For a residential move, local or long-distance. Assumes you have roughly eight weeks; if you have less, do the phases in order and compress.
USPS — Official change of address1 · FMCSA — Protect your move (interstate moves)2 · suggest an edit
Send suggestion Goes straight to the people who keep this checklist current. No account needed.
Describe your situation — plain language is perfect
✦ Compile my checklist Assembled only from these vetted items — every kept item traces back to the original.
Eight weeks before
Set a moving budget Local moves typically run $1,000–$3,000; interstate moves $4,000–$10,000+. Decide now whether you're hiring movers, renting a truck, or using a hybrid (you pack, they drive). Get binding quotes from at least three moving companies Prices vary as much as 3x for identical moves. Insist on a binding quote after an in-home or video survey — a non-binding estimate is a suggestion, not a price. Verify the mover's license and complaint historyif interstate Look up their USDOT number on the FMCSA website. Moving scams almost always trace back to unlicensed carriers. Give written notice to your landlordif renting Check your lease for the required notice period — 30 days is common, 60 is not rare. Missing it can cost you a month's rent. Start a single moving folder One place — physical or digital — for quotes, receipts, the lease, school records. Moving expenses may be tax-deductible for military moves. Four weeks before
File your change of address with the postal service Takes five minutes online and forwards mail for 12 months. Do it now; it can take two weeks to kick in. Schedule utility shutoff at the old place and startup at the new Electricity, gas, water, internet, trash. Internet installation appointments are the bottleneck — book that one first. Update your address everywhere that matters Bank, employer/payroll, insurance, DMV, voter registration, subscriptions. Work from your last two bank statements — anything that charged you knows your old address. Start packing rooms you don't use daily Guest room, garage, storage, off-season clothes. Label every box with its destination room and a one-line summary of contents. Arrange time off work for moving day And for the day after. You will not want to be in meetings. One week before
Confirm the movers in writing Date, arrival window, both addresses, contact numbers, and the binding quote amount. Pack a "first 24 hours" box per person Medications, chargers, toiletries, two changes of clothes, towels, sheets, toilet paper, coffee setup. This box rides with you, not in the truck. Use up or give away frozen and perishable food Movers won't take perishables; coolers only buy you a few hours. Refill prescriptions You want a full supply crossing the gap, especially if you're changing pharmacies or states. Photograph valuables and electronics setups Condition photos for insurance claims; cable photos so you can rewire the TV without swearing. Empty, defrost, and dry the refrigerator 24 hours before loading if moving appliances A wet fridge in a sealed truck grows mold impressively fast. Moving day
Walk the movers through the house before loading starts Point out fragile items, what stays, and the "do not load" pile (your first-24-hours boxes, documents, valuables). Keep documents, jewelry, and small electronics with you Anything irreplaceable or pocketable travels in your car. Do a final sweep of every room, closet, cabinet, and drawer Check the dishwasher, the oven, the attic, behind doors, and the garage rafters. This is when things get left behind. Record utility meter readings and photograph the empty roomsif renting Your evidence for the deposit dispute you hope never happens. Hand over keys, garage remotes, and mailbox keys To the landlord, agent, or buyer — count them out loud.
✓ All done. Nicely handled.