[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/nycgreatmovers.com\/blog\/ultimate-moving-checklist\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/nycgreatmovers.com\/blog\/ultimate-moving-checklist\/","headline":"The Ultimate Moving Checklist to Make Your Move Easier","name":"The Ultimate Moving Checklist to Make Your Move Easier","description":"There\u2019s nothing that can raise blood pressure and stress levels quite like moving. And while you might not […]","datePublished":"2019-03-12","dateModified":"2025-10-27","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/nycgreatmovers.com\/blog\/author\/kevin\/#Person","name":"Great Moving (Kevin)","url":"https:\/\/nycgreatmovers.com\/blog\/author\/kevin\/","identifier":5,"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/b4997c379c86a878ffe0e2cbc54f56f2298ff0763e895fa10c13c22bfb54a237?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/b4997c379c86a878ffe0e2cbc54f56f2298ff0763e895fa10c13c22bfb54a237?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"NYC Great Movers","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/nycgreatmovers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/nycgreatmovers-logo-20250918.png","url":"https:\/\/nycgreatmovers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/nycgreatmovers-logo-20250918.png","width":600,"height":363}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/nycgreatmovers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/The-Ultimate-Moving-Checklist.jpg","url":"https:\/\/nycgreatmovers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/The-Ultimate-Moving-Checklist.jpg","height":1366,"width":2048},"url":"https:\/\/nycgreatmovers.com\/blog\/ultimate-moving-checklist\/","about":["Moving Tips"],"wordCount":3231,"keywords":["apartment movers","Best Movers","book movers","Essential Ultimate Moving Checklist","fragile items","Great Moving","local movers","move in NYC","Movers Blog","movers nyc","Moving Checklist","Moving Guide","Moving Insurance","moving tips nyc","New Apartment","ny movers","ny moving","NYC","NYC apartment","NYC Movers","packing supplies","Storage Service","Top Moving Checklist","Ultimate Moving","Ultimate Moving Checklist"],"articleBody":"There\u2019s nothing that can raise blood pressure and stress levels quite like moving. And while you might not be able to remove all the anxiety, you can certainly dramatically reduce it by planning ahead.For the most part, you probably know when you need to move in NYC, as it correlates with your lease. This means you can start planning at least eight to ten weeks in advance of the actual move date if not sooner. With that said, your timeline might be shortened due to extenuating circumstances (hey, we\u2019ve all been there).Moving in NYC comes with its own set of challenges, but this handy moving checklist should keep you from losing your belongings and your sanity.Eight Weeks BeforeThe earlier you can start your moving plan, the better. There are a lot of tasks you need to get through, and breaking them up into manageable steps makes the process less overwhelming. You can begin preparations as early as ten weeks, but eight weeks is probably the sweet spot. Once you\u2019ve decided not to renew your NYC lease, you should start the process immediately. There are a few things you can do now to prepare for your NYC move:Create a digital folder for moving day and fill it with photos of quotes, receipts, and other documentsRequest time off from work for the day of the move and the day after. If you\u2019re moving during the work week, you might also want to take the day before off. The earlier you submit your request, the more likely you will be to get approved.If you have children, start researching new schools. NYC allows your child to attend any of the public schools, but you might want your child to go to someplace that\u2019s closer to homeInform your landlord\/building manager that you will not be renewing your lease! They should provide you with the appropriate paperwork to opt out of renewal.Six Weeks BeforeNow is the time when you really want to get started with the nitty-gritty aspects of your NYC move. You\u2019ll need to finalize details and lock down your professional NYC movers.Go through your apartment and start purging your belongings. It\u2019s amazing how much stuff you accumulate even after a year of living in a location. Go through every room and start getting rid of items you don\u2019t need.Create a floor plan of your new apartment. If the broker or landlord doesn\u2019t provide you with a layout, then bring your measuring tape and create one yourself. Make sure to also measure your doorway, elevator or stairway to make sure all of your furniture will fit. Armed with measurements, you can plan out exactly what furniture to bring and how you\u2019ll arrange the place, saving you quite a lot of time when it comes to unpacking.Research movers. Yes, you can go the budget way and move yourself, but why deal with the stress of traffic and parking when you can hire a professional NYC mover? There are a variety of movers available in NYC, so do your research and find one that matches your budget and requirements. Some movers will only offer the bare minimum, while others provide a more extensive service where they\u2019ll even put together your furniture. Six Weeks Before Your NYC Move \u2013 Key TasksTaskNotesPurge & packRemove unneeded items and pack non-essentialsFloor plan & measurementsMeasure new apartment and plan furniture layoutResearch & book moversCompare services, confirm date, and purchase insuranceBudget & suppliesPlan costs and collect boxes\/packing materialsNotify peopleInform friends, family, and schools about move Set aside money for the move. You don\u2019t want to be surprised by any sudden costs, so plan out your budget thoroughly. Factor in costs like boxes, supplies (tape, scissors, etc), moving insurance, moving company, travel cost for you, and so on.Talk to friends and family about the move. You\u2019ll want to make sure they know what\u2019s going on and have your new address on hand. This is also a great time to set up a going-away party so you can spend a bit more time with your loved ones. Don\u2019t forget to invite the parents of your child\u2019s friends, especially if you might not see them for a long time.Collect free boxes for your move. Sure, you can buy boxes, but why not save money by recycling used ones? With the prevalence of online shopping, your neighbors, friends, and family likely have plenty of boxes to spare. If you want sturdier boxes, ask restaurants and liquor stores if they have any you can take.Pick your move-in date. Chances are you\u2019re moving in on the 1st of the month, but there might be some cases where you have some flexibility with your move-in date. If that\u2019s the case, try to move on a Friday, as you can then spend the weekend unpacking.Take time off work. Don\u2019t surprise your work with sudden time off. Let them know in advance that you\u2019re planning on taking a day or two off work to move.Book your movers. The further in advance you can do this, the better, especially if you\u2019re moving during peak season from May through September. When you call them, make sure to do the following:Any additional services you\u2019d like, such as assembling furniture, sending packing supplies, extra stops, etc.Carefully read the contractPurchase moving insurance to cover your belongingsGet written confirmation of the moving date and costs, and store this email\/document in a cloud storage system like Dropbox or Google DriveIf you have kids, you\u2019ll want to talk to their school to let them know of their transfer so they can send over the new school their transcripts.Four Weeks BeforeNow starts the hard part \u2013 the actual packing of your items!Throw out or donate all the items that you\u2019re not taking with you. You can do this slowly over the upcoming weeksCreate a proper labeling system for your boxes and stick to it, whether that\u2019s labeling by room or type of contents in the box. Keep track of every item in your boxes with a spreadsheet. It sounds tedious, but it\u2019ll be a godsend once you start unpacking to know exactly what items are in each boxAt the same time, start packing up items. Pack one room at a time, starting with the room that has the least amount of essential items, and then continue from there.Inform the following places of your new address:Your bankDMVYour workCredit card companyPost office (for mail forwarding)Utilities to cancel or transfer them to the new placeFriends and familySeparate your valuables if you have them. Sure, you can take pictures of them and pack them in with the rest of your belongings, but what happens if they get lost or damaged? Moving companies generally have moving insurance, but most only reimburse you for $100 per pound. So that expensive China set? If it breaks, you\u2019ll only get $200 or $300 for it. Take pictures of your valuables and store them elsewhere Four Weeks Before Your NYC Move \u2013 Key TasksTaskNotesPurge & packThrow out\/donate unneeded items and pack one room at a timeLabel & trackCreate labeling system and track box contents for easy unpackingUpdate addressesNotify bank, DMV, work, utilities, and friends\/familyProtect valuables & insuranceTake photos of valuables, purchase\/move renter\u2019s insurance, arrange temporary storage if needed If you don\u2019t have renter\u2019s insurance, purchase it now for your new place. If you already have one, contact your insurance company and inform them of your new address.Find a new doctor, dentist, and vet in your new area. While it might not be a big deal if you\u2019re moving within the same neighborhood, if you\u2019re switching boroughs, you definitely want to find something more local.Book your movers. The further in advance you can do this, the better, especially if you\u2019re moving during peak season from May through September. When you call them, make sure to do the following:Any additional services you\u2019d like, such as assembling furniture, sending packing supplies, extra stops, etc.Carefully read the contractPurchase moving insurance to cover your belongingsGet written confirmation of the moving date and costs, and store this email\/document in a cloud storage system like Dropbox or Google DriveGo through your apartment and make note of any touchups you\u2019ll need to do before you move out. Sure, you can leave your apartment as is, but that also means you can\u2019t expect your full security deposit back.If you have pets, update their ID tags and microchips to your new address.Arrange for temporary storage if you won\u2019t be able to move into your new apartment right away.Stop purchasing new items. The less stuff you have to move, the less time it will take the NYC moving crew. More importantly, it\u2019s also less stuff you have to unpack. If you do have to buy something, buy as small a quantity as possible. Get a roll of paper towels or a quart of milk instead of a gallon.Two Weeks BeforeTwo weeks might seem like a lot of time, but you still have a lot to do! Use this time to fix up your apartment and start packing.Schedule a cleaning and repair day. The more work you put in, the more of your security deposit you\u2019ll get back. It might cost you extra but make sure to:Paint your walls back to their original colorFix any small holes or patches in the wallDeep clean the bathroom and kitchenFix any broken tilesRemove any temporary shelving and walls, and fix up any damage they might have causedReconfirm your moving date with the moversReturn any borrowed items to your friends and family. You know you have that one item that you\u2019ve kept for years. Time to give it back!Back up your computer. Things can and do go wrong during a move, and you don\u2019t want to lose all of your important filesTake pictures of your current electronic setup so that you\u2019ll have a reference to how everything was connected when you unpack at your new placeRemind your friends and family of your new address. Two Weeks Before Your NYC Move \u2013 Key TasksTaskNotesCleaning & repairsPaint walls, fix holes, deep clean kitchen & bathroom, remove temporary shelvingConfirm movers & backupReconfirm moving date, backup computer, take photos of electronics setupPacking prepPack kitchen and fragile items, start packing room & bathroom itemsNotify & arrange careRemind friends\/family of new address, arrange care for pets\/children Try to use up the remaining food items in your apartment and make two weeks’ worth of meals. With all the stress of moving, the last thing you want to worry about is cookingPack up items in your kitchen and wrap up any fragile items in bubble wrap, such as dishes, glassware, etc.Start packing up items in your room and bathroom, minus the essential items you\u2019ll need for the next two weeksFor pets and children, it might be a good idea to find some care for them during the actual move, so try to find a sitter or family member who can watch them for the dayOne Week BeforeYou\u2019re in the home stretch now! Moving day is close at hand, and this is the time to go into overdrive to get everything done. The earlier in the week you can finish all the tasks, the less you have to do. Done some work for one week:Refill any prescriptions you have and transfer them to a pharmacy near your new apartment.Donate any unused food items to your local food pantryResearch your new neighborhood and find the best places for a quick, cheap bite and some cool places to hang outFinish packing everything in your apartment. Make sure to keep a bag with your essentials (toiletries, change of clothes for a couple of days, pillow, towel, etc). Your first night in your new apartment, the last thing you\u2019ll want to do is scramble through boxes looking for your toothbrushConfirm with utilities the installation date of internet, gas, and electricity.Prepare a walkthrough with your landlord. Make sure to take pictures during this time as proof that your apartment is in good condition and there aren\u2019t any problems. Send these pictures immediately to the landlord as evidence, just in case they try to keep your security deposit.Reconfirm care for plans for pet and\/or childcareA Few Days BeforeThe last few days before you make your NYC move can be super hectic. Besides packing the last of your things, there are a few other tasks you should complete before moving day.Donate or throw out the last of your items that you won\u2019t needDo one final clean of your apartment to make sure it\u2019s spotless.Disassemble any furniture for easier moving. Make sure to keep any screws, brackets, etc, in a convenient baggy and either tape it to the underside of the furniture or label it and put it in its own boxPrint out your floor plan and have enough for the movers as well. A Few Days Before Your NYC Move \u2013 Key TasksTaskNotesFinal purge & cleaningDonate\/throw out items and do a last deep clean of your apartmentFurniture & floor plan prepDisassemble furniture, keep hardware organized, print floor plan for moversDispose of hazardsThrow out paint, aerosol cans, matches, alcohol, and other flammable materialsConfirm & finalizeReconfirm movers, get keys, tip movers, and check the weather Throw out any dangerous or flammable materials. This includes things like:PaintAerosol cansMatchesAlcoholTake out some cash to tip your movers. Generally, you\u2019ll want to tip $20-30 per mover.Reconfirm everything with your movers again, including pick-up time, contact number, how many overs will be on hand, the special requests you\u2019ve made, etc.Arrange to get the keys to your new place from the landlord or building management. Most will give the keys to you a few days beforehand, but if they refuse, arrange to have them meet you on moving dayCheck the weather to see what it will be on moving day and make adjustments as necessaryMoving DayThe day has finally come! So long as you have already completed all the steps above, it should be a breeze, especially if you hired trusted NYC movers. With that said, there are a few things you should.Give your keys to your old landlord or building managementCheck boxes off in your inventory as they\u2019re loaded into the moving truckLook through every room to ensure no boxes or other items are left behindGive your keys to your super or landlordPerform a final walk-through of your apartment and make sure:The lights are offWindows are closedFaucets are not runningWhen you arrive at your new place, check off your inventory of boxes and make sure all of them make it into your apartmentInstruct the movers to place the boxes in the appropriate rooms. As well, make sure they also place larger items like couches and mattresses where you have marked them on your floor plan. Moving Day \u2013 Essential Tasks for a Smooth NYC MoveTaskNotesFinal check & keysGive keys to the old landlord, check the inventory, and perform the final apartment walk-throughMove & place itemsEnsure boxes are loaded, instruct movers where to place items, and assemble furniture if paidEssentials & cleanupUnpack essentials, set up bed, quick cleaning if possibleWrap up & settle inIntroduce yourself to neighbors, install curtains, thank the broker if used, and enjoy your new place Double-check to make sure all your items have been loaded out!If you paid for furniture assembly, make sure they put it together in the right room and location.Tip your movers!Take pictures of your new apartment and make a special note of any damage in the apartment. You\u2019ll want to store this away for laterUnpack your essentials and set up your bedIf you have the energy, clean up the apartment. A quick vacuuming and mopping will be enough to get rid of any dirt and dust you tracked in during the movePick up your child and\/or pet and bring them to a new placeIntroduce yourself to the neighbors. You don\u2019t have to do it while you\u2019re moving, but it\u2019s a good idea to say hello shortly after you move inInstall curtains for privacy and to block the sun.If you used a broker, thank them for helping you out!Take a deep breath. You did it! You\u2019ve successfully moved into your new place. The next few days will be filled with a lot of activity, including unpacking, going grocery shopping, and looking at new furniture and decor for your place. However, the actual moving process is over!Hopefully, the above moving checklist can keep you on track and make your next NYC move a breeze. If you really want to make moving day easy, make sure to hire reputable NYC movers like us! FAQ                    \t\t\t\tWhat should I do if I need to make a last-minute move?                \t\t\t\t\t                    \t\t\t\t\t\tLast-minute moves can be tough. The less time you have, the more stressed you\u2019ll be. If you have the budget, you can hire NYC movers to pack everything for you and move your stuff. Many even offer storage solutions so you can keep your belongings with them while you look for a new place. Of course, you might not have the budget for it. If that\u2019s the case, pack as quickly as possible and get rid of everything you really don\u2019t need. That includes things like old books, clothes, shoes, etc. From there, pack up and find a temporary place to live for the time being. Hopefully, you\u2019ll be back on your feet in a few months.                                                         \t\t                    \t\t\t\tWhy do I need to tip movers?                \t\t\t\t\t                    \t\t\t\t\t\tWhile tipping isn\u2019t mandatory, it\u2019s still good etiquette when moving. Of course, if your movers did not provide good service, you do not have to tip. Only give a tip if you feel like the movers did a good job. Don\u2019t let them bully you into providing a larger tip either!                                                         \t\t                    \t\t\t\tWhere can I sell my old stuff?                \t\t\t\t\t                    \t\t\t\t\t\tThere are plenty of places where you can sell your old things. Check out Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist if you don\u2019t mind responding to emails. Otherwise, you can host a \u2018garage\u2019 sale in your apartment to get rid of things quickly. For whatever is left over, donate to Goodwill. Only throw out items if they are in bad shape.                                                         \t\t    {\t\t\"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\",\t\t\"@type\": \"FAQPage\",\t\t\"mainEntity\": [\t\t\t\t{\t\t\t\t\"@type\": \"Question\",\t\t\t\t\"name\": \"What should I do if I need to make a last-minute move?\",\t\t\t\t\"acceptedAnswer\": {\t\t\t\t\t\"@type\": \"Answer\",\t\t\t\t\t\"text\": \"Last-minute moves can be tough. The less time you have, the more stressed you\u2019ll be. If you have the budget, you can hire NYC movers to pack everything for you and move your stuff. Many even offer storage solutions so you can keep your belongings with them while you look for a new place. Of course, you might not have the budget for it. If that\u2019s the case, pack as quickly as possible and get rid of everything you really don\u2019t need. That includes things like old books, clothes, shoes, etc. From there, pack up and find a temporary place to live for the time being. Hopefully, you\u2019ll be back on your feet in a few months.\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t}\t\t\t}\t\t\t,\t\t\t\t{\t\t\t\t\"@type\": \"Question\",\t\t\t\t\"name\": \"Why do I need to tip movers?\",\t\t\t\t\"acceptedAnswer\": {\t\t\t\t\t\"@type\": \"Answer\",\t\t\t\t\t\"text\": \"While tipping isn\u2019t mandatory, it\u2019s still good etiquette when moving. Of course, if your movers did not provide good service, you do not have to tip. Only give a tip if you feel like the movers did a good job. Don\u2019t let them bully you into providing a larger tip either!\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t}\t\t\t}\t\t\t,\t\t\t\t{\t\t\t\t\"@type\": \"Question\",\t\t\t\t\"name\": \"Where can I sell my old stuff?\",\t\t\t\t\"acceptedAnswer\": {\t\t\t\t\t\"@type\": \"Answer\",\t\t\t\t\t\"text\": \"There are plenty of places where you can sell your old things. Check out Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist if you don\u2019t mind responding to emails. 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