{ "slug": "moving-house", "url": "https://checklists.org/moving-house", "markdown": "https://checklists.org/moving-house.md", "title": "Moving House", "description": "Everything to do before, during, and after a residential move, from eight weeks out to your first night.", "category": "home", "tags": [ "home", "life-events" ], "version": "1.0", "updated": "2026-07-07", "sources": [ { "name": "USPS — Official change of address", "url": "https://moversguide.usps.com/" }, { "name": "FMCSA — Protect your move (interstate moves)", "url": "https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/protect-your-move" } ], "intro": "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.", "itemCount": 32, "essentialCount": 10, "sections": [ { "title": "Eight weeks before", "items": [ { "id": "js6oei", "text": "Set a moving budget", "note": "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)." }, { "id": "1ontvox", "text": "Get binding quotes from at least three moving companies", "note": "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.", "essential": true }, { "id": "1laqp8c", "text": "Verify the mover's license and complaint history", "note": "Look up their USDOT number on the FMCSA website. Moving scams almost always trace back to unlicensed carriers.", "when": "interstate", "essential": true }, { "id": "13ztwe8", "text": "Give written notice to your landlord", "note": "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.", "when": "renting", "essential": true }, { "id": "5dldfl", "text": "Start a single moving folder", "note": "One place — physical or digital — for quotes, receipts, the lease, school records. Moving expenses may be tax-deductible for military moves." } ] }, { "title": "Six weeks before", "items": [ { "id": "1uf2g6y", "text": "Declutter room by room", "note": "Every box you don't move is money saved. Sell, donate, or discard; charities will often schedule a free pickup for furniture." }, { "id": "mw4jin", "text": "Order packing supplies", "note": "Rule of thumb: 10–15 boxes per room, plus tape, paper, and a marker per packer. Liquor stores and grocery stores give away sturdy boxes." }, { "id": "ti16st", "text": "Research schools and transfer records", "note": "Request transcripts and immunization records now — schools can take weeks to process transfers.", "when": "moving-with-kids" }, { "id": "1iphxfv", "text": "Book movers for pets or vehicles", "note": "Pet air transport and car shipping both book out 4–6 weeks in advance.", "when": "long-distance" } ] }, { "title": "Four weeks before", "items": [ { "id": "1p32s8s", "text": "File your change of address with the postal service", "note": "Takes five minutes online and forwards mail for 12 months. Do it now; it can take two weeks to kick in." }, { "id": "1d5dae7", "text": "Schedule utility shutoff at the old place and startup at the new", "note": "Electricity, gas, water, internet, trash. Internet installation appointments are the bottleneck — book that one first." }, { "id": "1dfxzgm", "text": "Update your address everywhere that matters", "note": "Bank, employer/payroll, insurance, DMV, voter registration, subscriptions. Work from your last two bank statements — anything that charged you knows your old address." }, { "id": "ggvkmz", "text": "Start packing rooms you don't use daily", "note": "Guest room, garage, storage, off-season clothes. Label every box with its destination room *and* a one-line summary of contents." }, { "id": "gbxyn9", "text": "Arrange time off work for moving day", "note": "And for the day after. You will not want to be in meetings." } ] }, { "title": "One week before", "items": [ { "id": "tij4cc", "text": "Confirm the movers in writing", "note": "Date, arrival window, both addresses, contact numbers, and the binding quote amount.", "essential": true }, { "id": "vcwmyw", "text": "Pack a \"first 24 hours\" box per person", "note": "Medications, chargers, toiletries, two changes of clothes, towels, sheets, toilet paper, coffee setup. This box rides with you, not in the truck." }, { "id": "1jjnkj0", "text": "Use up or give away frozen and perishable food", "note": "Movers won't take perishables; coolers only buy you a few hours." }, { "id": "tvck4z", "text": "Refill prescriptions", "note": "You want a full supply crossing the gap, especially if you're changing pharmacies or states.", "essential": true }, { "id": "127jfz5", "text": "Photograph valuables and electronics setups", "note": "Condition photos for insurance claims; cable photos so you can rewire the TV without swearing." }, { "id": "pjs7at", "text": "Empty, defrost, and dry the refrigerator 24 hours before loading", "note": "A wet fridge in a sealed truck grows mold impressively fast.", "when": "moving-appliances" } ] }, { "title": "Moving day", "items": [ { "id": "rvpxc3", "text": "Walk the movers through the house before loading starts", "note": "Point out fragile items, what stays, and the \"do not load\" pile (your first-24-hours boxes, documents, valuables)." }, { "id": "1u6v4co", "text": "Keep documents, jewelry, and small electronics with you", "note": "Anything irreplaceable or pocketable travels in your car.", "essential": true }, { "id": "x2zle4", "text": "Do a final sweep of every room, closet, cabinet, and drawer", "note": "Check the dishwasher, the oven, the attic, behind doors, and the garage rafters. This is when things get left behind.", "essential": true }, { "id": "c89cjh", "text": "Record utility meter readings and photograph the empty rooms", "note": "Your evidence for the deposit dispute you hope never happens.", "when": "renting", "essential": true }, { "id": "58wo7f", "text": "Hand over keys, garage remotes, and mailbox keys", "note": "To the landlord, agent, or buyer — count them out loud." } ] }, { "title": "First week after", "items": [ { "id": "qups4g", "text": "Test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, locate the breaker panel and water shutoff", "note": "Before you need any of them.", "essential": true }, { "id": "edd2bl", "text": "Change the locks or rekey", "note": "You have no idea how many copies of the old keys exist.", "when": "buying" }, { "id": "h2obik", "text": "Unpack the kitchen first", "note": "A working kitchen makes a house livable; everything else can wait." }, { "id": "18qk7yl", "text": "Register your new address with the DMV", "note": "Most states require a license and registration update within 30 days of moving.", "essential": true }, { "id": "g7h9bj", "text": "Register to vote at your new address" }, { "id": "1920uo9", "text": "Find a new doctor, dentist, and vet, and transfer records", "when": "long-distance" }, { "id": "1bio32u", "text": "Note the inspection deadline on your mover's paperwork", "note": "Interstate movers: you typically have nine months to file a written claim for loss or damage — but the sooner, the stronger." } ] } ] }