6–8 weeks out (right after your offer is accepted)
- Get three moving quotes; peak-season dates disappear fast
- Decide DIY versus full-service and budget accordingly
- Start decluttering room by room — you pay to move everything you keep
- Collect school, medical, and veterinary records if you're changing districts or providers
4 weeks out
- Book the mover or the truck and confirm in writing
- Order boxes and supplies
- Begin packing anything seasonal or rarely used
- Notify your landlord in writing if you're renting — check your required notice period against your closing date, and leave a buffer
2 weeks out
- Schedule utility start dates at the new home for the day of closing: electric, gas, water and sewer, trash, internet
- Schedule shutoff at your current home for the day after you move out
- Confirm homeowners insurance is active as of the closing date — your lender requires this to fund
- Arrange time off work for closing day and moving day
1 week out
- File a USPS change of address
- Pack an essentials box: chargers, medications, toiletries, a change of clothes, basic tools, paper goods, coffee
- Confirm final numbers with your lender and title company
- Verify wire instructions by phone at a number you looked up independently
Closing day and move-in
- Complete the final walkthrough before you sign, not after
- Confirm agreed repairs were made and the home is in the promised condition
- Bring photo ID; sign and fund
- Change the locks the day you take possession — you have no idea how many keys exist
- Locate the water shutoff, the electrical panel, and the HVAC filter before you unpack a single box
Frequently asked questions
When should I schedule the move relative to closing?
Never the same morning. Closings get delayed by hours for ordinary reasons. Give yourself at least a day of cushion if you can.
Do I need to be present at closing?
Requirements vary by state and lender. Many closings are in person; remote and hybrid options exist. Ask early so travel doesn't surprise you.
What if the seller hasn't moved out?
That's a possession issue governed by your contract. Raise it at the walkthrough, before you sign — leverage disappears the moment you fund.
How much should I budget for moving?
A local DIY move can run a few hundred dollars; full-service local moves commonly land in the low thousands, and long-distance moves much higher. Get quotes early.
Run your numbers
Take what you just learned and apply it to your file.