Comprehensive week-by-week moving to-do list

Ideally, a household move should be planned weeks, if not months in advance. With so many moving-related duties and responsibilities, it’s easy to lose your focus. Instead of doing everything last minute, you may actually benefit from breaking down arduous moving tasks into weekly to-do lists. If you only have a vague idea of what you should be doing before, during, and after the move, stick to our checklist that will guide you successfully through the moving activities.

It’s really hard to keep track of moving duties and responsibilities without a proper plan in place. Preparing well in advance will not only make your relocation manageable but also keep stress and tension at bay all along. It’s no secret that relocating your earthly possessions to a new place is a tough and overwhelming job − especially if you are facing an unexpected move due to some unforeseen circumstances. If you are moving for the first time you may easily get confused while trying to figure out which relocation tasks to prioritize.

A detailed moving checklist will give you the possibility to make the most of your time while achieving moving goals and tackling relocation activities one by one. This strategy reduces the chance of overlooking some important details as well. Keep on reading to find our comprehensive week-by-week moving to-do list.

Week-by-week moving to-do list

8 weeks before moving day

As it turns out, a residential move is less of a hassle if you start with preparations at least two months in advance. Here are some activities that are typically performed immediately after you decide to move:

Look for a new house

Start researching housing options in the area you want to move to. Whether you are relocating locally or long distance, you may consider hiring a reputable real estate agent to speed up the process. You can also search by yourself and see places via video chat. But an agent will narrow down your choices and save you a lot of time and nerves.

Notify your landlord

If you are renting a property, let your landlord know that you are moving out. You are obliged according to your tenancy agreement to notify your landlord usually 2-4 weeks before the move-out day − that should give them enough time to find another tenant. However, when you’re planning to move out, always go back to your contract and read it again carefully because you may be obliged to notify the landlord earlier. You may have to pay rent for one more month if you don’t follow the timeframe signed, so make sure to double-check the lease.

DIY or hire professionals

Decide whether to move on your own or to hire professional and affordable movers. For long-distance moves, it’s always recommended to hire movers because moving to another country is a pretty complex task, while DIY options are mostly left for short-distance moves. If you decide to have professionals do all the hard work for you, start researching your moving options. There are so many different businesses and it’s in your best interest to research them thoroughly.

7 weeks before the move

Get familiar

Inspect your target area. Try to learn as much as possible about the new neighborhood, lifestyle, cost of living, crime rate, health and child care institutions, cultural and entertainment options, schools, etc. If you’re moving nearby, visiting a few times is a good idea because you can get familiar and make it easier to settle once you move. But research is also possible even if you’re moving far away – use Google, social media platforms, public websites, forums, etc.

Obtain moving quotes

Get several quotes based on an in-home inspection. By now you should’ve realized that there are suspicious moving companies and a moving quote can be one of the indicators. No matter how attractive, an unusually low moving estimate is a sign that something’s wrong.

Choose the date

Decide on a favorable move-out date to avoid rush hour, heavy traffic, and parking issues. You will set the date according to the movers’ availability, so book them well in advance to ensure your peace of mind. Also, if you need to move during the peak season, chances are that some of the most dependable movers won’t be at your disposal, so it’s always advisable to set the date in advance to get better rates and know that your company will be available

6 weeks before the move

Reach out

Notify your friends, relatives, and co-workers that you are moving. Also, change your address with all businesses and third-party services. Those are post office, banks, utility companies, insurance providers, government agencies, magazine subscriptions, etc. You may have to cancel all services you’re currently using and schedule them for your new address before moving.

Transfer documents

Get your family’s medical and school records transferred. Start researching your new area in order to identify suitable housing options, childcare and healthcare institutions, schools, and other important amenities. Keep moving documents together and have them on hand all along.

Create inventory list

Go through your items and make an inventory. Not everything you own will fit into your new home, so purge your home of items you don’t want to move. Spread the word about the garage sale that you are about to organize and try to attract as many visitors as possible. Not only will you put some extra cash in your pocket, but also you will be able to save on packing supplies and transportation services.

5 weeks before the big day

Non-allowables

Know what your movers won’t move. They will provide you with the list of non-allowable items: canned food, aerosols, cleaning supplies, fuel, oil, pesticides, household batteries dangerous and illegal items, etc. Try not to stock up on groceries during this period and use up food from the refrigerator and pantry.

Get packing supplies

Check with the local grocery stores, restaurants, liquor stores when you can pick up free cardboard boxes. If you start your quest well in advance you are likely to save some money on your moving supplies. Furthermore, check with your movers if they are providing wardrobe boxes, dish boxes, mattress bags, and other specialty supplies.

4 weeks before the move

Cancel utilities

Have the utilities up and running at your new location and arrange cancellation at your current home. You want to make sure there’s electricity when you reach a new home, so never skip this step when you’re moving house.

Moving with a pet

Prepare your pet for the upcoming move. Have your animal friend checked up by a vet and collect all medical records and health certificates. They may be required to get specific shots depending on the area you’re moving to

3 weeks ahead

Start packing

Let’s get packing! Create an efficient packing schedule and tackle one room at a time. By letting go of unnecessary items you will be able to coordinate your packing activities much easier. Pack rarely used items first, such as out-of-season clothing, specialty items, and other things you won’t be using before moving day. Then proceed to areas with more traffic like the living room and kitchen and pack household items that are used often.

Car service

If you’ve decided to hit the road with your own car and drive to your new home, get your car serviced in advance. Also, shipping your car requires some advance arrangements with the auto transport company, so get to your research as soon as possible

2 weeks ahead

Arrange care

If you’re moving with children or pets, it’s a good idea to find someone to look after them on moving day. That way you could keep them away from all the fuss and focus on tasks without distractions. You can ask a close family member to look after them or arrange a babysitter for the big day.

Get in touch with your movers

Two weeks before moving is a good time to call your moving company to confirm the moving schedule and make sure nothing is changed. Give them exact contact details and destination address.

Clean your home

Your house should be left clean so if you don’t have time to clean it yourself, go ahead and hire a cleaning company to perform a thorough cleaning after you leave.

Pay all utility bills

Don’t forget to check if there are any debts left and pay any utility bills before you move out.

1 week before moving

An essentials bag

Pack an overnight bag for moving day and take care of all valuables that you are not going to entrust to your movers. Your essentials bag should contain a change of clothes, toiletries, clean bedding, personal documents, medications, and necessary things for a couple of days.

Parking space

Arrange for a parking place at both locations and reserve the elevator for the time of your relocation.

Cash on hand

Don’t forget to have some cash on hand to tip your movers once the move is completed.

Check the forecast

Keep checking the weather forecast regularly. Have a plan B in place in case you are moving in inclement weather.

Skip the week-by-week list and leave all the work to professionals. When you hire full-service movers like Dumbo Moving, our crew will take care of packing, loading, transporting, and unpacking your belongings. Contact us today to receive a moving quote