Eight to six weeks out
Book your mover — good crews fill up, especially at the end of the month and in summer. Start decluttering room by room: donate, sell, or toss what you do not want to pay to move. Gather important documents (leases, closing papers, school and medical records) into one folder.
Four weeks out
Start packing the things you do not use daily: books, decor, off-season clothes, the garage. Label every box with the room it goes to and a few words about what is inside. Notify your landlord if you are renting. Arrange time off work for moving day.
Two weeks out
Confirm the details with your mover: date, addresses, parking, and anything unusual like a piano or a safe. Update your address with the post office, your bank, subscriptions, and voter registration. Eat down the freezer and pantry. Arrange care for kids and pets on moving day.
One week out
Finish packing everything except daily essentials. Pack a first-night box: sheets, towels, toiletries, chargers, medications, basic tools, toilet paper, and a change of clothes. Defrost the freezer if it is moving with you. Do a final donation pickup for anything left.
Moving day
Do a last walkthrough of every room, closet, and cabinet before the truck leaves. Keep your documents folder, valuables, and first-night box with you. At the new place, walk the crew leader through room by room so boxes land where they belong. Then order dinner — you have earned it.