01
Week 8: confirm the date and the moving method
Write down the dates you can access the new home and must leave the old one. Choose movers, a rental truck or a self-move based on the actual load and available help. For an uncertain closing date, ask providers how changes affect your reservation before booking.
- Create one folder for estimates, contact numbers and confirmations
- Get written moving estimates and compare what is included
- Check stairs, lifts, parking and loading access at both homes
- Measure doorways and large furniture
- Set a budget for transport, supplies, cleaning and overlapping services
02
Week 7: sort before you buy boxes
Work through one room at a time and make keep, donate, sell and disposal piles. Start with closets, storage areas and duplicate kitchenware. A smaller load means fewer boxes to carry and unpack.
- Schedule collection or drop-off for donations
- List larger items early so collection is not left to moving day
- Ask the mover which items they cannot transport
- Use up food you would rather not move
03
Week 6: make a simple inventory
List large furniture and give boxes a destination room before packing. Photograph electronics and furniture condition where useful. Keep the inventory in your moving folder rather than creating separate lists nobody can reconcile.
- Gather boxes, tape, labels, padding and a marker
- Use small boxes for books and other heavy items
- Create a room-name key that matches the new home
- Keep valuables and sensitive documents separate
04
Week 5: pack the things you will not miss
Begin with seasonal decor, spare linens, books and guest-room items. Label room, contents and unpacking priority on the top and at least one side. Leave a small set of everyday supplies in use.
- Bag and label furniture hardware; note which piece it belongs to
- Photograph cable connections before dismantling them
- Mark fragile boxes clearly and pack them securely
- Keep a separate box of items to return or donate
05
Week 4: schedule transfers and practical help
Contact utility and internet providers to arrange dates that suit your actual move. Confirm appointments, equipment-return requirements and any access the installer needs. Put the answers in one place.
- Schedule electricity, gas and water service as applicable
- Confirm internet activation and router return instructions
- Arrange childcare or pet care for the busiest moving hours
- Confirm building or parking arrangements
- Reserve time for cleaning the old home
06
Week 3: update addresses and pack a little each day
Make an address-change list before sending updates. Include mail forwarding, employer, banks, insurance, subscriptions and delivery accounts. Use the appropriate provider process and effective date rather than assuming one change updates every account.
- Update shopping defaults before placing orders for the new home
- Record old-service end dates and new-service start dates
- Pack decorative items and extra kitchenware
- Keep important correspondence and confirmations accessible
07
Week 2: confirm people, times and access
Reconfirm your transport, helpers and access arrangements. Decide where essentials will travel and who is responsible for keys. Give helpers the destination room names so boxes land in the right places.
- Confirm arrival windows and contact numbers
- Plan bed assembly and the first meal
- Arrange lawful disposal of items your mover will not take
- Keep one cleaning kit unpacked
08
Final week and moving day
Finish ordinary packing before moving day where possible. Carry essentials yourself and do a last walk-through of cupboards, drawers, sheds and storage areas. At the new home, prioritize beds, bathroom basics and a clear walking route.
- Pack an overnight bag for each person
- Carry keys, ID, documents, medication, chargers and valuables
- Record meter readings or condition photos where useful
- Check that every room is empty before leaving
- Confirm doors and windows are secured and follow the agreed key handover
09
Only two weeks left? Use this catch-up order
Focus on tasks that depend on other people first, then pack around your daily needs. Skip elaborate inventories if a room-and-priority label will do the job.
- Today: confirm transport, access dates and utility appointments
- Next two days: sort obvious donations and gather supplies
- Days 3–9: pack low-use items, then room by room
- Days 10–12: confirm logistics, address changes and cleaning
- Final two days: pack essentials separately and finish only the daily-use items
Practical checklist
Keep this part simple.
- Move and access dates confirmed
- Transport reserved
- Service start and end dates recorded
- Address-change list completed
- Boxes labeled for new rooms
- First-night box separated
- Personal overnight bags ready
- Cleaning and key handover arranged
Common mistakes
What tends to make this harder than it needs to be.
- Booking around an unconfirmed access date without checking change terms
- Packing essentials into the main load
- Stopping services before you finish cleaning
- Leaving donation disposal until moving day
- Labeling boxes only with the old room name
Your next step
Put the rest of the plan together.
Want it organized on paper?
Moving Planner Printable
This guide covers the method. The related Hummingbird page shows what to look for in a printable or digital planning tool for the same job.
Common questions
Quick answers before you start.
When should I start packing for a move?
Start with low-use items several weeks ahead if you have the time. Keep everyday essentials available, then pack them in the final days. The order matters more than a rigid date.
What if I only have two weeks to move?
Confirm transport, access and service appointments immediately. Gather supplies, remove obvious clutter and pack low-use items first. Use the two-week catch-up sequence above.
What should go in a first-night moving box?
Bedding, towels, toilet paper, soap, basic cleaning supplies, a few utensils, scissors and simple breakfast items. Keep each person’s medication, documents and overnight bag with them.
When should utilities be transferred?
Schedule transfers in advance, using the dates you have access to each home. Confirm provider requirements and allow for any period when both homes need service.
