# Ultimate Moving Checklist — 120 Items by Timeline
Free from DollarWise — print it, check items off as you go, and keep it with your moving records.

## 8 Weeks Out (1-20)

- [ ] Declutter room by room — sort everything into keep, donate, sell, and discard piles
- [ ] Get written quotes from at least three moving companies or truck rental services
- [ ] Compare quotes: check what is included (fuel, stairs, insurance, packing materials)
- [ ] Create a moving budget with a 10 percent contingency buffer
- [ ] Start a moving binder or digital folder for quotes, receipts, and contracts
- [ ] Photograph valuables and electronics for insurance and inventory records
- [ ] Research your new neighborhood: parking rules, trash days, nearby essentials
- [ ] If renting, review your lease for notice period and move-out requirements
- [ ] Request time off work for moving day and the day after
- [ ] Measure doorways, stairwells, and elevators at the new place for large furniture
- [ ] Decide what furniture moves with you and what gets sold or left behind
- [ ] List items for sale online while there is still time for buyers to collect
- [ ] Schedule donation pickups for items that do not sell
- [ ] Gather important documents: IDs, leases, medical and school records in one folder
- [ ] Check whether your home insurance covers goods in transit, or buy moving insurance
- [ ] Notify your employer if the move affects your commute or tax situation
- [ ] If moving with kids, research school enrollment deadlines at the new location
- [ ] If moving with pets, check vet records, vaccinations, and travel requirements
- [ ] Start using up frozen food and pantry items to lighten the load
- [ ] Save or print this checklist and share it with everyone helping you move

## 6 Weeks Out (21-40)

- [ ] Book your mover or reserve the rental truck, confirm date and time in writing
- [ ] Confirm the payment method and cancellation policy with your mover
- [ ] Order packing supplies: boxes, tape, bubble wrap, markers, mattress covers
- [ ] Collect free boxes from local shops if you want to save on supplies
- [ ] Begin packing rarely used items: seasonal gear, books, decor, spare linens
- [ ] Label each packed box with its destination room on two sides
- [ ] Number boxes and keep a simple inventory list per box
- [ ] Disassemble furniture you will not need before moving day and bag the hardware
- [ ] Take photos of complicated cable setups before unplugging electronics
- [ ] Back up important computer files before the move
- [ ] Arrange childcare or pet care for moving day itself
- [ ] If driving long-distance, plan the route, rest stops, and overnight stays
- [ ] Service your car if you are driving to the new home
- [ ] Notify your landlord in writing if you have not already, keep a copy
- [ ] Request a move-out inspection date from your landlord
- [ ] Start a change-of-address list: banks, insurers, subscriptions, contacts
- [ ] Check passport and ID expiry dates if the move involves crossing borders
- [ ] Plan meals around pantry staples to reduce what you must move or toss
- [ ] Confirm elevator or loading-dock reservations at both buildings if applicable
- [ ] Set a packing schedule: one room or zone per few days, not everything at once

## 4 Weeks Out (41-60)

- [ ] Arrange transfer or setup of electricity, water, gas, and internet at the new address
- [ ] Schedule disconnection of utilities at the old address for the day after the move
- [ ] Update your address with banks, credit cards, and insurance providers
- [ ] Set up mail forwarding with the postal service or notify key senders directly
- [ ] Notify subscription services, streaming, and delivery apps of the address change
- [ ] Update your address on government IDs, voter registration, and tax records
- [ ] Inform your employer, payroll, and HR of the new address
- [ ] Transfer medical, dental, and vet records, or find new providers near the new home
- [ ] Refill prescriptions so you have enough to cover the moving weeks
- [ ] Pack room by room, finishing one room before starting the next
- [ ] Pack a "first week" kitchen box: kettle, a few dishes, basic cookware, cleaning spray
- [ ] Wrap fragile items individually and mark boxes as fragile on all sides
- [ ] Drain fuel from lawn equipment and dispose of hazardous materials properly
- [ ] Return borrowed items and library books before they get packed by accident
- [ ] Collect items from repair shops, dry cleaners, and storage units
- [ ] Confirm travel bookings for everyone moving, including pets
- [ ] Arrange cleaning help for the old place if required by your lease
- [ ] Photograph the condition of the old home for deposit or sale records
- [ ] Keep one box of basic tools accessible: screwdriver, hammer, tape, box cutter
- [ ] Double-check the mover booking and share both addresses plus access details

## 2 Weeks Out (61-80)

- [ ] Confirm the mover booking again: date, arrival time, addresses, parking info
- [ ] Finish packing everything except daily essentials and one week's clothing
- [ ] Pack suitcases as if traveling for a week — these stay with you, not the truck
- [ ] Defrost the freezer and plan to empty the fridge in the final days
- [ ] Use up perishable food or donate unopened non-perishables
- [ ] Confirm internet installation appointment at the new address
- [ ] Arrange key handover or collection for the new place
- [ ] Get cash for tipping movers and small moving-day expenses
- [ ] Charge all devices and power banks the night before moving week
- [ ] Prepare a folder with the lease or deed, mover contract, and IDs for moving day
- [ ] Notify close contacts of the moving date in case they need to reach you
- [ ] Update food delivery and rideshare apps with the new address
- [ ] Cancel or transfer local memberships: gym, clubs, cleaning services
- [ ] Water plants and decide which ones travel with you
- [ ] Disassemble remaining large furniture and protect corners and surfaces
- [ ] Roll up rugs, curtains, and bedding into labeled bundles
- [ ] Do a mid-pack check: every box labeled, inventory list up to date
- [ ] Confirm parking for the truck at both locations, including permits if needed
- [ ] Share the new address with your emergency contacts
- [ ] Rest — the last two weeks go fast, and exhaustion causes forgotten tasks

## 1 Week Out (81-100)

- [ ] Pack an essentials box: chargers, toiletries, medications, tools, snacks, change of clothes
- [ ] Keep the essentials box in your own vehicle, not the moving truck
- [ ] Defrost the freezer completely and drain the washing machine
- [ ] Disconnect appliances you are taking and secure loose parts
- [ ] Label every remaining box with its destination room on two sides
- [ ] Set aside cleaning supplies for the final clean of the old place
- [ ] Confirm arrival time with movers or helpers one final time
- [ ] Withdraw or set aside cash for tips, food, and unexpected costs
- [ ] Pack valuables, documents, and jewelry separately — these travel with you
- [ ] Do a full-home sweep for forgotten items: attic, basement, garage, shed
- [ ] Check every closet, cabinet, drawer, and shelf one more time
- [ ] Strip beds and pack bedding last, keeping one set out for the first night
- [ ] Prepare snacks and water for moving day for everyone helping
- [ ] Confirm the new home is clean and ready before boxes arrive
- [ ] Test keys, codes, and access for the new place in advance if possible
- [ ] Photograph utility meter readings at the old place
- [ ] Take final photos of the old home's condition
- [ ] Say goodbye to neighbors and exchange contact details
- [ ] Get a good night's sleep — moving day starts early
- [ ] Lay out comfortable clothes, sturdy shoes, and gloves for moving day

## Moving Day (101-110)

- [ ] Be at the old place before the movers arrive, phone charged and accessible
- [ ] Walk movers through the home, pointing out fragile and priority items
- [ ] Keep pathways clear and protect floors at both locations
- [ ] Do a final walkthrough of every room, closet, and cabinet before the truck leaves
- [ ] Check the truck inventory list against your own before it departs
- [ ] Lock all windows and doors at the old place, return keys as arranged
- [ ] Photograph utility meter readings at both the old and new place
- [ ] At the new home, direct boxes to their labeled rooms on arrival
- [ ] Check for damage as items come off the truck and note issues immediately
- [ ] Tip the movers and get a final receipt

## First Week After the Move (111-120)

- [ ] Unpack the kitchen and bedrooms first, bathrooms second
- [ ] Test all utilities, hot water, heating or cooling, and internet
- [ ] Assemble beds and essential furniture on day one
- [ ] Break down empty boxes as you go to keep the space workable
- [ ] Update any address changes you missed during the rush
- [ ] Register with new local services: doctor, dentist, vet if needed
- [ ] Introduce yourself to neighbors and note trash and recycling schedules
- [ ] File any damage claims with the mover within their deadline
- [ ] Store the mover contract, receipts, and inventory photos with your records
- [ ] Celebrate — you are in, and the checklist is done