It’s smart to start getting ready for your move as early as you can. People who’ve done it before say that having a basic timeline really helps make things less stressful. It keeps everything organized and helps your whole family stay on the same page. You can even give small tasks to each family member—even the kids—so everyone pitches in and feels like part of the move.
Eight Weeks Before Moving
- Call the moving company and book your moving date.
- Start cleaning out places like the attic, basement or storage shed.
- Use up things you can’t take along, like frozen food or extra cleaning products.
- Reach out to the visitor center or local chamber of commerce in your new town to get to know the area better.
Six Weeks Before Moving
- If your job is covering the move, check what they’ll pay for and what you need to handle yourself.
- Ask the IRS or your accountant if your move qualifies for any tax breaks.
- Start going through your stuff. If you haven’t used something in a year, think about selling or donating it.
- Make a list of people and services you need to tell about your move—like friends, banks and any subscriptions.
- Subscribe to the local newspaper in your new town to learn what’s going on there.
- Gather your vehicle registration and driver’s license documents.
- If you’ll need a storage unit, book it now. Your moving advisor can help.
- Contact your kids’ school, doctor, dentist, lawyer and accountant to collect important records. Ask if they can recommend someone in your new town.
Four Weeks Before Moving
- Visit the post office and fill out a Change of Address form so your mail goes to your new home.
- If you have pets or plants that need extra care, start making travel plans for them.
- Call your utility companies—like gas, electricity, water, internet, cable and garbage—to set a date to stop service at your current place and start it at your new one. Keep everything running until moving day.
- Let your insurance companies (car, home, health, life) know about your new address so they can update or move your coverage.
- If you’re packing by yourself, grab some boxes and begin packing things you won’t need in the next few weeks.
- Consider having a garage sale to get rid of stuff you don’t need or donate it to a local charity.
Three Weeks Before Moving
- Book your travel and any hotel stays for the move but try not to fly out on moving day—just in case something gets delayed.
- Gather all your important documents like insurance papers, wills, property records and stock info.
- Start closing your bank accounts in your current city and open new ones in the city you’re moving to.
Two Weeks Before Moving
- Get your car checked to make sure it’s ready for the trip. Look at things like antifreeze or coolant especially if you’ll be driving in very hot or cold weather.
- If your current or new home has elevators, talk to the building manager and book elevator time for moving day.
- Call your moving consultant to go over the plans and make sure everything is set.
One Week Before Moving
- Pay off any remaining bills you owe to local shops or service providers.
- Empty your safety deposit box, pick up your dry cleaning and return anything you’ve borrowed—like library books or rented DVDs.
- Take your pets to the vet for any shots they need and get a copy of their health records.
- Drain gas and oil from things like lawn mowers or snow blowers.
- If you’re not taking your plants, give them to someone who can take care of them.
- Write clear and simple directions to your new home for the movers. Include your travel plans and emergency contact info.
Two to Three Days Before Moving
- Defrost your fridge and freezer, and leave the doors open so they don’t close on a child or pet by mistake.
- Unplug and get big appliances like your washer, dryer and stove ready for the move. If you’re not sure how, your moving consultant can help.
- Pack a box with the things you’ll need right away at your new home. Keep it with you or ask the movers to load it last.
- Set aside anything you’re taking in your car so it doesn’t get packed on the truck by mistake.
- Call your moving consultant to confirm when the movers are coming and share any last-minute updates.
Moving Day
- Make sure someone is at home to answer any questions the movers might have.
- Take note of the readings on your gas, electric and water meters.
- Carefully read your bill of lading and inventory list before signing. Keep these papers safe until everything is moved and sorted.
If you’ve followed this moving timeline step by step, it’ll feel great to check things off your list. It also helps make sure you don’t forget anything important—and that can really cut down on stress.