Moving into a new home requires careful planning and organization. A well-structured checklist can help keep stress to a minimum and ensure that nothing important is forgotten.
A checklist makes it easy to think of everything you need to do – step by step, without forgetting anything. In this article, you’ll find a clear and practical overview to help you organize your move quickly and effectively. Let’s get started – for a smooth and stress-free start in your new home!
Suggested use of the checklist
- To get an overview of the scope of the activities, I recommend that you go through the checklist in its entirety. You can skip items that don’t apply to you. Also, check to see if you have everything you need for the move or if you need to get anything else.
- The checklist is numbered sequentially. If you are pressed for time and cannot complete the checklist all at once, write down the last number and continue later.
Checklist:
Moving to a new home
| 3 to 4 months before the move |
| 1. Leases – Terminate your current lease in writing, respecting the notice period, and sign the new lease. – Transfer the security deposit for your new home. |
| 2. Handing over the old home – Agree with your current landlord on the condition in which your current home must be handed over. |
| 3. Contracts – Review contracts for insurance (e.g., private health, household, auto, liability, accident, life), utilities (e.g., electricity, gas), subscriptions (e.g., newspapers/magazines), landline, Internet, and cable TV. Cancel or transfer these to your new address if necessary. |
| 4. Time Off/Children – Request time off during the move. – Withdraw and re-register your children with kindergartens and schools. |
| 5. Memberships and Associations – Check memberships to clubs, associations and gyms. |
| 6. Banking services – Confirm the availability of your bank (branches and ATMs) in your new location and switch banks if necessary. |
| 1 to 2 months before the move |
| 7. Moving Assistance – Hire a moving company or arrange for movers. |
| 8. Organize the move – Rent a moving van and contact movers. |
| 9. Child/Pet Care – Arrange for someone to watch your children and pets on moving day. |
| 10. Storage – Rent storage units for temporary storage of moving boxes and furniture. |
| 11. Parking in front of the home – Request no-parking signs from the local Department of Transportation for the parking lots at both your old and new home. |
| 12. Home handover appointments – Schedule handover dates for both homes. – Prepare the old home for the handover and make any necessary repairs or hire a professional. |
| 13. Mail Forwarding – Arrange to have your mail forwarded at the post office and notify friends and family of your new address. |
| 14. Moving Supplies – Purchase moving supplies such as boxes, packing and padding materials, dollies, straps, tools, blankets, markers, labels, tape, cleaning supplies, and garbage bags. |
| 15. New home inventory – Identify items from your current home, basement, attic, and garage that won’t be moved, and sell or donate them. – Plan furniture for the new home. |
| 16. Prepare the new home – Check the lighting in the new home. – Schedule any work that needs to be done before the move (e.g., painting, wallpapering). |
| 17. Tax Receipts – Collect receipts for transportation, renovations, and other moving expenses for tax purposes. |
| 1 to 2 weeks before the move |
| 18. Dispose of Trash – Schedule bulk trash pickup with your city’s sanitation department. |
| 19. Pack items – Pack and label moving boxes by contents and the room they will go in the new home. |
| 20. Perishables/Freezer – Use up food supplies and empty the freezer. |
| 21. Allocation of tasks – Assign tasks and organize child and pet care. |
| 22. Key check – Make sure all keys for the old and new home are accounted for, including those for the basement, attic, garage, and mailbox. |
| 23. Stairway inspection – Inspect and photograph the stairwells in both homes for pre-existing damage in order to determine any potential moving damage. |
| 24. Standing orders for rent payments – Update the standing order for rent and utilities from the old home to the new home. |
| 25. Nameplates – Remove nameplates from the door, doorbell and mailbox in the old home and install them in the new home. |
| 26. Refreshments – Buy refreshments for moving day and remember to provide for the moving helpers. |
| 27. Valuables – Temporarily store valuables and important documents with family or friends. |
| 28. Moving day essentials – Keep cash, keys, phone, etc. in a safe place. – Set up furniture before unpacking boxes. |
| After the move |
| 29. Cleaning the old home – Perform a final cleaning of the old apartment and remove any remaining fixtures such as lamps. |
| 30. Handing over the old home – Attend the handover dates for both apartments and record details such as meter readings for electricity, heating and water. – Obtain a certificate of occupancy from your new landlord to take to the registrar’s office. – Notify old and new neighbors of your move. – Notify family and friends of your move. |
| 31. Update your address with the authorities – Within 2 weeks of your move, register with the local registrar and update your ID address. |
| 32. Vehicle registration – Register your vehicle with the new local authority and get a new license plate if necessary. – Apply for a resident parking permit, if possible. |
| 33. Pet registration – Register any pets that require official registration. |
| 34. Update address information – Notify your employer, health insurance company, tax office, employment office, social security office, university/college, bank, online retailers (e.g. Amazon), payment services (e.g. PayPal), broadcaster, automobile club, subscriptions, insurance companies, shopping/bonus cards, mobile phone providers, streaming services (e.g. Netflix), church, and pension fund. |
| 35. Security deposit – Confirm the return of your security deposit for the old home. |
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That’s all the steps you need to take to move into a new home. I hope the checklist was helpful and I would be happy if you visit ChecklistFan.com again.
Your ChecklistFan
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Note: All information is provided to the best of my knowledge, but I assume no liability and make no claim to completeness or accuracy. I have translated the checklist from my German website ChecklistFan.de. Please note that it describes conditions and requirements specific to Germany, which may differ from your local area or country. Adjustments may be necessary to reflect your local conditions or regulations. Some of the resources I used to create the checklist include: moving, Rocket, Westpac, realestate. If you have any suggestions for improving the checklist, you can leave a comment or write to me: reiko@checklistfan.com.
