8-Week Comprehensive Moving Checklist

8 Weeks Before the Move

• Create a folder: Keep all your moving details and receipts for moving-related expenses together in one location. Be sure to include this list, phone numbers, and dates and details of conversations pertaining to the move.
• Insurance issues: Check to see if you insurance policy covers moving. If it does not, make sure you find a moving company with a good policy.
• Find a mover: If you are using a professional moving company, it is time to determine who to use.
• Talk to a tax professional: Some moving expenses are tax deductible. Be sure to find out which ones fit your situation and then save your receipts in your folder.
• Stay or go: Look through your things and determine what is not going to go with you. If it is not going with you, determine if you are going to sell it or give it away.
• Me or them: Of the items you are taking with you, determine which items the moving company will move and which ones you will move by yourself.
• Storage: If there are items you will be storing, find a storage unit.
• Personal records: If you are moving to a new city, you will want to collect all your personal records from schools and doctors. If you need referrals for a new job, this is a great time to ask.

7 Weeks Before the Move

• Research new area: Do some research into your new area to find out about news stations, newspapers, gyms, daycare facilities, restaurants, shopping, etc.
• School Issues: Get your children’s records to the new school. If they need new school uniforms, get these ordered.
• Intent to move: If you are renting, you should let your landlord know your moving date.
• Use it up: If you are moving a long distance, there are items you won’t be able to take with you, like frozen foods or cleaning supplies. Use these up so you don’t have to give them away.
• Who’s who list: Make a list of people that need to know you are moving. Consider family and friends, but also creditors and subscription services.

6 Weeks Before the Move

• Collect packing materials: Your moving company may provide these. You can also find them at shipping stores or by asking local stores if they have any boxes left over from their inventory.
• Begin sorting process: Begin cleaning out cupboards and closets. Place items you want to sell or give away into piles.
• Permits: Some locations require special permits for large trucks. Check both your current home and your new home for large vehicle restrictions. If there are restrictions, apply for needed permits.

Five Weeks Before the Move

• Change of Address: Submit a change of address form to the post office with the date you will move out of your old home and into your new home.
• Plants and animals: If you have plants or animals, you will need to make special arrangements for their transfer to your new location. Some states do not allow plants to be moved across state lines. If this is true for your new location, find someone to take your plants for you.
• Arrange disconnections: Contact all your utilities to arrange disconnections. This can include electric, gas, oil, water, telephone, cable, satellite, internet, trash, etc.
• Arrange connections: Contact all your new utilities to let them know when to connect the new services.
• Yard sale: If you plan to sell any of your items via a garage or yard sale, you should plan it now and hold the sale 3 to 4 weeks before the move.
• Make reservations: If you are moving a long distance away, you may need to make hotel reservations or other travel arrangements such as airline tickets.

Four Weeks Before the Move

• Floor plan: Get a floor plan of your new home and determine the location of the larger pieces of furniture.
• Order new furniture: Sometimes, your old furniture won’t be right for your new home. Finding what you need before the move can make things less stressful.
• Elevator issues: Contact your building if you are moving out of or into a building with an elevator. You may need to work out a plan to schedule the use of the elevator during your move.
• Arrange cleaning: You are going to be very busy moving. You might want to consider hiring a professional cleaning team to clean your home after your move.
• Clean out outside areas: Go through any storage sheds and your garage. Get rid of things you will no longer need.
• Dispose of flammables: You will not be able to move flammable liquids. Find out how your community disposes of them properly.

Three Weeks Before the Move

• Begin packing: Some moving companies do all the packing for you. If, however, you are not using this service, begin the packing process. Be sure to label all boxes carefully with the name of the room where the box will be located and a quick description of the contents of the box. Label on at least 2 sides so finding the details is easy.
• Car maintenance: If you are traveling by car to your new destination, have it serviced. Check the oil, tire pressure, and fluids so that you will be ready for a road trip.
• Hold the yard sale: Now is the time to have the yard sale that you planned 2 weeks ago.

Two Weeks Before the Move

• Confirm with the movers: Call your moving company to be sure all the details are still in place for your move. It is better to find out about problems now than on the day of the move.
• Continue packing: Packing takes a long time!
• Banking issues: Contact your bank and find out what needs to be done to close your local accounts. Contact your new bank to open a new account. Be sure to empty your safety deposit box if you have one.
• Last minute returns and picks-ups: Return anything you have borrowed from friends and neighbors, as well as library books or rented DVDs. If you’ve lent anything to others, retrieve those items. Don’t forget about items at the dry cleaners.
• Medication issues: Be sure you have enough medication to last you through approximately 2 weeks after your move. This will give you time to establish yourself with a new pharmacy.
• Ask for help on moving day: Find friends and family that can help you on moving day. Having a few extra sets of hands can make a big difference.

One Week Before the Move

• Check and recheck: Look back over this list to be sure you haven’t forgotten anything up to this point.
• Defrost freezer: At this point, you should be out of frozen foods. If your freezer is not a self-defrost, manually defrost it now.
• Pack for a few days: Pack a suitcase of things you may need while your home is packed into boxes. Be sure to put this into your car so it doesn’t get put into the moving van.
• Mini toolkit: Pack a few tools that you might need when unpacking, including a box cutter, hammer, and screw driver.
• Confirm utilities: Call your new utility companies to confirm the date of connection.
• Finish packing: Pack everything you can pack that you will not need between now and the move.
• Laundry time: Make sure that all of your laundry is clean. You will not want to have to worry about loads of dirty laundry when you first move into your home.
• Keys to new home: Make arrangements for when and how you will pick up the keys to your new home.

One Day Before the Move

• Fully charge cell phone: You will want to be able to stay in touch with everyone on the day of the move.
• Final walk-through: Check through your home to be sure you didn’t leave anything. Check closets, cupboards, outside storage buildings, and unusual places you keep things.

The Day of the Move

• Meet the movers: Be sure that you or someone you trust is there to meet the movers when they arrive. If you are not going to be there, be sure your moving company knows this in advance who will be there. This person may have to be authorized by you to sign documents.
• Read your Bill of Loading and Inventory: This is the description of your items and their condition when they were put into the truck. Make sure they are accurate. They will be used if there is any damage to your items.
• Close up the house: Turn off all the lights, and lock the doors and windows as you leave.
• Leave the keys: Make sure you leave your keys with the new owners, real estate agent, or landlord.
• Emergency numbers: Make sure your movers have your phone number as well as other numbers in case you aren’t reachable.

Move In Day

• Meet the truck: Be sure that you are there to meet the moving truck at the new home.
• Check inventory sheets: Check the inventory sheet as items are removed from the truck. Be sure to note any damaged or missing items.
• Direct movers: Let the movers know where you want the items. If you determined ahead of time where you wanted the large furniture, tell them so they can place the furniture in the right location.
• Unpack needed items: Typically, this means getting beds and bedding ready and a few items from the kitchen. Plan on taking at least 2 weeks to fully unpack.
• Plug it in: Make sure that you plug in any electronics that need to be charged. Also be sure that your major appliances are plugged in.
• Talk to your neighbors: Move-in day is a great time to get to know your neighbors. Be friendly from the start.