Moving Checklist
A calmer move starts weeks before the truck arrives.
Use this timeline to organize inventory, packing, utilities, address changes, building rules, documents, first-night essentials, and the small details that usually become last-minute stress.
4-6 Weeks Before
Decide what is moving and what is not.
Early planning and sorting make every estimate and move day easier. The fewer unknowns in the inventory, the clearer the move plan.
- Walk room by room and decide what to keep, donate, sell, recycle, or discard.
- Create a move file for estimates, receipts, building rules, certificates, insurance, and notes.
- Start collecting boxes, tape, packing paper, markers, labels, and specialty packing materials.
- Ask each building about elevator reservations, loading zones, move hours, and certificate requirements.
2 Weeks Before
Pack the low-use items and update the outside world.
Seasonal items, books, decor, files, and garage items are usually good early packing candidates.
- Submit USPS mail forwarding and update banks, employer, DMV, subscriptions, schools, doctors, and insurance.
- Schedule utility shutoff/start dates and keep confirmation numbers in your move file.
- Pack rarely used items and label every box by room and basic contents.
- Set aside documents, passports, jewelry, medication, laptops, chargers, and items you will carry personally.
Moving Week
Make the home easy to load and easy to unload.
Clear access, clear labels, and clear communication help crews work quickly and carefully.
- Pack a first-night bag with toiletries, clothes, chargers, snacks, pet items, kids' items, and medications.
- Defrost, clean, and dry appliances if they are being moved.
- Remove fuel, paint, aerosols, perishables, and other items movers cannot transport.
- Confirm date, arrival window, pickup/delivery addresses, phone numbers, parking, and access notes with Move Plus.