The steps and timing to move aren't always obvious. Follow this checklist for a smooth moving experience.
Moving into a new home isn’t as simple as going from A to B. It’s more like going from A to Z.
Use this checklist to help guide you in the weeks and days before moving day.
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Why It’s Important To Plan Carefully
Moving into a first or next home is a big deal on practical, financial, and emotional levels.
“I’ve seen how a poorly timed move can throw a wrench into everything,” says Michele Lawrie, a real estate agent with HomeAbroad. “Careful planning, however, will ensure that you are not scrambling to pack, hire movers, or set up utilities while juggling loan closings or lease endings. A thorough checklist keeps you organized, reduces stress, and helps you avoid costly mistakes like forgetting to update your address with your contacts and service providers. Think of it like having a roadmap for a smooth transition.”
Andrew Baldwin, owner of Blue Cow Moving and Storage, echoes those thoughts.
“Moving can be a stressful experience that comes with many variables. For some, it can cause anxiety and be a lot to juggle with work, family, and transitions,” he explains. “Having a plan for moving day not only eases your worries but can help you better enjoy the transition.”
When To Set the Moving Date and Start Planning
As soon as you have a closing date for your home purchase or know when your lease ends, it’s time to think about locking in that moving date. Try to schedule it at least six to eight weeks in advance to secure availability with movers and/or a storage container provider.
“Early prep helps you tackle tasks in manageable steps and gives extra time for unexpected issues,” says Tim Blackmon, franchise owner of Units Moving and Portable Storage.
Steps To Take 1-2 Months Before Moving
Eight to four weeks prior to the big day, check these items off your list:
Notify your landlord if you rent.
Set a moving budget. Begin researching moving costs, and “factor in the price of movers, packing supplies, travel costs, and potential storage,” suggests Lawrie.
Recruit your movers. Research different moving companies and get quotes from at least three reputable providers. “Check reviews on sites like Yelp and the Better Business Bureau, and confirm that the company is licensed, bonded, and insured. Also, book early to secure your date,” Lawrie continues. If your friends and family will be helping you move instead, get them committed early.
Create a moving binder. Gather quotes, receipts, and room-by-room inventories into a digital or physical folder to help track expenses and guard against lost items.
Begin organizing. “Declutter each room and sell, donate, or toss anything you haven’t used in a year,” recommends Charles Chica, owner/partner of CT Best Movers.
Gather moving supplies. “Start collecting boxes, acrylic packing tape, markers, tissue paper, and padding materials,” says Chica.
Begin packing non-essentials and seasonal items, and make sure to label by room.
Notify important parties. Update your new address with schools, employers, physicians, banks, insurance companies, and subscription services. “Also, request that school or medical records be transferred if necessary,” Lawrie says.
Measure spaces and furniture. Check that your furnishings will fit comfortably in your next home’s rooms and doorways.
Steps To Take 3-4 Weeks Before Moving
You’re getting closer. By the one-month-to-go mark, be sure to:
Continue packing room by room. Avoid overcrowding heavy objects and leaving boxes underfilled. Avoid packing essential items until just before the move, too. “You want to pack items that are not part of your daily routine, like holiday decorations and random things like books or sports gear,” says Baldwin.
Label boxes clearly by room, contents, and whether it’s fragile or heavy, Baldwin advises.
Schedule utility shutoffs and new connections for both homes. Aim to have new services begin one or two days before moving in.
Submit change of address forms with the United States Postal Service (USPS).
Secure permits and parking. “Learn if your new home or current one requires parking permits for moving trucks, especially in cities or homeowners association communities,” Lawrie advises. “Clear this with neighbors or landlords to avoid delays.”
Line up any storage containers/units or temporary housing you will need.
Confirm moving day logistics with your movers and/or storage providers.
Check insurance and mortgage details. “Double check with your lender and real estate agent to confirm closing dates and ensure that your homeowners insurance will be active on the new property to avoid gaps in coverage,” says Lawrie.
Plan menus around food in your pantry. Use it, don't move it.
Steps To Take 1 Week Before Moving
You’re down to seven days or less – put another way, crunch time. Remember to:
Pack a first-night essentials box(es). “Think of this like a hotel stay meets survival kit. It should include everything you need to feel human on day one, including toiletries and medications, phone chargers, basic cookware and snacks, important documents, bedding, and a change of clothes,” advises Blackmon. Know exactly where to find these boxes on moving day.
Pack up everything else not already boxed or bagged.
Confirm start and stop dates for your utilities and other services.
Clean out your current home. “You’ll probably want to hire a cleaning and repair service to ensure you get your rent deposit back if you are a tenant,” reminds Lawrie.
Clean out your fridge. Dispose of perishable foods and hazardous items, and defrost and clean your refrigerator if you are taking it with you.
Pocket some dollars. “Have cash on hand for unexpected expenses like last-minute supplies and for tipping movers – $20 to $25 per mover is standard,” Lawrie says.
Contact your movers. “Confirm arrival time, addresses, and contact details,” Baldwin suggests.
Steps To Take on Moving Day
The big day is finally here. Your to-dos include:
Be prepared. “Get up early, eat a meal to keep you energized, and stay hydrated throughout the day,” says Baldwin.
Be present. Remain on-site at the home you are leaving to answer any questions from movers. Supervise the loading of your moving truck or storage container. Check your inventory list before signing the bill of lading (the document serving as a receipt for goods, a contract of carriage, and ownership documentation).
Be sure high-value or precious items remain with you.
Communicate regularly with your movers. “Track their progress and communicate any special unloading or placement needs at your new home,” Justin Hammond, owner of Let’s Get Moving!, says.
Conduct a final walk-through of your old home. “Check that every room, closet, and garage has nothing left behind,” says Lawrie. “Take photos of your old place if you are renting it to document its condition.”
Close up the old home. Lock all windows and doors, shut off all lights, and turn off any remaining utilities before leaving.
Hand over the keys. Collect all garage openers, alarm codes, and keys for the next owners or landlord; you can leave them with your real estate agent or in a designated location.
Conduct a thorough walk-through of the new home. “Test that all outlets, switches, appliances, smoke detectors, toilets, sinks, and lighting fixtures are properly working,” Blackmon continues.
Tip your movers if you’re satisfied with the job.
Communicate regularly with your movers. Track their progress and communicate any special unloading or placement needs at your new home.
Steps To Take After Moving Day
In the hours and days after you finally take possession of your new home, you’ll want to:
Unpack essentials first, including items that belong in high-traffic areas like the kitchen, bathroom, and bedroom.
Change your door locks for security purposes.
Update your address. Notify the post office, Department of Motor Vehicles, voter registration, subscriptions, and any other service or organization of your new address. Update your driver's license and car registration within 30 days to comply with local laws.
Dispose of packing supplies responsibly by recycling or donating boxes.
Introduce yourself to neighbors.
Tips for Moving With Kids and Pets
Having children and animal companions can complicate moving matters. To make things easier for them (and you), the experts recommend the following:
Get your kids involved with the packing process. “Show them how to build moving boxes and let them choose and decorate their own special moving box, which gives them ownership of part of the moving effort,” says Blackmon.
Pick “5 for the ride.” “Help your children choose five things they simply can’t do without during the moving ride, such as favorite games, books, and snacks,” Blackmon adds.
Prepare your pet. Keep daily pet walks, feeding times, and play consistent, but introduce small changes to your pet’s routine well before the move to ready them for the upheaval.
Familiarize your dog with the new house and neighborhood, says Purina.
Speak with your vet about travel stress or motion sickness concerns.
Secure pet accommodations. Ensure that ample pet food, bowls, toys, leash, collar, carrier, litter, and pet blankets/bedding will arrive at the new home in time.
Consider leaving your kids and pets with a trusted family member on moving day if necessary.
If Your Moving Date Doesn’t Align With Your Closing Date
It’s possible your move won’t sync with your closing date or the end of your lease. If so:
Talk to your lender if your home closing is delayed. “Understand the holdup and push for a faster resolution,” Lawrie recommends.
Negotiate more flexible terms. “Request a grace period from your landlord or home buyer. Many are accommodating if informed early enough,” Hammond says. Ask your landlord for a short-term extension or a month-to-month lease if renting; or negotiate a lease-back agreement with your buyer to remain in your old home after closing.
Coordinate with your moving company. “Our company, for example, offers a three-day storage option for closing dates that don’t align as well as a 24-hour cancellation or rescheduling policy,” says Baldwin.
Arrange for temporary housing. Consider staying with friends short-term, or ponder a temporary home rental or hotel stay if necessary. “Always have a contingency plan, like a friend’s couch, to avoid being stuck,” says Lawrie.
