Most moves go wrong in the same places: a truck booked too late, utilities that are not on when you arrive, and an address that was never changed. This checklist is ordered by when each task needs to happen, so you can start wherever you are today and work forward. Tick the boxes on paper, or download the PDF and keep it on the fridge.
Prefer a spreadsheet that works out the due dates from your move-in date? See the Moving Checklist Planner.
8 weeks before
- Pick a target move-in date and set a total moving budget.
- Decide between movers, a rental truck, or a mix, and request at least three written quotes.
- Start a moving folder (paper or digital) for quotes, receipts, leases and confirmations.
- Declutter room by room: sell, donate or throw away what you will not take.
- Research the new area: commute, neighborhoods, schools, costs and local crime data.
- Ask your school, employer and doctors what they need from you before you leave.
6 weeks before
- Book the movers or reserve the truck for your date.
- Give notice to your landlord, or plan the sale or closing dates for your home.
- Order boxes, tape, bubble wrap and markers.
- Request time off work for packing and moving day.
- Start using up the freezer and pantry instead of restocking.
4 weeks before
- Start packing rooms and items you rarely use.
- File a mail forwarding request with USPS for your move date.
- Update your address with your bank, credit cards, insurance, employer and tax accounts.
- Cancel or transfer memberships and subscriptions tied to your old address.
- Get copies of medical, dental, school and vet records and refill prescriptions.
- Schedule shut-off at the old home and start-up at the new one for power, water, gas and internet.
2 weeks before
- Confirm date, arrival window and price with the movers or truck company in writing.
- Pack most of the house and label every box with its room and a short contents list.
- Arrange childcare and pet care for moving day.
- Plan your route and get the car serviced if you are driving a long distance.
- Set aside passports, birth certificates, jewelry, medication and laptops to carry yourself.
1 week before
- Defrost the freezer and empty and clean the refrigerator.
- Pack an open-first box: toiletries, chargers, basic tools, towels, sheets, snacks and a few dishes.
- Confirm that utilities at the new home will be on when you arrive.
- Photograph the wiring behind electronics and the condition of large furniture.
- Plan cash or payment for movers, tips and last-minute supplies.
Moving day
- Walk through the home with the movers and review the inventory and paperwork before signing.
- Take photos of utility meter readings at the old home.
- Do a last walk-through of every room, closet and storage space, then lock up.
- Keep your keys, phone charger, wallet and important documents with you.
- At the new home, check that everything has been delivered before you sign off.
First week after
- Set up beds, the bathroom and the kitchen basics first.
- Inspect your belongings for damage and report problems to the mover promptly.
- Find the water shut-off and breaker panel and test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.
- Change or re-key the locks.
- Finish address changes you missed and look up what your new state requires of new residents.
- Walk the neighborhood and note the nearest pharmacy, urgent care and grocery store.
Moving to a new state
Crossing a state line adds a short list of things that usually have their own deadlines. Rules and grace periods differ by state and change, so look each one up on your new state's official website rather than relying on a general list:
- Driver's license or state ID and vehicle registration (often with a title, inspection or emissions step).
- Voter registration.
- State income tax: whether you file a part-year return for the year you moved.
- Professional licenses and certifications.
- Insurance: auto, home or renters, and health coverage if your plan is state-specific.
- Pets (licensing, vaccination records) and school enrollment.
Researching where to move?
Before you book the truck, compare the places you are considering using FBI crime data for more than 2,900 US cities.
Want the due dates worked out for you?
The Moving Checklist Planner is a 7-tab Google Sheets and Excel version: type your move-in date once and every due date recalculates. $12 one-time.
Frequently asked questions
How far in advance should I start a moving checklist?
About eight weeks before your move date is a comfortable start for most households. Booking movers or a truck, giving notice and decluttering take the longest, so they come first. A short-notice move can use the same list; just compress the early blocks.
What should I do first when moving?
Pick a move-in date, set a budget and decide whether you will use movers, a rental truck or both. Then get written quotes, because good mover dates fill up weeks ahead, especially at month-end and in summer.
What should I carry with me instead of packing?
Keep passports, birth certificates, other important documents, jewelry, medication, chargers and laptops with you, plus a box of first-night essentials that you can reach before anything else is unpacked.
Do I need to change my address with USPS?
A mail forwarding request with USPS is a common first step, but it is not permanent. Update your address directly with your bank, insurance, employer and any government accounts so mail keeps arriving after forwarding ends.
Is this moving checklist really free?
Yes. Print this page or download the PDF without signing up. The separate Moving Checklist Planner is a paid Google Sheets and Excel version that calculates due dates from your move-in date; it is optional.
This checklist is general planning guidance, not legal, tax or financial advice. Deadlines and requirements vary by state and situation.