership.
• Arrange for transporting pets and obtain immunization records from the vet.
• Review moving plans with your moving company representative, including insurance for packing and unpacking, arrival date, payment agreement, shipping papers, etc.

After the move

• Check on service of utilities at new address.
• Check pilot light on stove, hot water heater and furnace.
• Have new address recorded on driver's license, or obtain a new one.
• Register your car within 5 days after arrival in new state, to avoid penalty.
• Register children in school.
• Register to vote.