The Complete Moving Checklist
Sixty-plus tasks, ordered by when they actually matter — from eight weeks out to the day the last box is unpacked. Print it, screenshot it, or just work top to bottom.
8 weeks before — decide and research
- Set your move date range (mid-month and mid-week dates usually cost less than month-end weekends).
- Set a budget: moving service, packing materials, deposits, overlap rent or hotel nights.
- Decide full-service movers vs. labor-only help with a rental truck vs. fully DIY.
- Verify any mover you consider: check their USDOT number and FMCSA record before you ever share your phone number.
- Get written, itemized quotes from at least two companies — never a phone-only price for a whole-home move.
- For an interstate move, confirm the mover has active interstate operating authority (MC number) — it is federally required.
- Start a move folder (paper or phone) for quotes, receipts, and the inventory you build while packing.
- Measure doorways, stairwells, and the elevator at the NEW place against your largest furniture.
6 weeks before — declutter and book
- Go room by room: keep, sell, donate, discard. Every pound you shed is money saved — moves price on time or weight.
- List sale items now; big furniture takes weeks to sell.
- Book your mover and get the confirmation in writing: date, arrival window, crew size, rate, and deposit terms.
- Understand the coverage options in your quote — released value (the legal minimum, by the pound) vs. full value protection — and what deductible applies.
- Reserve building elevators and loading docks at both ends if required.
- Order specialty boxes early: wardrobe boxes, dish packs, TV boxes, mattress bags.
- If employer-paid, confirm the reimbursement process and what documentation they need.
4 weeks before — notify and start packing
- File your USPS change of address (it can be scheduled ahead).
- Notify: bank and cards, insurance policies, employer/HR, DMV, voter registration, subscriptions and deliveries.
- Schedule utility shutoff at the old place and turn-on at the new: electric, gas, water, trash, internet.
- Internet installers book out weeks — schedule the NEW install now for move-in day or the day after.
- Transfer school records and request medical/dental/vet records or referrals.
- Refill prescriptions so you have a comfortable buffer across the move.
- Start packing what you will not touch for a month: off-season clothes, books, décor, storage areas.
- Label every box with its DESTINATION room and a one-line contents summary; number boxes and keep a running list.
- Photograph electronics cabling before you unplug anything.
2 weeks before — confirm and finish most packing
- Confirm date, arrival window, and crew size with your mover; reconfirm parking or elevator reservations.
- Pack everything except daily essentials; aim to be 80% boxed with a week to go.
- Keep valuables, documents, jewelry, and small electronics separate — those travel WITH YOU, not on the truck.
- Dispose of what movers cannot take: propane, paint, chemicals, aerosols, opened liquids.
- Service the car if you are driving a long distance to the new home.
- Use up frozen and perishable food; plan simple meals for the last week.
- Arrange child and pet care for moving day — an empty house is the safest place for neither.
- If moving interstate, review your inventory list against the estimate so the weight basis holds no surprises.
The final week
- Pack an essentials box per person: 2–3 outfits, toiletries, chargers, medications, basic tools, toilet paper, snacks.
- Defrost and dry the refrigerator/freezer 24–48 hours ahead.
- Disassemble furniture the movers are not contracted to handle; bag hardware and TAPE IT to the furniture it belongs to.
- Empty, defrost, and drain appliances that are coming; disconnect washers the day before.
- Withdraw cash if you plan to tip the crew.
- Charge phones and a power bank the night before; confirm the crew arrival window one last time.
- Take meter photos (electric/gas/water) at the old place for final bills.
Moving day
- Do a full walkthrough with the crew lead: point out fragile items, what stays, what needs extra care.
- Read the Bill of Lading before signing — it is the contract of carriage, not a formality.
- Keep pathways clear, doors propped safely, and water available for the crew.
- Final sweep of EVERY room, closet, cabinet, attic, garage, shed, and dishwasher before the truck leaves.
- Photograph the empty home (condition record for deposits or sale).
- At the new place: check high-value items as they come off the truck, and note any damage on the paperwork BEFORE the crew leaves.
- Beds first — assemble and make them before fatigue wins.
After the move
- Unpack kitchen and bathrooms first; everything else has no deadline.
- Test smoke and CO detectors; locate the breaker panel and water shutoff.
- Update your driver’s license and vehicle registration (most states allow 30–90 days).
- Register to vote at the new address.
- File any damage claim promptly and in writing — interstate moves give you nine months, but sooner is always cleaner.
- Leave your movers an honest review — it is the single most useful signal for the next family choosing.
- Break down boxes and list them free online; someone always wants them.