The Ultimate Moving Out Checklist

Moving is probably one of the most stressful experiences.

It’s time-consuming, overwhelming, tiring, and often expensive.

Ugh, I’m tired just thinking about it.

But, you know what? I’ve got some great news!

I’ve discovered the best moving hack that is guaranteed to make the moving process easier.

This tip is to create a moving out checklist.

It will help you stay organized, save money, decrease stress, save time, and much more.

Let’s take a look at everything you need to add to your own moving out checklist (and my favorite tips to help you along the way).

This post may contain affiliate links where, at no additional cost to you, I may receive a commission if you use them. I only recommend products I use, trust, and adore. Please read my disclosure policy for more information.

Create Your Moving Out Checklist with this Free Project Planner

Before we dive into the moving out checklist, be sure to snag this free project planner and project planning checklist.

You can easily add your moving out checklist to this printable page to help you stay organized and motivated.

Moving Out Essentials

Next, one of the worst things that can happen during your move is to run out of moving supplies.

Trust me, I’ve been there.

The last thing you want is to be in the middle of a packing groove and run out of tape or boxes.

So, one of the best pieces of advice I can give is this: stock up on moving essentials early!

Here is everything you might need during your move:

• Moving Boxes and Moving Bags: Before you purchase any boxes, be sure to check online marketplaces (like Craigslist) for free boxes in your area. Make sure the boxes you use are strong enough to hold your belongings, especially your fragile items. These boxes are strong, have a great price, and come in different sizes. Also, be sure to consider large moving bags like these, they are becoming more and more popular.
• Color-Coded Room Labels: These are absolute game-changers! Add these color-coded labels onto each box to make move-in fast, easy, and organized.
• Dolly: You might not think about this, but dollies are absolute moving game-changers. In fact, the moving company we just worked with was only two men and a dolly. They moved EVERYTHING with just a single dolly. Even our giant couch… it was incredible.
• Moving Tape: You’ll want heavy-duty tape with an easy dispenser (like this tape) to make packaging quick and secure.
• Stretch Film: This is another tip I learned from our movers. They used this stretch film to secure drawers, cupboards, mirrors, appliance doors, and delicate items to ensure nothing breaks during the moving process. We’ve been using it ever since!
• Packing Paper and Bubble Wrap: Protect your delicate and fragile items with paper and bubble wrap.
• Mattress Storage Bag: Protect your mattress with one of these cheap protective plastic bags. It’s worth the money and effort to ensure you don’t need a new mattress!

The Ultimate Moving Out Checklist

Ready to get started on your moving journey?

Great! Grab a pencil and your free project planner and get ready to create your very own, personalized moving out checklist.

As you read through the tasks below, jot down every task that applies to you and your move.

Complete as Soon as Possible

• Create a moving out checklist: Create your own personalized moving out checklist. You can use this free project planner as a starting point.
• Build a moving calendar: Be sure to mark important dates such as move-out day, move-in day, utility installation dates, moving truck reservations, etc.
• Create a “Moving” folder: Create a place for all of your moving documents, receipts, etc. Don’t forget to add your moving out checklist so it doesn’t get lost!
• Schedule final bucket list items: If you plan on moving far away, be sure to add any final local activities to your calendar that you’ve been wanting to experience.
• Create a moving budget: Be sure to incorporate any moving expenses into your monthly budget (you can snag a free monthly budget worksheet here). Here are some categories you might want to consider: moving truck rental, moving supplies, movers, utility installation fees, rental deposit, pet deposit, gas, food, hotel reservations, storage, and new furniture.

Two Months Before Moving

• Find new living arrangements: If you haven’t done so already, be sure to research and choose a new place to live such as a new apartment complex or home. If you plan on renting, don’t forget to contact your new landlord and sign a new lease.
• Begin researching moving options: Compare and get quotes for movers, moving tracks, moving pods, and other moving methods.
• Begin decluttering, sorting, and purging: Create three piles including toss, donate, and sell. Be sure to go through each room. The more you get rid of, the less you have to move!
• Inventory and meal plan: Take a look at everything in your freezer and fridge and create a meal plan to ensure you eat up any perishable items before moving day. This is a HUGE money saver. Here is my guide to meal planning to help you out.
• Book car delivery: Evaluate if you will need a car delivery service and research different options. Once you decide, book it.
• Research and reserve a storage unit: If you need a storage unit, be sure to research different options in the area and reserve one.
• Make school arrangements: If you have children, begin making arrangements for them to begin at a new school. This includes transferring their school records, vaccine information, etc.

Related: Budgeting 101 – How to Create and Stick to a Budget

One Month Before Moving

• Submit your 30-day move-out notice: Some apartments and housing situations require notice before you move out or terminate your lease. Be sure to contact your landlord or real estate agent to see how soon you need to submit a moving notice.
• Reserve a moving truck, pod, or movers: Reserve your final option of moving method. There are several options on the market such as moving truck rentals, storage pods, and movers.
• Finish decluttering, sorting, and purging: Finish decluttering your space to make packing a breeze.
• Take furniture measurements: Check to make sure that your furniture will fit through the door at your new home. If any pieces of furniture won’t fit, add them to your sell list.
• Begin selling unwanted items: Post your unwanted items, appliances, and furniture onto online marketplaces. If you have enough items, you could also consider hosting a garage or yard sale.
• Stock up on moving supplies: First, check online marketplaces and local stores for free boxes and moving materials. Then, fill in what you need by ordering items such as boxes, tape, labels, stretch film, and other moving supplies. I’ve listed my favorite supplies at the top of this post.
• Request a pre-moveout inspection: Some landlords allow a pre-moveout inspection. They will inspect your apartment and tell you what you will be charged for before you move out, allowing you time to fix it yourself. This is a HUGE money-saver for renters!
• Begin packing: Make a list of least-used items (like seasonal decorations) and begin packing them away. You can easily store the boxes in your closets or garage so you don’t need to see them every day.
• Begin preparing your pets: The ASPCA recommends you bring boxes into the house early to help your pets with a smooth transition. In addition, they suggest slowly acclimating them to their crates (be sure to check their website for how to do this). Here is a great cat crate and a great dog crate. Both have reasonable prices and awesome reviews.

Two Weeks Before Moving

• Set up mail forwarding: Mail forwarding is best done about 2 weeks before your moving date. Here is the USPS Mail Forwarding Website.
• Update your voter registration: You can usually do this at the same time as mail forwarding.
• Drop off donations: Take any unwanted items in your donate pile to a local shelter or thrift store.
• Drop off trash: Take a trip to your local dumpster to clear out any trash in the house.
• Collect soft materials: Go around your home and collect clothes, towels, and blankets you won’t be using in the next few weeks. Use them as packing materials.
• Continue Packing: Continue your packing efforts. Aim to be about 50% finished.
• Make travel arrangements for moving day: If you’re moving out of town, be sure to make any necessary travel arrangements such as hotel reservations.
• Spend time with friends and family: If you’re moving out of town, be sure to carve out some time to visit with friends and family.
• Cancel local memberships: Contact your gym and other local memberships and inform them you will be switching locations or canceling.
• Schedule a car tune-up: If you’re moving out of town, you might also consider bringing your car in for a tune-up before the big journey.
• Close bank accounts: Clean out any safety deposit boxes and close out your bank account (if needed). Also, be sure to take out some cash to have on hand.
• Connect with your homeowners or renters insurance company: Notify them of the move and check your moving coverage.
• Request an internet and cable installation date: These fill up fast, so the sooner the better.
• Change address with important parties: Notify important parties of your new address such as your bank, employer, and insurance companies. You can worry about the rest after the big move.

One Week Before Moving

• Pack a Valuables Box: Use a safe or a cheaper secure box (like this one) to store your cash, jewelry, important documents, and other valuables.
• Pack an Open First Box: This is a box filled with essential items (listed at the end of this post) you’ll need as soon as you arrive at your new home.
• Stock up on essentials: Head to the store and stock up on any essentials you will need over the next few weeks. This might include toiletries, prescriptions, on-the-go foods, pet food, etc.
• Continue Packing: Continue your packing efforts. Aim to be about 75-90% finished.
• Break down furniture: Take apart your furniture such as bed frames and bookshelves.
• Create a move-in checklist: The move-in process can be just as overwhelming as moving out. Be sure you’re prepared by creating a Move-In Checklist. Here is everything I recommend adding to your move-in checklist.
• Connect with your home security company and take down your system: Inform your security company of your move. They will probably have more instructions on how to take down your current system.
• Prepare your pets: As you pack and move things around in your home, the ASPCA recommends you keep your pets in a quiet and familiar room that will be packed last.
• Cancel your utilities and trash services: Inform your current utilities and trash provider of your move. Ensure they cancel your service on moving day.
• Set up utilities and trash services at your new home: Ensure your utilities and trash services are up and running by moving day.

Tip: Keep in mind that some utility services have a lag in billing. This means you might have to pay for service at your old home 30-60 days after you move out.

One to Three Days Before Moving

• Pick up moving truck or have storage pod delivered: If you aren’t hiring movers, be sure to pick up your moving truck (or have your storage pod delivered) at least one day before moving day. This will give you ample time to empty your home.
• Prepare for movers: If you’ve opted to use movers, be sure to reconfirm times and payment.
• Finish packing: Finish packing all of your items into boxes.
• Pack personal belongings: Pack a suitcase or duffle bag (this is the travel backpack I’m currently obsessed with) for everyone in the family. Be sure to pack clothes, toiletries, snacks, electronics, and work essentials.
• Prepare your appliances: Defrost your freezer, disconnect your washer and dryer, drain your hoses, wipe out your microwave and stove, and wrap your appliance doors with stretch wrap.
• Load your moving truck or storage pod: As soon as you get your moving truck or storage pod, be sure to begin filling it.
• Deep clean your home: Once your home is empty, be sure to give it a nice deep clean.
• Paint, spackle, and repair: Renters – go through your home and cover up any holes with spackle, paint walls as needed, and repair any damages that have occurred over time. This will help you get back as much of your deposit as possible.
• Take pictures of your empty home: This is especially important for renters; just in case you need to prove you left the home in good condition.

Moving Day

• Let the movers do their thing: If you opted for movers, stay out of their way. Don’t forget to tip them at the end of the day!
• Drop off your old keys: Don’t forget to give the new owners (or your landlord) the keys to your old home.
• Drive to your new home: Have everyone get into your vehicles and drive to your new destination.
• Pick up your new keys and sign any required paperwork: Once at your new home, be sure to grab the keys and finish any required paperwork. For renters, this might include a pre-move-in inspection.
• Deep clean your new home before you move in: Now is the perfect time to deep clean your new home. Scrub, bleach, mop, sweep, and dust every surface before you move in.
• Empty your moving truck: If you have time on moving day, transfer all of your belongings from your moving truck into your new home.
• Unpack your Open First Box: Ensure you have the bare essentials at the ready by unpacking your Open First Box.
• Complete your move-in checklist: Reference your move-in checklist and complete anything else required for moving day.

After You Arrive

It’s time to move into your new home and get settled into your new location.

Be sure to create and follow a comprehensive move-in checklist to ensure you don’t miss a thing. Here is everything I suggest doing after move-in day.

Related: The Ultimate Move-In Checklist

Top Moving Out Tip: How to Avoid Changing Your Address 100-Gazillion Times

One of the most tedious tasks of moving is changing your address.

You have to change it with your bank, employer, lenders, family members, friends, online accounts, streaming services, and about a gazillion other parties.

But, what if you didn’t have to?

What if there was a service you could use where you kept one mailing address forever? A real, physical address that was not associated with your home (hello security!), removed all junk mail, and more.

Well, I have good news for you.

As citizens of the 21st century, we have this amazing service we can utilize that does just that. It’s called a Smart Virtual Mailbox.

So, what is a Smart Virtual Mailbox and how does it work?

With a Smart Virtual Mailbox, you are assigned a non-PO Box physical address located at a trusted third-party facility. Once your mail arrives, it is sorted (with junk mail removed), scanned, uploaded to your online account (unopened), then forwarded to your home address.

This means that every time you move, you only have to change your address in one location: on your smart virtual mailbox account.

Why a Smart Virtual Mailbox?

You’re probably thinking “I could just get a PO Box at the local post office.” And, you’re totally right.

However, a Smart Virtual Mailbox is WAY more convenient, cost-effective, safe, and professional. In fact, a Smart Virtual Mailbox has a TON of great benefits including:

• Protect yourself and your family by enjoying a mailing address unrelated to your place of residence
• Never waste time with pointless trips to the post office
• Enjoy checking your mailbox virtually from the comfort of your own home
• Save money with a cheaper mailbox alternative (depending on which option you go with)
• Never have to change your address (even if you move to a different state)
• Never get junk mail… ever (it’s all sorted out for you)

The Best Part? You Can Try a Virtual Mailbox for FREE!

So, how do you get a Smart Virtual Mailbox? And try it for FREE?

I personally use US Global Mail. And, you know what? I’m absolutely obsessed.

I’ve been using them for a while now, and I honestly can’t believe I was wasting my time with a PO Box for so long…

Anyways, you can try US Global Mail by heading over to their sign-up website here, and be sure to use code SARAH-L5LP33UO.HO to get your first month for FREE!

Sign Up for a Smart Virtual Mailbox with US Global Mail for FREE using Code: SARAH-L5LP33UO.HO

Money-Saving and Time-Saving Moving Out Tips

Okay, enough about virtual mailboxes. What other great tips do I have for you? Let’s take a look…

• Utilize suitcases, bags, storage totes, trash cans, and other containers you already own.
• Pack heavy items into rolling suitcases for easy handling (like books).
• Packing is the perfect time to sort through your belongings. Pull out three boxes and label them to toss, to donate, and to sell. The more you get rid of, the less you have to move!
• Label your moving boxes in multiple places. Better yet, use labels like these to color-code your boxes based on the room.
• Take pictures of your space, items, and valuables. This will be useful when setting everything back up and if you need to file an insurance claim later on.
• Prioritize your health and self-care to beat overwhelm and exhaustion. Here are 24 amazing stress management techniques to test out.
• Wrap your hanging clothes in trash bags or pack them with the hanger still on. This is a huge time saver!
• Are you currently in college? Snag this free college student packing list to help you out.
• Use clothes, towels, blankets, and pillows to protect your fragile items.
• Moving with a pet? This can be a scary and stressful time for them. The ASPCA has some fantastic tips to ensure your pets feel comfortable during and after the moving process.
• Create an “Open First Box” (see below).

Open First Moving Box

A moving out checklist essential is to pack an Open First Box. This is a box filled with essential items you’ll need as soon as you arrive at your new location. It will ensure you don’t waste time rummaging through your other boxes.

Here are some essentials to consider adding to your Open First Box:

• Toilet Paper
• Hand Soap
• Paper Towels
• Cleaning Supplies
• Snacks
• A Few Cups and Dishes
• Utensils
• Toiletries
• Phone Charger
• Shower Curtain
• Shower Soaps and Shampoo
• Bedding or a Sleeping Bag

Further Reading

Finished creating your moving out checklist? Here are a few related articles you might find helpful:

• The Ultimate Move-In Checklist – What to Do After You Move Into Your New Home
• An Ultimate Guide to Meal Planning and Prepping
• How to Create a New, Realistic Cleaning Routine
• 24 Amazing Stress Management Techniques to Try This Week

Well, there you have it. The ultimate moving out checklist. I hope you found it helpful and are now fully prepared for your big move!

Still need to create your moving out checklist? Don’t forget to grab your free project planner and checklist to get started.