Moving Checklist

8 weeks before moving

Deciding how to spend your time and money early prevents rushed decisions later. Eight weeks out is the window to set your budget, start your organizational plan and book movers.

Decide on your moving budget

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

On average, local moves often fall in the $600 to $1,000 range, while long-distance moves can run $5,000 to $10,000 or more, depending on the distance, home size and how much you’re moving.

» LEARN: How to make a moving budget

Create a moving folder

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

If you prefer keeping 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 them online. Always read recent reviews and make sure the company is registered with the state for a local move. Long-distance movers should hold active licenses with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Any mover you’re considering should carry liability and workers' compensation insurance.

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

Get moving quotes and schedule in-home estimates

If you plan to hire professional movers, look for moving companies that conduct in-home estimates. An in-home estimate provides the most accurate pricing and helps protect you from unexpected fees or volume surcharges later. Avoid companies that offer quotes without seeing your belongings, since that sometimes points to a moving 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 your move dates.

If you’re planning to handle the move yourself, use this time to compare rental truck companies. Note their available truck sizes, daily rates, mileage fees and whether you can rent a truck one-way.

Gather your packing supplies

Before you start packing, stock up on essential moving supplies so you won’t get interrupted mid-process. Having the right materials on hand helps protect your fragile items and streamlines truck packing.

Your initial moving supply checklist should include:

• Standard moving boxes of various sizes
• Heavy-duty packing tape and a sturdy dispenser
• Cushioning materials, like bubble wrap and packing paper
• Specialty containers, like wardrobe boxes and dish barrels
• Markers or color-coded labels for room organization
• Furniture pads or blankets to protect large pieces during loading

6 weeks before moving

Six weeks out is about reducing volume. Many moving companies charge by weight and volume, while DIY moves take more physical effort for every extra box. Decluttering now saves you time, labor and money.

Narrow down your book collection

Books are heavy and expensive to move. Donate any unwanted titles to libraries, schools or thrift stores. To make the books you keep easier to carry, fill 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

Sort your things into "keep," "sell" and "donate" piles, then hold a weekend yard sale or list items online from your “sell” pile to downsize and lower your freight cost. 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

Certain materials can’t safely (or legally) be transported by professional movers or kept in enclosed rental trucks. Dispose of any old paint, hazardous chemicals, batteries and excess household trash. Many cities have restrictions on how much you can throw away. You don’t want to be turned away at the dump on moving day, so check your local waste guidelines ahead of time.

Sort through paperwork

Moving is a great time to sort through old paperwork and get organized, so use this transition to declutter your file cabinets. Shred outdated financial statements, receipts and expired warranties. Keep your essential sensitive documents — things like tax returns under seven years old, medical files, birth certificates and property records — in a secure folder that stays with you during the move.

4 weeks before moving

With four weeks to go, the focus shifts to logistics, organization and smart packing strategy.

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 and label the boxes’ destinations for the movers.

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 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

Two weeks out is the time to finalize moving schedules, make last-minute updates and begin packing high-volume spaces like the kitchen.

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. If you’re renting a truck or hiring helpers, double-check all 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 get temporary “No parking” signs to post the night before you move. This ensures your truck can park near your home and simplifies moving day.

Update your address as needed

Make sure to change your address with any services you receive, such as subscriptions or memberships. If you have prescriptions on file, contact your doctor or pharmacy to move them to a location closer to your new home.

1 week before moving

The last week focuses on finishing up packing, preparing your major electronics and organizing the essentials you’ll need access to right away.

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

Staying organized on moving day keeps the process efficient and safe.

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

Once you arrive at your new place, pace yourself. Focusing on the main living areas first keeps the unpacking process more manageable.

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.

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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