The Ultimate Moving Checklist, To-Do Timeline [Interactive, Printable]

• Get a moving binder
  Residential moving generates a large amount of paperwork that should be kept safe throughout the move. Get hold of a binder where you should keep all move-related paperwork: moving cost estimates, contracts, inventory sheets, receipts, personal notes, and so on.
• Fill out a moving quote
  You must know in advance how much your home move will cost. Complete a FREE (100% free) and QUICK (60 seconds) moving quote online to get contacted by professional moving companies for an accurate price estimation.
• Change your postal address
  Consider changing your postal address prior to Moving day – do it in person at the nearest local post office or complete the important task online. You can also do a change of address over the phone or by mail. Follow a detailed change of address checklist to save plenty of time.
• Have your mail forwarded
  Ask a good neighbor or a close friend who lives nearby to forward your mail to your new-home address until the change of address procedure takes effect. Leave them some money for the shipping costs.
• Share your updated address
  Notify friends, colleagues, and important institutions and organizations of your updated postal address. You can do this in person, over the phone, via e-mail, or through social networks. Here’s a 10-point checklist of who to notify when you move house.
• Cancel any subscriptions
  Remember to cancel any home-delivery services as you’re moving to a new address soon enough. Also, it’s a good idea to discontinue your memberships in gyms, clubs, hobby groups, organizations, and so on.
• Return borrowed items
  Return books, films, or any other borrowed items from friends, libraries, or organizations.
• Transfer your utilities
  Get in touch with your utility companies and set a date for having the utilities at your current home – electricity, water, gas, phone and Internet services, and central heating – disconnected, and then reconnected at the new home. These 10 steps will show you how to transfer utilities when moving.
• Speak with your landlord
  When moving out of a rented property, your tenant moving out checklist should remind you to speak with your landlord about it and inform them in advance of your plans so that you can collect your security deposit without any additional drama.
• Obtain medical records
  Pay a visit to your family physician and dentist, and obtain copies of all your medical records and documentation that will help you register with a new healthcare provider (find a new doctor) in the new town or city you’re moving to.
• Obtain and transfer school records
  If you have a school-age child, request his or her records from their school so that you can enroll your kid at a new educational institution upon arrival. To save time, try to arrange a direct inter-school transfer of those documents.
• Have a talk with your child or children
  Speak with your child or children about the upcoming home move and discuss the changes that are happening soon. Ask them about their hopes and expectations, and do your best to calm down any home-moving fears they may have.
• Face the fears of moving
  Moving house can be an intimidating transitional period where you may have to face and overcome a number of moving fears: fear of the unknown, fear of moving to a new house, fear of moving to a new city, fear of losing what you have right now, and so on.
• Handle the moving stress
  Learn what you can do to handle the stress of moving before and during the big move itself. It’s not a secret that moving house is one of life’s most stressful events, so use these 20 tried-and-true ways to handle stress when moving.
• Take your pet to the vet
  While figuring out the best way to move your dear pet, take them to the vet’s office for a complete medical checkup. Request any immunization records your canine or feline friend may have.
• Pay up any bills and debts
  Don’t forget (accidentally, of course) to pay up any remaining home bills or to settle any financial obligations (debts) prior to the move. Ideally, you won’t owe anything to anyone – moving away is a great opportunity to get a fresh start in a new place.
• Reserve the building elevator
  When moving out of a high-rise apartment, you should get in touch with the building manager and reserve the elevator for the Big day – the date when your hired movers are scheduled to arrive.
• Get any repair works done
  It’s time to think about any home repairs you have to do or get done before moving out. This way, you’ll get your security deposit back if you’re a renter, or you’ll sell your home for a better price if you’re an owner.
• Create a floor plan
  Measure up your biggest furniture pieces to know if they will fit into your new home and match its interior. The floor plan will help you decide what items to move and what to leave behind.
• Say your farewells
  Find some time for your friends in your busy residential moving checklist too. Invite your closest pals to a wild pre-move party or plan fun activities with them as a way to say your bittersweet goodbyes.

Before Moving: Professional Movers

• Weigh your moving options
  When moving across the country, using long distance movers will make the most sense. Not having sufficient time to prepare or having too many specialty items will also tip the scales in favor of hiring professional movers.
• Set up a moving budget
  Work out a moving budget to see where you stand from a financial point of view. Have you saved up enough money to cover the moving expenses? You’ll get a good idea of whether your budget is good to go as soon as you know what to budget for when you’ve chosen to hire professional movers.
• Consider worst-case scenarios
  Make sure you’re completely ready for your move by considering some likely worst-case scenarios. What are your options for moving home without money?
• Request in-home surveys
  Ask the moving companies that have contacted you to visit your home for visual moving cost estimation. Be firm about this, for cost estimates done over the phone or via email can never be accurate enough.
• Ask the hard questions
  Ask the moving company representatives at your home any questions or concerns you may have regarding their services and rates. Try to gauge their level of professionalism by the answers they provide.
• Compare moving estimates
  It’s time to compare the movers and their moving cost estimates – binding and in writing – you’ve received from the moving experts after the household inspections are over. Pay attention to the extra services offered and their corresponding charges.
• Protect your move
  Think twice before accepting a price quote that is much lower than the rest of the offers. Bids that are too good to be true could be signs of moving fraud orchestrated by dishonest moving companies (rogue movers).
• Research movers
  No interstate moving checklist will be complete without investing some time to compare the movers you have shortlisted. You’ll entrust your valuable possessions to complete strangers so you must research those moving companies to be sure they are reliable and competent enough to do the job.
• Check USDOT numbers of movers
  All interstate moving companies must be licensed by the U.S. Department of Transportation in order to operate. Make sure the companies you’re considering have valid USDOT numbers as proof of their legitimacy.
• Read moving reviews
  Ensure that your home moving partner has an excellent online reputation too. Read moving reviews and check overall ratings to get an idea about how customers rated the quality of their relocation services.
• Check movers’ membership status
  Check just how trustworthy your movers are – reputable moving companies are proud members of the Better Business Bureau (BBB).
• Make an informed decision
  The time to choose a moving company (in 31.5 steps) has come! Base your final decision on the cost estimates, extra services offered, online reputation (customer reviews), BBB accreditation, and last but not least – your faithful hunch.
• Bring down the price
  Ask moving companies whether they have any current price discounts or promotions that will enable you to pay movers less money in the end. Remember that when moving house every saved dollar counts, so your ultimate moving timeline says it’s time to negotiate with movers.
• Book your move ASAP
  Once you’ve chosen a mover, book your move right away for possible moving cost reduction. To save extra money from your long-distance move, opt for a move date on a weekday in the middle of the month, and ideally – during the off-season.
• Confirm your move
  Get in touch with the moving company you’ve chosen roughly two weeks before the move-out date and ask them for confirmation that things are going according to plan. That’s especially important when you’re working on your first-time moving checklist.
• Manage your moving paperwork
  Request the necessary paperwork from your moving company and make sure you understand all the terms and conditions before agreeing to them. Never sign blank or incomplete documents.
• Hire an auto shipper
  Contact a professional car transportation company if you need to have your car hauled, quickly and safely, to another part of the country. Ask for auto shippers quotes and compare various experienced and reliable car transporters.

Before Moving: Do-It-Yourself Move

• Assess your DIY options
  When moving only a short distance away, sufficient preparation time, reliable friends, and lack of any special household items may encourage you to try to move home by yourself. Are you up to the self-move challenge?
• Do what’s best for you
  Make an informed decision based on your unique house-moving circumstances. Sometimes it can be rather tricky to know for sure whether to hire movers or move by yourself.
• Ask friends to help you move
  Reach out to your friends as soon as possible to minimize the disruption of their own schedules. Seek confirmation that moving help will be available from your circle of friends before making the final decision.
• Secure a moving van
  You will need a suitable moving vehicle to transport your belongings – borrow a pickup truck or a van from a friend, or get in touch with a trustworthy truck rental company in order to rent a moving truck of the right size.
• Pick the best truck rental company
  Visit the websites of the major truck rental companies in the country – U-Haul, Penske, Budget, Ryder, and Enterprise – and check their rates and conditions in order to pick the right truck rental agency for you.
• Get a parking permit
  You want the borrowed or hired moving vehicle to be able to park right in front of the entrance of your home. Get a parking permit to avoid headaches because parking in big cities can be a hassle.
• Rent or purchase moving equipment
  Our local moving checklist continues with another must-do self-moving task: get your hands on the right type of moving equipment: a furniture dolly, a hand truck, furniture sliders, moving blankets, and a set of hand tools.
• Secure packing materials
  If you intend to pack up your home without hiring professional packers, you will surely need packing supplies of the right quantity and quality. See the packing checklist below so that you can really organize your time.
• Stay safe
  Safety is a big concern when organizing a self-move. Follow the proper lifting techniques, use appropriate moving equipment, always have friends to help you lift and carry heavy household items, and keep exit pathways clear.
• Find a fitting solution
  Some larger furniture pieces may refuse to go through a door opening. Oops! Try disassembling such a furniture piece to its main components, attempting different exit angles, taking the door off its hinges, or asking experts for assistance if all other options fail.
• Disassemble large and heavy furniture
  Check your printable moving checklist to make sure you’re ready to move your furniture to the new home. If needed, take apart safely the larger and heavier furniture pieces you own and pack them separately to save time and avoid damage.
• Load the moving truck
  Load the moving vehicle the right way – labeled moving boxes should be loaded first, followed by large furniture pieces, while any heavyweight household appliances should go last. Have your friends’ support and manpower at all times to prevent personal injuries.
• Secure loaded items
  Secure well the household items you have just loaded to keep them safe on the road. Strap or rope the larger items to the side of the truck to stop them from moving and possibly getting damaged during transit.
• Get qualified help
  Don’t hesitate to call for professional assistance should your decision to move on your own proves to be the wrong one midway through the relocation process.
• Have your car serviced
  Have your car serviced at an authorized service station before driving off with your own vehicle in the direction of the new house or apartment
• Plan your car trip
  Spend some time planning your own car trip and make travel arrangements. There are many things to think about: the places where you will stop along the way, where you will spend the night(s) if the drive is scheduled to take multiple days, and so on.
• Take your pets with you
  Take advantage of your self-move to transport your pets in your own car. Keep in mind that household moving companies will not agree to transport any pet animals for you because the law forbids them to do so.

Before Moving: Packing Checklist

• Assess your packing options
  Professional packers are insured and they will pack up your home quickly and safely too. Their packing service will cost you though (how much?). Consider packing up whatever you can by yourself to save money.
• Use a good packing checklist
  Packing for a move is the most time-consuming task of them all, so you are strongly advised to use a super-detailed packing timeline to avoid losing precious time.
• Find free cardboard boxes
  Let’s face it: you’re probably going to need more cardboard boxes than your budget can handle. Ask friends for spare boxes or get them for free from local businesses such as supermarkets, bookstores, and so on.
• Get hold of packing materials
  You’re going to need packing materials of good quality. In addition to the tens and tens of cardboard boxes, purchase sufficient amounts of soft packing paper, bubble wrap, moving blankets, packing tape, and color markers.
• Inventory your home
  Inventory your entire home by going from room to room and taking a long hard look at what it is that you intend to move. Make a detailed list of all your possessions and mark the items that require special packing.
• Sort out your items
  Consult your home inventory and sort out your stuff according to type, purpose, and condition. Set aside the things you won’t take with you – basically, anything you haven’t used in more than 12 months.
• Purge your home
  Get rid of any items you won’t ever need again to save money and time – you can’t and shouldn’t start packing absolutely everything you own. Sell, either online or at a yard sale, any worthless stuff to boost your budget.
• Organize a moving sale
  Don’t pay for transporting any items that you won’t ever need again. Instead, host a garage sale before moving out to try and sell those unwanted things. Then, add the cash you earn from the moving sale to your moving budget for a smoother move.
• Be charitable
  Do consider giving away to friends or donating to charity still usable household items that you won’t take with you. Reduce your transportation costs and help less fortunate people at the same time.
• Do not skimp on packing supplies
  Use as many packing supplies as it is necessary to protect your valued items. Be generous with padding materials (packing paper, bubble wrap, etc.), especially when you’re packing fragile items.
• Pack an essentials box
  Prepare an essentials box with vital items you can’t do without while your other things are in transit. Toiletries, plastic utensils, prescription medicines, change of clothes – only a small number of the content of your open-first box.
• Guard your valuables
  Pack safely your high-value articles – jewelry, collector’s items, important documents, electronics – and keep them by your side throughout the home move. Under no circumstances should you let movers pack or move your valuables.
• Purchase extra insurance
  Do consider purchasing additional insurance for any high-value articles that you’re about to entrust to your movers. Such valuable items are valued at more than $100 per pound, so speak with your moving company to get extra insurance coverage for those valuables listed in the high-value article inventory form.
• Reinforce your cardboard boxes
  Use high-quality packing tape to double-tape the bottoms of all cardboard boxes for extra packing safety, especially if you’re using second-hand containers. It’s better to be safe than sorry.
• Do not pack non-allowable items
  Do not invest time or energy into packing things that are forbidden for transportation – hazardous, perishable and irreplaceable items. Contact your moving company and request their list of non-allowables.
• Initiate the packing process
  Start the packing marathon from the rooms in your home that you use the least often – usually storage rooms such as garages, basements, attics, guest rooms, and closets. This way, you’ll be able to prevent clutter when packing.
• Keep your packing focus
  Start as early as possible and pack one room at a time – do not attempt to pack up your home in one single gigantic effort. Stay motivated when packing by setting mini packing goals and rewarding yourself when a major goal is reached.
• Label all packed boxes
  Don’t forget to label your boxes – use a color marker for each cardboard box you’ve packed for easier post-move identification. Write the content, destination room, and special handling instructions on at least two sides of the box.
• Get packing assistance
  Ask friends to give you a packing hand or hire professional packers if you’ve fallen way behind your packing moving checklist. No packing tasks of any kind should be left for Moving day.

• Defrost your fridge
  Let your refrigerator and/or freezer defrost at least 24 hours prior to Moving day. With enough time, you may clean your fridge right there and then, although it’ll make more sense to do it after the move.
• Keep your phone close by
  Be sure to have your cell phone with you at all times, charged and operational, in case your moving company wants to contact you for some updates.
• Get a good night’s sleep
  Go to bed as early as you can and try to get a good rest the night before your movers show up. Why? It’s important to have the energy, stamina, and concentration to survive Move day.
• Start Moving day early
  Don’t make any costly Moving day mistakes like sleeping in. Instead, wake up early on Moving day to have some extra time to get everything ready. Take a deep breath and do everything in your power to keep your cool during one of life’s most stressful and unpredictable days.
• Wear appropriate clothes
  Wear comfortable clothes that won’t restrict your movements but will still provide decent protection. Have closed footwear with anti-slip soles, preferably sports shoes. Avoid baggy clothes, jewelry, and any loose accessories.
• Ensure Moving day safety
  Moving days can be plain dangerous. Make sure small kids and pets are cordoned off in a safe place in the home, far from the house-moving action.
• Finish last-minute tasks
  Ideally, you won’t have any last-minute jobs to complete before your movers knock at the door. Yet, if you do happen to have any unfinished tasks, get them done ASAP.
• Welcome your movers
  Welcome your movers at the pre-arranged time, show them around your home and let them do what you’re paying them to do. Provide your hired laborers with beverages, snacks, and bathroom access.
• Clean the home you’re leaving
  Follow a good home cleaning checklist to clean up the place before moving out in order to collect your security deposit (renters) or have a smooth home sale process (owners). Dispose of the cleaning products properly after that highly unattractive task.
• Do the final security check
  Take a final walk around your home to make sure everything looks okay, and that nothing (or no one!) is left behind. Check whether all windows and doors are closed and locked up, and that electricity, water, and gas supplies are switched off before you move out.
• Start the relocation journey
  Say goodbye to your old home and have a safe relocation journey to your new house or apartment, and your new life chapter as well.

• Check household utilities
  Check if all home utilities are up and running – electricity, water, gas, cable TV, phone, and so on. Write down the readings of all utility meters. Contact your new utility providers if there are any problems.
• Unpack any essentials boxes
  Unpack your open-first boxes and use the essential items inside them to survive the first night in the new home or until you get reunited with your everyday household items. Switch to survival mode, if you must.
• Check delivered boxes
  Be there when your movers deliver your stuff and make sure you check each item against the inventory sheet as it is carried inside. Notify your movers ASAP if anything is damaged or missing.
• Pay for the moving services
  Brace yourself: your detailed to-do list says it’s time to pay for the moving service in accordance with your contract with the moving company. Always opt to pay for the move with a bank card to have more power in case of a dispute with your mover.
• Tip your movers
  Feel free to tip your movers if you’re happy with the way they did their job. If you feel that you should, reward each worker individually for their genuine efforts – never hand out the lump sum to the foreman.
• Tend to your pets
  Don’t neglect the needs of your pets – give them enough time to acclimatize properly by placing them in a safe room and showing them how much you care for them.
• Childproof the new home
  If you just moved house with a small baby or a toddler, it’s vital that you baby-proof the new home so that it becomes 100% safe for your little angel to play and grow inside it.
• Create a post-move checklist
  Create a moving checklist with things to do after the move is complete. Don’t forget that the end of Moving day doesn’t mean that your job is done as you’ll have plenty of post-relocation tasks to take care of.
• Start unpacking
  Initiate the unpacking process at your own comfortable pace. Use the room-by-room Unpacking Checklist to unpack the BEDROOM-, BATHROOM-, and KITCHEN-labeled boxes with priority. If necessary, ask friends to help you unpack.
• Look for a new job
  It’s time to update your CV and go job-hunting if you haven’t secured a new job in the new city or town. Many post-move tasks are important but nothing comes close to securing a constant income.
• Find a good school
  Register your school-age child or children at a reputable school if you haven’t done so prior to the move. Do school tours in person to find the most suitable school for your son or daughter.
• Register with healthcare providers
  Your health is your top priority – do not delay the task of finding a family physician, a dentist, and a veterinarian (if applicable). Take all the required documentation with you for the registration process.
• Register your car
  Register your vehicle if you just moved to a new state. You may also need to renew your driver’s license, so it’s better to contact the local DMV office for more information.
• Be thrifty after the move
  Don’t overspend unnecessarily right after the move by rushing to various stores to buy whatever you think you need for the new place. Instead, your post-move moving checklist should encourage you to wait some time to actually see whether or not you will really need all those new-house items.
• Throw a housewarming party
  Consider organizing a housewarming party to get to know your new work colleagues and neighbors and hopefully find a few friends in them. Thus said, don’t forget to keep in touch with your old friends too.
• Get to know your new city
  Be open and receptive to the new environment in order to avoid the dangerous clutches of relocation depression. Explore your new city little by little and locate important landmarks to help you adjust faster.
• Make new friends
  Be open to new friendships after moving to a new city or town but don’t forget to keep in touch with your old pals either. Moving house is a tough ordeal, so you’ll need all the friends you can get to make it.
• Review your moving company
  Remember to leave a review about your moving company. This is really important because that thoughtful act of yours will help other people find a better relocation service provider, just like you did. Moreover, writing a moving review may help you resolve any issues you may currently have with your professional mover.