# Moving House Checklist (Printable) — free download from DollarWise (dollarwise.xyz)

A 40-step, 8-week timeline from the day you decide to move through your first settled week. Check items off as you go.

## 8-6 weeks out — Big decisions

1. Get 3 quotes from licensed, insured movers — or price truck rentals if going DIY.
2. Book your mover or truck now; good dates fill up fast, especially at month-end.
3. Declutter room by room: donate, sell, or discard anything you don't want to pay to move.
4. Gather packing supplies: boxes, tape, bubble wrap, markers, and mattress covers.
5. Create a moving binder or folder for contracts, receipts, and this checklist.
6. Photograph valuables and electronics setups before disconnecting anything.
7. Measure doorways and large furniture at the new place to confirm everything fits.

## 5-4 weeks out — Admin and address

8. Schedule utility shutoff at the old home and activation at the new one (power, water, gas, internet).
9. File a change of address with the postal service, effective on moving day.
10. Update your address with banks, credit cards, insurance, employer, and subscriptions.
11. Transfer or register medical, dental, and vet records; get prescription refills before the move.
12. Update your driver's license and voter registration (deadlines vary by location).
13. Arrange school enrollment and record transfers if you have kids.
14. Notify your landlord in writing if renting, and confirm move-out inspection terms.

## 3-2 weeks out — Pack room by room

15. Pack non-essentials first: books, decor, seasonal items, and rarely used gadgets.
16. Label every box with the room AND 3-4 key contents — "Kitchen" alone isn't enough.
17. Pack a "first night" box per person: bedding, pajamas, toiletries, and a towel.
18. Wrap dishes vertically like records with padding between them — they break less this way.
19. Use clothes, towels, and linens as padding instead of buying extra bubble wrap.
20. Keep screws and small hardware in labeled bags taped to the furniture they belong to.
21. Back up computers and carry irreplaceable documents and valuables yourself, not in the truck.

## Final week — Last tasks

22. Pack daily-use rooms last: kitchen, bathroom, and the bedroom go in the final days.
23. Pack the moving-day essentials box: toilet paper, chargers, tools, meds, snacks, documents, cleaning supplies.
24. Defrost the freezer and fridge 24 hours before the move; use up perishables.
25. Confirm mover arrival time, parking arrangements, and elevator access at both addresses.
26. Disassemble large furniture and keep a toolkit accessible for reassembly.
27. Do a full clean of the old place (or schedule cleaners) and photograph its condition.
28. Charge all phones and power banks, and withdraw some cash for tips and surprises.

## Moving day

29. Do a final walkthrough of every room, closet, cabinet, and storage area before the truck leaves.
30. Direct movers room by room at the new place — labeled boxes make this fast.
31. Check items against your inventory as they come off the truck; note damage immediately.
32. Set up beds first — you'll want to collapse into one tonight without assembling furniture.
33. Verify utilities are on: power, water, heat/cooling, and internet before nightfall.
34. Lock up, test all keys and codes, and introduce yourself to a neighbor.

## First week — Settle in

35. Unpack in priority order: bathroom, bedroom, kitchen — decor and books can wait.
36. Break down boxes as you go to avoid living in a cardboard maze for a month.
37. Test smoke detectors and locate the breaker box, water shutoff, and gas valve.
38. Confirm mail forwarding is working and update any address you missed.
39. File any mover damage claims within the company's deadline — don't let it slide.
40. Celebrate — order takeout, sit on the floor if you must, and call it home.