DSLD Moving Day Checklist: The Only List You Need

Moving into a new home is super exciting, but it can also be one of the most stressful things you’ll ever do. As a mortgage professional, I’ve seen firsthand how overwhelming the moving process can be. That’s why I’ve put together this comprehensive moving day checklist — the only list for moving you’ll ever need! Whether you’re a first-time buyer or a seasoned homeowner, this moving day checklist will help ensure a smooth and organized move.

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Before Moving Day

This is where careful planning really pays off. A well-structured 30-day moving checklist can be your best friend here.

Before Closing Day

This is the exciting (and sometimes nerve-wracking) period leading up to officially owning your new home. Here’s a simplified rundown.

• Mortgage Approval: Woohoo! You’ve been approved for a mortgage! This means a lender has reviewed your finances and agreed to loan you the money to buy your home. Be sure to review the loan terms carefully and ask your lender any questions you may have.
• Home Appraisal: The lender will order an appraisal to determine the fair market value of the property you’re buying. This helps ensure the home is worth the loan amount.
• Home Inspection: It’s highly recommended you get a professional home inspection to identify any potential issues with the property. This allows you to negotiate repairs with the seller or back out of the deal if major problems are discovered.
• Final Walk-Through: A day or two before closing, do a final walk-through of the property to ensure it’s in the condition you expect and that any agreed-upon repairs have been made.

Closing Day

This is a big day! You’ll sign a mountain of paperwork, finalize your mortgage, and officially become a homeowner.

• What to Bring: Make sure you have a valid government-issued ID (like a driver’s license) and any funds needed to cover closing costs (your lender will provide you with a detailed estimate of these costs in advance).
• Review Documents Carefully: Don’t be afraid to ask questions if anything is unclear. This is a major financial transaction, so it’s important to understand everything you’re signing.
• Get the Keys: Once all the paperwork is signed and funds are transferred, you’ll receive the keys to your new home!

Now, let’s get into the moving prep!

4 Weeks Before

Moving day might seem far off, but now’s the time to lay the groundwork for a smooth transition.

• Purge and Declutter: Take a good, hard look at your belongings. Do you really need 3 waffle irons? Now’s the time to donate, sell, or toss anything you don’t use, need, or love. Reducing the overall volume of your belongings will make packing and unpacking much easier and potentially save you on moving costs.
• Research and Gather Supplies: Start collecting boxes, packing tape, bubble wrap, and markers. You can often find free boxes at grocery stores, liquor stores, or on websites like Craigslist or Freecycle.
• Create a Moving Budget: Moving can get expensive! Start estimating home moving costs early on. Factor in things like packing supplies, truck rental (if you’re DIYing it), professional movers (if you’re hiring help), potential storage fees, and even things like pizza and drinks for moving day. Knowing how much moving costs are upfront will help you avoid any financial surprises.
• Choose a Moving Company (If Applicable): If you’re not planning to move yourself, start researching reputable moving companies. Get quotes from several companies and compare services and prices.

3 Weeks Before

Things are starting to get real! It’s time to make some official moves (pun intended!).

• Change Your Address: File a change of address with the post office to ensure your mail starts arriving at your new home.
• Notify Important Parties: Let your bank, credit card companies, insurance providers, and other important institutions know about your upcoming move.
• Schedule Disconnect/Connect of Utilities: Arrange to have your utilities disconnected at your current home and connected at your new home on the appropriate dates.

2 Weeks Before

Time to roll up your sleeves and get down to business!

• Start Packing: Begin by packing non-essential items, like books, out-of-season clothes, and those decorative items you haven’t touched in years.
• Forward Your Mail: Head over to USPS.com and set up mail forwarding to your new address. This will ensure you don’t miss any important mail during the transition (there’s a small fee for this service).
• Finalize Moving Arrangements: If you’re using a moving company, confirm all the details — dates, times, and any special requests.
• Confirm Bank Details: Double-check that your bank has the correct new address and make any necessary changes to automatic payments and recurring transfers.

1 Week Before

You’re in the home stretch! Just a few more things to take care of:

• Clean Your New Home: Try to clean your new home before you move in to make unpacking and settling in much easier.
• Confirm Meter Readings: On moving day, note your final meter readings at your old property.

Day Before

Almost there! Time to finalize those last-minute details and get ready for the big day.

• Pack Essentials: Prepare a moving day essentials box with toiletries, medications, phone chargers, and snacks. Also, consider an open-first box. This will ensure you have everything you need within easy reach on a busy day.
• Disassemble Furniture: Take apart any large furniture items and clearly label all boxes with the room they belong to in your new home.
• Bag Up Screws and Bolts: To avoid losing those essential small parts, put screws and bolts from disassembled furniture in clearly labeled Ziploc bags. Securely attach the bag to the relevant piece of furniture with masking tape.

On Moving Day

Showtime! Here’s how to keep things running smoothly.

• Keep Valuables with You: Keep important documents, such as your driver’s license, mortgage paperwork, and any other valuable items, with you throughout the day.
• Supervise the Movers: Be present to answer questions and guide the movers on where to place furniture and boxes. Having your floor plan handy can be a lifesaver!
• Move Furniture First: Ask the movers to position large furniture items in your new home first. This will make it easier to walk around the space and unpack boxes.
• Check for Damage: Before the movers leave, carefully check for any damage that may have occurred during the move.
• Take New Meter Readings: Record gas, electric, and water meter readings in your new home.
• Lightbulbs! Ensure working lightbulbs are in all the main rooms of your new home. You don’t want to be fumbling around in the dark after a long day.
• Celebrate! Crack open a cold one or pop some bubbly and take a moment to celebrate the start of this exciting new chapter.

After Moving Day

Congratulations! You made it! But the journey doesn’t quite end here. Here are a few things to take care of as you settle into your new home.

• Update Your Address: Notify banks, credit card companies, insurance providers, and other relevant institutions of your new address.
• Register to Vote: Update your voter registration details with your new address to ensure you can participate in future elections.
• Deal with Old Residents’ Mail: If any mail addressed to the previous occupants arrives, mark it “Not at this address” and return it to the sender.
• Give Away Unwanted Items: Donate any possessions you no longer need to friends, family, or local charities like Goodwill or The Salvation Army.
• Explore Your New Neighborhood: Take some time to get to know your surroundings and discover local amenities.

Who to Notify When Moving House

Keep a handy list of key contacts to make updating your details a breeze:

• Financial Services: Bank, credit union, credit card companies, loan providers, car financing, investment accounts.
• Insurance Companies: Home, auto, life, pet, and health insurance providers.
• Utilities and Services: Gas, electricity, water, phone, internet, and cable providers.
• Health: Doctor, dentist, eye doctor, and vet.
• Government Agencies: Update your address with the DMV to ensure your driver’s license is current. You may also need to update your vehicle registration.

Moving doesn’t have to be a daunting experience. With careful planning and this day-of-moving checklist, you can minimize stress and enjoy the excitement of starting fresh in your new home. 

If you haven’t started the mortgage process yet, get in touch with the team at DSLD Mortgage. We can walk you through the entire homebuying process so you have the smoothest experience possible.

How much will your mortgage be? You can use DSLD Mortgage’s Mortgage Calculator to estimate your monthly mortgage payment. 

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Article Sources

1. Just Move In. “How to Find a Moving Company: Your Stress-Free Guide” 11 November 2022
2. USA.gov. “How to Change Your Address.” 15 December 2023
3. USPS. “Official USPS® Change-of-Address” Accessed 8 October 2024
4. Organized-ish. “Prepping An Open-First Box For Moving.” 28 May 2020
5. Unpack. “How to Change Voter Registration When You’re Moving Out of State.” 6 May 2024.