moving checklist
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You don’t plan a trip to the grocery store without writing a list, so why would you move without a checklist? Taking time to plan your move reduces stress and smooths the experience. Here are a checklist and planner I use, and it can assist you during your move too.

3-6 Months Before Moving Day

Contact Movers Corp and book a local moving company and helpers.

Begin decluttering your home. Decide what you’ll keep, sell, donate to charity or toss in the trash.

Hold a garage sale or post items for sale online that you don’t want to move.

Find a new physician and other healthcare providers if you are relocating.

6 to 8 Weeks Before Moving Day

Even though parents are involved in every step of the moving process, it’s crucial to get kids ready for the next weeks. Planning for a new school, saying goodbye to friends and neighbors, or keeping the house tidy for showings may all require the involvement of your family. To ensure that the shift goes as smoothly as possible, it is crucial to treat this process with caution and understanding.

It can be challenging to inform your children of your move, particularly if they have formed acquaintances there. To assist them in adjusting, try to sit down with them frequently and early.

Purchase packing supplies, such as boxes, tape, newspapers, scissors and permanent markers.

Arrange childcare or a pet sitter for moving day.

Start packing rooms you seldom use like the basement, attic, and guest room.

Call a charity and schedule a date for them to pick up the items you wish to donate.

Arrange the dates for the electric, gas, water, trash, cable or satellite television service, phone, and Internet connections to be set up in your new home.

Change your address with the Post Office.

1 Month Before Moving Day

Pack as much as possible. Label each box with the room where it belongs and its contents.

Give your new address to your:

  • Friends
  • Colleagues
  • Credit card company
  • Vehicle, Life, Health and other insurance companies
  • Banks
  • Security service
  • Cleaning service
  • Lawn care provider
  • Gym
  • Magazine subscriptions
  • Library
  • Civic clubs

Schedule one or two packing parties to occur the week before your move, and start inviting people to attend.

2 Weeks Before Moving Day

Confirm the date with your moving company.

Cancel your newspaper subscription.

Confirm the utility shut off dates at the old house and the turn-on dates at the new house.

Request record transfers from your doctor, dentist, veterinarian, and other healthcare providers.

Register your children at their new school and arrange for their records to be transferred.

Contact your home and vehicle insurance companies and make applicable changes to your policies.

Pack, pack, pack.

1 Week Before Moving Day

Confirm childcare and the pet sitter.

Pick up any dry cleaning and prescriptions, return library books, and wrap up other errands in your current neighborhood.

Prepare an overnight bag for every family member. It includes an extra set of clothing, prescription medications, toys, and valuables like your jewelry box and portable safe.

Pack a box for your first night in your new home. That way, you don’t have to rush unpacking items you need like bedding, food, water, medications, and cleaning supplies.

The Day Before 

Your remaining food can be thrown away, donated, or packed.
To protect your floors, lay cardboard along the main paths in your home.
Place toiletries and clean clothes in an essentials bag.

Moving Day

After the truck is loaded, walk through the house one more time. Look in all the closets, cupboards, and other hiding places for any forgotten items.

Read and record all your utility meters.

Turn down the thermostats.

Lock the doors and windows.

Tell the neighbors that your home is vacant and say goodbye.

I know the entire moving process takes a lot of work and seems overwhelming, but you can make the experience smoother and less stressful when you use a checklist. It helps you remember all the details and make sure you get everything done so that in no time, you’re settled into your new home.

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Written by Margarita Hakobyan
Margarita Hakobyan is the founder and CEO of MoversCorp.com. She has published more than 300 articles about moving, storage, and home organizing, making her a moving specialist since she began writing about the moving industry in 2005. Follow her on LinkedIn and Twitter.