Did you know that summer is the busiest season of the year for moving? In fact, nearly half of all moves in a year take place between May and August. If you’re one of the many homeowners moving while school’s out, simplify the process with our summer moving checklist.
8 weeks before you move
If you’re going the professional mover route, it’s important to book your movers as far in advance as possible before they’re full for the summer. Booking early also means you’ll have a better chance of beating the heat with a morning move time.
- Take inventory of your stuff. What are you keeping? What are you selling/donating? What needs to be thrown out?
- Arrange moving transportation, whether that’s a friend’s pickup truck or professional movers.
- Transfer school and vet records if needed. Getting your human and fur babies to the new place is only half the battle.
Pro Tip: If you’re booking movers, they’ll ask for a detailed inventory of your belongings to provide the most accurate estimate of your moving costs. This is also how they determine what size truck they’ll be bringing to move your stuff, so don’t lowball it. In addition to your furniture, use this guide to give your movers an estimate of how many boxes you’ll have come moving day.
6 weeks before you move
Before you buy packing supplies, think strategically about how soft items (like towels and bedding) can be packed with more fragile items to minimize how many supplies you’ll need. Plus, it’s great for the environment.
- Buy packing supplies (more than you think you’ll need).
- Remember that casserole that’s been sitting in your freezer? Time to use it or lose it.
- Measure your new space to make sure your furniture will fit. No sense lugging a dresser across state lines only to find that it won’t fit through your new doors.
4 weeks before you move
- Packing time! Make your life easier by setting aside a box of items you’ll be using up until the day of the move.
- Disassemble furniture you’re not using. Your movers will likely do this anyway, but nobody cares for your furniture like you can.
- Label your boxes. Your future self will thank you when it’s time to unpack.
- Change your address and update your billing information once USPS has processed your request.
Pro Tip: Packing early isn’t just important for saving you last-minute complications. If you have pets, seeing their home packed up gradually gives them more time to adjust to the change, rather than everything they’re familiar with disappearing overnight. You can find more helpful tips for moving with pets here.
2 weeks before you move
These next two weeks will fly by. As you get closer to moving day, it’s time to tackle all those moving tasks that fall outside of the actual moving process, like car maintenance, requesting time off from work, and more.
- Submit your workplace PTO requests for moving day (or week, moving is stressful) if needed.
- Make sure your car is ready for the trip. Even if it’s just across town, it’s one less thing to worry about on moving day.
- Confirm moving day details with your mover (or friend with a truck). Where can they park? Is it a gated community that they’ll need a code to enter? What time are they arriving? What form of payment is preferred?
- Schedule utility account transfers for your move-in day (electric, internet, gas, and water are the big four).
Week of your move
It’s almost time! In the week before your move, make sure your payment for your movers is ready to go and that your billing address has been updated on all relevant accounts.
- Refill prescriptions if you have them.
- If you have pets, update the address associated with their microchips.
- Defrost your freezer if it’s moving with you.
- Get cash to tip your movers (or buy your friends a round).
- Remember that box of items you’re still using? On the day of your move, tape it up and add it to the stack for your movers to handle.
Bonus items for your summer moving checklist
Even if you’re not doing the literal heavy lifting on moving day, the summer heat is no joke. Consider adding these items to your summer moving checklist to keep things cool.
- Stock a cooler with cold beverages so you’ll have hydration on hand while transitioning between your old fridge and your new one.
- Turn off the AC but keep a fan going while movers are coming in and out to avoid wasting energy.
- If you have pets that need to be kept in a separate area while movers are in the home, make sure that space has plenty of ventilation and cool water (and shade if it’s outdoors).
- Don’t forget to celebrate. Moving is a big deal!
Since summer is peak moving season, it’s important to book your movers as far in advance as possible before they’re full.
