# Complete Moving Checklist *Reviewed by Joey Padgett · Last reviewed September 2026* Moving has a lot of moving parts, and the tasks don't distribute evenly across the timeline. Some things need to happen 8 weeks out. Others can only happen in the final week. Miss the sequence and you'll be scrambling. This checklist covers the full timeline for a typical residential move. --- ## 8 Weeks Before - [ ] Confirm your move date and give notice to your current landlord (check lease for required notice period) - [ ] Decide: hire full-service movers, rent a truck, or use a container service - [ ] Get at least three written moving estimates - [ ] Verify licensing for any company you're considering at [protectyourmove.gov](https://www.protectyourmove.gov) - [ ] Book your mover or reserve your truck/container - [ ] Start decluttering: sell, donate, or dispose of what you're not taking - [ ] Begin collecting boxes (free from liquor stores, grocery stores, Nextdoor) - [ ] Research your new neighborhood: grocery stores, hospitals, schools, pharmacy - [ ] If moving with kids, research school enrollment requirements at the destination --- ## 6 Weeks Before - [ ] Start packing non-essentials: off-season clothes, books, guest room, decorations - [ ] Order packing supplies (boxes, tape, packing paper) if you haven't already - [ ] Arrange to transfer school records if moving with school-age children - [ ] Research movers in your new area if you'll need help unloading there - [ ] Confirm your new address is ready; if it's not yet finalized, set up a PO Box or mail hold --- ## 4 Weeks Before - [ ] File a change of address with USPS at usps.com (set it to start 1 to 2 days before your move) - [ ] Notify your employer of your new address - [ ] Notify your bank and credit card companies - [ ] Notify health insurance and update your primary care provider if needed - [ ] Transfer or cancel utilities at current home; set up utilities at new home - [ ] Update address with subscriptions, online shopping accounts, and any recurring deliveries - [ ] Notify the IRS and Social Security Administration (can be done online) - [ ] Update your voter registration - [ ] Update your driver's license (some states require this within 30 to 60 days of moving) - [ ] Continue packing: living room, linen closets, additional bedroom items - [ ] Schedule any professional services needed at the new home (cleaning, appliance hookup, internet installation) For a full address change list, see [Change of Address: Complete Checklist](/advice/moving-checklist/change-of-address). --- ## 2 Weeks Before - [ ] Confirm details with your mover: arrival time, number of movers, truck size - [ ] Disassemble large furniture that needs it (beds, shelving units, large desks) - [ ] Arrange for pet boarding or pet transport on moving day - [ ] Arrange childcare for moving day if needed - [ ] Return library books, borrowed items, and anything rented - [ ] Dispose of anything movers won't transport: flammables, propane tanks, open chemicals - [ ] Get cash for tipping the moving crew - [ ] Pack a separate "essentials" bag for each family member: see [Moving Supplies: The Open-First Box](/advice/packing/moving-supplies#the-open-first-box) --- ## Moving Week - [ ] Defrost the freezer and refrigerator (at least 24 hours before they're moved) - [ ] Pack the kitchen (save daily-use items for the last day) - [ ] Pack all bathrooms - [ ] Pack remaining bedroom clothes and items - [ ] Disassemble beds - [ ] Photograph existing damage to walls, floors, and furniture at the current home - [ ] Clean out the garage, shed, and storage areas - [ ] Charge all electronics - [ ] Locate all important documents and pack them to travel with you, not in the truck: lease, ID, medical records, insurance cards, financial documents --- ## Moving Day - [ ] Do a walkthrough with the moving crew before they start: point out fragile items, specialty pieces, and anything that needs extra care - [ ] Keep pets and children out of the movers' path (or arrange for them to be elsewhere) - [ ] Do a final walkthrough of the current home before the truck leaves: every closet, every cabinet, the attic, the garage, behind every door - [ ] Check that all windows are closed, all lights are off, all appliances are off - [ ] Leave keys, garage openers, and mailbox keys as required - [ ] Photograph the current home before leaving (date-stamped, for security deposit purposes) - [ ] At the new home, do a walkthrough with the movers before signing off on delivery - [ ] Note any visible damage on the delivery receipt before signing - [ ] Tip the crew if the work was good ($15 to $20 per mover is a common guideline; more for a difficult job) --- ## After the Move - [ ] Set up beds first so everyone can sleep - [ ] Set up the kitchen next - [ ] Update your address with your vehicle's insurance company - [ ] Update your car registration if required by your new state - [ ] Get a new driver's license within the required period (varies by state, often 30 to 60 days) - [ ] Register your vehicles if you've moved to a new state - [ ] Register to vote in your new location - [ ] Find a new primary care doctor, pediatrician, and dentist - [ ] Transfer any prescriptions to a pharmacy in the new area - [ ] Meet your neighbors (practical and useful for mail, packages, and emergencies) - [ ] Request your security deposit return from your previous landlord within the required timeline --- ## Go deeper - [Moving Timeline: 8-Week Schedule](/advice/moving-checklist/moving-timeline) - [Change of Address: Complete Checklist](/advice/moving-checklist/change-of-address) --- ## Sources - [Moving Checklist — Move.org](https://www.move.org/moving-checklist/) - [Moving Checklist — HireAHelper](https://www.hireahelper.com/advice/moving-checklist/) - [Moving to a New State Checklist — This Old House](https://www.thisoldhouse.com/moving/moving-checklist) - [Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move — FMCSA](https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/protect-your-move/consumer-information/your-rights-and-responsibilities-when-you-move) - [Change of Address Guide — USPS](https://www.usps.com/manage/forward.htm)