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Moving is exciting, but it is also one of the most stressful things we do. There are hundreds of small tasks, and it is easy to forget something important. The secret is to start early and break the move into small steps. Here is a simple moving checklist from 8 weeks before to your first week in the new home, plus a printable planner that keeps everything in one place.
8 Weeks Before: Plan and Declutter
Set your moving date and a realistic budget. Request quotes from at least three moving companies, or decide to move yourself and reserve a truck early. Check the notice rules in your lease. Then start decluttering: go room by room and sort items into keep, sell, donate and trash. The less you own, the less you pay to move and the less you unpack.
6 to 4 Weeks Before: Book and Start Packing
Book your movers, order packing supplies and notify your landlord in writing. Start packing the things you rarely use, such as off-season clothes, books and decor. Begin a box inventory so you always know what is where. This is also the time to research doctors, schools and vets in your new area and to transfer records.
2 Weeks Before: Confirm and Forward
Confirm the movers, the truck, the parking and the key pickup. Forward your mail and update your address with banks, your employer and subscriptions. Pack most of the house now, label every box on two sides and keep valuables and documents with you.
The Last Week: Pack Smart
Defrost the freezer, plan meals that empty the fridge and pack a bag for each family member for the first three days. Charge your phones and pack an open-first essentials box with toilet paper, soap, towels, chargers, basic tools, snacks, plates and sheets. You will be very happy to find it first.
Moving Day: Keep It Simple
Eat a good breakfast, do a final walk-through of every room and take photos of the home condition. Keep keys, IDs and valuables with you. At the new home, check for damage, set up the beds first and unpack the essentials box. Do not try to unpack everything on day one.
How to Label Boxes So Unpacking Is Easy
Write a box number, the room and a few words about the contents on two sides of each box. Add a color sticker for each room, so movers know where to put it. Mark fragile and heavy boxes clearly. A simple log with box numbers will save you hours of searching for the scissors later.
Do Not Forget the Change of Address
Update the postal service, your bank, insurance, employer, doctor, school, online shopping accounts and subscriptions. Set up or transfer your utilities (electricity, gas, water, internet) and take meter readings on moving day.
Money-Saving Moving Tips
Ask for free boxes from supermarkets and friends. Use towels, clothes and blankets instead of bubble wrap. Move on a weekday or mid-month, when prices are often lower. Sell what you do not need and donate the rest.
Clean the Old Home and Check the New One
A clean old home helps you get your deposit back. Take photos when you leave. In the new home, do a walkthrough first and send a list of any damage to your landlord or agent right away.
My Printable Moving Planner & Checklist
To keep everything in one place, I created a 26-page printable moving planner:
- Planning: moving overview, moving budget and mover quotes comparison
- Countdown: checklists for 8 weeks, 6 to 4 weeks, 2 weeks, moving week and moving day, plus an hour-by-hour moving day schedule
- Packing: supplies list, room-by-room tracker, box inventory log, cut-out box labels and an open-first essentials box list
- Admin: change of address checklist, utilities setup tracker and important contacts
- Home: declutter, sell and donate tracker, old home cleaning checklist, new home walkthrough and shopping list
- Extras: first week in the new home and a notes page
Print only the pages you need, as many times as you like, on US Letter paper.
👉 Get the Moving Planner & Checklist on Payhip
👉 Or get it on Ko-fi
Moving Supplies I Recommend
Moving Boxes
Strong boxes in a few sizes make packing and carrying much easier.
Packing Tape and Dispenser
Good tape saves you from boxes that burst open halfway through the move.
Bubble Wrap and Packing Paper
Protect glasses, plates and anything fragile.
Labels and Markers
Color-coded labels make unpacking so much faster.
Furniture Blankets
Protect your furniture and your walls and floors during the move.
Cardstock for Printing
Print the box labels on cardstock, so they stay stuck and easy to read.
One Box at a Time
A move feels huge, but it becomes manageable when you take it one small step at a time. Start today with the first task: set your date and make a list. Prices and availability on Amazon can change, so check the current price on the product page. Good luck, and enjoy your new home! 🏡
Katerina, Wilhelmina Digital Studio
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