The Complete Moving Checklist: Your Week-by-Week Timeline

Moving without a checklist is like driving without GPS—you’ll probably get there eventually, but you’ll take a lot of wrong turns along the way. A structured, week-by-week timeline transforms the overwhelming task of moving into manageable, bite-sized steps.

At iHaul iMove, we’ve guided thousands of families through successful relocations across Colorado Springs over 17+ years. This checklist is built from real-world experience—every task, every timeline, every tip comes from what we’ve seen work best for our 700+ five-star-rated moves.

8 Weeks Before Moving Day

This is your planning phase. The decisions you make now set the tone for the entire move.

Get Organized

• Choose your moving date. Midweek moves (Tuesday-Thursday) often have better availability and pricing.
• Get moving quotes. Contact at least three companies for estimates. Call iHaul iMove at 719-357-5865 for a free, no-obligation quote.
• Book your movers. Once you’ve chosen a company, lock in your date—especially during peak season (May-August).
• Create a moving binder or digital folder. Keep all estimates, contracts, receipts, and checklists in one place.

Start Decluttering

• Walk through every room. Identify items you won’t take with you.
• Start with storage areas. Garage, basement, and attic are the best places to begin.
• Schedule a garage sale for 4-5 weeks before your move.
• Research donation options. Goodwill, Salvation Army, and Arc Thrift Stores in Colorado Springs accept most household items.

6 Weeks Before Moving Day

Decluttering continues, and administrative tasks begin.

Administrative Tasks

• Set up mail forwarding with USPS (can be done online at usps.com).
• Notify important contacts of your address change: employer, bank, insurance companies, doctors, dentists, subscriptions, and credit card companies.
• Transfer or set up utilities at your new address: electricity, gas, water, internet, and trash service. In Colorado Springs, most utilities go through Colorado Springs Utilities (CSU).
• Update your vehicle registration if moving to a new county. Colorado requires registration changes within 30 days.

School and Medical

• Request school records for children transferring schools.
• Transfer medical records to new providers or download copies.
• Refill prescriptions so you have enough medication to last through the transition.
• Update pet records and find a new veterinarian if needed.

4 Weeks Before Moving Day

Packing begins in earnest. Focus on items you won’t need in the next month.

Packing Phase 1: Non-Essentials

• Pack seasonal items. Holiday decorations, out-of-season clothing, and sporting equipment you won’t use before the move.
• Pack books and media. Use small boxes—books get heavy quickly.
• Pack decorative items. Wall art, vases, collectibles, and display items.
• Pack guest room(s). If you have a guest bedroom, pack it entirely.
• Pack extra linens. Keep one set per bed; pack the rest.

Supplies Check

• Stock up on packing supplies. Boxes (small, medium, large), packing paper, bubble wrap, tape, markers, and specialty boxes for dishes and mirrors.
• Get wardrobe boxes for hanging clothes—they save ironing time at the new house.
• Label as you go. Write the contents AND the destination room on every box.

Need packing supplies delivered? Check out our packing supplies service.

3 Weeks Before Moving Day

The pace picks up. You’re packing 1-2 rooms per day now.

Packing Phase 2: Room by Room

• Pack the dining room. China, serving pieces, and tablecloths. Use dish-pack boxes with cell dividers for fragile items.
• Pack the living room. Electronics (photograph cable configurations first), entertainment items, and décor.
• Pack the home office. Back up all computer data before disconnecting. Shred documents you don’t need.
• Pack children’s rooms (with their help—let them pack a special box of their favorite items).

Logistics

• Confirm moving details with your moving company: date, time, crew size, and any special instructions.
• Arrange childcare and/or pet care for moving day. Kids and pets are safest away from the action.
• Plan your moving-day meals. Have snacks and drinks ready for the crew and your family.
• Reserve elevator time if moving from/to an apartment building.

2 Weeks Before Moving Day

You’re in the home stretch. Packing accelerates and final preparations begin.

Packing Phase 3: Almost Everything

• Pack the master bedroom. Leave only the bedding you’re using tonight and tomorrow’s clothes.
• Pack most of the kitchen. Keep out only essentials: one pot, one pan, basic utensils, plates for the family, and your coffee maker.
• Pack the bathrooms. Keep a small toiletry bag with daily essentials.
• Disassemble furniture that can be taken apart. Bag and label all hardware (screws, bolts, Allen keys) and tape them to the corresponding furniture piece.

New Home Preparation

• Deep clean the new home before furniture arrives (much easier when it’s empty).
• Paint any rooms you want a fresh color. Painting around furniture is miserable.
• Verify utilities are active at the new address.
• Measure doorways and staircases to confirm large furniture will fit.
• Change the locks on your new home.

1 Week Before Moving Day

Final preparations. The house is mostly packed; you’re living out of suitcases.

Final Packing

• Pack your “essentials” box. This box travels with you (not on the truck):

  • Phone chargers and power banks
  • Toiletries and medications
  • Change of clothes for each family member
  • Important documents (IDs, closing papers, lease)
  • Basic tools (screwdriver, box cutter, hammer)
  • Snacks, water bottles, and paper towels
  • Toilet paper (you’ll be glad you remembered)
  • First-night bedding (sheets, pillows, blankets)
  • Coffee maker, mugs, and coffee (non-negotiable for most people)

• Clean out the refrigerator. Defrost the freezer if needed.

• Use up or dispose of items movers can’t transport: flammables, perishables, chemicals, propane tanks.

Confirmations

• Confirm with movers one last time: date, arrival window, any access instructions.
• Notify your landlord of your move-out date and schedule a walkthrough (if renting).
• Confirm utility shutoff dates at your old address (schedule for the day after you move, not the day of).

Moving Day

The big day is here. If you’ve followed this checklist, you’re in great shape.

Morning

• Do a final walkthrough of your home. Check every closet, cabinet, shelf, attic space, and the garage.
• Take meter readings at your old home for utility final billing.
• Protect your home. Lay down floor runners if it’s raining or snowing, and protect door frames from furniture dings.
• Direct the crew. Show movers which items are fragile, what goes first, and any items that should not be loaded.

At the New Home

• Be there (or have someone there) to direct traffic. Tell movers which room each box and furniture piece goes in.
• Check items as they come off the truck. Note any visible damage immediately.
• Do a final walkthrough of the truck before it leaves to make sure nothing was left behind.

After the Crew Leaves

• Unpack essentials first. Set up beds, bathrooms, and the kitchen basics.
• Test all systems. Make sure HVAC, plumbing, electrical, and appliances are working properly.
• Order dinner. You deserve it.

Your Partner in an Organized Move

A checklist is only as good as the team executing it. With iHaul iMove, you get experienced professionals who follow their own meticulous checklists to ensure nothing is missed.

Whether you need full-service moving, professional packing, or just a team of strong, careful hands through our labor-only service, we’re here to make your checklist a reality.

Serving Colorado Springs, Monument, Falcon, Fountain, and communities throughout the Pikes Peak region.

Call 719-357-5865 today or get your free estimate below.

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