Moving Checklist: A Week-by-Week Plan
By Hire Moving Labor Editorial Team · Published
This checklist is written for moves where you arrange the transportation and hire a crew for the heavy lifting. Shorten the timeline if you have less time — the order matters more than the exact week.
Six to eight weeks out
- Set the move date and check lease, closing, or key-handover dates.
- Decide between a rental truck and a portable container, and reserve it.
- Measure large furniture and the doorways, stairs, and elevators it must pass.
- Start sorting: sell, donate, or discard what you will not move.
Three to five weeks out
- Request loading and, if needed, unloading help for your date and arrival window.
- Reserve elevators or loading docks and ask about building move rules.
- Gather boxes, tape, markers, and wrap; start packing seldom-used rooms.
- Arrange care for children or pets on moving day.
The final week
- Schedule utility shut-off and start dates for both addresses.
- Update your mailing address with the postal service, banks, and employers.
- Defrost and dry the refrigerator if it is moving.
- Pack an essentials bag: medications, documents, chargers, a change of clothes.
- Confirm truck pickup time, container delivery, and the crew's arrival window.
Moving day
- Pick up the truck early enough to be parked before the crew's window.
- Clear walkways and protect floors at the entry.
- Tell the crew which items are fragile, staying, or going in last.
- Walk every room, closet, and cabinet before the truck leaves.
First days in the new home
- Check furniture and boxes as they come off the truck or out of the container.
- Set up beds and the bathroom first.
- Return the truck on time, or confirm the container pickup.
- Leave a review for the company you booked.
Where the crew fits in
Hire Moving Labor is a marketplace for independent moving companies, not a moving company. Bookings are labor-only: you arrange the rental truck, trailer, or portable container, and the company you choose provides the crew.
For what to finish right before the crew arrives, see the preparation guide linked below rather than this broader timeline.
Moving day essentials bag
- Medications and prescriptions
- IDs, lease or closing documents, keys
- Phone chargers and a power bank
- Change of clothes and toiletries
- Toilet paper, paper towels, soap
- Box cutter, tape, and a basic tool kit
- Snacks and water
Frequently asked questions
- What should I pack first?
- Rooms and items you use least — guest rooms, seasonal clothes, books, decor. Leave the kitchen and bathroom until the last few days.
- When should I book moving labor?
- Once your date and your truck or container are reserved. See the guide on how far in advance to book.
- Does the crew pack for me?
- Some companies offer packing help. Check the services listed on each company's profile before you book.
Related pages
- How far ahead to book
Lining up the crew with your truck or container.
- Preparing for loading help
The last-day checklist before the crew arrives.
- What size truck you need
Choosing the truck before you reserve it.
- Packing help
Book help packing boxes before moving day.
More moving day planning guides
- How Late Can Moving Labor Work?
Why there is no standard cutoff, and how evening, late-night, and full-day availability differ in practice.
- What to Do When Your Moving Truck Arrives Late at Night
A calm, practical checklist for a truck that lands after dark, and honest options when no crew is available until morning.
- How to Avoid Moving Scams
The red flags federal regulators warn about, what to check before booking, and where to report a problem.
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