Moving Checklist

8 weeks before moving

Decide on your moving budget

Determine how much you can spend on the move. Avoid draining your savings; most people need cash for unexpected post-move expenses. Your budget and the type of move (DIY or professional) will guide your choices.

» LEARN: How to make a moving budget

Create a moving folder

Create a folder to help you stay organized throughout the moving process. Include receipts, quotes from moving companies or truck rental agencies, contact details and your moving timeline.

If you prefer digital copies, use a spreadsheet to track tasks and expenses so everything is easily accessible. The important thing is that you have a system (and a single place) to keep things organized.

Research moving companies

Get recommendations from friends and family for moving companies in your area, or research moving companies online. Always read reviews and make sure the company is registered with the state for a local move. Long-distance moves should be registered with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. All movers must be licensed and insured.

» GOING FAR? 8 cheap ways to move across the country

Get moving quotes and schedule in-home estimates

If you plan to hire movers, look for moving companies that conduct in-home estimates. An in-home estimate ensures the most accurate pricing and helps protect you from unexpected fees. Avoid moving companies that offer quotes without seeing your belongings, since that sometimes indicates a scam.

Once you have enough quotes to compare, book the movers as soon as possible to secure the best rates and have greater flexibility with moving dates.

If you plan to do a DIY move, use this time to compare rental truck companies, Make note of their available truck sizes and whether their prices factor in the distance between your destinations, or if you can rent a truck by the day regardless of miles driven.

6 weeks before moving

Narrow down your book collection

Books are heavy and can be costly to move. Donate unwanted books to libraries, schools or thrift stores. To make the books you decide to keep easier to carry, pack boxes halfway with books and halfway with soft, bulky items such as clothing, stuffed toys or throw pillows.

» MORE: Charities that offer free donation pickup

Sell or donate items

Hold a yard sale or list items online from your “sell” pile. Platforms like Facebook Marketplace and other local social media groups are great places to list items you want to sell or give away.

» MORE: Tips for a successful garage sale

Take items to the dump

Most movers charge by weight, so decluttering before your move can help you save money. Many cities have restrictions on how much you can throw away in trash cans, and you don’t want to face being turned away at the dump on moving day.

Sort through paperwork

Moving is a great time to sort through old paperwork and get organized. Recycle tax returns older than seven years, along with outdated receipts and warranties. Shred sensitive documents and black out any identifying information before placing them in the recycling bin.

4 weeks before moving

Label and number your boxes

Mark each box on all sides so the movers know where to put them in your new home. You can also number your boxes and write their contents on a list. This will keep you from opening multiple boxes to find a particular item.

Take inventory

As you pack, take inventory of everything you own. This list will come in handy when it’s time to update your homeowners insurance policy or in the event you need to make a claim. Take photos of the contents of each box for reference.

Use up freezer and fridge food

Plan meals around frozen and perishable items so you can use them before moving day and they don’t go to waste.

Call your insurance agent

Reach out to your insurance company to ensure that your renters or homeowners policy is updated, transferred to your new address, or canceled, depending on your situation.

If you’re canceling an insurance policy with one company and opening a new policy with a different company, make sure the new policy starts when you need it to so your belongings don’t go unprotected.

Notify utility providers

Contact all your utility providers — phone, internet, power, water, heating and gas — and let them know when you’d like to cut off your service. It’s a good idea to schedule disconnection for the day after your move so you will have services the day of the move.

Ask if you can transfer your service to your new address. If not, call the providers in your new area to set up service prior to your moving day.

Gather old tech and cords

As you pack, put any out-of-date technology (smartphones, tablets, etc.) and cords that don’t match any devices into one central box. You may be able to drop off these items for recycling at various donation centers, big-box retailers or your local public works facility.

Make a list of your valuables

Once you have a breakdown of expensive or sentimental items, make a plan for how you’ll transport your valuables to your new home.

Create a staging area for boxes

As you pack, move boxes to the sides of rooms so the space can remain functional. You may also want to slowly bring lighter boxes to your entryway if they won’t be in the way of daily activities. Collecting boxes in one central area will also make it easier to spot where you may need to make repairs or do a deep clean.

Make necessary repairs

Try to fix anything that may eat into your security deposit if you lease an apartment or condo. You may want to schedule carpet cleaners, especially if you have pets or kids.

Create a last-minute packing list

Take a week to jot down what you use and wear most often. These will be the items you pack last. Making a list of essentials will ensure you don’t leave anything out when the time comes to pack them up.

Arrange for additional help, if needed

Do you have small children who need to be looked after on moving day, or a pet you want to keep safe while your door’s left open? Now’s the time to ask for help from family members or friends if you’ll need this type of assistance on the big day.

» MORE: Tips for moving with kids

Service your car

If you’re driving or towing your vehicle to your new location, don’t forget to visit your favorite local mechanic or dealership to have it serviced first. Having a safe vehicle is especially important if you’re moving far away and have a long drive ahead of you, so it should be road ready.

» COMPARE: Best long-distance moving companies

Make travel arrangements

If you’re planning an interstate move, secure your hotel stay now so you won’t be stuck with no place to sleep after a busy day of moving.

» RESEARCH: Best interstate moving companies

Visit your storage unit

If you’ve been renting a storage unit, make a plan to assess its contents. You may find that you won’t need all those items at your new place, so you can get rid of them now.

Also, check with management for details on how to close your unit. You may need to provide written notice up to 30 days in advance, for example.

» MORE: Moving tips

2 weeks before moving

Secure additional supplies

Your packing should be well underway by now. Survey your packing supplies to see if you need more containers, tape or packing materials to reach the finish line.

» MORE: How to pack for a move

Pack up most of the kitchen

The kitchen may take a long time to pack because there are a lot of fragile items to wrap individually. Plan to get this area packed as much as possible, setting aside only the essentials you’ll need before moving day.

Finalize all your plans

Confirm your plans with the moving company, if you hired one, or if you’re renting a truck or hiring helpers, double-check scheduled dates and times.

» TIPS: How to rent a moving truck

Ask your movers how they prefer to be paid

While almost everyone takes credit cards now, small local moving companies sometimes prefer cash or a check. Knowing whether to set aside a check or have cash on hand is one less thing to worry about on moving day. Don’t forget cash for tips, too; your movers will appreciate the gesture.

» CALCULATE: How much to tip movers

Make a plan for your plants

Plants can be difficult to move because they’re often oddly shaped and delicate. Ask your movers if they can safely move them (some movers won’t) or if you need to have room in your car for them on moving day.

Check in with your municipality about parking restrictions

If you live in a crowded area, you may be able to obtain temporary “No parking” signs to post the night before you move. This ensures your truck can park near your home on moving day.

Reach out to your pharmacy or doctor

Contact your doctor or pharmacy to move any prescriptions you have to a location by your new home.

Update your address on all subscription services

Make sure to change your address with any services you receive, such as subscriptions or memberships.

1 week before moving

Gather a moving day (and day after) survival kit

Check out the list of essentials you made weeks ago, then set aside what you’ll need for the day of your move and the first few days in your new home. Essentials typically include clothes, personal care items and medicine for you, your family and your pets.

Finish packing

Now’s the time to pack everything except your essentials. Make sure all boxes are labeled and taped securely.

Reconfirm all your moving day details

Check in with your moving company one last time to confirm the time and day of your move. If you’re doing a DIY move, confirm the day and pickup time for your rental truck, and confirm with any helpers that they’re still available.

Disassemble unused furniture

If you plan to move yourself, it may be helpful to disassemble large furniture pieces. Doing this now will save you time on moving day.

Make a cleaning plan

Many properties require you to leave them clean. You can hire a cleaning service or handle it yourself by wiping surfaces, cleaning baseboards and mopping.

Confirm access to your new home

Whether you’re moving to a new house or apartment, confirm you’ll have access to it (by key, keypad, etc.) on moving day.

Take a picture of your TV setup

It can be hard to remember what cord goes where if you have a complex TV/gaming console/other electronics setup. The easiest way to get set up again after your move is to snap a photo of all your wires while you’re at your old place.

Say your goodbyes

If you’re moving a long distance, you may want to arrange a final get-together with friends, family and coworkers.

Moving day

Be prepared for your movers

You don’t want to be packing up extra boxes on moving day or worrying about food and drinks. Make sure you’re packed, and that you have drinks and snacks on hand.

Print or email moving instructions

Getting to your new home may involve more than an address. Make note of any gate codes, special parking instructions or obstacles your movers (or you) need to know about.

Clear a path

You may have boxes stacked everywhere leading up to the big day, but it’s a good idea to create a pathway for your movers to safely carry items out of your home and to the truck.

Pack the truck properly

If you’re doing a DIY move, load heavy items and furniture first. That way you can fill in the gaps with smaller items.

Do a final walk-through

Once everything is packed in the moving truck, do a final sweep of every area of your home, from the attic to the garage, to make sure you haven’t left anything behind. (Don’t forget the fridge and the shower.)

If you’re renting, take some last-minute photos of each room and the carpet. You may need those later if the landlord keeps your deposit and you decide to file a dispute.

Know that something may go wrong — and that’s OK

Part of planning is to prepare for the unexpected. Your movers might be late, something may not fit in the truck or the friend you confirmed with three times may not show up. If you’ve been organized up to this point, though, you should be able to figure out a solution.

After moving day

Unpack your most-used rooms first

Think about your bedroom, kitchen and bathroom. Unpacking your high-traffic rooms first will keep you from getting overwhelmed; you don’t have to do everything all at once.

Wash your dishes

As you unpack your kitchen boxes, place those items right in the dishwasher. Dishes, utensils, cups, pots and pans should be washed before using.

Make new “toss,” “donate” and “repair” piles

You may be unpacking boxes you packed weeks ago only to discover items you didn’t miss once they were out of sight. Now’s a good time to do a second purge of unused and unwanted items.

Have a plan for getting rid of moving materials

If you don’t intend to keep boxes for your next move, come up with a plan to get rid of them. A good option is to donate them or list them on an online marketplace.

Visit your local DMV

Once you have some free time, visit your local DMV to change the address on your driver’s license and registration. You may also be able to do this online, especially with an in-state move.

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