Moving can feel overwhelming when you think about everything that needs to happen. The key to a smooth move is starting early and staying organized. This week-by-week checklist covers every step from the moment you decide to move until you are settled into your new home. Print it out, bookmark it, and check off each item as you go.
4 Weeks Before Moving Day
- Set your moving date and start researching moving companies
- Get quotes from at least 2-3 professional movers and compare pricing
- Create a moving budget that includes movers, supplies, deposits, and travel
- Start decluttering room by room. Donate, sell, or throw away items you no longer need
- Begin collecting packing supplies: boxes, tape, bubble wrap, markers, and packing paper
- Notify your landlord if you are renting and review your lease end date
- Start a folder (physical or digital) for all moving-related documents and receipts
- If you have kids, research schools in your new area and begin transfer paperwork
- Arrange care for pets and children on moving day
2 Weeks Before Moving Day
- Confirm your booking with the moving company
- Start packing non-essential items: off-season clothes, books, decorations, guest room
- File a change of address with USPS at usps.com
- Update your address with banks, credit cards, insurance, subscriptions, and employer
- Schedule utility disconnections at your current home (electric, gas, water, internet)
- Schedule utility connections at your new home so everything is on when you arrive
- Transfer or find new doctors, dentists, and veterinarians if moving to a new area
- Use up pantry items and frozen food to avoid moving perishables
- Back up important files and photos from your computer
1 Week Before Moving Day
- Pack most of the house, leaving only daily essentials unpacked
- Label every box clearly: room name and brief contents
- Prepare an essentials box with items you will need right away (toiletries, phone charger, change of clothes, medications, snacks, basic tools, important documents)
- Disassemble furniture that needs it (bed frames, shelving, desks). Keep hardware in labeled bags
- Confirm moving day details: arrival time, address, parking, elevator access
- Clean out the refrigerator and defrost the freezer
- Take measurements at your new place to confirm furniture placement
- Charge all electronic devices
- Withdraw cash for tips for the movers
Moving Day
- Do a final walkthrough of your home. Check every closet, cabinet, drawer, and shelf
- Protect floors and doorways if needed
- Be present to direct the movers and answer questions about fragile items
- Keep your essentials box, valuables, and important documents with you (not on the truck)
- Take photos or video of the empty space for your records (especially if renting)
- Turn off all lights, lock all doors and windows
- Return keys to landlord or leave for the new owners
- At the new home, direct movers where each item goes by room
- Check that all utilities are working at the new place
After the Move
- Unpack the essentials box first: bedding, toiletries, kitchen basics
- Set up beds and the bathroom so you can rest comfortably the first night
- Unpack room by room, starting with the kitchen and bedrooms
- Update your driver's license and vehicle registration with your new address
- Register to vote at your new address
- Introduce yourself to neighbors
- Locate the nearest hospital, pharmacy, grocery store, and gas station
- Break down and recycle moving boxes
- Leave a review for your movers if they did a great job
Packing Tips for a Faster Move
- Pack heavy items in small boxes. Books, tools, and canned goods should go in smaller boxes so they are not too heavy to carry.
- Wrap fragile items individually. Use packing paper or bubble wrap for dishes, glasses, and picture frames.
- Fill empty spaces. Use towels, t-shirts, or packing paper to fill gaps in boxes and prevent shifting during transport.
- Do not overpack boxes. If you cannot close it easily, it is too full. Overpacked boxes are more likely to break or injure someone.
- Use wardrobe boxes for hanging clothes so you can transfer them directly from closet to box to new closet.
- Take photos of electronic setups before unplugging. This makes reconnecting TVs, routers, and gaming systems much easier.
What NOT to Pack for the Moving Truck
Professional movers cannot transport certain items for safety and legal reasons. Keep these out of the truck:
- Flammable materials: gasoline, propane tanks, lighter fluid, paint thinner
- Perishable food: open containers, refrigerated items, frozen food (for long moves)
- Hazardous chemicals: pesticides, bleach, ammonia, pool chemicals
- Valuables and irreplaceable items: jewelry, cash, important documents, family photos
- Plants (for long-distance moves they often do not survive)
- Firearms and ammunition
Keep valuables and documents with you in your personal vehicle during the move.
Need Help with Your Move?
Having a checklist is great, but having a professional team makes everything easier. At Criss Moving, we handle the heavy lifting so you can focus on settling into your new home. Contact us today for a free quote and let us make your next move the smoothest one yet.