Moving Checklist Printable

This comprehensive moving checklist printable will ensure that you don’t forget a thing before, during and after your move!

Moving to a new home is often a mix of excitement and stress. It’s a significant life event that involves a lot of planning, decision-making, and physical labor. The stress of ensuring that nothing is forgotten, managing costs, and adjusting to a new environment can be overwhelming. However, with the right tools and preparation, this process can be much more manageable. That’s why we’ve put together a comprehensive moving checklist, designed to keep you organized and on track. This checklist covers everything from what to do weeks before the move to settling into your new home. Alongside, we’ve provided essential tips for efficient packing and cost-saving strategies to ease the financial burden. With these resources at your disposal, you can focus more on the excitement of starting a new chapter and less on the stress of the move itself.

Printable Moving Checklist

This checklist is suitable for a house or an apartment.

While the checklist we’ve provided covers a wide range of essential tasks and considerations for your move, it’s fully customizable. Feel free to edit and adapt it to suit your specific needs and circumstances, ensuring a personalized and efficient moving experience.

8 Weeks Before Moving

1. Create a Moving Binder: Keep all your moving documents, receipts, and checklists in one place.
2. Research Moving Companies: Get quotes and check reviews. Book your movers.
3. Sort and Declutter: Go through each room and decide what to keep, sell, donate, or throw away.
4. Create an Inventory: List all items you’re moving for insurance purposes.
5. Start Collecting Packing Supplies: Boxes, tape, bubble wrap, etc.

6 Weeks Before Moving

1. Notify Schools: If you have children, inform their current and future schools of the move.
2. Medical Records: Arrange for the transfer of medical records and prescriptions to your new location.
3. Plan for Pets: Schedule pet relocation and check for any pet regulations in your new area.
4. Start Packing Non-Essentials: Seasonal items, rarely used gadgets, etc.
5. Measure New Spaces: Ensure large furniture will fit in your new home.

4 Weeks Before Moving

1. Change of Address: Notify the post office, banks, credit card companies, and subscription services.
2. Utilities: Schedule the disconnection of current services and set up utilities at your new home.
3. Insurance: Update your home and auto insurance for the new address.
4. Packing: Continue packing, labeling each box with its contents and intended room.
5. Plan for Moving Day: Arrange childcare or pet care for the day of the move.

2 Weeks Before Moving

1. Confirm Moving Details: Reconfirm the arrangements with your moving company.
2. Service Your Car: If you’re driving to your new home, ensure your car is in good condition.
3. Pack a Survival Kit: Include essentials for the first few days (clothes, toiletries, medications, important documents).
4. Prepare Appliances: Clean and prepare large appliances for the move.
5. Say Goodbyes: Start saying goodbye to neighbors and friends.

1 Week Before Moving

1. Final Packing: Finish packing all items except essentials.
2. Double-Check Inventory: Ensure all items are accounted for and boxes are properly labeled.
3. Prepare Payment for Movers: Whether it’s cash, check, or credit card.
4. Clean the House: Perform a final clean-up of your old home.
5. Rest and Prepare Mentally: Get plenty of rest and prepare yourself mentally for the move.

Moving Day

1. Supervise Movers: Guide movers on which items to take and what to leave.
2. Final Walkthrough: Check every room, closet, and cabinet before leaving.
3. Keep Essential Bag Handy: Make sure your essentials bag is with you and not on the moving truck.
4. Record Utility Meter Readings: Note down readings for future reference.

After the Move

1. Unpack Essentials: Start with the essentials box.
2. Inspect Delivered Items: Check for any damages or missing items.
3. Update Address: Update your address for online services, driver’s license, voter registration, etc.
4. Explore the Neighborhood: Familiarize yourself with the local area, including emergency services, supermarkets, and community centers.
5. Meet the Neighbors: Introduce yourself to your new neighbors.
6. Establish New Routines: Start establishing your new daily routines.

Ongoing

• Unpack and Organize: Gradually unpack and organize your new home.
• Home Maintenance: Set up a schedule for regular home maintenance.
• Stay Connected: Keep in touch with friends and family from your previous location.

Remember, moving can be stressful, so it’s important to take breaks and not rush through the process. This checklist should help keep everything organized and ensure a smoother transition to your new home.

Moving Out of State Checklist

This is a checklist for moving out of state. Moving out of state introduces additional considerations to the checklist above, primarily due to the greater distance, potential legal and regulatory differences, and the need for more detailed planning. These additions to the moving house checklist above address the unique challenges of an out-of-state move, ensuring a smoother transition to your new home and helping you settle into a different state with ease.

Packing Tips and Tricks

Packing for a move can be one of the most time-consuming parts of the process, but with the right strategies, it can be efficient and even enjoyable. Here are some tips and tricks to help you pack like a pro.

Efficient Packing Strategies

1. Start Early and Pack in Stages: Begin with items you use less frequently, such as out-of-season clothing or books. This prevents a last-minute rush and reduces stress.
2. Use the Right Size Boxes: Place heavy items like books in small boxes and lighter items in larger boxes. This makes handling easier and prevents boxes from becoming too heavy.
3. Pack Room-by-Room: Focus on one room at a time to stay organized and keep similar items together.
4. Utilize Packing Space: Fill suitcases, baskets, and even appliances like washing machines with items. This maximizes space and reduces the number of boxes needed.
5. Wrap Items Carefully: Use bubble wrap, packing paper, or even towels and blankets to protect fragile items. Plates should be packed vertically like records, as they are less likely to break.
6. Disassemble Large Furniture: If possible, take apart furniture pieces. Wrap and label the components to make reassembly easier.
7. Use Vacuum Bags for Soft Items: For bedding, curtains, and clothes, vacuum-sealed bags can save a significant amount of space.
8. Pack an Essentials Box: Include items you’ll need immediately upon arrival at your new home, like toiletries, a change of clothes, basic tools, and snacks.
9. Heavy Items at the Bottom: When packing boxes, put heavier items at the bottom and lighter items on top to prevent damage.
10. Seal Liquids: Prevent spills by taping the lids of liquid containers and placing them in waterproof bags.

Organization Tips

1. Label Clearly: Label each box with its contents and the room it belongs to. Consider using different colored tape or markers for each room for easy identification.
2. Number Your Boxes: Keep an inventory list with the numbers and contents of each box. This helps in tracking and ensures nothing gets lost.
3. Pack in Logical Order: Pack items you rarely use first and leave essentials until last. This keeps you from rummaging through packed boxes for items you need before the move.
4. Take Photos of Complex Setups: If you have electronic setups or items with multiple components, take a photo before disassembling. This will serve as a guide for reassembly.
5. Keep Important Documents Handy: Pack important documents like passports, birth certificates, and moving contracts in a separate, clearly labeled folder or file box that you keep with you during the move.
6. Use our moving out checklist: Use the editable version and add any items that you need to take care of so that you don’t forget a thing.

By following these packing strategies and organization tips, you can ensure that your belongings are safely and efficiently packed, reducing the hassle and making the unpacking process at your new home much smoother.

Money-Saving Tips for Your Move

Moving can be expensive, but there are several ways to cut costs without compromising on the quality and efficiency of your move. Here are some practical money-saving tips:

1. Compare Moving Company Quotes: Don’t settle for the first moving company you find. Get quotes from multiple companies and compare their services and prices. Be sure to check for any hidden fees.
2. Choose the Right Time to Move: If possible, avoid peak moving times, such as weekends, the beginning and end of the month, and the summer months. Moving during off-peak times can be significantly cheaper.
3. Declutter Before Moving: The less you have to move, the cheaper it will be. Sell, donate, or discard items you no longer need. This can reduce the volume of your move and may even earn you some extra cash if you sell items.
4. Get Free Packing Materials: Instead of buying new boxes, look for free ones. Check with local stores, community groups, or online marketplaces. You can also use household items like towels, blankets, and clothing to protect fragile items instead of purchasing bubble wrap.
5. Pack Yourself: While it’s convenient to have a moving company pack for you, doing it yourself can save a lot of money. Start early to avoid stress and ensure everything is ready on moving day.
6. Disassemble Furniture Yourself: If your movers charge extra for disassembling and reassembling furniture, consider doing it yourself. Just make sure you keep all screws and small parts in a labeled bag for easy reassembly.
7. Use a Portable Moving Container: For long-distance moves, consider using a portable moving container. These can often be more affordable than hiring a full-service moving company.
8. Tax Deductions: If you’re moving for work, some of your moving expenses might be tax-deductible. Keep all your receipts and consult with a tax professional to see if you qualify.
9. Utility Switch-Over: Be sure to switch over your utilities in time to avoid paying for services at both your old and new homes. Also, shop around for the best deals on utilities at your new place.
10. Do the Move During Weekdays: If you have flexibility, scheduling your move during a weekday can sometimes result in lower rates compared to weekends.

By implementing these tips, you can significantly reduce the financial burden of moving. Remember, the key to saving money during a move is planning ahead and being resourceful.