Moving is one of the most stressful life events you can navigate. The best way to manage it: break it into weekly tasks starting 8 weeks before your move. Here's a complete checklist.
8 Weeks Before
- Sign your new lease and pay the security deposit
- Give notice to your current landlord — notice periods vary by state and lease; many states and leases require 30 days, but this is one frequent scenario, not a national default, so always confirm the exact requirement with your specific lease and local law
- Start researching moving companies or truck rental options
- Set a moving budget
6 Weeks Before
- Book a moving company (good ones book out fast, especially on weekends)
- Start decluttering — donate or sell items you won't take
- Order packing supplies (boxes, tape, bubble wrap)
- Notify your employer, bank, and any subscription services of your upcoming address change
4 Weeks Before
- Begin packing non-essential items (books, seasonal clothes, décor)
- Set up utilities at your new place: electricity, gas, internet
- Schedule a mail forward at USPS.com
- Update your address with the DMV if you're moving to a new state (deadlines and requirements vary by state — see USA.gov's change-of-address guide)
- Arrange parking permits or elevator access for move-in day at both locations
2 Weeks Before
- Confirm your moving company booking with a reminder call
- Pack all but the essentials you need daily
- Confirm utility start dates at the new place
- Arrange pet care or childcare for move-in day
- Transfer or pick up medical records if changing providers
1 Week Before
- Pack your "first night" box: toiletries, phone charger, change of clothes, snacks, bedding
- Defrost and clean refrigerator at your old place
- Clean and photograph your old unit
- Confirm move-in time and building access with your new landlord
- Double-check your new lease for any move-in rules (elevator times, loading dock hours)
Move-In Day
- Document the condition of every room with photos and video before you bring anything in
- Email photos to your landlord the same day with a written note
- Test all locks, keys, appliances, and utilities
- Get copies of any building access fobs or parking passes
- Confirm mailbox location and whether you need a new key
- Note anything already damaged — make sure it's documented in writing
Week After Move-In
- Update address: driver's license, voter registration, insurance, bank, employer payroll
- Register your car in the new state if applicable
- Get renters insurance if you don't already have it (roughly $13–$36/month or more depending on state, coverage, and deductible — get quotes from a few insurers for your exact number)
- Meet your neighbors
Finding your next rental? Browse EMLAKIE listings, from property owners, managers, and brokers — no broker fee added by EMLAKIE.