CONGRATULATIONS! You have closed on your new home and now you are ready to move! The next few pages contain tips and checklists so that your move is as organized and effortless as possible. Think about your move as a series of small projects that you can begin while your home is under contract. Your move will progress as your contract and closing progress. That way, when the day comes to physically move your belongings, most of the details will be taken care of.

Keep detailed records – some moving expenses are tax deductible!

Keep detailed records of all moving expenses if your move is job related. Many expenses, including house-hunting trips, are tax deductible. If your move is 35 miles or more from your home, you can deduct your family’s travel expenses, including meals and lodging; the cost of transporting furniture, other household goods and personal belongings; food and hotel bills for up to 30 days in the new city if you have to wait to move into your new home; and the costs associated with selling your old home or leasing your new home.

Here are some detailed checklists to help remember from packing, moving to setting up your new home.

• Packing Checklist
• Moving Checklist
• New Home Checklist

When moving to a new neighborhood or a new city, children may often find it difficult to adapt to their new environment and school. It is important to take some basic steps to ensure that the transition will be smooth. Here are some suggestions on helping children cope with the move.

Note: There is a ceiling on deductions which is outlined in detail in the IRS’s Publication 521, “Tax Information on Moving Expenses,” available free from the IRS offices.

Real Estate Glossary