MOVING TIPS
Below we've laid out our Moving Tips in a timeline. The timeline starts at eight weeks from your moving day and goes up until the day you arrive at your destination.
Eight weeks before you leave your present address
- Remove unnecessary items from your attic, basement, storage shed, etc. Use things you can't move, such as frozen foods and cleaning supplies.
- Obtain information about your new community.
- Secure a floor plan of your new residence and decide what household items you want to keep.
- Start a possessions inventory.
- Solicit estimates from at least three moving companies.
- Call your homeowners insurance agent to find out to what degree your move is covered.
- Create a file for documenting all moving papers and receipts.
- Arrange to transfer your children's school records.
Six weeks before you leave your present address
- Contact the IRS and/or your CPA for tax-deductible information.
- Evaluate your possessions inventory. Can you donate anything? Do you need it all?
- Notify friends, relatives, professionals, creditors, and subscriptions.
- Subscribe to a local paper in your new community and familiarize yourself with local government and social news.
- Begin the off-site storage process (if applicable).
- Locate quality healthcare professionals and hospitals in your new location.
- Complete post-office change of address notifications.
- Clean your closets.
- Hold a garage sale or donate items to charities.
- Choose a mover and confirm arrangements.
- If relocating due to a job, confirm employer coverage.
Four weeks before you leave your present address
- Start packing.
- Send furniture, drapes, and carpets for repair or cleaning if needed.
- Gather important documents such as medical records, deeds, financial documents, etc.
- Arrange utility disconnect/connect services.
- Request refunds on unused services or deposits.
- Notify home service providers.
- Update insurance coverage.
Three weeks before you leave your present address
- Make travel plans.
- Close/open bank accounts if necessary.
- Notify motor vehicle bureau of address change.
- Arrange childcare for moving day.
Two weeks before you leave your present address
- Arrange transport for pets and plants.
- Service your car.
- Confirm moving arrangements.
One week before you leave your present address
- Prepare directions and emergency contact info for movers.
- Settle outstanding bills and return borrowed items.
- Obtain pet medical records.
- Cancel newspaper delivery.
- Arrange prescriptions and medications.
- Prepare payment for movers.
Two to three days before you leave
- Have movers pack if applicable.
- Defrost refrigerators and freezers.
- Disconnect appliances.
- Pack first-night essentials separately.
Moving day
- Be present to answer mover questions.
- Record utility meter readings.
- Review and sign inventory documents carefully.
- Do a final walkthrough of your home.
At destination
- Unpack essentials first.
- Review inventory during unloading.
- Inspect for damaged or missing items.
- Secure important documents.
- Collect held mail.
IDX information is provided exclusively for consumers’ personal, noncommercial use, that it may not be used for any purpose other than to identify prospective properties consumers may be interested in purchasing, and that the data is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed accurate by the MLS. The data relating to real estate for sale on this Website comes in part from the Broker Reciprocity Program (BR Program) of My Florida Regional MLS DBA Stellar MLS. The source of this real property information is the copyrighted and proprietary database compilation of the My Florida Regional MLS DBA Stellar MLS and © 2026. Information last refreshed: 2026-02-24 14:23:54
