The ultimate moving checklist for planning ahead

Moving into a new home can be an exciting step – but it can also be a big challenge. One way to make moving day easier is to develop a clear, meticulous plan that breaks down your move step by step.

Our moving checklist will guide you in creating a thoughtful moving timeline so you can get from one home to the other with less stress — and more confidence.

2 months before moving day

Getting started 2 months before the big move is a great way to set yourself up for success. Now is the time to focus on big-picture tasks and get your high-level plans in order.

Make lists and get organized

Begin by creating a thorough list of everything you want to do. Putting all your thoughts in one place — remember, it doesn’t have to be perfect at the outset — can help you organize your ideas as you move forward. You can create a digital document for your thoughts, or put them in an old-school folder or binder.

The goal is simple: Keep your thoughts organized so you feel in control and ready for the next steps.

Start decluttering your belongings

You might be tempted to just toss everything in a box and deal with it later, but trust us — you’ll thank yourself if you begin the decluttering process now. Packing lightly means less stress and fewer belongings to manage in your new home.

Create three categories for your belongings, which will help simplify the process:

• Sell: You can make surprisingly decent money from things you no longer need
• Donate: Help those less fortunate by donating items
• Discard: Throw away items that are broken or unusable

Decide how you want to move and research movers

Consider this: How are you going to do the actual moving? Are you going to hire movers, enlist the help of friends and family, or go the DIY route?

If you plan to hire movers, start researching your options, read online reviews of local companies, and get recommendations from people you know. Moving companies can get booked months in advance, and you don’t want to find yourself in a last-minute scramble.

Set your moving budget

Not only is moving a complicated process, but costs can add up, too. So assess your expenses and look at the variables of your move, which include:

• How much furniture do you have?
• How far away is your new home?
• How big is your old place? (If you hire a mover, their rates are typically based on the size of the original house.)
• Will you require storage?
• Do you have large or specialty items? Pianos, artwork, or appliances often need special handling.
• Will you need to ship a vehicle?

These (and many other) questions can impact the costs of your move, so sit down and plan your moving budget well in advance.

Start the school enrollment process

If you have school-aged kids, you may want to enroll them in a new school or daycare. Because there are often lengthy waitlists for daycares and private schools, it’s best to start this process as early as possible. If you are childless but considering having children down the road, it could be helpful to look at school rankings and other factors that determine a good place to raise a family.

Get updated pet records

If you’re moving into an area with a homeowners association (HOA) or a landlord, you may need to provide your pet’s veterinary records. It’s best to get this taken care of ahead of time so there are no issues once you arrive at your new home.

Inventory your valuables

There’s a truism that pops up any time you move: Accidents happen — even if you and/or your movers take the most thorough precautions. Thankfully, homeowners insurance may cover broken valuables, so insure your precious and/or expensive belongings, including jewelry, artwork, heirlooms, and antiques.

You can take a few specific steps to streamline the process in case you need to file a claim:

• Take photos of all valuables and store the photos in a cloud-based storage system.
• Consider purchasing an additional insurance rider for very expensive items, as your insurance policy may not cover them.
• Keep in mind that your movers may have insurance that will cover broken valuables, so look into this before you begin the move.

1 month before moving day

As moving day gets closer, it’s time to start making concrete plans and taking steps to make moving week less stressful.

Schedule utility stop and start dates

Contact your companies for your current and new homes, and make arrangements to stop or begin service on the relevant dates. You’ll want to reach out to utility providers for services including:

• Electricity and gas
• Water and sewage treatment
• Internet, phone, and cable

Hire a moving company

If you haven’t already done this, now is the time to book your movers for the big day. Research companies in advance and choose one with positive customer reviews to help create a stress-free move.

Collect moving supplies

Stock up on moving supplies, including: boxes, bubble wrap, packing tape, markers, scissors or box cutters, plastic bags, moving blankets, dollies, and furniture sliders. Note that, if you’re hiring movers, they may provide many of these items.

Make travel arrangements

If you’re making a long-distance move, now’s the time to book your hotel and transportation arrangements. And don’t forget your car — schedule a quick check-up and oil change to avoid any bad surprises when you hit the road.

Start packing early

The more packing you do now, the less stress you’ll have on moving day. Start by packing off-season items, including clothing and decorations, as well as other things you rarely use. And don’t forget to label each box clearly — your future self will thank you when it’s time to unpack.

Request time off work

If you have to take off from your job to move, make the request at least a month in advance (if not earlier).

1 – 2 weeks before moving day

Now that you’re within 2 weeks of moving day, it’s time to get serious about packing and preparing.

Create an essentials bag for moving day

Make sure you have a go-to bag with everything you’ll need to stay comfortable on moving day, including:

• Personal items: Extra clothing, toiletries, medication, first-aid kit
• Tech essentials: A computer and/or tablet, headphones, phone and computer chargers
• Comfort and entertainment: Snacks, books, toys, games for the kids
• Important documents: IDs, contracts, critical paperwork
• Moving tools: A box cutter or scissors, marker, paper towels

Return items you borrowed

Before moving day, take a moment to return anything that isn’t yours — a neighbor’s baking dish, a friend’s power drill, or those library books you never quite got around to finishing. Clearing these out now saves you from packing extra clutter, and it keeps relationships positive as you head to your new home.

Prepare outdoor items

Drain all your garden hoses and wipe down lawn furniture before you package it for the move. Take care of other outdoor supplies, with steps including:

• Empty gasoline from the lawn mower
• Clean your grill and remove any propane tanks
• Look at your big items — swing sets, trampolines, or heavy planters might not be worth the move. Consider selling or donating them.
• Check in with your movers
• Contact your movers, whether that means the moving company you’ve hired or the friends and family you’ve enlisted to help on the big day. Make sure everyone is ready to go and will appear on time.

Deep clean your home

Whether you’re selling your home, turning it over to a landlord, or preparing it for new renters, a thorough deep clean is worth the effort. A spotless home can help you secure your security deposit, avoid extra fees, or even boost the sale price. If you want to skip the elbow grease, hire a professional cleaning service to come in after the movers leave.

Make arrangements for your kids and pets on moving day

If you have children or pets, to make arrangements for them on moving day so they aren’t in the way or stressed out by the big changes.

• Send notice of your new address
• Be sure to change your address with the proper places ahead of time, including:
• The United States Postal Service (via official change of address form)
• Health care providers
• Insurance company
• Schools
• Bank and credit card companies
• Government agencies
• Employer
• Accountant
• Friends and family

2 – 3 days before moving day

If you’ve laid out a thorough moving list and checked off your tasks, these last few days should feel surprisingly smooth and, dare we say, somewhat low on stress.

Get cash to tip the movers

It’s customary to tip professional movers, so withdraw some cash ahead of time. There are a few options for this generosity: you can tip 10% – 20% of the total bill, a flat amount for the entire day, or $4 – $5 per hour for each mover.

Check the weather

Look at the forecast before moving day so you’re ready for anything. A little planning, such as tarps for rain or extra water for heat, can help keep things smooth no matter what Mother Nature throws your way. 

Clean out the refrigerator

Clean out your refrigerator, including emptying and defrosting it, at least 24 hours before the move. If you have nonperishable food items you don’t want to take with you, donate them to a local food bank or shelter. Otherwise, move your perishable items into a cooler or portable refrigerator.

Let your neighbors know about your plans

Inform people on your street or in your building that you may be blocking shared spaces, such as building entrances or parking spaces. On a related note, make sure you put up signs or make other arrangements so a moving truck can park in front of your home.

On moving day

You’ve made it this far — congrats! If you’ve been following your moving checklist, you should be in decent shape. But before you open the bubbly, there are still a few last-minute tasks to make sure everything goes smoothly. They include:

Verify the movers

You can’t be too careful, so confirm that the moving truck that arrives matches the company you were expecting (You can do this via the USDOT number on the side of the moving truck.).

Take a final walk-through

Go on one last stroll through your home to confirm you haven’t left behind any personal items, the lights are off, everything is clean, and all doors and windows are closed and locked.

Oversee the move

Even if you’ve hired movers, you’ll still want to be present to keep an eye on things, answer questions, and provide any directions to make sure your belongings are being handled correctly.

Cross-check inventory

After the move is complete, compare the mover’s inventory with your own to make sure there are no discrepancies. Also, inspect your fragile items to make sure nothing is broken. (Note: You might need to sign the mover’s copy of the inventory to confirm that everything’s been delivered and isn’t damaged.)

Return your keys

If you are renters, the final step of leaving the old place is returning the keys to your landlord. Do this right away to avoid being charged for extra days in the home.

After moving day

Now that you’re in your new place, there are some steps you’ll want to turn your new domicile into a home. These include:

• Changing the locks
• Confirming the utilities and services are up and running
• Unpacking your most important items
• Setting up the home security system (if the new home has one)
• Doing a deep cleaning
• Filing insurance claims for missing or damaged items

The bottom line: Plan ahead to make your moving day go more smoothly

While moving can be logistically challenging — and, and times, emotionally taxing — there are steps that can ease the stress of this big transition. Start early, make a detailed checklist, and methodically tackle steps one at a time. If you do that, you may well find that moving isn’t quite as overwhelming as you thought.

And once the hurdles are behind you, moving becomes more than a chore — it’s a fresh start, a new beginning to an exciting chapter of your life. Indeed, a new home can open the door to happiness, growth, and exciting adventures.

If you are looking for a new home and want to start the mortgage approval process, check out what Rocket Mortgage offers today!