If you make a house hunting trip to your new city, it's a good time to find a bank, discuss mortgage arrangements if you are buying a house, and open an account, all before your move. Now is the time to consider what you really do or do not need. Consider your appliances. If you have been wanting a new refrigerator with an icemaker, now may be the time to look for a new one that matches your new kitchen. And if your washer and dryer are getting old and battered, consider selling them.
Garage sales are another American tradition that are especially useful before moving.
They enable you to sell unwanted furniture, appliances, clothing, and other household items that you no longer use, while putting a little more welcomed spending money in your pocket. The kid's room is usually a good place to start when it comes to eliminations. The clothes they have outgrown and the toys they don't play with can be sold at the garage sale, or may be welcomed by your favorite charity. And remember, when you make charitable donations, the Internal Revenue Service may allow certain deductions from your federal income tax. The house plants you have carefully nurtured may appreciate adoption by a friend rather than the rigorous journey in your car.