Here Is a Weekly Moving Checklist To Follow When Moving Out Of Your House
Congratulations! You’ve sold your house, and now it’s time for the move. Here’s a week-by-week checklist for moving to your new home, smoothly and successfully.
8 Weeks Before Moving
- Buy a journal or binder to collect notes about your move, including reminders, phone call notes, “to-do” lists, and pertinent receipts.
- Sketch or obtain a floor plan of your new home and decide which household goods to keep and which to let go.
- Decide whether you’re going to do the move yourself or hire professionals. If you’re hiring movers, now is the time to start the process by getting at least three estimates.
- Arrange for transfer of your child’s school records
- Start creating a list of people who need to be notified about your change of address and keep it handy so you can add to it as you think of people.
- Use our moving box calculator and make a list of moving boxes & supplies you’ll need. If you plan to order them online, go ahead and do that. Or try to find free moving boxes.
- Buy a lockable box for important files and documents like birth certificates, insurance policies, etc.
4 Weeks Before Moving
- Donate furniture you don’t want to charity. Many organizations will arrange pick-up.
- Contact insurance companies, doctors, and dentists about forwarding your records.
- Arrange cut-off dates for utilities, including phone, gas, electricity, water, and cable.
- Fill out a Post Office change of address kit online.
- Start taking apart outdoor furniture and outdoor children’s equipment, like swing sets
- Determine which things in your garage and/or storage shed need to be packed and which ones can be donated, recycled, or thrown out.
- Designate a “moving room” to store boxes that have already been packed. Continue to pack and label boxes of things you can do without until the move.
- Notify your pastor, rabbi, priest, or imam of your move
- Arrange for a babysitter on moving day
- Determine how your pets will be moved on moving day.
2 Weeks Before Moving
- Drain water hoses, the propane tank from your gas grill, and oil and gas from lawn equipment.
- Safely dispose of paints, aerosols, oils, and other flammable or toxic waste. Your city’s public works department can advise you on how to properly dispose of these items.
- Arrange to have utilities turned on at your new home.
- Update your online profiles on LinkedIn, Facebook, and any other social sites you use.
- Remind schools when your kids’ last day will be
- Return your library books
- Have your car serviced to avoid a breakdown on moving day.
- Call your homeowner’s insurance provider and arrange the date for coverage to end.
- Start eating the items in your pantry, refrigerator, and freezer. Buy only the minimum groceries you need for the next two weeks.
- Continue packing, labeling, and storing boxes.
1 Week Before Moving
- Prepare an “essentials” box for things you’ll need the day you move in, such as kitchen items you’ll need for preparing meals.
- Prepare and label “last load” items box for moving day and pack suitcases and valuables separately
- Fill any prescriptions needed in the time leading to your move.
- Continue packing, labeling, and storing boxes.
- Last Few Days Before Moving Day
- Determine which crucial items you’ll transport in your car and make sure they’ll fit. This box should include:
- Towels
- Soap
- Toothbrushes / toothpaste
- The day before moving day, clean out the refrigerator. Eat what you can and order takeout if you need to.
- Continue packing, labeling, and storing boxes.
Moving Day
- Take kids to the babysitter or pick up the babysitter to watch the kids while moving is in progress.
- Take movers through the house and make sure they know which items are fragile.
- Make sure boxes that are not going on the moving truck are clearly marked.
- Do a final walk-through before the moving truck leaves.
- Make sure the movers have your cell phone number.
- Check all moving paperwork before signing the bill of lading. Keep copies of the bill of lading and the inventory list with you in a safe place.
Further Reading: Looking For More Moving Resources? Check These Articles Out!
- Best Moving Boxes That You Can Buy Online (Reviewed)
- Cheap Moving Boxes – Best Budget Friendly Options (Reviewed)
- Best Hand Trucks
- Where Is The Best Place To Buy Moving Boxes?
- Where To Get Free Moving Boxes? Check Out These 8 Thrifty Options
- Best Moving Straps
- How Many Boxes Do I Need To Move? Use Our Moving Box Calculator
About the Author: Kris Lippi is the owner of ISoldMyHouse.com, the broker of Get LISTED Realty and an official member of the Forbes Real Estate Council. He actively writes about real estate related topics such as buying and selling homes, how-to guides for around the house and home product recommendations. He has been featured in Inman, Readers Digest, Fox News, American Express, Fit Small Business, Policy Genius, Lending Tree, GoDaddy, Manta as well as other major websites. Read more about us here.