Moving into a new house sometime soon? If yes, we recommend you start planning ASAP so that, when moving day arrives, you’re 100% ready! To help, we’ve put together this moving into a new house checklist just for you! If less stress (and last-minute crises) on moving day is your goal, read on!
Estimated reading time: 6 minutes
Moving Into New House Checklist: 4 Months Out
- If you’re not being transferred or moving to be near family, choose the state and city for your new home. Niche.com and BestPlaces.net can both be very helpful.
- Decide whether you will buy a home or rent an apartment when you arrive in your new city or town.
- If you’re hiring a moving company to move you, start calling some to get estimates. (We recommend getting 3 or 4 estimates so you can compare prices and services.)
- If you plan to move yourself, start sorting through everything you own. Donate, Give Away or Throw Away anything you don’t want, need, or use. (This article, although it’s about ‘spring cleaning,’ is very helpful.)
Moving Into a New House Checklist: 2 Months Out
- If you’re doing the packing, now is the time to start. Room by room, pack things you don’t regularly use first. Moove In sells all the packing supplies you need. Boxes, tape, bubble wrap, packing paper, etc.
- Start gathering important paperwork, including marriage licenses, school transcripts, bank documents, birth certificates, etc. Place it in a container that’s sealable and waterproof.
- If you plan to hire movers, choose one now and lock in your moving dates. (Especially important during the summer as many more people move when school’s out.)
- Call or contact all of your utility providers to schedule the cancellation of their services.
What Uilities Do You Need To Change Over?
Here is a checklist of utilites you’ll need to change to your new address right before your move. Don’t skip this step ebcause you could be looking at some hefty fines or incorrect bills if you don’t change your address over soon enough.
- Electricity
- Gas
- Water
- Internet services
- Cable/Satellite TV
- Garbage and Recycling
- Lawn Maintenance
- Pool Maintenance
- Home Security
- Landline Telephone
- Gym and Club Memberships
Moving Into a New House Checklist: 1 Month Out
- Throw a yard sale to sell your unwanted/unneeded items. (Alternatively, Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist are excellent places to sell your things locally.)
- By now, you should be well underway with packing if you plan to pack your things yourself.
- Start bringing donation items to Goodwill, or call them for pickup. (Click here for a list of Best Places to Donate Stuff.)
- Arrange for a Storage Unit in your new city. (This is essential if you plan to store your things while searching for a home or apartment!)
- Focus on one room at a time and finish packing everything that’s going with you.
Moving Into a New House Checklist: 2 Weeks Out
- Keep packing every day. Make sure to write the contents on the box. (Labels work well also.)
- Put things that will travel with you aside in one spot, like a suitcase or box. If in a box, write “DO NOT MOVE” on the side in big letters. (Especially important if movers will be handling the move for you.)
- Keep donating, tossing, or giving away things you won’t be taking to your new home.
- Start cleaning room by room.
- If you need help loading your truck (and trust us, you will), make arrangements. Call friends, family, colleagues, etc., and let them know what day they should come. (Offer food and drinks and make it a moving party!)
- Reserve or rent a storage unit from Moove In in your new town or city if you haven’t yet.
Moving Into a New House Checklist: 1 Week Out
- Almost everything should now be packed.
- Start taking apart furniture you don’t use every day. Dining room tables, for example, IKEA furniture, desks, mirrors on dressers, etc.
- Toss everything and anything still left that you don’t want, need, or use.
- Call Goodwill and other donation locations to come and take away large items you’re donating to charity.
- If driving to your new home, have your vehicle(s) serviced.
- Call friends and family to remind them about helping you on moving day.
- Finish packing!
What To Do With Moving Boxes After Moving Day
Moving boxes that haven’t been soiled or otherwise damaged are still very handy. Below are a few ways to deal with them that make sense economically and ecologically:
- If a moving company moved you, let them take your boxes back. (Empty them on moving day and give them back right away!)
- Give them to a neighbor or friend who’s planning a move.
- Bring them to the recycling center in your town. (Last resort choice, especially if they’re still in good shape.)
- Sell or give them away on Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace.
- Donate them to a local charity. (They always need boxes.)
- Use Freecycle to recycle boxes the right way. (By giving them to people who can use them.)
- Use BoxCycle to sell your boxes.
Best of Luck With Your Move!
We hope our moving into a new house checklist has been helpful! Here at Moove In Self Storage, we’ve helped many folks like you to have a smoother, less stressful move. How? By providing safe, clean, and affordable storage units to store their things while searching for a new home. It’s a perfect way to get more time so that you can find your dream home (or a decent place to rent).
If you have questions about self storage, chat with us online! You can also rent or reserve your storage unit online in less than 5 minutes! You can also visit your local Moove In storage location and meet the on-site manager. They can show you some storage units and explain the rental process, easy-peasy! Until then, best of luck with your move! We hope everything goes smoothly!
More moving and storage tips on the Moove In Blog!
We originally published this post on 12/13/2018 and we updated it on 8/30/21.