Your 8-Week Moving Checklist
Start about eight weeks out and work backwards: book and vet a mover first, declutter and gather supplies, change your address, pack and confirm logistics, then hand off cleanly on moving day.
The Full Plan
What Does Each Milestone Cover?
| Milestone | Focus | Key Tasks |
|---|---|---|
| 8 weeks before | Vet and book a mover | Get in-home/video surveys, compare written estimates, choose coverage |
| 6 weeks before | Declutter and supply | Sort, sell or donate, gather packing materials |
| 4 weeks before | Change your address | Mail forwarding, utilities, IDs, subscriptions |
| 2 weeks before | Pack and confirm | Finish non-essentials, confirm date and access, prep appliances |
| 1 week before | Final checks | Pack a survival kit, secure valuables and files |
| Moving day | Clean hand-off | Walkthrough, share contacts, check the inventory |
| First week after | Settle in | Unpack essentials, finish registrations, test safety devices |
8 Weeks Before: Vet and Book a Mover
This is the most important window, and it's the one most people rush. For a long-distance move you want at least two months to get proper estimates, compare movers, and lock your date before the summer peak fills every truck.
- Book in-home or video surveys with two or three movers
- Get each estimate in writing, on company letterhead
- Confirm the mover is properly licensed and check reviews
- Ask how the price is calculated and what could change it
- Decide on your valuation (liability) coverage
- Gather important documents (IDs, medical and school records)
- Start a moving binder or folder for every quote and receipt
Vet the Mover Before You Pay a Deposit
The single most common mistake we see is booking on a phone quote alone. Walk away from any mover who won't survey your home, won't put promises in writing, has no physical address, or answers the phone with a generic name. A reputable long-distance mover always sizes your shipment first — either with an in-home visit or a video walkthrough.
On deposits: professional movers ask for a small booking deposit at most. A demand for a large upfront payment is a warning sign — and you should always ask whether any deposit is refundable.
Understand Your Estimate
Long-distance moves are priced on the weight or volume of your shipment plus the distance, then adjusted for extras like stairs, long carries, and fuel. When you get your written estimate, ask plainly whether the quote is firm or can move with the actual weight on the truck, and make sure it lists the number of boxes, the services included, and the delivery window.
Choose Your Valuation Coverage Now
This is the decision people skip and regret. Basic released-value coverage pays a small fraction of what your goods are actually worth. If you're moving anything of real value, ask about full replacement value protection. Decide which you want while comparing movers — it's far cheaper to sort out now than after something breaks.
6 Weeks Before: Declutter and Gather Supplies
Six weeks out, start clearing what you won't take. On a long-distance move this isn't just tidying — you pay to ship weight, so every box you don't move is money saved.
- Sort room by room; sell, donate, or recycle what stays behind
- Gather packing supplies (boxes, tape, bubble wrap, markers)
- Start packing non-essential and seasonal items
- Use up freezer food, cleaning supplies, and other perishables
- Photograph valuable or fragile items for your records
Families consistently underestimate how long decluttering takes and start it too late, then end up paying to ship things they meant to sell. If you'd rather not source boxes yourself, our crews handle packing and materials as part of the move.
4 Weeks Before: Change Your Address
About a month out, arrange your address changes so nothing slips through the cracks.
- Set up mail forwarding with your postal service
- Update your address with banks, credit cards, and insurers
- Schedule utility transfers and disconnects (power, gas, water, internet)
- Update your driver's license and vehicle registration
- Notify employers, schools, tax agencies, and subscriptions
2 Weeks Before: Pack and Confirm
With two weeks left, finish the bulk of packing and confirm the logistics so nobody is guessing on the day.
- Finish packing non-essentials and label every box by room
- Confirm the date, both addresses, and access details with your mover
- Arrange travel and accommodation for moving day
- Defrost and clean the fridge and freezer
- Disassemble large furniture if needed
- Set aside documents and valuables to keep with you
Access is what trips up long-distance moves specifically: elevator bookings, loading-dock times, narrow streets, or a truck that can't reach the door all add cost and delay. Tell your mover about both ends now so the crew arrives with the right plan.
1 Week Before: Final Checks
- Reconfirm timing and contacts with your mover
- Pack a survival kit (clothes, toiletries, medications, chargers)
- Back up and secure electronics and important files
- Withdraw cash and prepare tips if you plan to tip
- Clean each room as you finish it
Moving Day: A Clean Hand-Off
On moving day, focus on a clean hand-off so the crew can work quickly and nothing gets left behind.
- Do a final walkthrough of every room, closet, and cupboard
- Give the crew your contact number and the destination address
- Keep your survival kit, documents, and valuables with you
- Record meter readings and lock up the old home
- Check the inventory against what's loaded before the truck departs
That inventory check is your protection: on a long-distance move your goods may travel for days, so a signed, accurate inventory at pickup is what a claim rests on.
First Week After: Settle In
Unpack the essentials first, then work one room at a time.
- Unpack essentials (bedding, kitchen basics, toiletries) first
- Finish your address and ID registration updates
- Update your address with any remaining agencies
- Test smoke and carbon-monoxide detectors and find the breaker panel
- Note any damage and file a claim within your mover's deadline
- Explore your new neighbourhood and meet the neighbours
Ready to Book Your Move?
Get the eight-week plan right and moving day becomes the easy part. Let's start with your free quote.