Moving Checklist: Move Like a Pro
by Vertask (verified provider)
A week-by-week moving checklist of 50 tasks in 9 sections, from budget and movers to address changes and settling in. Households get a tracked plan with timing, pro tips, owners, costs and notes.
Free with a Vertask account. New workspaces start with a 30-day Pro trial, so you can import it straight away.
- 50 checklist items
- 9 sections
- 6 columns
- Version 1.0
- Updated Oct 28, 2026
About this template
A home move has dozens of deadlines that are easy to miss until they cost you: elevator reservations, parking permits, mover deposits, utility start dates, and claim and deposit windows. This workbook puts those tasks in order, from eight or more weeks before the move through the first month in the new home. Each task carries a suggested time to do it and a pro tip, so you know what to do and roughly when.
What the sections cover
- Plan, Budget and Timeline: the budget buffer, building rules, lease notice, relocation benefits and a video record of your current home.
- Declutter, Sell, Donate and Hire Movers or Rent a Truck: what to get rid of, how to compare estimates, verify movers and choose moving insurance.
- Packing Like a Pro: labeling, supplies, the kitchen, appliances, furniture and the bags that stay with you.
- Address Changes, Utilities and Admin and Tech, Internet and Smart Home: USPS forwarding, utilities, insurance, records, IDs, internet setup, backups and resetting devices.
- Kids, Pets, Plants and Vehicles: schools, moving-day care, microchips, car shipping and the drive.
- Final Week and Moving Day and Settle In and Wrap Up: cleaning, the crew walkthrough, the bill of lading, damage checks and your security deposit.
Working through it
Start early. Many tasks are marked 8+ weeks out, and some, like booking movers and internet installation, depend on others' availability. Sort by timing rather than working section by section, and give each task an owner so nothing falls between household members. Enter real amounts in the cost column as you pay, so you can see how you are tracking against your budget. Use the notes for confirmation numbers, contact names and where you saved photos and receipts. Several tips are specific to US moves, such as USPS forwarding, DMV deadlines and FMCSA checks, so adapt those if you are moving elsewhere.
Built for: Households and renters planning a home move in the US, from the first weeks of planning through settling into the new place
What you get
- 50 moving tasks in 9 sections, from 8+ weeks out through the first month in your new home
- A suggested time for every task, such as 6 weeks out, moving day or first week after
- A practical pro tip on each task, covering estimates, insurance, packing, deposits and damage claims
- Room to assign each task to a person and log what it cost against your move budget
- A record of each task's status and notes, from planning through the last forwarded bill
What you’ll record
Filled in for you
- Task · short text
- Pro Tip · long text
- When · dropdown: 8+ weeks out, 6 weeks out, 4 weeks out, 2 weeks out, 1 week out, Final 48 hours, Moving day, First week after, First month after
You fill in
- Owner · short text
- Cost / Budget ($) · short text
- Notes · long text
A look inside
1. Plan, Budget and Timeline 7 items
| Task | Pro Tip | When | Owner you fill in | Cost / Budget ($) you fill in | Notes you fill in |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Build a move budget with a 10-15% buffer | Include movers or truck, packing supplies, deposits, cleaning, utility connection fees, tips, meals, and 1-2 nights of backup lodging. Track actuals in the Cos… | 8+ weeks out | |||
| Research building rules: elevator booking, loading dock, parking permits, HOA/COI requirements | Many buildings require an elevator reservation and a certificate of insurance (COI) from your movers. Street-parking permits for a truck can take weeks, so req… | 6 weeks out | |||
| Set your move date and a hard 'must be out by' deadline | Avoid the 1st and last of the month, Fridays and summer weekends. Rates and availability are worst then. A midweek, mid-month move is usually cheapest. | 8+ weeks out |
2. Declutter, Sell, Donate 3 items
| Task | Pro Tip | When | Owner you fill in | Cost / Budget ($) you fill in | Notes you fill in |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Do a room-by-room purge (Keep / Sell / Donate / Recycle / Trash) and book donation pickups | You pay movers by weight or volume, so every box you skip saves money. Start with attics, garages, storage units and closets. If you have not used it in 12 mon… | 8+ weeks out | |||
| List sellable items on local marketplaces and resale apps | Post clear photos, set a pickup-by date, and meet in public or use porch pickup. Large furniture sells fastest 3-4 weeks before your move. Price to move, not t… | 6 weeks out | |||
| Dispose of hazardous items properly (paint, propane, batteries, chemicals, e-waste) | Movers will not transport flammables, aerosols, propane or pool chemicals. Use your city's hazardous waste drop-off and e-waste recycling events or retailer ta… | 2 weeks out |
+ 44 more items in 7 more sections
Every section
- 1. Plan, Budget and Timeline 7
- 2. Declutter, Sell, Donate 3
- 3. Hire Movers or Rent a Truck 7
- 4. Packing Like a Pro 8
- 5. Address Changes, Utilities and Admin 6
- 6. Tech, Internet and Smart Home 6
- 7. Kids, Pets, Plants and Vehicles 5
- 8. Final Week and Moving Day 4
- 9. Settle In and Wrap Up 4
Questions
How far in advance should I start my moving checklist?
The earliest tasks in this workbook are marked 8+ weeks out, including setting your budget, giving lease notice and getting mover estimates. Starting then leaves time to book movers, internet installation and parking permits before they fill up.
Does the checklist cover hiring movers or a DIY truck move?
Yes. The Hire Movers or Rent a Truck section helps you choose between full-service, labor-only, container and DIY options, then covers estimates, verifying movers, insurance and reconfirming the details before moving day.
Can I track moving costs and who is doing each task?
Yes. Each task has a column for the owner and one for the cost, so you can split the work across your household and compare what you spend with your budget.
Is this moving checklist specific to the US?
Several tasks refer to US services and rules, such as the USPS change of address, DMV deadlines and FMCSA mover checks. Most of the planning, packing and moving-day tasks apply anywhere, and you can note local equivalents for the rest.
Do I need a paid plan to use this template?
Getting the template is free with a Vertask account. Importing it into a working checklist uses Workbooks, which is on the Pro plan; new workspaces start with a 30-day Pro trial.
Can I change it after importing?
Yes. Importing creates your own copy: rename, add or remove sections, rows and columns. The template itself never changes, and you can clone your copy per client, property or device.
Provided as is.
How to use it
- Sign up free We take you straight to this template afterwards.
- ImportIt becomes a working checklist with an owner, a status and a date on every line.
- Make it yoursEdit any step, add your own, then clone it per client, property or device.
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