MOVING TIMELINE
No matter how many items you move, or how far you move, planning in advance will make the move more efficient and trouble free. Here are some tips to help keep you and your move organized:

Two months before move
Interview moving companies and make a selection. Reserving your Chicago movers in advance will help ensure your move goes well. Collect all personal records, financial, educational and medical. Locate new service providers for your financial, educational and personal needs. Let them know of your arrival date and send them any needed records. Compile a list of all individuals and companies that will need your new address information. Have a garage sale or donate any items that your don’t want to move. Why pay someone to move items you will not use.

One month before move
Get change of address kit from the Post Office, or click on the above link. Notify Friends and relatives of the move and your new address. Contact utility companies for service disconnection. Contact new utility companies for service connect. Change address on magazine subscriptions. Get boxes for packing. Start with packing unused items first.

Two weeks before move
Continue packing Have automobiles serviced and prepared for the move. Cancel newspapers.

One week before move
Continue packing Drain any items with flammable liquids. Set date for defrosting refrigerator/freezer. Set date for disconnecting appliances.

Day before the move
Disassemble all required items Make sure all valuables are separated and ready to be securely moved Make sure all personal and legal papers are separated and accountable for throughout this relocation. Make sure all medication is separated and quickly accessible.

Day of the move
Indicate to moving crew the more important items to be moved. Check entire origin location. Don’t leave anything behind. Make sure you have all your shelving and related hardware. Contact our dispatch office with any and all concerns while the job is in process.

WHERE TO DONATE

Sometimes the best way to start a move is to do a thorough housecleaning and get rid of items that you don’t wish to bring with you to your destination.

Instead of throwing these items away, Midway encourages you to donate them to a worthy charity, such as those listed below. In many cases this donation will be tax-deductible, so be sure to obtain the appropriate forms from the charity to which you donate.

Salvation Army – 1-800-95-TRUCK Goodwill - 800-664-6577
AmVets - 800-810-7148 Dress for Success - http://www.dressforsuccess.org/
Glass Slipper Project – http://www.glassslipperproject.org/
Children’s Memorial White Elephant Store - www.childrensmemorial.org/friends/white_ele.asp
Howard Brown Health Center Brown Elephant - www.howardbrown.org/hb_brownelephant.asp

MOVING GLOSSARY

• Accessorial (Additional) Services – services such as packing, appliance servicing, unpacking, or piano stair carriers.
• Advanced charges – charges for services not performed by the mover but instead by a professional, craftsman or other third party at your request.
• Agent – a local moving company authorized to act on behalf of a larger, national company.
• Appliance Service – preparation of major electrical appliances to make them safe for shipment
• Bill of Lading – the receipt for goods and the contract for their transportation. It is your responsibility to understand the bill of lading before you sign it. Don’t lose or misplace your copy.
• Carrier - the mover providing transportation of your household goods.
• C.O.D. – Cash on delivery at the destination residence or warehouse.
• Expedited Service – an agreement with the mover to perform transportation by a set date in exchange for charges on a higher minimum weight.
• Flight Charge – an extra charge for carrying items up or down flights of stairs.
• High Value Article – items included in a shipment that are valued at more than $100 per pound .
• Inventory – the detailed description list of your household goods showing the number and condition of each item
• Linehaul Charges – charges for the vehicle transportation portion of your move. These charges apply in addition to the additional service charges.
• Long Carry – an added charge for carrying articles excessive distances between the mover’s vehicle and your residence.
• Order for Service – the document authorizing the mover to transport your household goods.
• Order (Bill of Lading) Number – the number used to identify and track your shipment.
• Peak Season Rates – higher linehaul charges that are applicable during the summer months.
• Pickup and Delivery Charges – separate transportation charges applicable for transporting your shipment between the SIT warehouse and your residence.
• Shuttle Service – use of a smaller vehicle to provide service to residences that are not accessible to the mover’s normal linehaul equipment.
• Storage-In-Transit (SIT) – temporary warehouse storage of your shipment pending further transportation, for example, if you’re new home isn’t quite ready to occupy.
• Tariff – the mover’s required, published price list of rules, regulations, rates and charges for the performance of interstate moving services.
• Valuation – the degree of “worth” of the shipment.
• Warehouse Handling – an additional charge applicable each time SIT service is provided. This charge compensates the mover for the physical placement and removal of items within the warehouse