Moving is a project with a hundred small tasks and a hard deadline. Done in order, it is manageable; done in a panic the last week, it is expensive and exhausting. This checklist runs from eight weeks out to your first week in the new home, whether you are buying, selling, renting or all three. Each step tells you what to do, why it matters and when it is too late to do it cheaply. MLS9's move-in checklist books movers, switches utilities and changes locks in one place.
8 weeks out: plan and purge
Set your move date and work backward. If you are buying and selling, coordinate closing dates and decide whether you need a few days of overlap (worth paying for) or temporary storage. If you are renting, give your landlord written notice exactly as the lease requires — 30 or 60 days — because late notice costs a month of rent.
Start a moving binder or folder: quotes, receipts, the inventory, contact numbers, closing documents and the new address. Moving expenses are deductible for some (active-duty military) and the records matter for deposits and insurance claims regardless.
Begin purging now, not the week of the move. Go room by room and sort into keep, sell, donate and trash. Every box you do not pack saves money and time; movers charge by weight or hours, and you will unpack everything on the other end. Photograph anything valuable for the inventory.
Checklist
- Set the move date; coordinate closings or give lease notice in writing
- Start a moving binder
- Purge one room per week: sell, donate, trash
- Photograph valuables and start an inventory
6 weeks out: book the movers
Decide how you are moving. Full-service movers handle everything and cost the most; a truck rental plus friends costs the least and your back the most; portable containers and hybrid "you pack, they drive" services fall between. Long-distance moves are priced by weight and distance; local moves by hours and crew size.
Get three in-home or video estimates from licensed, insured movers. Verify the license (interstate movers need a USDOT number; many states license local movers). Read the estimate type: a binding estimate cannot go up; a non-binding one can. Ask about valuation coverage — the default is 60 cents per pound, which is nothing — and buy full-value protection for anything you care about.
Book six weeks out for summer or end-of-month moves, which fill first. MLS9 connects you to vetted movers who quote directly, no broker markup.
Checklist
- Choose full-service, container, or DIY
- Get 3 estimates from licensed, insured movers
- Confirm binding estimate and full-value protection
- Book the date and get it in writing
5 weeks out: gather supplies and start packing the edges
Estimate boxes: a two-bedroom home typically needs 40–60, larger homes 80–120. Get small boxes for books and heavy items, medium for most things, large for light bulky items, plus wardrobe boxes, dish packs, packing paper (not newspaper — ink transfers), tape, markers and a few rolls of stretch wrap for furniture. Liquor stores and online marketplaces are good free-box sources.
Start with what you will not need before the move: off-season clothes, books, decor, the garage, the attic, spare rooms. Label every box on two sides with the room it goes to and a short list of contents, and number them against your inventory.
Pack an "open first" box per room and one essentials box — chargers, medications, toiletries, a change of clothes, basic tools, toilet paper, paper towels, a few dishes — that travels with you, not on the truck.
Checklist
- Acquire boxes, paper, tape and wrap
- Pack off-season and rarely used items first
- Label two sides: room + contents + number
- Set aside essentials that travel with you
4 weeks out: notify everyone and handle the paperwork
File a change of address with the postal service (online, effective on a date you choose) — mail forwards for 12 months. Then update the accounts that matter directly, because forwarding is not reliable for everything: bank and credit cards, employer and payroll, insurance (auto, health, life), DMV, voter registration, IRS (Form 8822), Social Security if applicable, subscriptions and any loans.
If you have children, request school records and register at the new school. Transfer medical, dental and veterinary records, and refill prescriptions so you are not hunting for a pharmacy the first week. Return library books and anything borrowed.
Research your new area: DMV requirements and deadlines (many states require a new license within 30 days), trash and recycling schedules, parking permits, and any HOA move-in rules such as elevator reservations or moving hours.
Checklist
- File the postal change of address
- Update bank, employer, insurance, DMV, voter and IRS records
- Transfer school and medical records; refill prescriptions
- Check new-state license deadlines and HOA move-in rules
3 weeks out: utilities, internet and insurance
Schedule utility disconnection at the old address for the day after you leave and connection at the new address for the day before you arrive: electric, gas, water and sewer, trash. Some utilities require a deposit or an in-person appointment for new service; do not discover that on move-in day.
Internet installation is the long pole — providers can book two to three weeks out. Order it now for the day you arrive. Cancel or transfer cable, security monitoring and any smart-home subscriptions.
Update your insurance. If buying, your homeowners policy is bound for closing; if renting, start renters insurance on your move-in date. Update your auto policy to the new address (rates change by ZIP). Confirm your mover's coverage one more time and ask whether your own policy covers goods in transit.
Checklist
- Schedule utility stop/start dates
- Order internet installation for arrival day
- Bind homeowners or renters insurance effective on move-in
- Update auto insurance to the new address
2 weeks out: pack most of the house
By now everything except daily-use items should be boxed. Pack room by room, keeping boxes from each room together. Wrap dishes vertically in dish packs, put heavy items in small boxes, fill gaps with paper so nothing shifts, and keep boxes under 50 pounds. Photograph the back of your TV and computer before unplugging cables.
Disassemble furniture that needs it and bag the hardware, taped to the piece. Drain fuel from lawn equipment and grills; movers will not transport propane, gasoline, paint or many cleaning chemicals — use them up, give them away or dispose of them properly.
Arrange childcare and pet care for moving day. Confirm the movers' arrival window, crew size and any parking or elevator arrangements at both addresses. Confirm the payment method and whether tips are expected.
Checklist
- Pack everything except daily-use items
- Bag and label furniture hardware
- Dispose of hazardous materials movers will not take
- Arrange childcare and pet care; confirm movers
1 week out: final details
Empty, defrost and dry the freezer and refrigerator at least 24–48 hours before moving. Use up perishable food or give it away. Pack the kitchen last, keeping one pan, a few utensils and paper plates in the essentials box.
Withdraw cash for tips and incidentals. Back up your computers. Gather valuables, important documents, jewelry and small electronics into one bag that travels with you. Take your inventory's final count and photos of furniture condition for any claim.
If you are selling, schedule the final cleaning for after the truck leaves and before the buyer's walk-through. If you are leaving a rental, schedule the move-out inspection and photograph the empty unit. Set aside keys, remotes, manuals and garage openers for the new owner or landlord.
Checklist
- Defrost the fridge and freezer 24–48 hours ahead
- Back up computers; bag valuables and documents to carry
- Schedule cleaning and the walk-through or move-out inspection
- Set aside keys, remotes and manuals
Moving day
Be ready when the crew arrives: boxes stacked by room, pathways clear, furniture disassembled, essentials and valuables set aside and clearly marked "do not load." Walk the crew lead through the house and point out fragile or high-value items. Check that the mover's paperwork matches your estimate before anything goes on the truck.
Sign the inventory sheet only after reviewing it; note pre-existing damage codes. Once loaded, do a final sweep of every closet, cabinet, drawer, attic and garage. Take photos of the empty rooms and the meter readings. Turn off the water heater and lights, lock up and leave keys as arranged.
At the new home, be there before the truck. Tape a floor plan with room labels by the door so the crew places boxes correctly. Check items off the inventory as they come in and note any damage on the paperwork before signing.
Checklist
- Stage boxes by room; mark "do not load" items
- Verify paperwork matches the estimate
- Final sweep, photos and meter readings at the old home
- Check inventory and note damage at the new home before signing
The first week in your new home
Change every exterior lock and garage code on day one — you do not know who has keys. Locate the main water shutoff, gas shutoff and electrical panel, and test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Confirm every utility is on and the internet works.
Unpack the kitchen and bedrooms first so you can cook and sleep; everything else can wait. Break down boxes as you go and sell or give them away — they disappear fast on local marketplaces.
Register your car and license by your state's deadline, register to vote, find your new pharmacy and doctors, and if you bought, file your homestead exemption with the county. Then walk the neighborhood, meet the neighbors and check the mail — the deed and title policy will be arriving soon.
Checklist
- Change locks; locate shutoffs; test detectors
- Unpack kitchen and bedrooms first
- Register vehicles, license and voter registration by deadline
- File the homestead exemption if you bought
Common questions
How far in advance should I book movers?
Four to eight weeks, and longer for summer or end-of-month dates. Interstate moves should be booked as early as possible.
How much does a move cost?
A local move with a professional crew typically runs $800–$2,500 depending on size and hours. Interstate moves are priced by weight and distance and commonly range from $2,500 to $8,000 or more.
What will movers not transport?
Hazardous materials — propane, gasoline, paint, many cleaning chemicals, fireworks — plus perishables, plants on long-distance moves, and often valuables like cash, jewelry and important documents. Carry those yourself.
Should I tip movers?
It is customary: $20–$40 per mover for a half day, more for a full day or exceptional work. Have cash ready and provide water.
When should I switch utilities?
Schedule the new service to start the day before you arrive and the old service to stop the day after you leave, so both homes have power during the transition. Order internet two to three weeks ahead.