Printable Moving Checklist

A Checklist to Help you Plan Your Big Move 

6 weeks before moving:

•   Look at what you own. Decide if it goes or stays 
•   Consider organizing a garage sale for the things you don't want
•   Start thinking about where your furniture will go in the NEW house

4 weeks before moving:

•   notify the post office, credit cards, magazine subscriptions of your move
•   notify utilities (gas, water, electric, cable, phone)
•   make sure to leave utilities ON until moving day!
•   pack seldom used things like old dishes, pictures and art
•   get the garage sale DONE so you have less to worry about
•  

3 weeks before moving day:

•   get started on the serious packing
•   label all boxes by item and/or room where they will go
•   prioritize the box labels as far as LOADED FIRST, UNPACKED FIRST, etc
•   make sure you have all personal records, medical records, etc
•   contact doctors, dentists and providers
•   make any necessary travel arrangements for your move (hotels, etc)
•   plan your meals to use up frozen foods and refrigerated items
•   arrange with the realtor or owner to go in and CLEAN your new home
•   contact the kids' schools, and have them forward their records

2 weeks before the big day:

•   make arrangements for pet care on moving day
•   transfer any recurrent prescriptions to a drugstore in your new location
•   notify your bank of the move, start accounts in new location if necessary
•   check home insurance and transfer if necessary
•   Google the newspaper in your new town and subscribe to it
•   cancel current newspaper delivery
•  

1 week before:

•   pack your personal "moving day" items in a suitcase
•   get the current bills paid-up to smooth the process
•   pack all prescriptions, checkbooks, eyeglasses, spare keys and so on
•   get a babysitter for moving day if possible
•   remove any fixtures in the house that you're taking to the new house

A few days before:

•   finish the packing in time for the movers to load
•   arrange to pay the movers
•   give explicit directions to the movers, if you use a mover
•   ask about their damage policies in case they damage any items
•   inquire about the mover's unloading policies and item inspection
•   give the movers your cell # and the new home number
•   let the local police know you're moving in case of a break-in, etc.

 

MOVING DAY:

•   pack all your "open first" boxes, including blankets, pillows and sheets
•   give the house a "once-over" for forgotten or overlooked items
•   clean up the house as time permits after everything is packed
•   verify your delivery time with the movers
•   check off boxes and items as they're unloaded from the truck
•   arrange for pet-sitting at the new location until you're settled in