The Ultimate Moving Checklist: 8 Weeks to Moving Day

8 weeks before

• Research and get quotes from at least 2–3 moving companies
• Start a "keep, donate, sell, trash" pass through closets, garage, and storage areas
• Create a folder (physical or digital) for moving-related paperwork and receipts

6 weeks before

• Book your mover and confirm your move date in writing
• Start collecting free boxes or order packing supplies
• Use up frozen and perishable food so there's less to move or toss later
• If moving for school-age kids, request school records be transferred to the new district

4 weeks before

• Begin packing non-essential rooms — guest rooms, storage, out-of-season items
• Label boxes by room and contents as you go, not all at once at the end
• Schedule shutoff dates for utilities at your old address and setup dates at your new one
• Submit a change-of-address with USPS and update your address with your bank, employer, and subscriptions

2 weeks before

• Confirm final details with your mover — arrival window, crew size, parking/elevator access
• Pack everything except daily essentials
• Arrange care for kids or pets on move day if the house will be chaotic
• Set aside a "first night" box: toiletries, chargers, a change of clothes, basic tools, toilet paper

1 week before

• Finish packing everything except what you'll need the morning of the move
• Defrost and clean out the refrigerator/freezer 24 hours before moving
• Confirm your mover's arrival time and get a direct phone number for the crew lead
• Pull cash aside for tips if you plan to tip your crew

Move day

• Do a final walkthrough of every room, closet, and cabinet before the truck leaves
• Keep your "first night" box and any valuables/documents with you, not on the truck
• Get a copy of your inventory sheet before the crew departs
• Do a walkthrough at the new place before signing off, noting anything damaged

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