Your Moving Checklist

Why You Can Rely on MOVE IT ALL

For expert advice on organizing your move while keeping the process as stress-free as possible, turn to MOVE IT ALL. With more than 25 years of moving experience, we've helped everyone from everyday families to high-profile clients navigate the challenges of relocating.

One to Two Months Before Your Move

Schedule Utility Cancellations and Service Transfers

Contact your utility and service providers early to arrange cancellations, transfers, or new service at your destination. Provide your new address so final bills and important correspondence reach you after the move.

Depending on your situation, you may need to contact:

• Water and sewer
• Electricity
• Natural gas or propane
• Internet and cable providers
• Trash and recycling services
• Homeowners or renters insurance
• Lawn and landscaping services
• Gym or club memberships
• Other recurring service providers

Tip: If you're moving locally, schedule your new services before moving day whenever possible so your new home is ready when you arrive.

Give Proper Notice

If you're renting, review your lease and notify your landlord or property manager according to the required notice period. Notice requirements can vary, so check your rental agreement and applicable local or state requirements.

If you're a homeowner, check whether your homeowners association or neighborhood association requires any notification related to your move.

If you're renting, you may also want to schedule a move-out inspection or walkthrough and confirm the requirements for receiving your security deposit.

Start Downsizing

Moving is a great opportunity to get rid of items you no longer need.

Start downsizing at least eight weeks before moving day if possible. Work through one or two rooms at a time and sort your belongings into three categories:

KEEP — DONATE — RECYCLE/THROW AWAY

Consider donating usable clothing, furniture and household goods to local charitable organizations. You can also sell items that still have value.

Pay Special Attention to Large Items

Large and heavy furniture can take considerably more effort to move than smaller household items. Before moving a couch, grill, patio set, exercise equipment or other bulky item, ask yourself:

Would I buy this item again for my new home?

If the answer is no, selling or donating it before the move may save space, time and moving costs.

Choose Your Moving Company Early

Don't wait until the last minute to hire your movers. Start researching moving companies at least three weeks before your move, and earlier if you're moving during a busy season.

When comparing movers, look beyond price. Ask about:

• Experience and services offered
• Insurance and licensing
• What is included in the estimate
• Potential additional charges
• Packing and unpacking options
• Furniture protection
• Availability on your moving date
• Customer reviews and reputation

We also recommend getting at least three moving estimates so you can compare services and pricing.

MOVE IT ALL has more than 25 years of moving experience and provides residential and commercial moving services throughout Orlando and Central Florida.

• When choosing a mover, look for clear communication and a detailed estimate so  you understand what you're paying for before moving day.

Gather Supplies and Begin Packing

Unless you've hired movers to pack your belongings, packing will likely be one of the biggest tasks on your moving checklist. Having the right supplies and starting early can make the process much easier.

Common moving supplies include:

• Moving boxes in several sizes
• Packing paper
• Bubble wrap
• Packing tape
• Permanent markers
• Furniture pads or blankets
• Stretch wrap
• Mattress bags
• Heavy-duty cleanup bags
• Labels or colored markers for identifying rooms

You can purchase moving supplies from many local retailers, including Walmart, Lowe's and Home Depot. You can also ask your moving company whether they sell or provide boxes and packing materials.

Consider Professional Packing Services

If your budget allows, professional packing can save significant time and reduce the amount of work you have to handle before moving day.

MOVE IT ALL offers professional packing services for customers who want help preparing their household or business for a move. You can choose to have the entire property packed or have our team handle specific areas or fragile belongings.

If you're considering professional packing, ask your moving company how its packing service affects the handling and valuation coverage of your belongings. Coverage can depend on how items are packed and on the terms of your moving agreement, so make sure you understand those terms before moving day.

For customers who want to pack most of their belongings themselves, having professional movers handle fragile or difficult-to-pack items can be another option.

Notify Important Organizations of Your New Address

Whether you complete this task before or after moving depends on when you receive access to your new home. Start updating your address as early as possible.

Consider notifying:

• USPS
• Banks and credit-card companies
• Medical and dental providers
• Schools, colleges and childcare providers
• Your employer
• Insurance companies
• Department of Motor Vehicles
• Social Security Administration
• Accountants and tax professionals
• Subscription services
• Prescription and other recurring deliveries
• Online retailers where you regularly shop
• Friends and family

Don't Forget Your Mail

Submitting a change-of-address request with the U.S. Postal Service can help ensure that mail sent to your old address is forwarded while you update your address with individual organizations.

It's still important to update your address directly with banks, insurance companies, government agencies, medical providers and other important organizations rather than relying solely on mail forwarding.

Request Time Off and Arrange Child or Pet Care

Even a well-planned move can take most of the day.

If possible, avoid scheduling work meetings, appointments or other important commitments on moving day. If you have young children or pets, consider arranging care for them away from the home while the movers are working.

You or a trusted representative should be available to communicate with the moving crew at both locations. This helps ensure that questions about furniture placement, special items and other instructions can be addressed promptly.

Use Up Your Pantry and Freezer

Moving is a great opportunity to use food you already have rather than packing everything.

Start using items from your pantry, refrigerator and freezer in the weeks leading up to your move. This can reduce the number of boxes you need and make moving day easier.

For food that you do plan to transport, follow appropriate food-safety practices. Perishable foods can require special handling, and some movers may have restrictions on transporting certain foods or other items.

If you're moving a refrigerator or freezer, ask your moving company for its specific preparation instructions. Appliances may need to be emptied, defrosted and prepared before the movers arrive.

Moving Week

Let Your Neighbors Know

If the moving truck will temporarily block a shared driveway, parking area or narrow street, give your neighbors advance notice.

This gives them an opportunity to move vehicles or make other arrangements and can help prevent unnecessary problems on moving day.

If you're moving into an apartment or condominium, check with your property manager about loading zones, parking restrictions, elevator reservations and any required move-in procedures.

Confirm Utilities and Internet Service

A few days before your move, confirm your appointments for utilities and internet service at your new home.

Depending on the property, this may include:

• Electricity
• Water
• Natural gas
• Internet
• Cable or streaming-related equipment
• Trash and recycling services

If installation appointments haven't been scheduled yet, don't wait. Availability can become limited, particularly during busy moving periods.

Also confirm that utilities at your old residence will remain active until your move is complete if necessary.

Clean Your Previous Home

Before handing over the keys, give your previous home a thorough cleaning.

If you're renting, review your lease and move-out requirements so you know what your landlord or property manager expects. Cleaning the property and addressing minor issues can help you meet those requirements and protect your security deposit where applicable.

If you're selling a home, leaving it clean and presentable can make the transition easier for the new occupants.

Before cleaning, check walls and other areas for minor repairs that need attention. You may want to:

• Remove nails and wall hooks
• Fill small nail holes
• Touch up minor scuffs
• Clean cabinets and closets
• Sweep or vacuum floors
• Clean appliances if required
• Remove trash and unwanted items

Heavy-duty contractor cleanup bags can be useful for disposing of packing materials and household debris because they're generally more durable than standard kitchen trash bags.

Pack Your Personal Essentials

Keep the things you'll need immediately after the move separate from everything else.

Pack an essentials bag or suitcase with items such as:

• A change of clothes
• Toiletries
• Medications
• Important documents
• Phone and computer chargers
• Basic household items
• Children's necessities
• Pet supplies
• Snacks and bottled water

Label the bag clearly and keep it with you rather than loading it onto the moving truck.

If you're staying in a hotel or another temporary location before moving into your new home, having your essentials already packed will make the transition much easier.

The Day Before: Remind Your Neighbors

If the moving truck will temporarily block a shared driveway, parking area or narrow street, give your neighbors a reminder the day before.

Ask them to move any vehicles that could interfere with the movers' access.

And if you're leaving behind good neighbors, take a moment to say goodbye. Moving is about more than transporting furniture—it's also the end of one chapter and the beginning of another.

Have Cash Available for Moving Day

Tipping professional movers is not mandatory, but some customers choose to tip their moving crew when they feel the service deserves it.

There is no single required tipping amount. If you decide to tip, consider factors such as:

• The difficulty of the move
• The amount of time involved
• How carefully your belongings were handled
• The professionalism of the crew
• Whether the movers handled stairs, heavy furniture or other challenging conditions

If you plan to tip, having cash available can make things easier. You can also ask the moving company beforehand about accepted payment methods and its policies regarding tips.

And if friends are helping you move, don't forget to have something to eat and drink for everyone. Pizza is always an easy moving-day option!

Treat Yourself Before Moving Day

By now, most of your kitchen should be packed and your refrigerator and pantry should be getting close to empty.

Take a break before the big day. Enjoy one last meal at a favorite local restaurant, spend time with friends or family, or simply take some time away from packing.

A short break can give you a chance to recharge before moving day.

Try to Relax

Even with careful planning, moving can be demanding.

You've done the preparation, the packing is nearly finished, and moving day is almost here. Take some time for yourself before the process begins.

Go for a walk, spend time with your family, read a book, pray or meditate, or simply take a few minutes to sit down and breathe.

You don't have to make moving day perfect—you just need to be prepared.

Moving Day

Moving day has finally arrived. Your preparation is about to pay off. Keep your essentials nearby, stay available to answer questions, and give yourself enough time to complete a final walkthrough at both locations.

Stay Available and Do a Final Walkthrough

Whether you've hired professional movers or recruited friends with the promise of pizza, you should remain available during the move.

Before leaving your old home, walk through every room, closet, cabinet, garage, attic and storage area to make sure nothing has been left behind.

When you arrive at your new home, take a moment to check the property and confirm that your belongings are being placed where you want them.

As items come off the truck, look for obvious damage to furniture or boxes. If you notice damage or missing items, document it promptly with photographs and notify your moving company according to the terms of your moving agreement.

Moving coverage and valuation protection can vary depending on the mover and the coverage you selected, so review your moving paperwork before moving day so you understand what protection applies to your belongings.

Keep Snacks and Beverages Available

Moving can be physically demanding, and it's easy to forget to eat or drink when you're focused on getting everything done.

Keep water and easy-to-eat snacks available throughout the day. Good options include:

• Bottled water
• Sports drinks
• Fruit
• Granola or protein bars
• Sandwiches
• Nuts
• Other easy-to-carry snacks

It's also a thoughtful gesture to offer your moving crew water or another non-alcoholic beverage.

Avoid alcohol while the move is underway. Your movers need to be able to work safely and efficiently.

Secure the Property

Before leaving your old home, conduct one final inspection.

Check:

• Closets and cabinets
• Garage and storage areas
• Attic or basement
• Windows
• Doors
• Lights
• Faucets
• Thermostats
• Appliances
• Outdoor areas

Turn off lights, close and lock windows, and secure all exterior doors.

If you're leaving a rental property, follow your landlord's or property manager's move-out instructions.

Return Your Keys

Don't forget the keys!

If you're moving out of a rental, confirm with your landlord or property manager how and when the keys should be returned. This may happen during your final walkthrough or through a designated drop-off procedure.

If you're selling your home, coordinate with your real estate agent or follow the instructions provided for transferring the keys to the buyer.

Also remember to account for:

• Garage-door remotes
• Gate access cards
• Building access fobs
• Mailbox keys
• Pool or amenity access cards
• Other property-specific keys or devices

Put all keys and access devices in one place before moving day so they don't get packed accidentally.

Your Move Doesn't Have to Be Overwhelming

A successful move starts with good planning. By working through your checklist early, organizing your belongings, preparing your home and choosing the right moving company, you can make moving day much more manageable.

Need help with your Orlando move?

MOVE IT ALL provides residential and commercial moving, packing, loading, unloading and specialty moving services throughout Orlando and Central Florida.

Call or text 407-750-2323 for a free estimate.