Moving Day Checklist

Weeks before the move

From the guide’s own timeline. Tick each one as you go. Your ticks stay on this device. These are examples; your home may need others.

• About eight weeks out: decide on movers or helpers, gather moving quotes, and start using up pantry and freezer food.
• About six weeks out: give any required notice in writing, and start sorting what to sell, donate or recycle.
• About four weeks out: buy boxes and supplies, set up mail forwarding, and schedule utilities to stop and start.
• About two weeks out: confirm movers, arrange elevator or parking reservations if needed, and pack rarely used rooms.
• The last week: pack the first night box, clean as you go, and confirm a move out walk through time.

All done. Your move has a calm plan.

Smart packing habits

From the guide’s own packing habits. Tick each one as you go. Your ticks stay on this device. These are examples; your home may need others.

• Measure large furniture and doorways ahead of time so nothing gets stuck.
• Pack heavy items like books in small boxes, and keep each box to a weight you can lift comfortably.
• Label each box on the side and top with the room and a short list of what’s inside.
• Take a photo of how electronics are connected before you unplug them.
• Wrap dishes one by one and stand plates on their edges, with crumpled paper filling gaps.
• Keep important documents, medicines and valuables in a bag that stays with you.
• Defrost the freezer and use up frozen and perishable food in the last week or two.

All done. Packed light and labeled well.

Color code your boxes with a strip of colored tape for each room, and put a matching piece of tape on each room’s door at the new home. Anyone helping knows exactly where boxes go.

Your first night box

From the guide’s own first night box. Keep it with you, not on the truck. Tick each one as you go. Your ticks stay on this device. These are examples; your home may need others.

• Medicines
• Phone chargers
• Toiletries and a towel
• A change of clothes
• Toilet paper
• Sheets
• Snacks and water
• A few basic tools and a box cutter
• A flashlight
• Paper plates and trash bags
• Cleaning wipes
• Any pet or child essentials

All done. Your first night is covered.

Moving day and the first week

From the guide’s moving day list. Tick each one as you go. Your ticks stay on this device. These are examples; your home may need others.

• Lay down floor runners or cardboard, and pad door frames and banisters before anything moves.
• Walk every room, closet and cabinet one last time before you hand over the keys.
• Take a short video of the empty, clean home on your way out.
• At the new home, complete a move in condition report with a comment on every single item, in any condition, before unpacking.
• Test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, and find the water shut off and electrical panel on the first day.
• Update your address with banks, employers, insurance and agencies within the first week or two.

All done. Welcome home.

Bunklow Walk makes the move in condition report easy. See Bunklow Walk.

A few things to skip

• Please don’t drag furniture across floors. Lift it, or use sliders or a dolly.
• Please don’t pack hazardous items like propane, gasoline, paint thinner or ammunition on a moving truck.
• Please don’t overpack boxes. A box that’s too heavy is how backs and boxes both give out.
• Please don’t pay a large cash deposit to movers you haven’t checked out first.

Moving is real physical work. Lift with your legs, keep loads close to your body, take breaks, and drink plenty of water. It’s perfectly okay to ask friends or professionals to do the heavy lifting.

If something goes wrong on the day

1. Take a breath. Something almost always goes a little sideways on moving day, and that’s okay.
2. If someone gets hurt, stop and care for them first. For anything serious, call 911.
3. If the home is damaged, like a scraped wall or scratched floor, take clear photos right away.
4. Let whoever handles the home know in writing, honestly and kindly. Early, honest notes are always appreciated.
5. If movers damage or lose items, note it on the paperwork before signing, and keep photos.
6. Follow up in writing with the moving company, and keep copies of every message and receipt.

Put screws, bolts and small hardware from furniture in a zip top bag and tape it to the furniture itself. No more hunting for that one missing piece.

Guides that go well with this one

• Move-In and Move-Out Inspections
• Move-Out Cleaning
• Mail and Package Safety
• Giving Notice and Moving Out
• Renters Insurance Basics

Helpful resources

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration: Protect Your Move and USPS: Standard Forward Mail. Moving between states? A quick check with the federal mover database helps you avoid scams. Rules about notice to move out, condition reports and returning keys differ from place to place, so we’d gently encourage a quick look at the rules where your home is. A local landlord or tenant association or an attorney in your area can help.