Six to eight weeks before moving
Create a room-by-room inventory and decide what to sell, donate, recycle, or discard. Request written estimates from multiple licensed movers using the same inventory. For interstate moves, verify federal registration; for in-state moves, check the relevant state regulator. Read cancellation terms before paying a deposit.
Measure large furniture and doorways at both homes. Ask each building about elevator reservations, loading areas, certificates of insurance, and move-hour restrictions. Gather school, medical, and veterinary records, and make a folder for contracts and receipts.
Four to two weeks before moving
Order sturdy cartons, tape, packing paper, labels, and mattress protection. Pack low-use rooms first. Label each box with its destination room and a short contents description; number boxes so missing items are easier to identify. Photograph electronics before disconnecting cables.
Submit address changes, arrange utilities, and confirm access with the mover. Plan safe transportation for children, pets, plants, valuables, documents, and medication. Use up food and hazardous household products rather than packing them.
- Confirm dates, addresses, phone numbers, inventory, and access details.
- Reserve parking or loading space where local rules require it.
- Prepare an essentials bag for at least the first night.
- Back up computers and keep passwords with you.
The final week and moving day
Finish packing except for essentials. Drain and prepare appliances according to manufacturer and mover instructions. Set aside cleaning supplies that are safe to transport or dispose of them properly. Confirm how payment will be accepted and avoid carrying a large amount of cash.
On moving day, compare the truck and company name with your paperwork. Walk through the home with the crew lead, point out fragile and high-value items, and review the inventory before signing. Keep the bill of lading, estimate, and contact details with you—not in the moving truck. Complete a final room, closet, garage, and cabinet check.
What movers generally will not transport
Most movers prohibit hazardous or flammable materials. Common examples include gasoline, propane cylinders, fireworks, ammunition, paint thinner, some paints, pesticides, pool chemicals, aerosols, and corrosive cleaners. Policies differ, and local disposal rules apply, so ask the mover for its prohibited-items list early.
Movers may also refuse perishable food, plants on some interstate routes, opened liquids, pressurized containers, and items with sentimental or irreplaceable value. Carry identification, cash, jewelry, legal papers, financial records, medication, keys, and small electronics yourself. Never assume a labeled box is acceptable; confirm doubtful items directly.
After delivery
Check box numbers and furniture against the inventory as goods arrive. Note missing or visibly damaged items on the delivery receipt before signing, while understanding that concealed damage may appear during unpacking. Photograph damage and preserve packing material.
Unpack priority rooms first and file claims within the contract’s deadline. Keep all documents, photographs, repair estimates, and correspondence. Update your driver’s license, vehicle registration, voter record, and insurance as required in the new location.
A final quote-comparison checklist
Before choosing, make sure every estimate covers the same inventory, addresses, access conditions, packing responsibility, dates, and valuation level. Identify the company’s legal name and whether it will perform or arrange the move. Ask for written answers when a charge or contract term is unclear; a salesperson’s verbal assurance may not alter the signed agreement.
Do not choose solely from the headline total. Check minimum hours, travel, fuel, materials, stairs, elevators, long carries, shuttles, storage, delivery windows, deposits, cancellation terms, and payment methods. Save the advertisement and each estimate version. Once booked, communicate inventory or access changes promptly so the mover can update the paperwork before arrival.
- Verify identity and authority independently.
- Refuse blank or incomplete paperwork.
- Keep contracts and essentials outside the shipment.