14-Day Moving Checklist: How to Prepare for Moving Day

It’s two weeks until moving day, and if you haven’t started to feel a little bit of stress at this point, it’s a miracle. The 14 days before relocation fly by quickly. Therefore, being on top of all tasks for moving day is essential. At this point, reviewing the checklists will be the most critical task. The two-week period is the time to finalize many decisions. It isn’t easy to modify most details closer to the move date. Follow the 14-day moving checklist below to set yourself up in the best position for moving day.

Confirm travel arrangements

Double-check your travel arrangements. Flight times, hotel reservations, rental car pick-ups, whatever you have had to arrange to help you get to your new home, now is the time to confirm dates and times. It’s crucial that the dates of your departure from your current home coincide with those of the moving company.

Continue packing remaining items

Continue maintaining an organized packing system by labeling boxes with the room it belongs in at the new house, your last name, an assigned number, and a quick summary of contents. Pack away things you will not need access to for the next few weeks. You can pack away most clothing, kitchen items, and home decor as you can get by these next few weeks with much less.

Collect valuables into one bag/box

Remember the “Do Not Move Box” discussed in the 30-day Checklist? Continue adding valuables and belongings you want to keep with you during the move. This could be a box or a bin, but I usually recommend a rolling carry-on-size suitcase for easy transport because these things can get heavy. In the past, our valuables box has included jewelry, precious metals, financial information, relevant documents, and the moving binder.

Give children tasks to help out that are age-appropriate

Kiddos who can take direction well appreciate when they are involved in the moving process. They could pack their suitcase for the final trip. Or they can fill boxes for their bedroom. By giving children a piece of control in the move, they can transition more smoothly.

Collect clothing from cleaners

Pick up items that have been dry-cleaned and tailored. It’s easy to forget that you dropped off clothing weeks ago.

Pack suitcases that you will be taking with you on moving day  

I always pack enough clothing and toiletries to cover more than the expected number of days of the move. I typically plan to have two weeks’ worth of outfits for each family member. And I like to use packing cubes to keep things organized. Unforeseen circumstances can delay movers during transportation. Your new home may need more time to be ready for item delivery. You want to ensure you have all items needed to get you through two weeks. Remember pajamas, a bathing suit, a shower towel, and toiletries.

Set up utilities for new home

Many utility companies will allow you to set up start dates a couple of weeks before you move into your home. You can move into an adequately lit home with running water. You want to avoid showing up at your new home and having issues with electricity or heating and cooling.

Create an info page for movers

Record essential details related to the move that you can share with the moving company. This information can confirm addresses, contact phone numbers, emergency contacts, and expected dates. Most of this information will also be on your contract, but a properly organized detailed list may be easy for the moving company to reference. I always send a copy via email to the agent who is managing the move. And I also give a copy to the moving company on moving day. The Move Mama Move Relocation Planners have info sheets for you and the movers to help coordinate moving day details.

This 14-day mark is when the time will fly by. Resist the urge to throw things in boxes in a chaotic way; keep packing up with proper labeling to save yourself the headache later on at your new home.

The above list is an abbreviated version of the Move Mama Move Moving Checklists. If you want full access to Move Mama Move’s 90-day, 60-day, 30-day, 14-day, and 7-day checklists, check out the Relocation Planners. With inventory trackers, tasks to prepare your new home, moving day planning sheets, budget trackers, and more, Move Mama Move Relocation Planners were created to help make your move more simple.

⇒ Next Step: 7-Day Checklist