People move all the time! I had several family members, clients, and friends move across town, across the state, and even across the country over the years. They always ask me, "How can I make the process of moving less stressful?" Today, I am sharing my favorite go-to moving checklists to help you get your move done quickly and with minimal stress.
Sorry to say, YOU MUST make lists to help you keep focused and remember every task that needs to be done. Even if you are not a list builder by nature, you must make lists to help you. It will keep your stress at bay, before, during, and after a move.
What moving checklists should I use for my move?
1st Checklist: A Timed Checklist
The first checklist should be a timed one. You can divide it up into sections for each month, week, or daily whichever works best for you. The more detailed you are the better the checklist will work so subdividing the checklists into smaller ones works nicely. Ask yourself these questions below to help you make your timed checklists.
- What tasks need to be done six weeks before we move?
- Are there tasks I need to do in 3 weeks?
- What do I need to do within 2 weeks of the move date?
- Are there tasks I need to be completed within one week of moving?
- What do I need to do the day before we move?
- Looking at the home, what do I need to do on the day of the move?
- What do I need to do the day after we move into the new home?
- Are there tasks I need to complete within a week after the move?
- What do I need to do within 2 weeks after the move?
When you create this timed checklist, start with the date you will be moving. Then work your way backward, labeling each sheet that week's date. You can use any app you feel proficient in to create these timed checklists. Applications like Evernote, Microsoft OneNote, or a spreadsheet with tabs that are labeled the dates. Remember, it is important to view each week as you ensure the prior week was completed.
2nd Checklist: Change of Address List
In this change of address list include columns that read the following:
- The company, government, and friends/family Name's
- Phone number, email address, or website to change address
- A completed checkbox
This list can be created in a spreadsheet like Google Sheets or Microsoft Excel.
While there are many people and companies you need to inform. Below is a list of just some of the contacts you need to update.
- Passport agencies
- Utility companies
- Post Office
- Bank accounts
- Credit cards
- Investment/retirement accounts
- Medicare & Social Security
- Voter's registration
- Family & friends & Coworkers & Clients
- Driver's license/car registration
- Newspaper Subscriptions
- Fitness Center
- Places of worship
- Legal and Financial Professionals
- Magazines Subscriptions
By making a complete list, you can do this over a few weeks, before, during and after you move.
3rd Checklist: What to give away or donate list
The third moving checklist is an item to donate list. This list will help you remember what you are planning on doing with the items you want to donate.
What to do, give away and donate, and what to keep? Add these items to your list:
- Include a column for the name of the item you want to get rid of.
- Add a column for who to give it to.
- Include a column for where to donate it.
Additional ways to get rid of stuff before your move.
If you want to give the item away, take photos of the item you want to give away or donate. Then, share the image of the item with friends on Facebook or other social media platforms.
Share with a yard sale community online (if you feel comfortable with this.)
Keep a running list of items that you donate for tax return purposes.
Check out our Charitable Donation Locations page to donate.
If you need to recycling things, visit our Recycling and Shredder Event Page.
Tips to help you get rid of stuff:
- Take digital photos of your achieved photos and get rid of the originals.
- Make a video of your digital photos for Christmas or birthday presents.
- Make a scrapbook of your photos and stubs from activities you went to see.
4th Checklist: Packing Boxes list
To keep your boxes organized, try a box content list. This is especially helpful if you are starting to pack early and may forget what is in the boxes. This also helps moving companies when they are asking you where a box may go. Resulting in speeding up your move-out and move-in process.
To make this list, be sure to have a jumbo marker so you can really see the numbers on the boxes. Include these columns on the checklist:
- The number on the box and checklist column
- What is in the box? column
- And, where the box needs to go in the new house
Additional tips for packing boxes.
- Write the number on the box large enough so you can see it from a distance.
- Use a red or black marker and write the number or letter in the same place on ALL the boxes.
Some people like to use colored dots to determine the room, however, if the dots fall off in transit, you may be dealing with a lot of headaches down the road.
Amazon (affiliate) offers box sets, you can purchase and they will deliver it directly to your home. No need to go out! Below are just some I found on Amazon(affiliate). Disclosure: If you click through and purchase something from Amazon, I will receive a small referral fee at no additional cost to you. Happy shopping!
If you don't want to make your own checklists, subscribe to our newsletter and receive the "All the Moving Checklists You Need for Your Move" ebook already made for you!
Additional moving tips for getting ready to move:
There are a lot more things to do than just these checklist items. So, start small and really look at your home. Below are some additional tips to help you make your move less stressful.
Walk around your home and put a sticky note on the items you want to give away and donate. If you have specific places that you want to give the item, write it on a sticky note. This will take some time but will help you when you are ready to take action.
Visit our other posts about moving:
This posts also include other moving checklists that you may or may not need for your move. Feel free to check them out.
Make A Moving Process Seamless
That is it! I hope this post and the moving checklists help you get started on your new life! Remember to pace yourself and you will be able to get everything done and well on your way to your new life in your new home. Please share and leave a comment below on how your move went. Good luck!
Please note these are affiliate links through Amazon, and at no additional cost to you, I will earn affiliate fees if you decide to make a purchase.
Janet Schiesl
All great lists. Moving is such a big project, making lists of the to-dos and keeping track should make it easier. I'll suggest your post to clients who are moving. When we pack clients, we don't inventory the boxes, but they could use your list to do it themselves.
Jill Katz
Wow- I love myself a good checklist and these are amazing for prepping for a move. Moving is so stressful so I love how you start with a timeframe checklist. Otherwise you waste so much nervous energy wondering what to do.
Julie Bestry
Checklists are essential, and you've hit the quadfecta! (I had to check; yes, that's the "four" equivalent of a trifecta!) I dread moving, as do my clients, and these four lists take so much of the sting out of preparing for a move! I'm so glad you included retirement account and investment companies on your change-of-address list, because clients always find that they've forgotten one or more of these. And I love the tip about buying boxes from Amazon, as you know they'll be clean (unlike liquor store or mystery boxes) and delivered (unlike boxes purchased from U-Haul or moving companies).
Melanie Summers
Oh my gosh, the "Where's my stuff?" checklist is a lifesaver! I did something similar by writing the contents on the boxes, but should've had a master list too! Great ideas here.
Lucy Kelly
Thank you so much for collecting these lists in one place for easy reference, Sabrina! Anytime I'm faced with a daunting project, creating a checklist helps me bring the project down to size. There's something so calming about just seeing how many steps there are - almost always fewer than I'd imagined.
Ronni Eisenberg
Moving is so stressful and suggestions to help streamline are always needed. I love the checklists, especially the timing list. A timeline really helps to think through the move and break down all the steps to getting everything done. Otherwise, it’s overwhelming.
Just as you suggested, I always number boxes so that I know immediately if the box is missing.
Keeping a running list of items to donate for tax return purposes is smart and already done for tax season.
I didn’t know about purchasing boxes through Amazon. That’s one less headache!
Linda Samuels
What an awesome collection of moving checklists! Moving is one of the most stressful things to do, and being organized helps immensely mitigate some of that stress. Your lists illustrate the concept that projects often need more than one type of list. Sometimes we have this idea that a single list will handle everything we need to do or remember. But I've never found that to be true. And the suggested lists you created for moving really bring that concept home.
Jonda Beattie
So much valuable information here. I had never thought about needing to update my change of address for my passport!
Diane N Quintana
I'm moving twice this year. Recently, I moved into a temporary apartment because the home I'm buying isn't ready. I'll be moving again in the early fall to my new home. I plan to use your change of address check list once I have a new permanent address. For now, my mail is going to a PO Box. I LOVE your checklists, though. they are well thought out and easy to use.
Sabrina Quairoli
Thanks, Diane! Good luck with your two moves. You are very brave. =)
Seana Turner
Moving is such a complex process. I normally write things down, but having checklists and being organized during a move is CRITICAL! One of my recent tips for moving is to keep voice memos, by box number, as you pack or watch the box get packed up. It is quick and easy, and then can easily be transferred to a spreadsheet or list. Once those packers arrive, it can be hard to keep up!
Janet Barclay
This is such valuable information! It's great that your offering it as a download so people can print it off and use it.