Moving? This Checklist Can Make the Transition Smoother

Inventory moving needs

Determine what kind of support you’ll need: a full-service move where you do nothing,  a service that has you pack some items or a full DIY move. A portable moving container is another option.

Ask around for recommendations and research reliable moving companies (check their websites, reviews and social media). Make sure the mover is insured and bonded and, if you’re moving to a new state, that the company has a registration number from the U.S. Department of Transportation. Request quotes from at least three companies, schedule a virtual or in-person walk-through, get written estimates and then book your move after being clear on what’s included in the estimate.

Once you’ve started the process, keep all of your move-related paperwork together in one place so it’s easy to find. Moving experts and consumers recommend using print or electronic checklists to keep you on track. Many moving companies provide a checklist, or you can find one online.

Earlier this year, Neysa Bartlett, 52, and her husband, Kevin, 55, hired a well-known moving company to pack larger items, put them in storage for a month and drive them from central Michigan to Ocala, Florida. They were surprised and unhappy to learn later that the company had subcontracted the work to other movers.

“We know they went through our stuff because things were stolen and were returned unwrapped and dirty,” says Neysa, who estimates the damage totaled at least $5,000. “Many, many things were broken.”

She recommends you ask about subcontracting, review the contract and make sure you receive a copy of the document.

Here’s a handy checklist starting six weeks before a move to help ensure it goes smoothly.

6 weeks before

• If you have pets, take them to the veterinarian for a checkup before traveling.
• Make any necessary travel arrangements, including airfare and hotel reservations. If you’re driving long-distance, make an appointment for vehicle service about two weeks before departure.

5 weeks before

• If you’re packing yourself, get moving boxes and supplies, including scissors, tape, markers, padding and tools. Look for free boxes at local stores, U-Haul Box Exchange and on Craigslist, Freecycle, Nextdoor.com and Facebook groups like Buy Nothing. Use Moving.com’s Packing Calculator and Moving Cost Calculator to estimate how many boxes you’ll need.
• Get any documents or items kept away from your home, such as in your safe deposit box.

4 weeks before

• Declutter. Go room by room and create four piles: items you want to keep, sell, donate and trash. Typically, the less weight you move, the less expensive it will be. The cost of moving, which ranges from $1,250 to over $10,000, also depends on the size of your home, the mileage between locations, labor, extra services and the time of year.
• “My advice is to get rid of everything. It’s literally cheaper to ... buy fresh,” Bernstein says. “Don’t waste the time, energy and money to move boxes later that you don’t need.”
• Packing can be overwhelming, so start now with nonessential items, such as holiday decorations and seasonal clothing. Find out if any items, such as paint and propane, are prohibited by your mover. Label each box by the contents and room. Some moving companies provide an inventory list, or you can create one. “I labeled every box so it was easy to identify where it went in the [new] house,” says Kim Craft. “I numbered each room in the new house and put sticky notes with that number on the furniture.”
• Contact your mover to ensure logistics are on track or if you’ve reduced your load.

3 weeks before

• File a change-of-address form with the U.S. Post Office and update your address with financial institutions, health care providers, Social Security, Internal Revenue Service and Medicare.
• Transfer or cancel subscriptions, such as for magazines, and memberships like the gym. Transfer prescriptions for you — and your pets — to a new pharmacy. 
• Cancel or transfer utility services at your current home and schedule start dates for your new home.
• Set aside important and valuable items, such as jewelry, passports, electronics and artwork, that you want to carry with you.

2 weeks before

• Tie up loose ends: Return borrowed items, including library books. Pick up any items from the dry cleaner.
• Make sure you have enough prescription medication to last a week after your move. 

1 week before

• Clean your home.
• Unplug, clean and disassemble all indoor and outdoor electronics and appliances before the movers arrive. Allow 24 hours to defrost the refrigerator and freezer. 
• Pack a bag for your relocation trip and create a box of goods to get you through a few days in your new home, especially if the movers are delayed.  Include food, clothing, toiletries, a first-aid kit, and a shower curtain and towels and sheets.
• Confirm arrival time and details with your mover.

Moving day

• Be on site to oversee loading. Keep your checklist handy.
• Separate items, such as your travel bags, valuables and prescriptions, that will travel with you so they’re not packed on the moving truck.
• Take a final walk-through of your home to ensure nothing is left behind. Read and sign all paperwork and get copies. “Try to be as organized as you can up front,” advises Kim Craft. “We closed on both houses and moved in one day,” so it was hectic, he adds.