2-Months Prior

• Research – Now that you have decided to move its time to start doing your research. Start your search for housing and browse the different communities to find what works best for you.
• Gather your records – Make sure that you have all of your important documents together. You will want to have these close by during the moving process. Making sure you have everything on hand now rather than waiting till the last minute will help make the process smoother and will prevent you from loosing documents during your move.
• Declutter your space – You don’t want to move things you won’t use. Now is the perfect time to start decluttering and organizing your space. Get rid of any furniture, clothing, appliances etc. that you no longer use.

6-Weeks prior

• Donate & Sell – While you are decluttering you space you can make a little extra cash by selling some of your unused items to friends or on local classifieds sites. Score a tax write off by donating clothes and other goods to your local goodwill or shelter.
• Floor Plan – You can ensure that all of your belongings will fit in your new space by planning ahead.  If possible, get a floor plan for your future residents or create one using graph paper. Try to fit your furniture into that mock up. If it won’t fit on paper, it won’t fit in person. This will help you plan accordingly before the move rather than stressing on the day of.
• Take inventory – Take a detailed inventory of all of your items. Dividing it up by room will help make the process a little easier. This will help you maintain organization when packing, moving and unpacking.
• Take measurements – Taking measurements of doorways and furniture in advance will help prevent moving day stress. If you find that your doorways are not large enough to fit all of your items, you will have plenty of time to come up with an alternative plan.
• Get quotes – Now is the best time to start getting quotes for your moving service. Waiting till the last minute could leave you with very few options, and you may not be able to secure a quality moving company. Start gathering the information and quotes you need now, so that you can book with plenty of time to spare.

1-Month prior

• Notify your landlord – If you are renting your current home you will need to give your landlord a 30 day written notice to inform them of your move. Some contracts may vary so make sure that you double check the terms in your lease so that you don’t get stuck with any penalty fees.

• Notify utility companies – You will need to contact all of the utility companies to let them know of you move so you can ensure everything is in order at your new home and then you don’t continue to pay bills on your previous residents.
  • Electricity
  • Water
  • Gas
  • Cable
  • Internet
  • Trash
• Hire Movers – You will want to go ahead and book your moving service about a month in advance if possible. Moving companies will have a more open availability if you book earlier rather.
• Start Packing – Now is a great time to begin the packing process. Allowing for plenty of time to pack, rather than waiting till the last minute, will make the process a lot less stressful. Organizing as you pack will simplify the unpacking process as well.

2-Weeks Prior

• Update your address – File a change of address form with the United States Postal Service and notify any friends and family of you new address.
• Notify applicable government agencies – You will need to inform agencies such as the Social Security administration and the Department of Motor Vehicles of you move. Make sure to update your Identification and car registration information as well.
• Notify businesses – You will want to make sure that your information is updated for any businesses or monthly subscriptions.
  • Bank/Credit Union
  • Insurance
  • Magazines & Subscription boxes
  • Health club
  • Home care services (pool, yard, cleaning etc.)
  • Credit card companies
  • Any other business that would need your address

• Arrange for parking permits – If parking near your home is difficult you can secure a permit from the city to cone off a space for your moving truck. This will allow you to get the movers as close to your home as possible without having to block in or inconvenience neighbors.
• Meal Plan – This is a great time to take inventory of what foods you have in your fridge and pantry and plan your meals for the next couple of weeks. This way you won’t have to throw out or move a ton of food. Consider donating any non-perishable items you won’t be using.

1-Week Prior

• Prepare your essentials box – Pack up items and paper work that you will need quick and easy access into an essentials box. Using a clear Tupperware container is a great way to make this box even more convenient to use. Keep an inventory list of what is inside the box taped to the top for reference.
• Prepare for payments – You will want to make sure that your credit card companies know in advance if you will be making any large payments so that there are no fraud protections or freezes put in place that could halt your moving process. Make sure your bank account has enough money and that you withdrawal any cash you may need on the day of your move.
• Prepare Electronics – Many of your larger appliances need to be properly prepped and cleaned in advance to prevent any issues during the move. Refer to your manuals or contact the companies in advance for proper care instructions.
• Review Moving day plans – Now is the perfect time to make sure that everything is in order and that all people involved are on the same page. Gathering all necessary paperwork and confirming your move date and time with utility companies, moving services etc. will keep you on track and prevent stress come moving day.

Day of move

• Clear Paths – To prevent injury and adding time to your move you will want to make sure all pathways are cleared and ready for your movers to navigate your home smoothly.
• Conduct a walk through – Once everything is on your moving truck you will want to do a final walkthrough of the space to make sure nothing was over looked. Check closets, cabinets and shelves for any missed items.
• Clean & Inspect – Before you leave your old home it is important to make sure that you have cleaned and inspected the property. Leaving behind a messy space or any damage can prevent you from receiving your deposit. Take photos of the space so that you will have a record of exactly how you left the space.

Post Move

• Confirm all belongings arrived safely – Now that you have arrived at your new home you will want to make sure everything has arrived safely an intact. Double check the truck and refer to your inventory list.
• Unpack & Unwind – Don’t let the prospect of unpacking stress you out. Allow yourself to unwind and enjoy your new space. If you organized while you were packing, then unpacking will be a breeze.
• Collect your deposit – Once you are settled in you will want to make that you contact your previous landlord in regards to your security deposit. Having photos of the space, as you left it, will help secure that deposit and prevent any false accusations of damage.

For more information on preparing for your move, see our 8 Common Moving Questions.