The Ultimate Moving Checklist: Everything You Need to Do (8 Weeks to Moving Day)

Moving is a project, and like any project, it needs a plan. The biggest mistake people make is underestimating how many tasks are involved — and then scrambling in the last 48 hours. This checklist breaks every task into a week-by-week timeline, starting 8 weeks before your move. Follow it sequentially and nothing falls through the cracks.

8 Weeks Before Moving Day

This is your planning phase. No boxes, no packing — just decisions and scheduling that will save you headaches later.

• Set your moving date and confirm it with your landlord or closing agent
• Determine your moving budget (use our cost guide for 2026 averages)
• Decide: hiring movers vs. DIY vs. hybrid (labor-only + rental truck)
• Start getting moving quotes — get at least 3. Use NEM for instant flat-rate pricing.
• Begin decluttering: Go room by room and make keep/sell/donate/trash piles
• Research your new neighborhood: grocery stores, pharmacies, schools, transit
• If moving for a job, check if your employer offers relocation assistance
• Start a moving binder or digital folder for receipts, contracts, and documents
• If you have kids, request school records and research enrollment at the new school
• If you have pets, find a new vet and update microchip information

6 Weeks Before Moving Day

Now is the time to book services and handle the administrative side of moving. Don't procrastinate on these — some require lead time.

• Book your movers (the earlier, the better availability and pricing)
• If DIY, reserve your rental truck — especially for summer or end-of-month moves
• Notify your landlord in writing if you haven't already (check your lease for notice period)
• Start selling unwanted items on Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, or OfferUp
• Begin collecting free boxes from liquor stores, grocery stores, Craigslist, and Nextdoor
• Order specialty packing supplies: mattress bags, wardrobe boxes, dish packs, bubble wrap
• If you have a storage unit, schedule a time to clear it or transfer the lease
• Arrange school transfers and medical record transfers
• If moving long-distance, research state-specific requirements (vehicle registration, driver's license deadlines)
• Notify your insurance agent — homeowner's/renter's, auto, health — about your address change

4 Weeks Before Moving Day

Packing begins. Start with the rooms and items you use least. The goal is to pack 1–2 rooms per week so you're not doing it all in one frantic weekend.

• Start packing non-essential rooms: guest bedroom, storage areas, garage, basement
• Pack off-season clothes, holiday decorations, books, and collectibles
• Photograph electronics setups (TV, router, computer) before disconnecting anything
• Back up computers and important files to an external drive or cloud storage
• Submit a Change of Address form with USPS (do this at least 2 weeks before the move)
• Notify important contacts of your address change: bank, credit cards, subscriptions, employer, IRS
• Schedule utility disconnection at the old place and connection at the new place for moving day
• If your building requires a COI from movers, request it now and send it to building management
• Confirm your moving date with your movers and go over any special instructions
• Create a detailed inventory of high-value items for insurance purposes (photograph and list)
• If applicable, schedule elevator reservations at both buildings
• Arrange childcare or pet care for moving day — you don't want kids or pets underfoot

2 Weeks Before Moving Day

The pace picks up. Most of your home should be packed or in progress by now. Focus on the remaining rooms and tying up loose ends.

• Pack the kitchen (see our kitchen packing guide for fragile items)
• Pack the bathroom, leaving only daily essentials in a clear bag
• Disassemble furniture that needs it (bed frames, desks, bookshelves) — bag and tape hardware to each piece
• Wrap and protect mirrors, artwork, and framed photos with corner protectors or bubble wrap
• Defrost and clean the refrigerator if you're not taking it
• Use up perishable food and cleaning supplies — don't move half-empty bottles
• Confirm utility setup at the new place — electricity, gas, water, internet, trash service
• Confirm your parking situation at both locations — do you need a permit or reserved spot?
• Transfer or cancel local memberships: gym, library, dry cleaner, subscriptions
• Get your vehicle serviced if driving long-distance
• Confirm moving day details with your movers: arrival time, address, contact info, access instructions
• Pack a "first night" box with essentials: sheets, towels, toiletries, phone chargers, snacks, basic tools, toilet paper, paper plates

1 Week Before Moving Day

Almost there. This week is about finishing the last rooms, doing final prep, and getting mentally ready.

• Finish packing all remaining items — everything except what you're using this week
• Pack suitcases for each family member with 3–5 days of clothes and toiletries (treat it like a trip)
• Clean the old place as you empty rooms — do it room by room as you finish packing
• Take photos of the old place's condition (walls, floors, appliances) for security deposit protection
• Confirm delivery window with movers one more time
• Withdraw cash for mover tips ($20–$60 per mover, depending on the move)
• Charge all devices — you'll need your phone on moving day
• Separate valuables, medications, important documents, and jewelry — these go with you, not the truck
• Say goodbye to neighbors and exchange contact info if you want to stay in touch
• Prepare a cooler with drinks and snacks for moving day

Moving Day Checklist

The big day. Here's what to do from the moment you wake up to when the last box is unloaded.

Morning: Before Movers Arrive

• Strip beds, pack bedding into bags or boxes (or leave in drawers wrapped with stretch wrap)
• Do a final sweep of every room: check closets, cabinets, under sinks, behind appliances, attic, garage
• Disconnect washer/dryer hoses if applicable
• Clear a path from the door to the truck — move rugs, shoes, and obstacles out of the way
• Set aside your "do not load" items: essentials bag, valuables, important documents, car keys
• Put out water, snacks, and energy drinks for your movers
• If you have pets, secure them in a separate room or at a friend's place

During the Move

• Be available to answer movers' questions (which items are fragile, where to put things in the truck)
• Do NOT hover — let them work. Professional movers have a system.
• Take meter readings at the old place (gas, electric, water) for final billing
• Do one final walkthrough after everything is loaded: check every room, closet, and cabinet
• Lock all doors and windows at the old place
• Leave keys as instructed (with landlord, on counter, in lockbox)

At the New Place

• Arrive before the movers if possible — do a walkthrough and check that utilities are on
• Direct movers to the right rooms (use colored labels or posted signs matching your box system)
• Check high-value items as they come off the truck
• Note any damage immediately and photograph it
• Tip movers in cash after everything is unloaded and you've verified nothing is missing
• Unpack the "first night" box immediately: set up beds, bathroom, and the coffee maker
• Test all locks, smoke detectors, and carbon monoxide alarms
• Locate the breaker box, main water shut-off, and gas shut-off valve

First Week in the New Home

You're in. Now settle in systematically instead of trying to unpack everything at once.

• Unpack the kitchen first — it's the most-used room and sets the tone for feeling "moved in"
• Set up beds and bedrooms next — good sleep makes everything else easier
• Unpack bathrooms and get the shower working with your own towels and products
• Break down boxes as you empty them — don't let cardboard pile up
• Update your driver's license and vehicle registration within the required period (varies by state)
• Register to vote at your new address
• Introduce yourself to neighbors — especially in apartments where you share walls
• Schedule any repairs or installations you noticed during the walkthrough
• File a moving expense claim with your employer if applicable
• Update your address on Amazon, subscriptions, and any remaining accounts

Room-by-Room Packing Priority

If you're unsure where to start, here's the order professional movers recommend:

• 1. Storage areas, attic, basement, garage — items you rarely use
• 2. Guest rooms and spare bedrooms
• 3. Home office and bookshelves
• 4. Living room (except the TV — save that for last)
• 5. Dining room
• 6. Kids' rooms (let them pack some of their own stuff — it gives them ownership)
• 7. Master bedroom
• 8. Kitchen (most complex room — see our kitchen packing guide)
• 9. Bathrooms — pack the morning of the move, keeping daily essentials until the last minute

Essential Moving Supplies Checklist

• Small boxes (book boxes): 10–20 per bedroom
• Medium boxes: 10–15 per bedroom
• Large boxes: 5–10 per bedroom (clothes, bedding, pillows)
• Wardrobe boxes: 1–2 per closet
• Dish pack boxes: 1–2 for the kitchen
• Packing tape: 3–5 rolls (get a tape gun — it's worth it)
• Bubble wrap: 1–2 rolls for fragile items
• Packing paper: 5–10 lbs (better than newspaper — no ink transfer)
• Permanent markers: 3–4 in different colors for labeling
• Mattress bags: 1 per mattress
• Stretch wrap: 2–3 rolls for furniture and keeping drawers shut
• Furniture pads/blankets: If DIY, rent these with the truck
• Ziplock bags: For screws, bolts, and small hardware
• Trash bags: For last-minute items and cleanup
• Box cutter: For unpacking at the new place

Start Your Move with NEM

You've got the checklist. Now you need the movers. NEM provides instant upfront pricing, same-day availability in 12+ cities, and vetted movers who handle your belongings like their own. Get your quote in 60 seconds and cross "book movers" off the list. Book at the-nem.com.