Moving Checklist: Everything to Do 8 Weeks Before Your Move
Moving Checklist: Everything to Do 8 Weeks Before Your Move
Moving goes smoothly when it’s planned. It goes badly when it isn’t. The difference between a chaotic moving day and a seamless one almost always comes down to what happened in the weeks leading up to it — not the day itself.
This week-by-week checklist covers everything you need to do from 8 weeks out through moving day so nothing falls through the cracks.
8 Weeks Out
Book Your Movers
This is the single most important thing on this entire list. Do it first, before anything else. Quality movers — especially for Saturday dates — book up 2–3 weeks out year-round. Don’t let this slip while you’re focused on everything else.
When you call GoodGuys, we’ll walk through your inventory, home size, any access details, and your preferred date right on that first call. We also offer in-home or virtual walkthroughs before the move for larger or more complex jobs — just ask. A $100 deposit holds your date, fully refundable if you cancel more than 48 hours before your move.
Start Decluttering Room by Room
The less you move, the less you pay — movers charge by the hour, so a lighter load means a faster job. Go through each room and sort into three piles: keep, donate/sell, and trash. Be ruthless. If you haven’t used it in a year, it probably doesn’t deserve space in your new home.
GoodGuys tip: We offer junk removal before or after your move. If decluttering leaves you with a pile of furniture, appliances, or junk you can’t easily dispose of, we can take care of it so you don’t have to.
Start Collecting Packing Supplies
If you’re packing yourself, start gathering boxes, bubble wrap, packing paper, and tape now. Free boxes are available from grocery stores, liquor stores, Buy Nothing groups, and Facebook Marketplace. Starting early means you’re not scrambling for supplies in the final week.
If you’d rather not deal with packing at all, GoodGuys offers full-home professional packing services. We bring all the materials and handle everything — contact us to add packing to your booking.
Notify Your Landlord or List Your Home
If you’re renting, give your landlord written notice per your lease terms — most require 30–60 days. If you’re selling, get the ball rolling with your agent.
6 Weeks Out
Begin Packing Non-Essentials
Start with the things you won’t need before moving day: seasonal items, books, décor, sentimental items, guest room contents, and anything in storage. Label every box on all four sides with the room it’s going to and a brief description of contents.
Labeling tip: Use a different colored marker per room. It sounds simple but it makes unloading dramatically faster when every box is going to the right place without anyone having to read a label.
Research and Transfer Utilities
Contact your utility providers — electricity, gas, water, internet, trash — to schedule disconnection at your old address and setup at your new one. Aim to have utilities active at your new home the day before you move in.
Update Your Address
Start the address change process early. Key places to update:
USPS mail forwarding (usps.com — forward for at least 6 months)
Employer and payroll
Bank and credit cards
Insurance providers (health, auto, home/renters)
Subscriptions and recurring deliveries
Georgia DMV (you have 30 days after moving to update your driver’s license)
Plan for Your Appliances
GoodGuys handles appliance disconnection and reconnection — washers, dryers, fridges, and more — so you don’t have to figure it out yourself. Let us know during your booking call so we can plan accordingly and bring the right equipment.
4 Weeks Out
Pack Room by Room, Systematically
By now you should be packing actively. Work one room at a time so nothing gets mixed up. Leave only what you’ll genuinely need in the remaining weeks.
Packing order recommendation:
Storage areas, garage, attic
Guest rooms and spare spaces
Books, media, décor
Linens and towels (keep one set out per person)
Kitchen (leave out essentials for the final week)
Clothing (pack off-season items first)
Daily essentials — pack these last
Confirm Your Moving Details with GoodGuys
Share any updates to your inventory — new items, items you’ve gotten rid of, access changes at either location. The more detail we have going into moving day, the smoother it runs. There’s no strict cutoff, but the earlier we know, the better we can prepare your crew and crew size.
Arrange for Kids and Pets on Moving Day
Moving day is hectic. Having children and pets at the property during a full move adds stress for everyone, including your crew. Arrange for them to be somewhere safe and comfortable for the day — it’s one of the most underrated things you can do for your own sanity.
Take Photos of Electronics Before Unplugging
Before you disconnect your TV setup, home office, or entertainment system, photograph the back of every device and all cable connections. You’ll thank yourself when it’s time to set everything back up.
2 Weeks Out
Finish Packing Everything Except Daily Essentials
You should be close to fully packed by now. The only things left out should be items you’re actively using day-to-day: a few sets of clothes, toiletries, basic kitchen items, chargers, medications.
Disassemble Large Furniture
Bed frames, large desks, dining tables, bookshelves — if they need to come apart to get through a door or fit in a truck, now is the time to do it. GoodGuys handles furniture disassembly and reassembly as part of our local moving service, so if you’d rather leave it to us, let us know in advance and we’ll bring the right tools.
Use Up Perishables
Start eating down your freezer and pantry. Movers can’t transport open food, and you don’t want to be throwing away a full fridge the night before your move. Plan meals around what you have.
Confirm Parking and Elevator Access
If you’re in an apartment or condo, contact your building management to reserve the elevator and confirm where the moving truck can park. Some buildings require advance notice and paperwork for moves. Handling this now prevents delays on moving day.
Return Borrowed Items and Collect Your Own
Return anything you’ve borrowed from friends, family, or neighbors — and collect anything of yours that’s at someone else’s place. Easy to forget, annoying to deal with after you’ve moved.
1 Week Out
Confirm Your Booking with GoodGuys
Touch base with us to confirm your moving date, start time, and any final details. This is also the time to flag anything that has changed since you booked — a new large item, a change in access, anything at all.
Pack Your “Open First” Box
Pack a clearly labeled box (or bag) of everything you’ll need in the first 24 hours at your new home. Load it last so it comes off the truck first. Include:
Toilet paper and paper towels
Hand soap
Phone chargers and a power strip
A change of clothes per person
Medications
Basic tools (screwdriver, Allen key set)
Snacks and bottled water
Cleaning supplies for a quick wipe-down before unloading
Coffee maker (non-negotiable for most people)
Clean and Prep Your Old Home
Start cleaning as rooms empty out. If you’re a renter, a clean handover gives you the best shot at getting your full deposit back. Check inside cabinets, closets, and appliances — these are the spots most commonly missed.
Charge Everything
Charge all devices the night before: phones, laptops, earbuds, portable batteries. Moving day is long and you’ll want them.
Moving Day
Do a Final Walkthrough Before the Crew Arrives
Walk every room, closet, cabinet, attic space, and garage. Check under beds, in bathroom cabinets, and behind doors. It’s easy to leave something behind in the chaos.
Be Present and Communicate with Your Crew
Your GoodGuys crew will arrive on time and ready to work. Be available to answer questions, direct where things should go, and flag any items that need special care. The more clearly you communicate, the faster and smoother the job goes.
Do a Final Check at the New Home
Before the crew leaves, walk through the new home and confirm everything is in the right room. It’s much easier to move a box from the living room to the bedroom while the crew is still there than after they’ve gone.
Tip Your Crew If They Earned It
Moving is hard, physical work. If your GoodGuys crew did a great job — and they will — a tip is a meaningful way to show your appreciation. A general guide: $30–$50 per mover for an average move, $50–$100+ for a large or difficult one. Cash given directly to each mover is always preferred.
The Master Checklist at a Glance
8 Weeks Out
Book your movers
Start decluttering room by room
Begin collecting packing supplies
Notify landlord or list your home
6 Weeks Out
Begin packing non-essentials
Research and transfer utilities
Start updating your address
Plan for appliances
4 Weeks Out
Pack systematically, room by room
Confirm moving details with GoodGuys
Arrange for kids and pets on moving day
Photograph electronics before unplugging
2 Weeks Out
Finish packing (leave only daily essentials)
Disassemble large furniture
Use up perishables
Confirm parking and elevator access
Return borrowed items
1 Week Out
Confirm your booking
Pack your “Open First” box
Clean your old home
Charge all devices
Moving Day
Final walkthrough before crew arrives
Communicate clearly with your crew
Final check at new home
Tip your crew
Frequently Asked Questions
How early should I start packing for a move?
Ideally 6–8 weeks out for non-essentials. Most people underestimate how long packing takes. Starting early means you’re not still boxing up the kitchen at midnight before moving day.
Does GoodGuys offer packing services?
Yes — we offer full-home professional packing. Our team brings all materials and handles everything from wrapping to labeling. Contact us to add packing to your move.
Does GoodGuys handle furniture disassembly and reassembly?
Yes. We disassemble and reassemble furniture as part of our local moving service. Let us know what needs to come apart when you book so we can bring the right tools.
Does GoodGuys handle appliance disconnection and reconnection?
Yes — we handle washer, dryer, fridge, and other appliance disconnection and reconnection. Just flag it when you book.
Can I book junk removal at the same time as my move?
Yes. GoodGuys offers junk removal before or after your move. It’s a great way to declutter before moving day or clear out anything left behind afterward. Contact us to schedule.
What if my inventory changes between booking and moving day?
Just let us know as early as possible. There’s no strict cutoff — the sooner we know about changes, the better we can prepare your crew and crew size.
Moving day doesn’t have to be stressful. Get a free estimate from GoodGuys Concierge Moving & Storage and let us handle the heavy lifting — literally.