8 weeks before Moving

Research Moving Services. This is the time to find out how you want to move. Are you doing it yourself? Or do you prefer to hire a professional to help you move? Start familiarizing yourself with the various options and your budget. If you do decide to hire movers, check out New Orleans Movers, they are a reputable and reliable moving company. All relocation services in our network are licensed and insured, so you can rest assured that your move will be in good hands. You can read more about choosing the right move method from here.

Visit the New Community. Before the move, make sure you visit the new community (where you are relocating to). Being there in-person will give you a better feel for the area's various neighborhoods and amenities. You can also learn more about your community through our moving agents, they have helpful Neighborhood Guides and City Reports.

Budget Accordingly. Before hiring a moving company or committing to a DIY move, figure out your overall relocation budget. Those looking to hire a moving company for a long distance move should budget around $5,000. A local move, on the other hand, may only cost around $1,000. If moving for a job, make sure to also check with your employer about whether or not they'll be covering expenses.

Research Schools. Have school-age children? Start researching schools in your new community now. To find top-rated schools in the new neighborhood, use the city School Ratings index, which includes great schools ratings and other helpful information.

Make a List of Questions to Ask Movers. Hiring professional movers for the job? Ask these questions first. From cancellation policies to liability coverage, it's important to learn as much as you can about a moving company before signing a contract.

If you have kids discuss the Move with them. Include your children in the relocation conversation early on will help put them at ease during the transition. For tips on how to make the move as seamless as possible for your kids.

Give Notice to Your Landlord. You'll need to give your landlord a heads-up about the move. Many leases require tenants to give their landlords at least 60 days’ notice when moving out. With this in mind, be sure to double-check your lease agreement for specific details on how to break it before making any moving plans.

7 weeks before moving date

Get Estimates from Professional Movers. Make sure to contact at least three moving companies to obtain a quote. To avoid surprises, make sure the movers perform either an in-person inspection or a video survey of your belongings before giving you an estimate. Ask whether the estimate is a non-binding estimate, binding estimate or binding not-to-exceed estimate.

Ask friends to help with your DIY move. Moving by yourself? Don't wait until the last minute to ask friends and family for help. By requesting assistance well in advance, you should be able to find plenty of people to help you with your DIY move. Read more tips on how to make your DIY move easy and painless here. Book Rental Truck. If you are taking on a DIY route, you will need to begin researching truck rental options several weeks before the move. Fortunately, Moving.com has made it easy for you to find and book the best moving truck rental for the job.

Reserve a Storage Unit. Whether you're looking for temporary storage while unpacking or a long term solution to your clutter, renting a storage unit is a perfect option for those relocating to a new home. Consider booking a storage unit through us. All you have to do is type in your zip code and click the “find storage” button. Moving.com will pull quotes from the closest storage unit facilities near your new home.

6 weeks before moving

Schedule with the Movers. It's finally time to schedule the movers! When choosing a move date, keep in mind that the specific day, week and month you pick will affect the cost of your move. Moving during peak season (May to September) will likely cost more. The same goes for weekend moves. If your budget is tight, aim for a weekday move during the off-season months.

Order All Moving Supplies. If you're packing up your entire household, now is the time to order all necessary moving supplies. From boxes and bubble wrap to tape and packing paper, these materials will help ensure that your belongings arrive safely at your new home. You can calculate the number of moving boxes you'll need by using our handy Packing Calculator. To find boxes and packing supplies in your area.

Make Travel Arrangements. If you are traveling for a long distance for the move? Don't wait until the last minute to make airline, car and hotel reservations. Avoid high prices by booking these travel arrangements now.

Contact Health Insurance Provider. Contact your health insurance provider to assure seamless medical coverage during and after the move. If you're moving to a new zip code or city, you may need to purchase a new plan. However, if you're moving for job, your health insurance could remain unchanged.

Notify Schools of Your Move. Now's the time to notify school officials of your move, so that you can begin the enrollment process. Be sure to also let them know about any special needs or issues your child may have. To find the best schools in your new neighborhood.

Make Note of All Tax Deductible Moving Expenses. Begin keeping a running tally of all tax deductible moving expenses. These may include household donations to charities, as well as any moving expenses for a job-related relocation.

Check on Auto Insurance and Homeowners Insurance. If moving, you'll need to contact both your auto insurance and home insurance agents to ask whether or not they do business in your new location. If not, then you may need to change insurance providers before the move.

5 weeks before moving

deplete Refrigerated Food rations and Pantry Items. Unless you're planning to bring the food with you, it's smart to use up the contents of your fridge and pantry before moving. You can also donate non-perishables by bringing them to your local food bank or by hiring one of Move for Hunger's relocation company partners. These moving professionals will pick up unwanted food items from those moving and deliver them to local food banks. Read more of our tips on what to do with all of your food when moving.

Strategize Your Packing Process. Before boxing up your things, figure out a timeline for the packing process. Pack all non-essentials first. These include items you won't need in the weeks leading up to the move, including books, home decor items and electronics. Pack essentials last. These include kitchen items, dinnerware, clothing, toiletries and any other items you'll need in the days leading up to the move.

Have a Garage Sale. What better time to get rid of those old records, futons and books than right before you move? To get rid of excess items and make a few bucks in the process, try hosting a garage sale. Need help organizing it? Read our foolproof checklist for hosting the best garage sale ever.

Donate Possessions. The less you have to move, the better – so start the pre-move purging process early. Begin by deciding which belongings you wish to donate. You can call your local Salvation Army, Habitat for Humanity or Goodwill to schedule a pick-up for larger furnishings, free-of-charge. Also, don't forget to save any and all donation receipts for tax season.

Sell Gently-Used Items. Not sure if your belongings will serve a purpose in your new home? It may be time to sell them. From old clothing to outdated furniture, many consignment stores will gladly accept gently-used, second-hand items. You can also try selling them through an online marketplace, such as Craigslist or Facebook. For a look at the 10 best ways to sell your items before moving, check here.

Decide Whether to Take Appliances. If you are moving appliances, schedule an appliance service company to come to your home prior to moving day to prepare all appliances for the move.

Update All Memberships. If you are you a member of a community organization, gym or club? Most monthly memberships need at least 30 days’ notice before freezing or cancelling an account. So if you haven't already done so, be sure to either end or transfer your membership.

4 weeks before moving

Service the Car. Using your own car to drive to your new home? If you're moving out of state, it's important that you have it serviced before the long drive. Call your local dealership or auto repair shop to reserve a time to check tires, fluids and brakes.

Begin Packing. Now is the time to begin packing. Start by boxing up non-essentials and seasonal items first. These could include winter coats, off-season sports gear, books and any other belongings you won't need in the weeks leading up to the move. Be sure to pack all fragile items with extra care and label boxes as clearly as possible. In addition, keep valuables and important documents separate. Read more of our tips on how to properly pack your belongings.

Dispose of Hazardous Items. You won't be able to move hazardous and flammable items, and likely won't be able to put them in your regular trash either. Thus, some advance planning is needed for disposing hazardous items including paint, aerosols, fertilizers, propane tanks, loaded guns, fire extinguishers, gasoline, fireworks and pool chemicals. To get rid of these items before moving, make a trip to your local hazardous waste facility drop-off.

Confirm Date & Time with Moving Company. A month before the move, call your moving company representative to confirm their arrival date and time. Don't forget to let them know any other important logistics, such as parking and elevator use.

Schedule Car Shipping Service. If you need to ship your vehicle to your new home, contact a car shipping service at least a month in advance to make arrangements. Read more on the best ways to ship your car to a new city here.

Notify Friends & Family of Your Move. If you haven't already told your friends and family you're moving, now is the time to let them know. Don't have the time to tell them in-person? Try shooting them an email or giving them a quick phone call. Making a moving announcement via social media is another easy and efficient way to let people know you're moving.

3 weeks before moving

Notify Service Providers. Let any regular service providers, such as housekeeping, landscaping and pool maintenance, know of your impending move. You may also want to take this opportunity to look into these services for your new home.

Forward Mail. Fortunately, forwarding your snail mail is an easy task that can be done ahead of time. All you have to do is go to USPS.com and choose the date you wish to begin forwarding your mail. Thinking about renting a PO Box in your new city?

Transfer Utilities. Several weeks before you move, call all utility service providers to let them know about your move. Utilities include cable and internet, water and sewer, gas, electricity, satellite, security system, trash and phone. If moving within the same city, you may be able to transfer utilities to your new house. However, those moving somewhere new will need to research utility companies in the area and schedule installation dates. Make sure you have important utilities such as electricity and cable turned on in your new home before you move. Read more tips on how to transfer utilities before moving.

Decide What to Do with your Plants. If moving a long distance, try to find new homes for your plants. Unfortunately, moving companies may not be able to transport your plants to a new state due to regulations designed to thwart the spread of pests and disease. For more information on transporting plants to a different state, check out the National Plant Board's website.

Pay Any Unpaid Parking Tickets. Check with your local parking administration to see if you have any overdue parking tickets. Fortunately, most cities make it easy to pay parking tickets online or by mail.

Change Social Security & Medicare Mailing Address. If you receive Social Security or Medicare benefits, be sure to update your mailing address online before moving.

2 weeks before moving

Forward Medical Records. Contact your doctor and dentist to inform their offices of your move. If you haven't selected a new doctor, request referrals from your current doctor. Once you've made your selection, arrange to have your medical records transferred.

Take a Look at the New Home's Blueprint. Before moving, take a look at your new home's blueprint to decide what will go where on moving day. By planning all furniture arrangements ahead of time, movers will know where to place your belongings in the house.

Order New Furniture & Décor. After looking over your blueprint, determine what items you still need. For big ticket items, such as a couch, sectional or bed, order these at least two weeks in advance to ensure that they will be delivered during the first month in your new home. For a look at furniture stores that offer white glove delivery service, check here.

Secure a Parking Spot for the Moving Truck. Before moving day, you'll need to figure out the best place to park the moving truck. If hiring professional movers, be sure to let them know the parking details as soon as possible. Those who live in a busy city may need to obtain a special parking permit as well.

Schedule Painters for New Home. Unless you're planning to paint the home yourself, you'll need to hire professionals for the job. Those looking for painters to paint the new house before moving in will need to schedule a date and time beforehand.

Request Time Off from Work. If you're moving on a weekday, go ahead and request a personal day from your employer. Those unable to take off from work for the move will need to arrange for a friend or family member to meet the movers on moving day.

Gather All Warranty Information & Manuals. Help future residents by gathering all of your warranty information, instruction manuals, and receipts for appliances and electrical devices. Leave these in an easy-to-find location in your home before moving out.

1 week before moving

Clean Old Home. Don't forget to clean your old house before moving. A little bit of effort could save you a cleaning fee or charge against your security deposit. Be sure to thoroughly clean out the refrigerator and pantry as well.

Finish Last Minute Errands. Make sure you finish running any last minute errands before moving day. These could include picking up dry cleaning, getting prescriptions, cleaning out your gym locker and returning items to friends.

Inspect your Old Home with your landlord. Conduct a final inspection with your current landlord before you move out. Be sure to discuss any damages that could be deducted from your security deposit. If there is a dispute, remember that it's often better to negotiate in-person than over the phone.

Pack Kitchenware & Essentials. It's time to finish up the packing process by boxing up kitchenware and other essentials. Be sure to label these boxes as clearly as possible to avoid losing track of them during the moving process.

Take Care of Trash Removal & Recycling. Make arrangements for final trash and recycling pickup. If you're leaving before the next pick-up date, ask neighbors to place your trash can back where it belongs after it's been picked up. You can also try dropping off trash at your local dump and recycling center before you move.

A day before moving

Pack Suitcases & Essentials. The day before you move, be sure to pack all necessary suitcases that you plan on taking with you. These should contain your first week essentials including pajamas, toiletries, clothing, shoes, medications, pet and baby necessities, as well as any important documents or valuables. You may also want to consider packing a special “Moving Day” box with trash bags, light bulbs, scissors, tools, flashlights, paper towels, toilet paper and bed linens. Read more tips on packing essentials here.

Tell Neighbors About Your Move. If you live in a small community or share a driveway or cul-de-sac with other neighbors, be sure to give them a heads-up about the move. Not only is this the respectful thing to do, but it will also give them plenty of time to move their cars.

Moving day

Have Water Bottles On-Hand. Moving is a strenuous and exhausting process. The last thing you want is for anyone to become dehydrated on moving day. To prevent this from happening, be sure to have plenty of water bottles on-hand for your friends and movers.

Take Inventory. Take inventory of all belongings. This way you can keep track of what you have and what the movers are transporting. Check your driver's inventory sheet as well. If anything is missing or damaged make a note of this beforehand. It may also be a good idea to take photos of fragile items such as appliances or lamps for liability coverage and insurance purposes.

Do a Final Sweep of the new House. To avoid leaving anything behind, be sure to do one final sweep of your home before you move out. Don't forget to look in your bathtubs, washers, dryers, kitchen cabinets and any other easy-to-miss spots.

During the first month after moving

Unpack. Don't let the process of unpacking overwhelm you. Start with the contents of your suitcase, kitchenware, bed linens and other essentials. After you've unpacked these important items, go room by room until you've finished unpacking the rest of the house.

Clean the New House. There's nothing better than a fresh start in a new (and clean!) home. During the first week post-move, give your place a good, thorough cleaning. That means mopping, vacuuming, and dusting all surfaces. If you simply lack the time, try arranging for a professional cleaning crew to come sometime during the first month.

Check on the Return of Security Deposit. If you rented your last home, check with your former landlord about the status of your security deposit return. Also, make sure the landlord knows your new address, so that your check doesn't get lost in the mail.

Explore the Neighborhood. Walk, drive or bike around the new neighborhood to get a good sense of the area. By exploring the community, you'll be able to find nearby grocery stores, parks, schools, museums, libraries, hardware stores and pharmacies.

Change the Locks. One of the best ways to keep your house safe and secure after a move is by changing the locks. After all, there's no telling who the former residents gave their keys to over the years. If changing all the locks sounds a bit too much for you, try installing an additional deadbolt instead.

Figure Out Trash Pickup Days. Trash and recycling pickup days differ from city to city. To figure out pickup days, try asking a neighbor or calling your city's sanitation department for details.

Check Smoke Alarms. Are your smoke alarms beeping? If so, you need to change the batteries as soon as possible. In addition, you should purchase a carbon monoxide detector for each floor in your home.

Change Your IRS Address. Those moving should update their information with the IRS to ensure that they receive tax refunds and correspondence. You can do so by either writing the new address in the appropriate boxes on your tax return or by using Form 8822 to submit an address at any time.

Establish Domicile in the New State. You may need to establish legal domicile for tax purposes. To find information on the various ways to establish domicile in your new state, check out the state's official government website.

Update Driver's License. If you have a car, you'll need to get a new driver's license from your state's DMV. Many states require new residents to obtain a driver's license within a specific time window after moving. You'll most likely need an existing driver's license, proof of residency, proof of your social security number and an additional form of identification.

Baby-Proof the New Home. Make sure you baby-proof the home during the first few weeks to ensure that your kiddo stays safe and sound in the new digs. Start by removing any potentially dangerous packing materials as soon as possible. You can also set up baby gates to block stairs and place outlet covers over electrical outlets near the floor. For more tips on moving with a baby, check here.

Meet the Neighbors. After you move in, introduce yourself to your new neighbors. Don't be afraid to ring the doorbell and say “hello.” Most people will appreciate the gesture, and you might make a few new friends in the process.

Register Your Pet. If you're moving out-of-state or across county lines, you should look into registering your pet during the first few weeks’ post-move. While requirements vary depending on the state, many areas require owners to register their pets and purchase a license within a month of moving. This is mainly to ensure that animals receive their necessary shots for public safety purposes.