The Ultimate Week by Week Moving Checklist

8-9 weeks before the move:

• Schedule at least 3 professional moving companies to provide estimates

• Obtain and fill out Change of Address form online or at your local post office (if you don’t know the new address, save the form in a safe place for future use. However, it’s best to fill out the form as quickly as possible, so that it doesn’t get misplaced during the move.)

• Survey the contents of your home and begin to get rid of items that will not be going with you.

• When relevant, contact a realtor (or several realtors) and prepare your house to go on the market.

• If you already know where you’ll be living, request a floor plan of your new home to help determine what will or will not fit into your new space.

5 weeks before the move:

• If you’ve already found a new home, contact the utility companies in your new area and arrange for service upon arrival.

• Select a professional mover and book a date for the move. If you are self-moving, book a moving van.

• Arrange for supplemental moving insurance if desired.

• If you live in an apartment building, contact your building manager and arrange for prolonged use of the service elevator on moving day.

• Start  moving and packing items that are not used frequently.

• Make a list of furniture that will not fit into your new space and start planning ways to get rid of it.

4 weeks before the move:

• Make a list of everything that will be packed in your hand-luggage and make sure that you will have enough room (both in your luggage and, when relevant, in the trunk of your car).

• Have car inspected if traveling by car.

• Arrange for utilities to be shut down on the evening after the move or the next day. Make sure that they will not disconnect your utilities while you are still moving.

• If necessary, arrange for a storage unit to accommodate your things until your new home will be ready.

1 week before the move:

• Confirm the moving date and details with the professional moving company

• Finish packing whatever items the moving company will not be packing.

• Review packed boxes and make sure that they are labeled properly.

• Drain gasoline from lawn mower and snow blower when relevant.