Simplify Your Move: The One-Sentence Moving Checklist

Stage 1: Before the move: Moving by yourself (DIY)

Moving by yourself can be a rather challenging endeavor, so you need to make sure you’re ready to face the difficulties and resolve them, one by one.

To help you do just that, here’s a detailed DIY moving checklist timeline:

• THINK about this: most self-moves are best suited for short-distance relocation: are you moving locally?
• FIND enough strong and reliable friends who won’t back out at the last minute.
• BOOK a rental truck from a reputable truck rental company as soon as possible.
• BE smart when selecting the appropriate size of the moving vehicle (storage capacity in cubic feet): 10’, 14’, 17’, 20’, 24’, or 26’.
• GET the right moving equipment, such as a dolly, furniture moving pads, and a set of tools for disassembling furniture.
• GET sufficient high-quality packing materials for a safe and fast packing experience.
• PURCHASE brand-new cardboard containers or get free moving boxes in good condition from friends, local businesses, online, or recycling centers.
• LOAD the moving truck in a proper and safe manner.
• LOAD the properly labeled boxes first, followed by your large furniture pieces, and leave the heavy kitchen appliances for last.
• USE plenty of moving blankets, bubble wrap, wrapping paper, or old pieces of clothing to protect your items during transport.
• SECURE all household items to the side of the truck to minimize undesired movement of your household goods while in transit.
• OBTAIN a parking permit so that you can park the rented moving truck right in front of your new home (especially true for bigger cities).
• GET in touch with good movers if you come across self-moving difficulties that you find hard or impossible to resolve on your own.

How to Move by Yourself (DIY Moving)

Stage 1: Before the move: Packing

Packing for a move is the only task that will continue throughout your moving preparations.

Yes, packing can take forever to complete… but this one-sentence packing checklist will tackle the job faster and safer.

• CONSIDER hiring professional packers, if you can afford it, for greater speed, safety, reliability, and peace of mind.
• GET appropriate packing supplies, either from your movers or from an office supply store: moving boxes, packing paper, bubble wrap, packing tape, etc.
• START packing up your things ASAP – packing is the most time-consuming task when moving.
• DECIDE the fate of each and every item in your home well before Moving day.
• GO through each room and compile a detailed home inventory of your entire household.
• NOTE any possessions with special packing or handling requirements.
• CONSIDER purchasing adequate insurance for your valuable possessions.
• SELL (online or at a moving sale), give away to friends or family, donate to charity, or recycle all the items you won’t need anymore.
• FOCUS on the items you’re taking with you and get them ready for packing.
• START packing from the rooms you use least frequently (attic, garage, basement, guest rooms) to avoid cluttering up your home.
• PREPARE your largest household goods for packing first and then think about how to pack your smaller items.
• USE packing tape to reinforce the bottoms of all second-hand cardboard boxes you’ve managed to obtain.
• BE careful when packing fragile items: use plenty of packing paper, bubble wrap, and padding materials for extra protection.
• PACK an essentials box – an Open First box with absolute essentials that you’ll need on your last day in your old place or during your first day in your new home.
• MAKE SURE you pack your valuables securely and keep them with you during all stages of your relocation.
• DON’T WASTE your time, energy, or money packing any household goods that movers are not allowed to transport due to the hazardous nature of those items.
• USE UP, give away, or sell such prohibited items, or find an alternative transportation method for the ones you do want to keep.
• PREPARE to ship your pets to another state or get them ready for the long trip in the family car.
• PACK safely the house plants you do wish to take with you for trouble-free transportation across the country.
• LABEL at least two sides of each packed box with vital information, such as content, destination room, or special instructions.
• CONSIDER placing color codes (labels, stickers, etc.) on your packed boxes for easier identification during the sorting and unpacking processes.
• MAKE SURE your large furniture pieces (beds, wardrobes, dressers, bookcases, desks, etc.) are fully or partially disassembled at least a few days before Moving day.
• DON’T LEAVE any packing jobs, no matter how small they may seem, for the day when things tend to get rather chaotic – Moving day.
• GET extra packing help from friends or professional packers if you happen to be behind on the packing schedule.
• RECYCLE or give away any remaining packing supplies once you finish packing.
• THROW AWAY all the garbage left from packing and clean up your place thoroughly.
• KEEP your packing concentration high by eliminating all distractions and setting mini packing goals.

The Best Room-By-Room Packing Checklist for Your Move

Stage 1: Before the move: Organizing the perfect move

The power of this easy moving checklist is to enable you to plan the perfect move – a problem-free house-moving experience until you reach the new home.

Are you ready to stay organized with a printable moving checklist?

• CREATE a moving file (binder) and keep inside it all the important moving paperwork that will surely be generated: contracts, agreements, checklists, inventory lists, receipts, records, notes, etc.
• OBTAIN your child’s school records or arrange for their transfer directly to the respective new school in the destination town or city.
• VISIT your family physician and dentist, and request any documents necessary for registering with a healthcare provider in your new city.
• TAKE your pet – dog, cat, bird – for a full medical checkup and, while at the vet’s office, ask for your animal friend’s immunization record.
• CHANGE your address at your post office in person or do it online to save valuable time.
• NOTIFY close friends and important institutions of your address change over the phone, via email, or through your preferred social network.
• CANCEL all your subscriptions to newspapers, magazines, or delivery services.
• CONTACT the current utility companies (electricity, water, gas, telephone, Internet, heating, etc.) and arrange for the disconnection of the utilities at your old home.
• GET in touch with the utility providers in your new city and schedule the reconnection of services, ideally a couple of days before the move-in date.
• CONTACT your insurance company and cancel your soon-to-be old policies.
• HAVE your car serviced at an authorized service station if you plan to drive to your new home.
• COMPLETE any property repairs if you wish to sell your home for top dollar or get back your security deposit problem-free.
• VISIT your new residence, if possible, and note down anything you think may be relevant to the move.
• CREATE a floor plan by measuring the dimensions of your largest furniture pieces and see how they will fit into the room dimensions of your new place.
• TALK with your children about the upcoming changes and discuss any moving issues that may be troubling them.
• PLAN your route well and arrange for places to rest or even spend the night if you’re driving long distance to your new residence.
• FIND a trustworthy babysitter to keep your small baby safe during the day when anything can happen – Moving day.
• FIND someone to take care of your pet for you on the actual day of the move.
• CONTACT the building management and reserve the (freight) elevator for both the move-out and move-in dates.
• PAY UP any remaining bills and keep the receipts in the moving file.
• RETURN any books or DVDs you may have borrowed from friends or from the library.
• DEFROST and clean up your refrigerator or/and fridge at least 24 hours before Moving day.
• FIND time to visit your favorite neighbors and say your goodbyes.
• ASK a reliable neighbor to forward your mail to your new address and leave some cash for the postal expenses.
• MAKE SURE your cell phone is operational and its battery is fully charged.
• GO to bed early on the day before Moving day in order to have the stamina to survive the longest and most stressing day of a residential move.

The Epic Family Moving Checklist: Family Relocation Timeline

Stage 2: Moving Day

Moving day is the most unpredictable day in the entire house move, so you need to be very prepared for it and extremely careful on the day itself.

This quick moving checklist takes you now to Moving day:

• WAKE UP early on Moving day, take a deep breath, and do your best to get in the right mental state for the most feared day of the entire moving process.
• TRY to keep your energy and concentration elevated throughout the moving day.
• WELCOME your movers at the agreed hour and let them do their job.
• PROVIDE your moving team with easy access to water and offer to buy them lunch if you really want to.
• MAKE SURE your valuable items and important documents are kept safe and away from the movers.
• BE extra careful whenever you are asked to sign a document.
• KEEP your small children and pets safe in a separate room away from the moving chaos.
• BE present and alert when the movers are loading your household items into the moving truck.
• CONFIRM that the moving company has your phone number, the exact address of the new home, and detailed directions on how to get there.
• DO one final inspection of your home and make sure nothing is left behind. 
• MAKE SURE your place is clean and in perfect condition before you go away.
• TAKE photos of your entire house or apartment as proof of its tip-top shape.
• CHECK whether all the windows and doors are closed and locked securely before leaving your home for good.
• CHECK whether the electricity, water, and gas are safely turned off and switched off.
• HAVE a safe trip to your new home.

What to Do on Moving Day: Moving Day Checklist

Stage 3: After the move

The move may be over but you still have plenty of work to do until you can heave a sigh of relief.

Here’s your one-sentence moving checklist after the move:

• CHECK whether all utilities are properly connected and functional.
• READ the utility meters in your home and note down their readings.
• TAKE plenty of photos of your new place before your movers arrive.
• UNPACK the essentials box or boxes.
• BE there when the moving truck arrives at your new residence.
• CHECK each unloaded moving box or household item against your inventory when it is carried inside your home.
• NOTIFY the moving company immediately if any box or item is broken or missing.
• GIVE clear instructions to the movers where each box or item should be positioned inside the house or apartment.
• PREPARE some extra money to tip movers adequately if you’re satisfied with their work.
• TIP each mover individually as an appreciation of their efforts – don’t give the lump sum to the foreman or truck driver.
• WAVE your movers goodbye and begin the post-move adaptation.
• CREATE a detailed plan of your top priorities over the next few days and even weeks.
• START the arduous unpacking process by first unpacking and arranging the bedroom, bathroom, and kitchen.
• CALL for backup if unpacking proves to be too much to handle by yourself.
• BE SURE to childproof your new home if you’ve moved house with a baby or toddler.
• PLACE your dog, cat, or another type of pet in a safe room to minimize the relocation shock.
• START looking for a job in your new city (if applicable).
• FIND a reputable school for your children.
• SEARCH for a new family physician, dentist, and veterinarian in the new city.
• REGISTER your vehicle or renew your driver’s license at your local DMV office.
• EXPLORE and locate important landmarks within your new neighborhood and city.
• INTRODUCE yourself to your new neighbors and consider inviting them over to a housewarming party.
• RATE the services of your moving company by writing a moving review online.
• MAKE new friends but don’t forget to keep in touch with your old pals either.

21 Things to Do After Moving Into a New House

This is the end of the one-sentence moving checklist.

For much more useful information about how to write a successful end of your moving adventure, refer to our Moving Blog.

Download One Sentence Moving Checklist