Moving can feel overwhelming. Between packing hundreds of boxes, coordinating with movers, changing your address with dozens of organizations, and managing utilities, it’s easy to feel like there are a million things that need to get done before the big day. What should you pack first? When should you change your address? How do you make sure nothing gets forgotten?
The solution? Starting with a comprehensive plan.
Creating a personalized moving checklist is well worth the initial effort. Not only will this make the moving process more efficient, saving you both time and energy, but it will also ensure you don’t forget anything along the way. Being organized from the start can really help your family get through the big move without all that extra stress and worry.
Why You Need a Moving Checklist
Think of your moving checklist as your personal moving assistant, something that keeps track of every detail while you focus on the hundred other things demanding your attention. A good checklist helps you:
- Start early with tasks that need weeks of advance planning
- Stay organized when chaos threatens to take over
- Avoid costly mistakes like forgetting to transfer utilities
- Reduce stress by breaking an enormous project into manageable steps
- Save money by planning ahead instead of scrambling at the last minute
Your Interactive Moving Timeline
Use this interactive checklist to track your progress as you prepare for your move. We’ve organized everything by timeline, starting 8 weeks before your move and continuing through your first week in your new home.
Start Planning & Research
Book Services & Start Packing
Handle Address Changes & Utilities
Finalize Arrangements
Final Preparations
Execute Your Move
Settle Into Your New Home
Essential Moving Tasks Explained
8 Weeks Before: Research and Planning Phase
Starting your moving preparations two months out gives you time to make informed decisions and secure the best rates on services.
Get Moving Quotes Early
Whether you’re hiring professional movers or renting a truck, prices vary significantly between companies and time periods. Summer months and end-of-month dates are peak moving times with premium pricing. Getting quotes early gives you leverage to negotiate and ensures availability. If you need a moving truck, check out our complete moving truck guide to help you choose the right size and understand costs.
Create Your Moving Budget
Moving expenses add up faster than most people expect. Beyond the obvious costs like movers or truck rental, factor in packing supplies, utility deposits, address change fees, and potential storage costs. Creating a detailed budget now prevents financial surprises later.
Start Decluttering
The best time to downsize is before you pack. Go through each room and honestly assess what you actually need in your new home. Donate, sell, or dispose of items you haven’t used in the past year. Every item you eliminate now is one less thing to pack, move, and unpack.
6 Weeks Before: Book Services and Begin Packing
Six weeks out is when your planning shifts into action. This is the sweet spot for booking services and starting the physical work of packing.
Secure Your Moving Services
Once you’ve gotten quotes and made your decision, book your moving company or truck rental. Popular moving dates fill up quickly, especially during peak season (May through September). Many Morningstar Storage locations offer a free 4-hour moving truck rental with storage unit rentals.
Gather Packing Supplies
Don’t underestimate how many boxes you’ll need. A typical 3-bedroom house requires 50-80 boxes of various sizes. You’ll also need bubble wrap, packing paper, tape, markers, and specialty boxes for items like TVs and mirrors. Visit your local Morningstar Storage for all the packing supplies you need in one convenient location.
Pack Non-Essential Items
Start with things you won’t need for the next 6 weeks: out-of-season clothing, books you’re not currently reading, decorative items, and rarely-used kitchen equipment. Label each box clearly with its contents and destination room in your new home.
4 Weeks Before: Address Changes and Utilities
One month before your move, tackle the administrative tasks that require lead time to process.
Change Your Address
Submit your change of address form with the postal service at least 2-3 weeks before your move. Then notify everyone who needs your new address: banks, credit card companies, insurance providers, employers, schools, and subscription services. Create a list and check off each notification as you complete it.
Coordinate Utility Services
Contact utility companies to schedule disconnection at your old home and connection at your new place. Schedule these for moving day to avoid paying for utilities at both properties. Don’t forget about:
- Electricity and gas
- Water and sewer
- Internet and cable
- Trash and recycling services
Handle Important Documents
Request school transcripts for children, gather pet vaccination records, and update important documents with your new address. Store originals in a fireproof, waterproof container that travels with you, not in the moving truck.
2 Weeks Before: Final Preparations
Two weeks before moving day, most of your belongings should be packed except for daily essentials.
Confirm All Arrangements
Double-check your moving company or truck rental reservation. Confirm the date, time, and any special instructions. Make sure parking is available for the moving truck at both locations. Some neighborhoods or apartment buildings require parking permits or elevator reservations
Consider Temporary Storage
Sometimes your move-out date doesn’t perfectly align with your move-in date, or your new place isn’t quite ready yet. A temporary storage unit bridges that gap perfectly. It also gives you flexibility to move in stages, essentials first and everything else later when you’ve had time to unpack and organize.
Arrange Moving Day Logistics
Plan childcare and pet care for moving day. Kids and pets are safer and happier away from the chaos of moving. Get cash for tipping movers or schedule pizza delivery to thank friends and family helping with your move.
1 Week Before: Final Countdown
In the final week, focus on packing your remaining items and preparing your home for departure.
Pack Your Essentials Box
This box contains everything your family needs for the first 24-48 hours in your new home: toiletries, medications, phone chargers, a change of clothes, basic tools, snacks, paper plates and cups, toilet paper, and any essential items for kids or pets. Keep this box with you, not in the moving truck.
Prepare Major Appliances
If you’re moving appliances, they need special preparation. Unplug and defrost your refrigerator at least 24 hours before moving day. Disconnect and drain washing machine hoses. Clean out your oven. Secure or remove any removable parts.
Do Final Packing
Pack everything except absolute necessities for the final few days. This includes most of your kitchen, all decorative items, and everything in closets and storage areas.
Moving Day: Execute Your Plan
Morning Walkthrough
Be present when movers arrive or when you pick up your rental truck. Do a complete walkthrough of your home so everyone understands the scope of work. Point out fragile items or pieces requiring special handling.
Supervise and Document
Keep your moving documents, valuable items, and essentials with you at all times. Take photos of valuable items before they’re loaded. Check inventory lists if using professional movers.
Final Home Check
Before leaving, do one last sweep of every room, closet, basement, and garage. Check that windows are closed and locked, lights are off, and you haven’t left anything behind. Take a final family photo outside your old home as it’s a memory worth preserving.
First Week After Moving: Settling In
Prioritize Unpacking
Start with your essentials box, then focus on setting up bedrooms and bathrooms so everyone can sleep comfortably and maintain normal routines. The kitchen comes next, followed by other rooms as time permits. Don’t try to unpack everything in one day, pace yourself.
Update Additional Records
Within your first week (or as soon as possible), update your driver’s license and vehicle registration. Most states require this within 30-90 days of moving. Register to vote at your new address and update any professional licenses.
Explore Your New Community
Take time to find essential services: grocery stores, pharmacy, hospital, bank, and veterinarian. Introduce yourself to neighbors. Familiarize yourself with local trash pickup days and any neighborhood guidelines.
Common Moving Mistakes to Avoid When Moving
Starting Too Late
The single biggest moving mistake is not starting early enough. Tasks that seem simple (like changing your address) involve more steps than you expect. What takes 5 minutes to request online can take weeks to process. Starting at least 8 weeks out gives you buffer time for unexpected complications.
Poor Labeling System
Writing “Kitchen” on 40 boxes doesn’t help when you need to find your coffee maker on Day 1. Label boxes with both origin room and specific contents. Better yet, number boxes and keep a master list of what’s in each numbered box.
Forgetting to Measure
Before moving day, measure doorways, stairwells, and elevators in your new home. Also measure your large furniture and appliances. There’s nothing worse than discovering your couch won’t fit through the door or your refrigerator won’t fit in the designated space.
Packing Everything
Some things are better off not moving with you. Cleaning supplies, half-empty bottles of cooking oil, opened containers of food as these items cost more to move than replace. Use up perishables in the weeks before moving and start fresh at your new home.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I start packing for a move?
Begin packing non-essential items 6-8 weeks before your move. Start with items you rarely use: books, decorations, out-of-season clothing, and seldom-used kitchen equipment. Save daily essentials for the final week.
How do I change my address for a move?
Submit a change of address form with USPS 2-3 weeks before moving. Then individually notify banks, credit card companies, insurance providers, employers, schools, subscription services, and government agencies like the DMV and voter registration.
What should I pack in my moving day essentials box?
Include toiletries, medications, phone chargers, change of clothes, important documents, basic tools, toilet paper, paper plates and cups, snacks, and any essentials for children or pets. Keep this box with you, not in the moving truck.
Do I need to hire professional movers or can I do it myself?
This depends on your budget, physical ability, distance of move, and amount of belongings. Professional movers cost more but handle everything. DIY moving with a rental truck saves money but requires significant physical effort. Many people use a hybrid approach, renting a truck and hiring labor just for loading and unloading.
What documents do I need to keep during a move?
Keep birth certificates, passports, Social Security cards, medical records, school records, insurance policies, financial documents, and moving contracts in a fireproof, waterproof container that travels with you.
Make Your Move Stress-Free
Moving doesn’t have to be overwhelming. With proper planning, a detailed checklist, and the right resources, you can handle your move efficiently and arrive at your new home ready to start this exciting new chapter.
Remember, the key to a successful move is starting early and staying organized. Use this checklist to stay on track, and don’t hesitate to ask for help when you need it, whether that’s from friends, family, or professional moving services.
Ready to tackle your move? Download our complete printable moving checklist PDF and start checking off those tasks. And if you need moving supplies, storage solutions, or a moving truck rental, visit your local Morningstar Storage, we’re here to make your move as simple as possible.
