Ultimate Moving Checklist & Planning Tips

Why trust us?

Ryan Carrigan created moveBuddha in 2015 with the mission to make moving easier. Over the past nine years, he and the moveBuddha team have talked to thousands of consumers across the nation about their moves.

Ryan got his start in the moving industry as a high school student, working as a grunt on a local moving crew. When he graduated college, he got a job working in sales for a large moving broker, where he learned just how crazy this industry really is.

Those real-life experiences provided plenty of learning opportunities, as well as the inspiration for finding a way to make the moving process easier to navigate.

By drawing on industry experience, conducting extensive research on services and total costs, and collecting experiences from actual movers through the moveBuddha Better Moves Project, Ryan, and the moveBuddha team have been able to comprehensively evaluate the major interstate movers.

Research moving services

One of the first steps in planning your next move is to research the type of moving services that are available. The best moving companies and best long-distance movers include full-service providers that handle loading, unloading, and transportation, but at a higher price point. White glove moving services that provide packing support and additional moving supplies are even more expensive.

If you are on a tight budget, moving truck rentals and moving container companies are more affordable, but require customers to do the loading, unloading, and, occasionally, the driving.

Having an idea of what these companies charge and what you’re willing to spend will help you gauge what services make the most sense.

Get moving estimates

No matter where you’re moving, it’s a good idea to calculate the costs in advance. Having a ballpark estimate can help you stay within your budget. While every company’s quoting process may be a bit different, our moving cost calculator makes it possible to compare multiple estimates at once and thoroughly assess moving expenses.

The cost will fluctuate if you’re renting a truck, booking a moving container company, or hiring a full-service mover, which is the most expensive option. When Michelle moved from Redondo Beach, California, to Bastrop, Texas, she went with Mayzlin Relocation, one of our favorite full-service moving companies for customer service. Mayzlin initially quoted Michelle $3,150 for the 1,500-mile move, which was close to the $3,330 she was ultimately charged.

Marcel was moving from Jersey City, New Jersey, to Austin, Texas, and hired the full-service company Safeway Moving, our overall pick for best moving van lines. He was quoted $5,290 for the 1,753-mile move and charged exactly that when the job was completed.

This table shows the average cost of moving across state lines based on the size of your home.

Set a moving budget

There are many moving costs to consider when planning a move, which can make it confusing to create a budget.

Fortunately, the process of formulating a budget can be broken down into five simple steps:

• Estimate costs. If you’ve read the section above, you already have some idea how to do that. Some companies like U-Pack will provide quick quotes online, many companies require a phone call. We recommend requesting free quotes from at least three similar companies.
• List expenses. For DIY moves, common fees include rental trucks and packing materials like bubble wrap, packing tape, and cardboard boxes. If you hire a full-service moving company, costs may arise for services like furniture assembly.
• Account for hidden fees. In addition to obvious expenses, think about other costs like homeowners insurance, security deposits, and tolls and fuels for moving trucks. To make sure you don’t miss something, review our moving costs checklist.
• Anticipate the cost of settling in. Once you’re in your new place, it may take a few weeks to get settled in. During this time, you may spend more money on kitchenware, furniture, takeout, and other comforts before feeling at home. Plan ahead and take note of these estimates.
• Track as you go. Put all of these numbers in a spreadsheet and make a note of which ones may be tax deductible. Then, add them up to get an idea of what you intend on spending. Finally, keep track of how much money you do spend along the way (and save those receipts) to make sure you’re on track.

Other to-do items

Once you’ve researched moving companies, compiled and compared at least three quotes, and created a moving budget, there are a few other tasks to take care of eight weeks before your move:

• Research new banks, doctors, and schools
• Create a moving binder to keep track of receipts
• Protect your move by looking up your rights through the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
• Give your landlord notice
• Find a roommate
• Explain the move to your kids
• Host a garage sale

Declutter and organize

Hosting a garage sale can be a great way to make some extra cash to hire full-service movers, but the odds are you’re going to have some leftover clutter.

Don’t worry, you can declutter and organize your belongings before your move with the following steps:

• Decide what items to keep. You’re most likely going to get rid of some stuff before you pack up, but it’s also important to know what you’re not willing to part with. Keep a list of this as inventory of your belongings, with pictures if you prefer.
• Decide what items to sell or donate. When choosing what to keep, not everything will make the cut. Go through these items and decide what newer, more expensive items you may want to sell and which gently used, less expensive items that could be worth donating. Donations can be tax deductible, so keep track of these in your moving binder.
• Identify fragile and special items. In the process of deciding what to keep, make a note of any furniture, antiques, or other items that are extra fragile or valuable.
• Figure out how to move them. Depending on how many delicate items you have, it is worth researching specialized ways to move them, such as white-glove moving services.
• Digitize documents. Bills and other paperwork can add up and take up a lot of room you don’t need. With the exception of official documents like birth certificates, a lot of these papers can be shredded or scanned and uploaded to a flash drive or external hard drive.
• Measure furniture. Although these measurements will be helpful leading up to the move, it’s important to do them early on so you can figure out if it’s worth moving larger or older furniture.
• Review our tips for decluttering before a move. It’s a good idea to take a look at our advice, just in case you missed something.

Prep for packing

Now that you’ve decluttered and organized, it’s a good idea to prepare yourself for packing. Planning ahead is particularly important if you’re hiring movers to help with packing in addition to loading and unloading. Either way, packing prep will keep you organized and help you avoid unnecessary stress.

Here is what to do before filling your first box:

• Make a packing schedule. Whether you’re packing up a little everyday (which is ideal), or carving out a few weekends and evenings to pack, it’s important to have a schedule and stick to it. Otherwise, the final days leading up to the move will be more stressful than necessary.
• Research packing tips/hacks. From focusing on one room at a time to using your tape effectively, review our top moving hacks so you know you’re doing it right.
• Label boxes. It might make sense to label a box after it is fully packed, but labeling before you start packing will keep you more organized from room to room.
• Reserve storage. If your inventory of your belongings includes furniture and other belongings that need to go into storage, reserve this space — unless you’re planning on hiring a moving container company, which often has add-on options for storage.

Measure doorways and staircases

Your furniture is already measured, but now it’s time to figure out how you’re going to get them out of your old home and into your new one. To determine this, measure your doorways and staircases using a flexible tape measurer.

For doorways, remember to measure not just width and height but also the diagonal distance between the top left corner and bottom right, or the diagonal clearance. With stairs, you want to measure the height of the staircase, the height of the stairs and depth of the ledge you put your feet on — as well as the width and length of any landings and the amount of space to the ceiling.

Other to-do items

Once you have downsized, organized, prepared for packing, and measured staircases and doorways, the following steps should be taken six weeks before your move:

• Check that the moving companies have a registered carrier ID number with the U.S. Department of Transportation to avoid scams
• Request time off from work for the move
• Notify schools of your move
• Get transcripts and school records
• Choose new schools for kids
• Do any needed home repairs
• Service your vehicle

Choose a mover and confirm your booking

Now that you’ve researched the type of moving services you need and compared quotes from at least three moving companies, it’s time to pick the best company and type of moving service for you. Whether planning on packing and driving a truck yourself, loading up PODS or other moving containers, or hiring a full-service mover, it’s important to book these services at least four weeks in advance.

Depending on what company you chose, you may have to purchase moving insurance if it’s not included. Likewise, if you have car shipping or pet transport needs, it’s a good time to lock in these services, as well. For more on those, check out our top picks for best car shippers and pet shipping companies.

Start or continue packing

If you didn’t get a jump on labeling your boxes back in week six, now would be a good time to stock up on boxes, tape, bubble wrap, and other packing supplies. Then, go back and find your moving schedule to see how much you want to have packed over the course of the next few weeks.

From there, you can start or continue packing. It is helpful to start with non-essential items first and pack items up room-by-room. It is also a good time to figure out what to do with all those plants. If you don’t know how to move houseplants, look into some best practices.

Use or donate unwanted items

You’ve already set aside what items you want to donate. Now you have to carve out time and figure out where to drop them off or schedule for them to be picked up by a charitable organization.

Beyond donations, it’s a good time to eat anything perishable, use up forgotten but unexpired food in the pantry, and defrost whatever meals are in the back of the freezer. That way you won’t have to throw it away in a few weeks.

Get your documents in order

You’ve already digitized or shredded non-essential documents, but now you have to get organized with more official documents.

You’re going to want to invest in another binder or file folder for the following essentials:

• Passports
• Driver’s licenses
• Birth certificates
• Social Security cards
• Financial documents like bank statements, loan documents, and tax returns
• Legal documents like leases and property deeds
• Educational records like transcripts and diplomas
• Medical records and other healthcare information
• Employment documents like paystubs and contracts
• Receipts and warranties
• Moving documents like your contract with a moving company

Set up new service providers

If you’re moving into an apartment, some utilities may already be set up, though it is always smart to double check on this). Either way, it is a good idea to set up service for electricity, water, gas, and any other services like cleaning.

While you’re at it with all these administrative jobs, you can set up your change of address at your local post office. Also make sure to change your address online with the DMV, which is necessary for voter registration.

Other to-do items

Congratulations on booking your mover, starting to pack, donating unwanted items, compiling documents, and setting up service providers. You’re crushing it, but you’re not done yet.

Remember to do these things four weeks before your move:

• Confirm parking options for moving truck
• Request vet records and pet medication
• Cancel any local gym memberships and subscriptions
• Take photos of furniture in case of damage during the move
• Figure out temporary housing
• Ask friends to help with DIY move
• Make a moving day playlist (that your friends don’t hate
• Have a safe box

Clear storage units and safe deposit boxes

You should’ve already booked a storage unit by now, but if you have a local storage unit that you’re moving out of, now would be a good time to clean it out. You should also set up a safety deposit box through your bank (if you don’t have one already) and make sure any additional valuables and documents are accounted for.

Return borrowed items

In the process of packing, you might come across a handful of borrowed items that belong to friends and family. Not only will they appreciate you returning them, but they may also be more likely to help you with the move.

Clean up

Whether you rent or own, it’s best to leave your old apartment or house in the same or better condition than when you moved in. This includes deep-cleaning the entire place, but more specifically, washing down outdoor furniture, professionally cleaning rugs, painting, and tending to any remaining repairs.

You should also recycle or dispose of any flammable items or anything that cannot be easily thrown away, such as old batteries.

Send out moving announcements

As your moving date approaches, it’s important to tell friends and family where you’ll be relocating. Email is a great way to do this, although some people prefer social media.

But even with a private profile, refrain from posting your new address on a social media platform. Unless you want to slide into the DMs for that, stick to email, which is more secure.

Either way, give the people you care about your correct contact information to invite you to events like birthdays and weddings.

Other to-do items

You’ve gotten your storage and safety deposit boxes ready, returned borrowed items, sent out moving announcements and did so much cleaning you may be grossed out forever.

There are just a few more things to do:

• Prep two weeks’ worth of meals
• Refill prescriptions
• Backup your computer
• Order any new furniture
• Reconfirm moving arrangements
• Get a babysitter and/or pet sitter for the move
• Make list of new emergency service providers for your new home
• Set up trash removal and recycling

Finish packing

Sure, you came up with a packing schedule and started the process. But by now, you might be at that frustrating stage of packing where you’re wondering how you ever accumulated so much stuff. Don’t quit now.

Instead, keep your head down and keep packing the rest of your belongings and disassemble any remaining furniture. You’re going to want to pack an essentials box, which will have extra chargers, a first aid box, and anything important for children and pets. It is also wise to pack a suitcase or box with a few days’ worth of necessities like clothing and toiletries. No one wants to be stranded without toilet paper!

Get your home ready for moving day

Although you may have emotionally detached from your last home, that doesn’t mean you are done taking care of it.

There are a few steps to take before you move out of your soon-to-be former home:

• Protect old and new floors from scratching on moving day
• Schedule utilities that need to be turned off
• Take pictures of rooms once emptied
• Withdraw cash for movers’ tips
• Hire a cleaning service, if needed

Other to-do items

Now that you’ve finished packing and prepared your place for moving day, there are a few small items to check off the to-do list:

• Empty oil and gas from grills, heaters, etc.
• Donate unopened food
• Unplug your fridge and freezer the day before move
• Get the keys to your new home
• Check weather for rain, ice, snow, or other potentially hazardous conditions
• Come up with a Plan B for the move (but again, don’t freak out!)

Meet, greet, and supervise movers

You’ve already researched and booked your movers, but you still have to meet and greet them. During this time, you can also have them sign the Bill of Lading.

A Bill of Lading is an essential document in the transportation and logistics industry that serves as a receipt, contract, and even a document of title, which means it can be used to transfer the ownership of goods while they are in transit.

When you greet your movers, you may want to provide water or a few other refreshments. Taking time to do this is not just polite; it could also make the difference between good and great service.

Speaking of which, always tip your movers about 20% of your moving costs — or more if they go above and beyond. Another easy rule of thumb is to set aside $20–$30 per moving crew member for local moves and $50 per mover for long-distance moves.

If your movers are going the extra mile by handling fragile or bulky pieces or helping disassemble or reassemble furniture and electronics, you might want to consider giving them a little more.

Take inventory of your belongings

Once your belongings are delivered, find that inventory list you came up with back in week six. (Hint: it should be in your moving binder.) It’s worth noting that local moves may be accomplished within the same day, but for long-distance moves, this may happen a few days after the move.

Regardless, once you’re at your new home with all your belongings, use your inventory list to check for missing items. Then, take photos of any damaged items for your records and so you can file insurance claims later.

Start unpacking

Now that all of your possessions are in one place, you can start to unpack! Start with your essentials box, which should be labeled as such. Then unpack and organize room-by-room and assemble furniture.

If your time is limited and your budget is flexible, there are services like HireAHelper that can help with all the above.

Other to-do items

You’ve taken note of any missing or damaged items, assembled some furniture, and started the unpacking process. You’re not finished just yet.

Here are a couple loose ends to wrap up:

• Do a final sweep of the house
• Supervise the load-in

Can I ride to my new home with the movers?

You cannot typically ride to your new home with the movers due to liability issues. You’ll need to make arrangements for how you and your family will get to your new destination, whether it be by driving your own car or flying and using one of the top car shippers to transport your vehicles. If you are going with a moving truck rental, you’ll be driving all your items yourself.

Is it worth it to hire professional movers for your next home move?

It may be worth it to hire professional movers for your next home move. Hiring professional movers is more expensive than doing everything yourself. But if you can afford it, the additional cost can save you some time and effort, especially if you are moving a larger household.

How much should I tip the movers?

Tip your movers about 20% of your moving costs — or more if they go above and beyond. Another easy rule of thumb is to set aside $20–$30 per moving crew member for local moves and $50 per mover for long-distance moves.

What items should be included on a moving checklist for an international relocation?

The items that should be included on a moving abroad checklist are all those on a domestic moving checklist, as well as:

• Researching things like healthcare, cultural norms, cost of living, and crime rates in your new country
• Paying attention to any entry or immigration requirements
• Considering putting belonging into storage and have a contingency plan if you don’t like being an expat

International moves tend to be more complicated, and as a result take more planning in advance. If this applies to you, check out our picks for best international movers.

What items should I prioritize on my moving checklist for a smooth relocation process?

The items you should prioritize on your moving checklist for a smooth relocation process include setting your budget and starting the search for movers at least two months in advance. Even if you don’t book movers until a month out, getting a lay of the land ahead of time will give you a good idea of your Plan A, as well as backup options. This will also give you time to prioritize comparing quotes and think about the best moving company for you.

Our moving cost calculator can be helpful for side-by-side estimates from multiple moving services at once.

What items should be included in an essential moving day survival kit?

The following items should be included in an essential moving day survival kit:

• IDs, moving contracts, and other important documents you may need to access during your move
• Cash and credit cards
• Clothing, medication, and toiletries you might need during your move
• Tape and scissors
• A boxcutter or utility knife
• A small toolbox
• A flashlight
• Chargers for phones and other electronic devices
• Cleaning supplies
• Bedding
• Snacks, water, coffee, and tea
• Anything else that provides comfort and doesn’t take up a lot of space