Ultimate Moving Checklist and Packing Guide
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Whether you’re moving across the country or across town, having a clear plan can make the entire process feel more manageable. Between booking transportation, packing your home, updating addresses, and setting up utilities, there are a lot of moving parts to coordinate.
Key Takeaways
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Free Moving Checklist PDF
Download our free moving checklist PDF to stay organized.
The Ultimate Downloadable Moving Checklist
8 Weeks Before Moving
Moving takes a lot of preparation and planning in advance. 8 weeks before your move, make sure to:
Create a Moving Folder
Set up a moving binder, digital folder, or moving checklist app to store:
- Quotes and reservations
- Receipts and contracts
- Inventory lists
- Utility confirmations
- Important documents
Many moving services now use digital confirmations, so saving screenshots and PDFs in an album on your phone and computer can help keep everything easy to access when you need it. It can also help to make sure overcharges, changing pickup or drop-off times, and any moving mishaps don’t happen.
Take Inventory Your Belongings
Starting with the room in your apartment in your house that stresses you out the least, go through and decide what you want to keep, donate, sell, recycle, and put into storage.
Creating a home inventory early can help estimate the truck size or type you may need, the number of needed portable storage containers, and moving costs. Taking photos of valuable items is also helpful for insurance purposes.
U-Haul Moving Tip: Using trash bags and large cardboard boxes for items you want to donate, put into storage, or recycle takes half of the hard work away when moving. You also don’t have to go through items twice.
A detailed moving and packing checklist can simplify packing and unpacking later.
Reserve Moving Equipment Early
One of the easiest ways to avoid last-minute moving stress is to reserve your moving equipment early. About 6–8 weeks before your move is a good time to reserve the moving equipment you may need. Peak moving periods, weekends, and month-end dates can fill up faster than many people expect.
The best part is that making a U-Haul moving truck, U-Box® containers, or storage reservation ahead of time does not cost you anything. Reserving early can help give you more flexibility while keeping your preferred moving date and equipment size available. If your timeline changes, you can often update your reservation details later as plans become more finalized. There is no cost to edit or cancel your reservation either.
Even if you are still finalizing exact move details, reserving ahead of time can help reduce last-minute scrambling during your final weeks of planning.
Compare Moving Options
Research transportation and moving support before peak moving dates fill up.
Common options include:
- DIY truck rentals
- U-Box® containers
- Labor-only moving assistance through Moving Help®
- Full-service movers
Truck rentals are often one of the most budget-friendly options for local moves. U-Box portable storage containers offer flexibility if your schedule isn’t confirmed, while full-service movers provide convenience, but typically at a significantly higher cost and often work within tight schedules that may offer less flexibility for last-minute changes.
For customers who want help with the heavy lifting without paying for a full-service move, Moving Help® through U-Haul® connects you with experienced moving labor at a fraction of the cost.
A moving costs checklist can help you compare and organize the expenses that come with planning a move, making it easier to build a realistic budget.
Common costs to include are truck or container rentals, fuel and mileage expenses, labor costs for loading or unloading assistance, monthly storage unit rent if needed, moving boxes and packing supplies, and move-out cleaning cost estimates.
Looking at these expenses together can help you identify where your money is going and find opportunities to save.
To make things easier for you, download our free moving costs checklist:
Downloadable Moving Costs Checklist
Notify Your Landlord
If you’re renting, provide written notice based on your lease agreement. Some apartment communities may also require prior documents and reservations such as online move-out scheduling, elevator reservations, parking permits, and digital inspection forms.
Here a sample written notice that you can use for your lease agreement:
“Hello [Landlord/Property Manager Name],
This email serves as my formal notice that I will be vacating Apartment [Number] at [Property Name/Address] on [Move-Out Date], in accordance with my lease requirements.
Please let me know the move-out procedures and any steps needed regarding the final inspection and security deposit.
My forwarding address is: [Forwarding Address].
Thank you.
Sincerely,
[Your Full Name]
[Phone Number]”
This document may need to be emailed, mailed, handed directly to your apartment manager, or a mix of all three, depending on your lease agreement. Whenever you are emailing, mailing, or handing in a notice to not renew your lease, always ask for a confirmation email that your landlord or apartment manager received your notice. An apartment moving checklist can help keep deadlines and building requirements organized.
6 Weeks Before Moving
Build a Moving Budget
Moving expenses can add up quickly, especially for long-distance moves. Some moving companies, truck rentals, and storage providers advertise attractive starting prices, but additional fees can impact your overall moving budget. Insurance, fuel, moving supplies, labor, storage rate increases, and other charges are common expenses that should be included in your moving costs checklist. While this may seem like a lot of work, there are tools to help this process go more smoothly.
Learn How to Use the Moving Supplies Calculator in the U-Haul App.
Tracking expenses early can make it easier to avoid unexpected costs later, so you can spend money on decorating your new place, seeing new attractions, trying restaurants, and being able to relax sooner.
Update Important Accounts
While this may seem like a task for after the move, keep note of when you need to update key accounts and make sure that you aren’t losing any important mail from the bank, insurance, or your employer. Start updating your address and move information with:
- Utility providers
- Employers
- Banks and credit cards
- Insurance companies
- Schools
- Subscription services
- Driver’s license, ID, and passport
Many companies now allow address updates directly through mobile apps or online portals.
Start Packing Non-Essentials
Begin with items you don’t use daily, including seasonal decorations, guest room items, off-season clothing, and garage storage.
Label boxes clearly with contents and destination rooms. Color-coded labels and digital inventory apps can make unpacking easier after the move. One of the best digital inventory apps available completely for free is the My Belongings Organizer in the U-Haul App. This app makes keeping track of your belongings so much easier through custom folders, photos, and more.
A packing and moving checklist can also help keep packing manageable week by week.
4 Weeks Before Moving
File a Change of Address
This is arguably one of the most important parts of moving. Submitting a change of address form tells USPS and any parcel service your new address. Should someone want to send you something in the mail, submitting a change of address form solves the issue of a package or important piece of mail lost. Submit a change-of-address request with USPS here and update your information with:
- Financial institutions
- Healthcare providers
- Delivery services
- Insurance providers
- Membership accounts
Schedule Utilities and Internet
Schedule utility shutoff and activation dates ahead of time to avoid move-in delays. Imagine you move to your new place, and you are still getting a bill for your old unit that is being toured! You’re paying all of the lights, A/C, heat, and power for your old place if you don’t schedule shut-offs. It is not the job of the electrical company to check if you still live in the same place.
This may include:
- Electricity
- Water
- Gas
- Trash and recycling
- Internet installation
- Smart home services
Internet appointments can book out several weeks in advance during busy moving seasons, so it’s important to book earlier than you think.
Transfer Medical and School Records
Should any mail get sent to you before filing a change of address form, all of those important documents will be sent to your previous address if you don’t let your doctors, school offices, dentist, or vet know either through an email or changing it on your online profile. Request copies or transfers for medical records, dental records, veterinary records, and school transcripts.
This step is especially important for a long-distance move or interstate move, where you may have a bigger life transition; insurance providers may change, and you may never contact those same institutions again.
Reserve Moving Labor
Moving Help® powered by U-Haul® connects customers with independent Service Providers who offer labor-only moving services. Moving Help specializes in a variety of moving tasks, including:
- Loading and unloading moving trucks and portable storage containers
- Packing and unpacking belongings
- Cleaning services
- Piano moving
- Gun safe moving
- U-Box® container delivery only
- U-Box® container loading or unloading only
- U-Box® container delivery with loading or unloading
Reserving help early can improve availability during peak moving months.
2 Weeks Before Moving
Finish Most of Your Packing
By now, most non-essential items should already be packed.
Double-check your supply inventory, including:
Prepare Electronics and Smart Devices
Before moving day, it’s important to back up important files, label cords and chargers, transfer smart home systems, save Wi-Fi passwords, and update delivery app addresses. This ensures a smooth transition.
1 Week Before Moving Day
Pack an Essentials Box
Pack a first-night box with:
- IDs and important documents
- Medications
- Chargers
- Toiletries
- Basic kitchen items
- Snacks and water
- Pet supplies
- A few changes of clothes
Confirm Moving Day Reservations
Before moving day, it’s a good idea to double check things like your truck or container pickup time, moving labor reservations if you have any, and any special access you may need. Many apartment buildings and condominiums require advance reservations for freight elevators, loading docks, or designated move-in and move-out time slots.
Be sure to confirm elevator reservations, parking permits, gate codes, and storage facility access ahead of time to help avoid delays on moving day.
Local apartment moves may also require loading zone reservations or building approvals.
Defrost and Clean Appliances
If you’re taking your appliances with you, clean and unplug refrigerators, freezers, washers, and dryers at least 24–48 hours before moving day. This gives enough time for any smell or odors to get out of any appliance, so a stench doesn’t attach itself to clothing or furniture. Secure appliance doors, cords, and hoses before transport.
For moving appliances, check out these useful guides:
Moving Day Checklist
Keep Inventory Accessible
Have a digital or printed inventory list ready during loading and unloading. Photo documentation can also help track box conditions and furniture placement. You can also see if anything shifted during moving, which can help to pinpoint if there was any potential damage from loading or driving.
Complete a Final Walk-Through
Before leaving your old home, take a final walkthrough and check every space for forgotten belongings. Look through closets, cabinets, and drawers, then inspect areas that are easy to overlook, such as attics, basements, garages, and outdoor storage spaces.
A few extra minutes spent checking these spots can help make sure nothing important gets left behind.
Finish Last-Minute Cleaning
Complete final cleaning tasks or schedule professional cleaners if required by your lease or sale agreement.
Common tasks include vacuuming floors, wiping counters, cleaning bathrooms, removing trash, and patching small wall holes if you have any.
Shut Off Unnecessary Utilities
Before leaving, make sure you turn off the lights, turn off the A/C or heat, unplug any electronics, and shut off water if needed.
Prepare for Travel
Download anything you may need in case of no internet. This could be offline maps, playlists, podcasts, and charging station apps.
This is especially helpful for a long-distance move.
Complete a Move-In Walk-Through of Your New Home
Before you start unloading boxes and furniture into your new home, you need to follow do these following five things:
- Test smoke detectors
- Check locks
- Inspect appliances
- Confirm utilities are working
- Take photos of any damage
Unpack the Essentials First
Focus on setting up the most important things first. Generally, these include beds and bedding for your first night, bathroom supplies, chargers for your devices, Wi-Fi, kitchen basics if you plan to cook, and any pet essentials if you have pets.
After Moving Day
Inspect Your Belongings
As you unpack, inspect furniture and boxes for damage. Photograph any issues and save receipts or reservation details if claims need to be filed.
Update Your Information
Update your:
- Driver’s license
- Vehicle registration
- Insurance policies
- Voter registration
- Pet licenses
You should also check/updates these five things if they apply to you:
- Replacing air filters
- Updating emergency contacts
- Changing locks
- Testing garage remotes
- Meeting HOA requirements
Make Your Move Easier
Moving can feel overwhelming, but staying organized week by week can make the process much more manageable. Planning ahead can help reduce stress and keep your move on schedule.
Pair this moving guide checklist with a detailed packing guide to simplify packing, budgeting, loading, and settling into your new home.
Ready to get moving? Reserve your truck, U-Box® containers, moving supplies, and Moving Help® services today.
Frequently Asked Questions About Making a Moving Checklist
What should be included in a moving checklist?
A moving checklist should include timelines for packing, transportation reservations, utility transfers, address changes, budgeting, cleaning, and move-in preparation.
Is a moving checklist printable helpful?
Yes. A moving checklist printable can help track deadlines, reservations, packing progress, and moving day tasks in one place.
When should I start packing before moving?
Most people should start packing about six weeks before moving day by focusing on non-essential items first.
How do I estimate moving expenses?
A moving costs checklist can help track truck rentals, fuel, labor, storage, packing supplies, and move out cleaning cost estimates.
What should go in an essentials box?
An essentials box should include medications, chargers, toiletries, snacks, important documents, clothes, and basic kitchen items.
What is included in a new house move in checklist?
A new house move in checklist may include utility setup, lock changes, safety checks, internet installation, and appliance inspections.
What’s the best way to organize moving boxes?
Label boxes by room and contents, use color-coded labels when possible, and keep an inventory list for easier unpacking.
How far in advance should I reserve moving help?
Reserving moving trucks, containers, or moving labor at least four to eight weeks early can improve availability during busy moving seasons.