Congratulations! You’ve sold your house, and now it’s time for the move. Here’s a week-by-week checklist for moving to your new home, smoothly and successfully.
8 Weeks Before Moving
- Buy a journal or binder to collect notes about your move, including reminders, phone call notes, “to-do” lists, and pertinent receipts.
- Sketch or obtain a floor plan of your new home and decide which household goods to keep and which to let go.
- Decide whether you’re going to do the move yourself or hire professionals. If you’re hiring movers, now is the time to start the process by getting at least three estimates.
- Arrange for transfer of your child’s school records
- Start creating a list of people who need to be notified about your change of address and keep it handy so you can add to it as you think of people.
- Use our moving box calculator and make a list of moving boxes & supplies you’ll need. If you plan to order them online, go ahead and do that. Or try to find free moving boxes.
- Buy a lockable box for important files and documents like birth certificates, insurance policies, etc.
4 Weeks Before Moving
- Donate furniture you don’t want to charity. Many organizations will arrange pick-up.
- Contact insurance companies, doctors, and dentists about forwarding your records.
- Arrange cut-off dates for utilities, including phone, gas, electricity, water, and cable.
- Fill out a Post Office change of address kit online.
- Start taking apart outdoor furniture and outdoor children’s equipment, like swing sets
- Determine which things in your garage and/or storage shed need to be packed and which ones can be donated, recycled, or thrown out.
- Designate a “moving room” to store boxes that have already been packed. Continue to pack and label boxes of things you can do without until the move.
- Notify your pastor, rabbi, priest, or imam of your move
- Arrange for a babysitter on moving day
- Determine how your pets will be moved on moving day.
2 Weeks Before Moving
- Drain water hoses, the propane tank from your gas grill, and oil and gas from lawn equipment.
- Safely dispose of paints, aerosols, oils, and other flammable or toxic waste. Your city’s public works department can advise you on how to properly dispose of these items.
- Arrange to have utilities turned on at your new home.
- Update your online profiles on LinkedIn, Facebook, and any other social sites you use.
- Remind schools when your kids’ last day will be
- Return your library books
- Have your car serviced to avoid a breakdown on moving day.
- Call your homeowner’s insurance provider and arrange the date for coverage to end.
- Start eating the items in your pantry, refrigerator, and freezer. Buy only the minimum groceries you need for the next two weeks.
- Continue packing, labeling, and storing boxes.
1 Week Before Moving
- Prepare an “essentials” box for things you’ll need the day you move in, such as kitchen items you’ll need for preparing meals.
- Prepare and label “last load” items box for moving day and pack suitcases and valuables separately
- Fill any prescriptions needed in the time leading to your move.
- Continue packing, labeling, and storing boxes.
- Last Few Days Before Moving Day
- Determine which crucial items you’ll transport in your car and make sure they’ll fit. This box should include:
- Towels
- Soap
- Toothbrushes / toothpaste
- The day before moving day, clean out the refrigerator. Eat what you can and order takeout if you need to.
- Continue packing, labeling, and storing boxes.
Moving Day
- Take kids to the babysitter or pick up the babysitter to watch the kids while moving is in progress.
- Take movers through the house and make sure they know which items are fragile.
- Make sure boxes that are not going on the moving truck are clearly marked.
- Do a final walk-through before the moving truck leaves.
- Make sure the movers have your cell phone number.
- Check all moving paperwork before signing the bill of lading. Keep copies of the bill of lading and the inventory list with you in a safe place.
Further Reading: Looking For More Moving Resources? Check These Articles Out!
- Best Moving Boxes That You Can Buy Online (Reviewed)
- Cheap Moving Boxes – Best Budget Friendly Options (Reviewed)
- Best Hand Trucks
- Where Is The Best Place To Buy Moving Boxes?
- Where To Get Free Moving Boxes? Check Out These 8 Thrifty Options
- Best Moving Straps
- How Many Boxes Do I Need To Move? Use Our Moving Box Calculator
