etting all your ducks (and boxes, and moving trucks…) in a row is key to ensuring a smooth move to your new home or apartment. Follow this moving timeline to keep yourself organized and ensure all of your “must-do’s” are done in time.
2 Months Before Your Move
- Ask for referrals and reserve a moving company, moving truck and/or movers to help on moving day. Get estimates if using a professional moving company.
- Go through your belongings and assess what you no longer need or use. Make arrangements to sell, gift or donate these items to prevent wasting precious time, boxes, and moving truck real estate on them.
- Collect moving boxes and materials from friends, local businesses, and Craigslist (or purchase new) and begin packing. (Read How to Pack for a Stress-Free Move)
- If moving long distance, make travel arrangements for your family and pets.
- Make arrangements for a storage unit in your new city, if needed.
6 Weeks Before Your Move
- Keep track of your incoming mail and note any businesses, subscriptions, etc. that will need to be notified of your new address.
- Cancel subscriptions to local newspapers, magazines, home delivery services, and health club memberships.
- Organize school, medical, and veterinary records and arrange for records to be transferred to your new location.
- Check measurements of your new home to ensure larger pieces of furniture will fit through doorways, stairways and halls, and inside rooms. Begin planning furniture layout.
- Note if there are any parking restrictions outside of your new home and plan your moving date and time accordingly.
1 Month Before Your Move
- File a Change of Address form at the post office or do it online at usps.com.
- Contact current utility companies to schedule a date to disconnect services.
- Contact utility companies in your new community to schedule a date to connect services.
- Contact insurance agent to notify of change of address and arrange appropriate coverage for your new home.
- Contact your bank to close accounts, and open new accounts with a local bank in your new community.
- Contact your current pharmacy to cancel any automatic prescription refills, and transfer prescriptions to a pharmacy in your new community.
- Notify your employer’s human resources department of your change in address and make sure any employment-related records (401k, retirement funds, FSA, etc.) are updated.
- Begin using up any items in your refrigerator or freezer that you do not want to take with you when you move.
2 Weeks Before Your Move
- If you’ll be driving a long distance, have your car inspected and tuned up by your local mechanic.
- Arrange for moving day care/supervision for children and pets.
- Confirm moving truck and movers.
- Safely dispose of hazardous household chemicals like paint, oil and solvents.
1 Week Before Your Move
- Return library books, DVD and video rentals, and pick up any dry cleaning or prescriptions that are waiting for you.
- Create a document for your movers with all necessary contact information and directions to your new home.
- Confirm arrival time for movers.
- Email friends and family members (or mail moving announcements), notifying them of your new address.
2-3 Days Before Your Move
- Defrost and clean freezer and refrigerator at least 24 hours before moving day. Prop doors open to allow for drying and ensure they cannot accidentally close on children or pets.
- Pack an “essentials box” or suitcase for everyone in the family, containing items you’ll need immediately when you arrive at your new home (refer to How to Pack for a Stress-Free Move for more details).
- Empty lawnmower, power tools, and anything else motorized of fuel and oil so it can be safely transported.
- Clean rooms as items are packed up and rooms are emptied.
- Plan for a way to protect your flooring from dirty shoes and stains on moving day.
- Arrange for refreshments for movers and helpers on moving day.
Moving Day
- Designate a person in charge of coordinating with movers. Have cash on hand for tips.
- Complete any necessary final cleaning as rooms are emptied.
- Do a final walk through to ensure everything has been loaded onto the moving truck.
- Ensure all windows and exterior doors are locked, all lights are off, and the garage door is closed when you leave.
The stress of moving can make it easy to overlook things. Planning ahead and following a timeline will leave you feeling confident that you’re leaving nothing behind as you move on to your new home. Browse the moving section for additional moving tips & tricks!
Dusty Rogers is the blogger, mother, maker, decorator and drinker of the wine at All Things G&D - a lifestyle blog where home décor, DIY and organization, healthy meals and kid-friendly snacks, party planning and entertaining all happily play together in the sandbox. Dusty lives in Madison, WI with her husband Greg and their daughter Kate, and she spends her days balancing high maintenance tendencies with a desire to keep things simple.
