A smooth move is mostly a matter of timing. This checklist spreads the work over eight weeks, from choosing a mover to settling into your new home, so nothing important lands on the last weekend. Moving sooner than that? Start at the stage that matches your date and pick up anything earlier that still applies.
104 tasks in 7 stages, plus tips for packing, long-distance moves, kids and pets.
8 Weeks Before Your Move
Plan, budget and book your mover. Two months out is the right time to lock in a date, especially for summer, weekend and end-of-month moves, which book up first.
Get organized
- Pick your move date and note how flexible it is. Mid-week and mid-month dates are usually easier to book.
- Start a moving folder, paper or digital, for estimates, receipts, contracts and inventory lists.
- Set a budget that covers the move itself, packing supplies, travel, cleaning and deposits.
- Put every key date on one calendar: lease end or closing, move-out, move-in and travel days.
- Renters: check your lease for the notice period and give written notice on time.
- Homeowners: line up your closing date and any repairs or inspections you still need.
Choose and book your mover
- Request written estimates from two or three movers so you can compare like for like.
- Schedule an in-home or virtual walk-through so the estimate reflects everything you are moving.
- Point out specialty items early: pianos, safes, artwork, antiques and gym equipment.
- Moving out of state? Look up the mover's USDOT number on the FMCSA Protect Your Move site.
- Ask how pickup and delivery dates are set, and get them in writing.
- Decide whether you will pack yourself, have the movers pack, or split it.
- Book your date as soon as you have chosen a mover.
Start decluttering
- Go room by room, including closets, the attic and the garage, and sort into keep, sell, donate and toss.
- Schedule a garage sale or list large items for sale online.
- Use up frozen food, pantry items and cleaning products you do not want to move.
- Review the items movers cannot haul, such as hazardous materials and perishables.
Condor tip: start with a free estimate
Every Condor move starts with a free written estimate. You can build your list room by room with our online moving inventory tool, request a quote online, or call 877-460-6683 to set up a walk-through.
4 Weeks Before Your Move
Supplies, services and paperwork. With the mover booked, a month out is when you gather supplies, start packing the rooms you use least and line up the services at both homes.
Packing supplies
- Order boxes in several sizes, packing paper, bubble wrap, tape and markers.
- Get wardrobe boxes for hanging clothes and dish-pack boxes for kitchenware.
- Start packing rooms you rarely use: guest room, storage closets, seasonal decor and books.
- Label every box on two sides with the room it goes to and a short list of what is inside.
- Number your boxes and keep a running list, so you can tell at delivery if anything is missing.
Utilities and services
- Schedule electricity, gas, water and trash to stop at your old home the day after you move out.
- Schedule the same services to start at your new home the day before you arrive.
- Book internet and TV installation at the new address early, since appointments fill up.
- Cancel or transfer the gym, lawn care, pest control, home security and other regular services.
Records and insurance
- Request school records and ask the new school what it needs for enrollment.
- Get copies of medical, dental and veterinary records, or ask your providers to transfer them.
- Call your homeowners or renters insurer about coverage at the new address and while your things are in transit.
- Choose your moving coverage: basic released value at $0.60 per pound per article, or full-value protection.
- Ask your employer about relocation benefits and keep every moving receipt.
Storage
Packing tips that prevent damage
- Keep each box under about 50 pounds, and put books and other heavy items in small boxes.
- Fill empty space with crumpled paper so nothing shifts in transit.
- Wrap dishes one at a time and stand plates on edge rather than stacking them flat.
- Tape the bottom of every box along the center seam and both edges.
- Put screws and small hardware in labeled bags and tape them to the furniture they belong to.
Rather not pack? Condor offers full or partial packing as an add-on at $1.25 per cubic foot.
Moving long distance?
- Read the federal booklet Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move, which interstate movers must give you.
- Ask about the delivery window and plan where you will stay between pickup and delivery.
- Decide how each vehicle will get there: drive it, ship it or sell it.
- Look up the driver's license and vehicle registration deadlines in your new state.
- Plan to carry valuables, important documents and medications with you rather than on the truck.
2 Weeks Before Your Move
Confirm the details and change your address. Two weeks out, make sure the move is set on both ends and that your mail and accounts will follow you.
- Confirm your moving date, arrival window and both addresses with your mover.
- Submit your change of address with USPS online or at your local post office.
- Update your address with banks, credit cards, your employer, insurers and subscriptions.
- Reserve elevators, loading docks or parking at both buildings, and ask about move-in rules.
- Ask your new building or HOA whether it needs a certificate of insurance from your mover, and request one.
- Arrange time off work for moving day.
- Refill prescriptions so you have at least two weeks of medication on hand.
- Decide which furniture you will take apart yourself and which the crew will handle.
- If you are driving to the new home, get the car serviced.
- Keep packing, room by room, and stay ahead of your schedule.
Moving with kids
- Tell children about the move early and walk them through what will happen on moving day.
- Let each child pack a box of favorite things and label it themselves.
- Arrange a sitter or a relative for moving day so little ones are safe and out of the way.
- Pack a bag with snacks, chargers, games and comfort items for the trip.
- Look at the new school, park or neighborhood together, online or in person.
1 Week Before Your Move
Finish packing and set aside what travels with you. By the end of this week, everything except daily essentials should be boxed and labeled.
- Finish packing everything except what you need day to day.
- Pack an essentials box: toiletries, medications, chargers, a change of clothes and important documents.
- Pack a first-night box: sheets, towels, toilet paper, a shower curtain, basic tools, paper plates and coffee.
- Set aside jewelry, cash, laptops and important papers to carry yourself.
- Use up what is in the refrigerator and freezer and plan simple meals for the last few days.
- Drain gas and oil from mowers, trimmers and other powered equipment.
- Dispose of paint, chemicals, propane tanks and other hazardous items properly.
- Return library books, borrowed items and rented equipment.
- Confirm the payment method and amount with your mover.
- Take photos of how your TV, computer and other electronics are wired before you unplug them.
Moving with pets
- Get copies of vaccination records and refill any pet medications.
- Update microchip details and ID tags with your new address and phone number.
- Plan where pets will stay on moving day: a closed, quiet room, a friend's house or boarding.
- Pack a pet bag with food, water, bowls, a leash, litter, bedding and a favorite toy.
- If you are flying or crossing state lines, check the airline's and the destination state's pet rules.
The Day Before Your Move
Get the house ready for the crew. A little prep the day before keeps moving day on schedule.
- Empty, defrost and dry the refrigerator and freezer if they are moving with you.
- Disconnect the washer and dryer and secure the hoses.
- Charge your phones, laptops and a power bank.
- Get cash for meals, tips and incidentals.
- Clear walkways, and save parking close to the door for the moving truck.
- Strip the beds and pack bedding except what you need tonight.
- Pack a cooler with drinks and snacks for moving day.
- Confirm the crew's arrival time and make sure they have your cell number.
Moving Day
Be available and keep your paperwork. The crew handles the heavy lifting; your job is to answer questions, check the paperwork and make sure nothing is left behind.
- Be home when the crew arrives, or have someone there who can make decisions for you.
- Walk the crew leader through the house: what goes, what stays and what is fragile.
- Read the inventory and bill of lading before you sign them, and keep your copies.
- Keep children and pets in a safe, quiet space while the crew works.
- Do a final walk-through: closets, cabinets, the attic, the garage and under the sinks.
- Lock the windows and doors, turn off the lights and set the thermostat.
- Write down the meter readings and photograph the empty rooms.
- Leave keys, garage door openers and appliance manuals for the new owner or landlord.
- Give the driver the new address and your phone number for delivery.
After the Move
Settle in, in the right order. Get the basics working on day one, then work through the rest over the first few weeks.
First-day priorities
- Be there for delivery and tell the crew where furniture and boxes go.
- Check items against the inventory and note any damage or missing items on the paperwork before you sign.
- Make sure the power, water, gas and internet are working.
- Change or rekey the locks.
- Test the smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
- Unpack the first-night box and make up the beds first.
- Find the breaker panel and the main water shut-off.
The first few weeks
- Unpack the kitchen and bathrooms first, then go room by room.
- Inspect your furniture and boxes, and file any claim promptly: within 9 months of delivery for interstate moves, or 90 days for moves within Texas.
- Update your driver's license, vehicle registration and voter registration.
- Enroll the kids in school and register pets with the city if required.
- Find a new doctor, dentist, vet and pharmacy.
- Recycle boxes and packing paper, or keep a few for storage.
- File your moving receipts and documents with your records.
- Meet the neighbors and explore your new area.
Moving Checklist FAQ
How far in advance should I book a moving company?
Six to eight weeks ahead is a good target, and earlier for summer, weekend and end-of-month dates, which fill up first. If your move is sooner, call 877-460-6683. Shorter-notice moves can often be arranged, depending on the schedule.
What should go in an essentials box?
Pack what you will need in the first 24 hours: medications, toiletries, phone chargers, a change of clothes, important documents, basic tools, toilet paper, bedding and snacks. Keep it with you rather than on the truck.
When should I change my address?
About two weeks before you move. Submit a change of address with USPS and choose the date forwarding starts, then update your bank, employer, insurers and subscriptions directly, since mail forwarding does not update their records.
Can I pack myself and still hire movers?
Yes. Many customers pack their own boxes and leave loading, transport and unloading to us. Use sturdy boxes, seal them and label each one with its room. If you would rather not pack, Condor offers full or partial packing as an add-on at $1.25 per cubic foot.
What if something is damaged during my move?
Note any damage or missing items on the inventory at delivery, before you sign. Then file a claim as soon as you can: no later than 9 months after delivery for an interstate move, or 90 days for a move within Texas. How a claim is settled depends on the coverage option you chose.
What items will movers not take?
Hazardous materials such as paint, propane and other flammables, perishable food, and items of personal or sentimental value you should carry yourself. See the full list of non-allowable items.
Ready to set your moving date?
Get a free written estimate from Condor Moving Systems, or call 877-460-6683. Before you book, check our current moving coupons.