Most moving stress comes from decisions made too late. A six-week runway gives you enough time to do the work without panic. Here is the checklist we give our own customers.
Six weeks before
- Confirm your move date and book the mover. Summer and end-of-month slots go first.
- Set a budget. Moving costs, deposits, and any new furniture you will need.
- Start sorting. Every closet, every drawer, every garage shelf.
- Gather quotes from movers if you have not booked yet. Ask about supplies included, minimum hours, and travel time.
Four weeks before
- Give notice to your landlord if you rent. Most leases require 30 days.
- Book utility transfers (power, water, internet) for the day after you move.
- Reserve parking or loading zones at both ends if the building requires it.
- Order boxes and packing supplies, or confirm your mover is bringing them.
- Start packing non-essentials. Seasonal clothes, books, decor, out-of-season sports gear.
Two weeks before
- Pack everything you do not use weekly. The kitchen, except one pot and one plate per person.
- Confirm the crew size and arrival time with your mover.
- Label every box with room, contents summary, and "FRAGILE" if relevant.
- Set aside an "essentials box" for the first night — see below.
- Change your address with USPS, banks, credit cards, employer, insurance.
One week before
- Pack everything except a week of clothes and daily-use toiletries.
- Empty and defrost the fridge and freezer 48 hours before the move.
- Disconnect washer, dryer, and any hardwired appliances.
- Photograph the back of your TV, router, and any other cabled electronics.
- Confirm the loading zone, elevator reservation, and parking.
The day before
- Pack the essentials box.
- Charge every device. Charge your phone bank.
- Set out clothes for moving day — clothes you do not mind getting dirty.
- Get cash for tips, if you plan to tip the crew (typical is 10-20% of the bill, split among the crew).
- Sleep. You will be on your feet for eight hours tomorrow.
Moving day
- Be up and dressed before the crew arrives.
- Walk the crew through both the old and new place before they lift a single item.
- Point at what stays behind. Be explicit — "everything in the garage" is a good rule to say out loud.
- Keep your essentials box with you, not on the truck.
- Do a final walk-through of the old place before the truck leaves. Check closets, cabinets, the garage, and the attic.
First night
Your essentials box should have:
- Phone charger, power bank, and any cables
- Toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, one towel per person
- One change of clothes per person
- Bedding for the beds that are being assembled
- Paper plates, one cup per person, snacks, water bottles
- A basic toolkit — screwdriver, Allen keys, box cutter
- Toilet paper, paper towels, trash bags
- Any medications
Assemble the bed first. A made bed at the end of a long moving day is worth more than any decoration.
The first week
- Unpack room by room. Do not open every box in one day.
- Return any borrowed equipment, and note any damage within 48 hours if you used a professional mover.
- Get the wifi working before Monday, if you work from home.
- Walk the neighborhood. Find the closest coffee shop, grocery, hardware store, and pharmacy.