Moving Checklist
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You are ready to start your move, but don’t know where to start. Here are all the important things to remember to do before, during and after your next move.
As soon as you find a new place
Get measurements of your new place, especially the doorways. That’ll help ensure your stuff will fit through the doorways in the new place. Knowing this now helps avoid paying to move something only to have to ditch it in the parking lot later.
Hire the movers.
Contact at least three moving companies for quotes. Avoid surprises later by understanding whether the pricing is based on estimated weight or estimated hours. See our picks for the year’s best moving companies.
Schedule a walkthrough. Beware companies that say they can give you an accurate quote online or over the phone. Reputable movers will want to do a virtual or in-person walkthrough of your home and property to provide you a reliable quote that accounts for all of your stuff.
To make sure you get an accurate quote, during the walkthrough:
Point out the things that won’t be coming on the move.
Point out antiques, heirlooms, art, pianos and similar items that need special care or special packaging. That helps avoid a surprise bill later.
Ask the movers what they won’t move.
Flag items of special value that might require additional insurance from the movers. Make sure to declare, in writing, any items valued over $100 per pound.
Schedule the car shipping. Not all movers offer this service. You may need to find a third party to handle it. Also, it often happens on a different day than when the movers load and unload the truck. Some neighborhoods don’t allow or can’t fit transport trucks, so find out if you need to arrange to drop off or pick up your car somewhere else.
Tell your friends and family. This is big news. Start scheduling final get-togethers, and find out if anyone wants any of the stuff you don’t want to move. See if anyone can help you with the rest of this list.
Take a video of your home contents before you start packing. This will help you notice if anything doesn’t show up later or is damaged in the move.
Start the process of transferring your solar lease. If you’re leasing solar panels, contact the provider and start the process of transferring the lease to the new owners or tenants. This can take weeks or months.
Start gathering moving supplies. Get moving boxes, tape, bubble wrap, old newspapers or wrapping paper, and markers. Most movers provide packing and unpacking services, which costs extra but eliminates this step. Otherwise, order your boxes and other supplies, or start looking for ways to get cheap or free moving boxes.
Find or get appraisals of your antiques and high-value items. This can take weeks, but it’s important. An appraisal is your proof of value if the movers lose or damage the item.
Purge and declutter. This can take a long time but it can save you a lot of money because moving expenses often come down to weight and volume. Touch every single thing you own, including every item in your storage bins, every item in storage areas such as the basement or garage, and every item in your paper files. Clean out your storage unit. Decide if each item needs to stay or go.
Right after you hire the movers
Request time off from work to move. You need at least the day the movers load and the day the movers unload.
Give notice to your landlord (if you rent). Check your lease, but the rule for giving notice that you won’t renew your lease is typically 30-90 days.
Tell the landlord or HOA what day the movers are coming. The landlord may require advance notice to use the service elevator, loading dock or certain stairwells. Find out if you need a permit from the city or the homeowners association in order for the movers to park on the street while they load and unload. The landlord might also require the movers to provide proof of insurance or other documents ahead of time. Do these things for the location you’re leaving and the location you’re moving to.
Organize your records. Get all your important financial, legal and medical records in one place, including birth certificates, passports and licenses.
Plan for unmovable items. Figure out what to do with the stuff the movers said they won’t move. These are things that you may want to keep but the movers just won’t take. Figure out alternative shipping methods now.
Set a cut-off or transfer date for utilities and services. If you need help remembering who to tell, look at your checking account or credit card statement to see who you’ve been paying. Here are some common things to cut off when moving:
Electricity.
Water.
Sewer.
Gas.
Trash and recycling pickup.
Internet.
Cable.
Homeowners association.
Housecleaning services.
Gardeners or landscapers.
Food delivery.
Subscription boxes (beauty, clothes, food, etc.).
Snow removers.
Gym memberships.
Home security/alarm system monitoring services.
Babysitters.
Dog walkers.
Caregivers.
Exterminator or pest control.
Set a turn-on or transfer date for utilities and services at your new place. Here’s that list of common things again:
Electricity.
Water.
Sewer.
Gas.
Trash and recycling pickup.
Internet.
Cable.
Homeowners association.
Housecleaning services.
Gardeners or landscapers.
Food delivery.
Product subscriptions (beauty, clothes, food, etc.).
Snow removers.
Gym membership.
Home security/alarm system monitoring service.
Babysitters.
Dog walkers.
Caregivers.
Exterminator.
Check your insurance coverage and buy more if needed. Find out if your existing homeowner or renter insurance policy covers your stuff while it’s in transit or in storage. Find out what the mover's responsibilities are for damages that may occur to your belongings. Buy more insurance now if you think your stuff isn’t protected from damage or theft while in transit or storage.
Find a temporary place to live if there’s a gap between when you move out and when you move in.
Register the kids for school. Don’t assume they can go to any school in town, or that they can go to the school closest to your new place, or that school bus transportation is available from your new place to the school. School districts have different rules about catchment areas and attendance, and there will be paperwork, transcripts and immunization records to manage.
6 weeks before move day
Schedule a walkthrough on your old place. Get this on the calendar with your landlord now. You will probably need to do this right after moving day in order to get your deposit back.
Schedule a walkthrough on your new place. Get this on the calendar with your realtor or landlord now. This gives you a chance to note any pre-existing damage or flag any issues with the closing.
Schedule installs for utilities, cable, internet, security systems or other equipment-based services at the new place. These people get booked up; don’t procrastinate or you might not have internet for a while in your new place.
Get a tune-up. If you’re driving your car to your new home, make sure it can make it there. Don’t procrastinate; if you do this now, you’ll have time to cope with any unexpected repair work you might need.
Book flights, hotels and/or rental cars for the trip to the new place. Plan your route and your activities along the way. Make sure you have a ride to and from the airport if you’re moving farther away.
Book the painters, electricians or other home services you need right away when you move in. It may be a lot easier to have this work done while everything is still in boxes.
Order new furniture. Many large pieces of furniture can take weeks to be delivered.
Figure out what you need to baby-proof the new place. Order any new items now.
2 weeks before move day
Call the movers to confirm everything. If they somehow lost your booking, you still have some time to rebook them or find another moving company.
Schedule cleaning and repair work on your old place. If you’re renting, your lease should detail how you need to clean it in order to get your deposit back. Schedule cleaners now if you know you won’t have the time or energy after the move. Fill holes and cracks with spackle, and touch-up scuff marks.
Give the neighbors a heads up. Apologize in advance if the moving truck is going to make the street narrow for the day, and be transparent about when you expect things to start and end. This way they can tell their visitors or family members to park somewhere else that day.
Figure out how your final trash and recycling pickup will work. See if your neighbors or landlord can put the bins back after they’re picked up.
Get cash to tip the movers.
Figure out what to do with pets, friends and kids on loading and unloading day. Either put them to work or send them away for the day.
Drop off or schedule pickups of charitable donations. If there are things in good shape that aren’t worth the expense of moving, aren’t needed or that you couldn’t sell, schedule a charity pickup. Schedule a junk removal company to come get items to toss (some moving companies will handle this for you for an extra fee).
Use up your food stores. Movers usually don’t move perishable items. Start eating everything in the freezer and the pantry. Defrost the freezer if you’re moving the fridge.
Figure out what you’ll eat on loading and unloading day. You probably won’t have the things you need in order to cook, so get everyone on the same page in advance about when and where you’ll eat or get delivery. A last meal at a favorite place could be fun; make reservations now if needed.
Photograph complex tech setups. This will help you remember how to reconstruct everything on the other end.
Have your mail forwarded. You can do this on the U.S. Postal Service website. Typically the USPS will forward mail for one year.
Back up your computer and phone. You do not need the headache of missing data or photos right now.
Pack a “go box” of items that stay with you when everything else goes on the moving truck. These are things to get you by between move-out day and move-in day.
Toilet paper.
Paper towels.
Cleaning products.
Set of sheets and towels.
Some dishes and utensils.
Chargers.
Flashlights.
Water.
Scissors, screwdrivers and a hammer.
Garbage bags.
Pet food, leashes, toys, beds and medicines.
Passports.
Checkbook and credit/debit cards.
Important papers.
Each person in the household should also have a suitcase that has essential and irreplaceable items that they don’t want the movers to touch: medications, a change of clothes, special jewelry or trinkets, important documents, computers, etc.
If you’re moving out of the area …
Clean out your safe-deposit box. Also, cancel the service at the bank so you don’t keep paying for it.
Return borrowed items. Give back library books and anything that doesn’t belong to you.
Pick up your dry cleaning. This one is easy to forget until it’s too late.
Clean out your locker at the gym. This one is also easy to forget until it’s too late.
Consider changing your bank. Most banking can be done remotely these days if you’re not near a branch, but you’ll want to make sure you’re able to access cash if you need it.
The day before moving day
Buy snacks and drinks for packing day. Have enough for the movers as well.
Remove/return propane canisters. Movers usually won’t take these. If you’re moving locally, you can move these yourself.
Get the payment for the movers ready. If the movers are making you pay with a check, make sure you have your checkbook or that you take time to go to the bank and deal with it.
Transfer your prescriptions to a new pharmacy. Make sure the auto-refill is turned off at your old one and turned on at the new one if you’re moving out of the area.
Drain the gas out of garage equipment you’re bringing, such as the lawnmower.
Empty the appliances. Empty the dishwasher, the washing machine and the dryer.
Retrieve the hidden keys. If you hide a spare house key somewhere on your property, find it.
On moving day
Direct the action. Be present. Supervise. Communicate. Answer questions and stay until the job is done.
Offer to buy lunch for the movers. They are doing a lot of physical labor to care for your things.
Do a final walkthrough. Once the crew tells you the truck is loaded, walk through every single room of the house one more time. Look in every single closet, cabinet and drawer for forgotten items. Look in the washing machine, dryer, dishwasher, refrigerator and toilets. Remember to look on high shelves. Check for damage the movers caused. Close all the windows, turn off the lights and lock the doors.
Get the bill of lading. This is the official inventory list from the movers. Make sure to declare, in writing, any items valued over $100 per pound. Note missing or damaged items on the inventory list before you sign any documents. Look for the high-value inventory form, which indicates whether items of extraordinary value are in the shipment.
Give the movers the exact destination address again and how to contact you. Ask if they need directions on how to get to the new place and provide them, if needed.
Tip the movers. Do it today, because this crew may not be the same crew that unloads you in your new location. (If it’s a short move, you’ll likely have the same movers, so you can tip them after unloading.)
Return the keys. Take these to the landlord or to your real estate agent once you’re out.
Pick up the keys to the new place. Make sure you get the mail key and keys to additional dwelling units, the building’s gym, extra garages or storage areas.
Change/delete codes on the alarm system if it’s staying with your old place.
On unloading day
Direct the action. Guide the unloading process. Supervise. Communicate. Be present. Answer questions. Stay until the job is done.
Offer to buy lunch for the movers. They are doing a lot of physical labor to care for your things.
Review or sign the final paperwork, which will likely contain:
High-value inventory form: Indicates that your items of extraordinary value arrived in the shipment.
Bill of lading/freight bill: Includes the terms and conditions under which your goods were moved and is also your receipt for the shipment.
Tip the movers. This crew may not be the same crew that loaded you in your old location if it’s a farther move.
Order groceries. That first order is huge and heavy (don’t forget condiments and seasonings).
Put new alarm batteries in the smoke alarm and carbon monoxide detector. You don’t know how old they are.
After you’re unpacked
Change the locks. You don’t know who else has the keys. Make copies of your new house keys for your babysitter, dog walker or other trusted visitors.
Watch that video of your home contents. Did anything not show up?
Change your address with everyone you know or do business with.
Money-related: Work, bank, investment accounts, HSA or FSA accounts, car insurance, life insurance, renters insurance, pet insurance, other insurance policies, credit card issuers, your accountant, your investment advisor, the Social Security Administration, the Veterans Administration and Medicare.
Kids-related: School, tutors, lesson providers, sports teams and coaches.
Medical-related: health insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, kids doctors, parent doctors, dentists, therapists, cord-blood storage, prescription deliveries and the veterinarian.
Legal-related: Your lawyer, voter registration, state and local tax authorities if you are self-employed and the city/county property tax assessor.
Life-related: Amazon, delivery apps, ride apps, newspapers, magazines, streaming services or cable, your internet provider, the neighbors, your alma maters and alumni organizations, charities, the pet microchip company, airline frequent flier accounts and hotel rewards accounts.
Family-related: If you send out holiday cards, announce your move on it.
Get new doctors. If you moved to a new area, call all of your previous doctors and have them transfer your records to the new doctors.
If you moved to another state:
Shop for a new accountant. Unless you moved to a state that doesn't have an income tax, you'll need to file a tax return in your new state (and maybe also one in your former home state). See if your current accountant is licensed in your new state; if they aren't, you may need to hire someone else.
Update your estate planning documents. Different states have different rules about how wills, health directives, trusts, powers of attorney and other estate planning documents have to be worded and filed. You may need to get an estate attorney to redo some of your documents so they're valid in your new home state.
Register the car. You may only have 30 days to do this. See if you need an emissions test.
Get a new driver’s license. You may only have 30 days to do this.
Get a new pet license from the city. This can help local shelters reunite you with your pet if something happens.
Get a new alarm license from the city. This is often required in order to receive a response from law enforcement if your home security alarm goes off; it can also help avoid false-alarm fines from the city.
Get a new safe deposit box if you moved out of the area. A safe deposit box can protect your most precious items and records from fires, theft and floods.
Claim your property tax exemptions. Some counties provide homestead exemptions that can significantly reduce your property tax bill – but you have to file the paperwork to claim them.
Meet the neighbors. Provide your contact information so that they can call you if your house is on fire, a pet gets loose or something else happens.
Check on the ETA of your security deposit. The deadline should be in your lease, but sometimes landlords need reminding.
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