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The Moving Checklist: A Timeline for Your Upcoming Move
By Peter Burns MONEY RESEARCH COLLECTIVE
Whether you’re relocating across the street or to another state, moving can be a stressful task. If you start planning early enough and develop an efficient timeline for moving, your move can be easier and more efficient. Read our moving checklist to ensure you’ve covered every step to prepare for your relocation.
The ultimate moving checklist timeline for a smoother move
In order to have a smooth transition from your old home to your new one, you’ll need to follow a coordinated moving timeline. Leaving your moving duties to the last minute will cause unnecessary stress. You’ll have many decisions to make, whether you do it yourself (DIY) or hire one of the best moving companies to do everything for you.
Here’s a timeline to guide your move, starting two months before moving day.
8 weeks before you move
We recommend planning your move at least eight weeks before your moving date. If you coordinate your move through a local or long-distance moving company, you may want to start planning sooner, especially if you’re moving during the peak season in the spring and summer. The available dates for moving companies will fill up quickly. Booking a move during the off-season of September through April will require less notice.
Find new employment, if necessary
A long-distance move might mean you need to find a new job in your new area. To apply for jobs, you will need to:
- Update your resume
- Search for suitable positions
- Send out applications
- Interview for jobs
- Review offers
If you already have a job, you can also speak with your HR department about transferring to another office or team in your new location or ask if you can work remotely. Consider all of your options, but make sure you give yourself plenty of time to solve any employment problems that may come about with your move.
Sell unwanted items and take inventory of what’s left
Whether hiring movers or renting a pickup truck, getting rid of unwanted items before you pack is one of the cheapest ways to move. Reducing the size of your load will cut down on the overall weight. A lighter shipment will reduce the following:
- Fuel costs
- Packing materials
- Labor costs
- Time packing and unpacking
- Time loading and unloading
Having a garage sale is an excellent way to get rid of a lot of unneeded items. If you can sell your unwanted items, you can use the money you’ve earned to finance part of your move. Donating items you cannot sell will benefit you as well, and if you give your items to a tax-exempt organization, you may save some money on your taxes.
Once you’ve shed all unnecessary belongings, you must inventory what you will move. Aim for precision because if your inventory is inaccurate, your moving company may give you an inaccurate estimate.
Get moving estimates if you want to hire professional movers
Moving gets expensive, so plan your finances just as thoroughly as you plan your time. Once you have an inventory of your items, you’ll need to decide if you want to complete a DIY move or hire professional movers. If you’re going to use a company, you’ll need to clearly understand the cost of movers.
Most moving companies charge differently depending on the distance they need to travel. A local move is usually fewer than 50 miles but may vary by company. Movers calculate local estimates based on the time and labor required. Long-distance moves are generally over 50 miles — companies base long-distance quotes on the distance and the overall weight of your load.
Consider whether you need additional services from the moving company, such as packing and unpacking or extra packing materials. Many companies charge extra for these services. Some companies offer moving containers, which they drop off for you to fill with your belongings.
Research any moving company thoroughly before contacting them for an estimate. Get quotes from multiple companies to compare them and find your best option. For more help with this, read our tips for hiring movers.
6 weeks before you move
A little over a month before your planned moving date, ensure all your arrangements are made. Sometimes, you must notify your landlord, employer or your children’s school far before the move.
Secure new housing and give notice to your current landlord
Before signing an agreement with a moving company, ensure your new housing is secured and ready for your planned moving date.
If you are renting, communicate with your landlord and let them know about your planned move. You must work out the terms with your landlord to end your tenancy early. Even if you have decided to leave at the end of your lease agreement without renewing, you should give the landlord at least one month’s notice.
Ensure you understand the terms of your lease agreement and know what is required to receive the total security deposit back. If you’re required to patch holes or make other minor repairs, add them to your timeline.
Notify schools and doctors’ offices of the move
If you have children and plan to move in the middle of a school year, contact your children’s current and new school districts to learn about the requirements. You will likely need to complete paperwork before your children can enroll in a new school. You must also get your children’s records from their current school.
Schedule a final visit with your doctor to review your medications and any health conditions and to obtain your medical records. If you have not yet found a new doctor, your current doctor may have recommendations.
4 weeks before you move
At least one month before your big move, you should start organizing your items and packing. It’s also time to confirm your moving arrangements and purchase insurance.
Get packing supplies and start packing room by room
The sooner you start packing, the easier your move will be. You should get the necessary packing materials a month before you move. Some useful packing materials include:
- Moving boxes
- Tape
- Packing peanuts
- Plastic wrap
- Wooden boxes
- Labels
- Markers
- Bungee cords
Your moving company might sell you supplies, but you may be able to get materials for free through family and friends. You can also visit stores and ask if they have any used boxes you can take.
Once you’ve acquired some packing supplies, start packing little by little. Start by packing objects you won’t need to use over the next month, like seasonal items. As your moving date gets closer, pack more essential items.
Confirm moving arrangements and purchase moving insurance
Contact your moving company and ensure everything is on schedule before you proceed with any more steps. Make sure the dates are accurate. Even if you are going the DIY route and renting a moving truck, you should call the moving rental truck service to ensure a vehicle is available on the day of your move.
You may want to purchase insurance ahead of your move. A moving company will include released-value protection in your estimate. This coverage will insure your belongings at $0.60 per pound per item damaged or lost in the move.
For further protection, you can purchase additional coverage through your moving company. Full-value coverage will insure the true value of your goods. It may cost around 1% of the overall value of your shipment.
A third-party moving insurance company can cover a range of possibilities, such as accidents and natural disasters. Some expensive items like art pieces or jewelry may warrant additional coverage for complete protection. Make sure to weigh all your options before purchasing insurance.
2 weeks before you move
With two weeks left until your moving day, you’ll want to change your address and transfer utilities. Make sure you’ve set aside time away from work and other responsibilities.
Update your bank account billing address and request a change of address
You may find it helpful to get your address changed beforehand. If you move without changing your address, you may deal with many inconveniences later, like missing mail and incorrect deliveries. You can change your billing address on your bank account through your bank’s mobile app, by visiting a bank branch, by mail or through a net banking facility.
You’ll also need to file a USPS mail forwarding request before moving. One way to change your mailing address is by going to your local post office and asking for a copy of a Mover’s Guide packet. This packet contains tips for moving and PS Form 3575, a change of address form you must complete and submit to a postal worker.
You can also change your address online. This process can be done anywhere and will only cost you $1.10. The U.S. Postal Service cautions that online scammers offer to perform this change of address service for up to $40.
Request time off from work and schedule a transfer of your utilities
Moving is strenuous and stressful. If you’re working during your move, you will want to request some time off to handle the myriad of details headed your way.
Familiarize yourself with which utilities you’ll need to transfer to your new home and which ones you want to cancel. You must alert internet, television and phone service providers and schedule their disconnection.
Some utilities to consider contacting are:
- Natural gas
- Electricity
- Water
- Home security
- Sewer service
- Garbage collection
- Lawn care
- Snow removal
Make sure you’ve settled your bills before moving out to prevent confusion in the future.
1 week before you move
If you’ve been following this moving checklist, the last week before your move won’t be quite as stressful as it might have been. Here are some things to take care of one week before you move.
Use up perishable foods and clean out your old home
The final week before your move, take inventory of your food, especially perishable items. Try to consume things that won’t last. You will also need to pack up all your cooking utensils and kitchen appliances, so you may want to plan to eat out on the days leading up to your move.
You’ll also need to clean out your house. If you still have some money left in your moving budget, you can hire a cleaning service to do a deep cleaning. Cleaning your home before you move out is a nice gesture and, if you rent, can ensure you receive your security deposit from your landlord.
Pack up your essentials
Now, you can pack up all the household items you regularly use. If you started your packing process four weeks before the move, this shouldn’t take you very long. If you choose to use a moving container company, you might be able to start loading your belongings into the container a few days before your moving day.
Moving day
When the big day arrives, if you’ve followed our checklist for moving, you should feel confident that you’ve done everything you need to do. You can get to work moving your belongings to your new home or watch as the moving company loads your items for you.
When you move, keep your important documents with you. Do not pack these documents with the shipment that the movers will transport. Some important documents to keep with you include:
- Birth certificates
- School transcripts
- Medical records
- Financial records
- Medical records
Once you and your belongings arrive at your new location, you can begin unloading, unpacking and organizing your personal belongings.
Start preparing for the big move
Moving doesn’t have to be an extremely stressful experience if you follow a moving checklist timeline. Giving yourself enough time and correctly prioritizing your actions ensures your move is as smooth as possible. For more suggestions on moving with ease, take a look at our things to do when moving into a new home guide.