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Moving Checklist: How to Prepare for a Move From 8 Weeks to Welcome Home

There’s no question that moving is stressful. Whether you’re relocating to a new apartment down the street or to a house in a new state, there are a lot of factors to consider. It can feel like your to-do list grows by the day. To help make this big change a lot more manageable, we’ve put together a week-by-week checklist of all the stuff you need to tackle before moving your stuff into your new digs.

 

Eight Weeks

Now that you’ve set a date for your move, it’s time to start looking into reputable moving companies.

 

Here’s what you should look for in a mover:

• Licensed and insured — Verify the company is licensed and insured for your protection if your belongings are damaged or someone is hurt. Check that they have a DOT number and verify it here. An Illinois moving company must have a Household Goods License from the Illinois Commerce Commission.
• A proven track record — A dependable mover has years of experience in the industry. Federal Companies has over 110 years of experience and has been an Allied Vane Lines agent since
• Trained with background checks — The team that handles your move should be background checked, trained, and uniformed. This ensures they have the knowledge and skill necessary to safely complete your move.
• Transparent pricing — Beware of any mover that is not willing to give you a written estimate, has confusing pricing, accepts cash only, or requires a high deposit upfront.

Once you’ve narrowed down your search, it’s time to get a free estimate from our team of professional movers. The cost of your move can depend on many factors, including:

• Season and date of your move
• Distance from your current place to your new home
• Level of service (packing, unpacking, labor-only, etc.)
• Specialty services (moving cars, boats, or motorcycles)
• Storage needs
• Type of belongings and volume of household goods
• Accessibility of the apartment or home (stairs, elevator, parking, etc.)
• Size of moving crew needed

 

Seven Weeks

Now, it’s time to get organized.

• Review quotes and select your mover
• Create a physical or digital folder for all your moving-related documents
• Put in time off at work for the day you’re moving out and the day you’re moving in, if separate
• If you’re renting, give your landlord notice. Some require anywhere from 30-90 days’ notice.
• Create a folder for all your important documents, including birth certificates, licenses, passports, financial, medical, and legal records, and any other sensitive documents. Keep these with you during the move instead of loading them into a moving truck.
• Set up cut-off and transfer dates for utilities
• Verify or establish moving coverage. Federal includes competitive insurance coverage in our pricing.
• Take inventory and measurements of your belongings before you start packing them away

 

Six Weeks

This is the time to start scheduling services or appointments that require advance notice.

• Connect with your HOA to see if moving trucks need a permit on your street
• Schedule installations for internet, utilities and security systems
• Schedule repairs for your current place
• If you’re renting, schedule a walkthrough of your current place and any professional cleaning
• Set up child and/or pet care for the day of the move
• Start gathering packing supplies (boxes, wrapping tape, shrink wrap, etc.)
• If your move requires extensive travel, book airline tickets or get your vehicle services
• Look into new doctors, vet office, gyms, etc.

 

Five Weeks

Now that a lot of the paperwork and details are sorted, it’s time to start tackling tasks within your home.

• Start packing away items you won’t need until after your move
• Declutter your home by donating, selling, or throwing away items you won’t take with you
• Determine if you’ll need temporary storage
• Scan physical documents to the cloud
• Start working your way through frozen food

 

Four Weeks

You’re down to your final month.

• Finalize moving day details
• Start packing a box for each member of your household for things they’ll need the day of the move:
  • Bedding and towels
  • Toilet paper
  • Laundry and dish detergent
  • Toiletries
  • A week’s worth of clothes
• Plan for and order new items you’d like shipped to your new home
• Keep packing!

 

Three Weeks

The last few weeks are going to fly by, so get ahead of some final details before you move.

• Update and have your mail forwarded to your new address
• Update or cancel any ongoing services, like lawncare, cleaning, snow removal, etc.
• Update your address with:
  • Government agencies (IRS, Veterans Affairs, Medicare, etc.)
  • Financial institutions
  • Your employer
  • Voter registration office
  • Insurance providers (Homeowner’s, auto, medical, dental, life, and pet)
  • Subscriptions services
  • Gym or club memberships

• Prep two weeks’ worth of easy meals
• Plan farewells and visit places you love in your current area
• Keep packing!

 

Two Weeks

It’s time to get those last-minute tasks done now and save yourself the stress during moving week.

• Clean your home
• Use up the rest of your food (that isn’t prepped food for your final weeks)
• Locate any assembly and setup manuals for furniture/tech devices, etc.
• Refill prescriptions
• Return rental and retail items
• Pay any outstanding bills

 

Week Of Move

The big day will be here before you know it. There are just a few tasks left to tackle.

• Disassemble large furniture (or let us handle that for you!)
• Prepare and empty your appliances
• Double-check everyone’s essentials boxes
• Gather keys and garage door openers
• Check the weather for moving day and plan accordingly
• Put together a cooler of snacks and drinks for the day of the move
• Rest and take care of yourself

 

Moving Day

It’s time to move your stuff into your new place.

• Greet and verify movers
• Put your essentials boxes into a vehicle that isn’t the moving truck
• Protect the floors at your current and new home
• Direct and supervise movers at both locations
• Read through and sign any necessary paperwork
• Do one last walkthrough of your current place to check for anything left behind
• Turn off all lights, close the windows, and lock up before you head on over to your new home
• Unpack and set up things you’ll need for your first night in your new home

 

After everything has been moved into your new home and the movers have taken off, give yourself a moment to take it all in. Eight weeks of preparation and hiring Federal Companies can make your next move a smoother transition. With over a century of experience, we’re ready to tackle your next move! Call 855-750-0516 or get a free quote today.