Moving checklist: what to do in the 30 days around closing

Four weeks out

Get three written moving quotes and book early — end-of-month and summer dates fill first, and last-minute bookings cost more. For interstate moves, check the mover's registration with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.

Start purging now. Movers charge by weight or truck space, so anything you don't want is money. Order supplies, and set aside a folder for closing documents, IDs, and keys that never goes on the truck.

Two weeks out

Schedule utilities to start at the new home on the closing date and to stop at the old one a day or two after your move-out. Electricity, water, gas, internet, and trash all have separate lead times; internet is usually the longest.

Confirm your homeowners insurance policy is effective on the closing date — the lender requires proof before funding. File your change of address with the postal service, then update your bank, insurance, employer, driver's license, and voter registration.

Closing week and after

Do the final walkthrough with the contract in hand: agreed repairs completed, systems working, and the home empty. Take photos.

After you get keys, change the locks, test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, and find the water shutoff and electrical panel. Keep every moving receipt and closing document together — you'll want them for insurance claims and for the basis calculation when you eventually sell.

Budget for the invisible part of moving: deposits, first-month utility setup fees, cleaning, and the two weeks of takeout while the kitchen is in boxes.