Moving Day Prep: What to Do the Week Before

The week before your move is the window where plans either hold together or fall apart. Four things matter most: confirm every detail with your moving company in writing, pack a box of essentials you will need on day one, contact utilities so service is live at the new address before you arrive, and submit your USPS change of address so mail follows you. Handle those four and moving day becomes execution, not improvisation.

Use this table as your daily anchor. Each task is small on its own — the goal is to spread the load so nothing lands on you the morning of the move.

Call or email your mover and get confirmation of the scheduled date and time window, the full pickup address and delivery address, the contact number for the crew or dispatcher on the day, and the agreed payment method. If you reserved a truck and are self-moving, confirm the vehicle size, pickup location, and whether blankets or dollies are included.

Check whether your building requires a certificate of insurance from the moving company. Many high-rise apartment buildings and condo associations do, and obtaining that paperwork can take a business day or two. Request it now if you have not already.

If you are comparing options or still researching what a move should cost, the MovingRated cost calculator gives you a ballpark before you commit to anything.

The essentials box goes on the truck last and comes off first. More practically: pack it so you could function for 24-48 hours if everything else were inaccessible. A working list includes:

• Phone chargers and a portable battery
• A change of clothes per person (two if you have young children)
• Toiletries: toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, deodorant, any daily medications
• A few dishes, a pot, cutlery, and dish soap if you plan to cook before the kitchen is unpacked
• Snacks and drinks for moving day
• Important documents: ID, lease or closing paperwork, insurance cards
• Scissors or a box cutter for unpacking
• Toilet paper, paper towels, and garbage bags for both properties

Keep this box physically separate from everything else and label it clearly. On a hectic moving day, not having to dig through forty boxes for a phone charger is a material improvement in your quality of life.

Utility providers generally ask for at least two to three weeks' notice to schedule disconnection and reconnection, and some services requiring a technician visit — internet and cable being the most common — may need a month's lead time during peak moving season (May through September). The practical target: contact all providers by day seven of the countdown above.

Schedule disconnection at the old address for the day after your move-out date, not the day of. Schedule connection at the new address for the day before your move-in date. That one-day overlap on each end protects you if the move runs long or a technician appointment shifts.

For a full walkthrough of the process, see the MovingRated guide on how to set up utilities at a new home.

**USPS change of address:** File at usps.com rather than by paper form — online requests process faster, with forwarding typically beginning within seven to ten business days. USPS recommends submitting at least two weeks before your move date. Filing earlier is fine; requests can be submitted up to 90 days in advance. Filing later means a gap where some mail reaches the old address before forwarding catches up.

Note that USPS forwarding is a bridge, not a permanent solution. Update your address directly with your bank, employer, the IRS, your state DMV, and any subscription or billing accounts. USPS does not forward certain government correspondence, and mail-class restrictions mean not everything gets forwarded automatically. The full process is covered in the MovingRated guide to changing your address after moving.

A few physical preparations make the actual move faster and reduce the risk of damage.

**Protect the floors.** Lay down cardboard, old rugs, or purchased floor protection on hardwood and tile paths the movers will travel. Furniture feet dragged on hardwood can cause damage that costs more to repair than the protection would have cost.

**Clear the path.** Walk the route from each room to the exit and remove anything that could cause a trip: rugs, cords, small furniture, shoes. Do the same at the new address if you have access.

**Reserve parking.** If you are in a city or dense neighborhood, contact your local municipality or building management about reserving the curb in front of both locations. Many cities allow temporary parking reservations for moving trucks with a few days' notice. An illegally parked truck that gets ticketed or towed is a serious disruption and an avoidable cost.

**Photograph existing damage.** Before the movers load anything, photograph the walls, floors, and any furniture that already had nicks or scratches. If a dispute arises later about damage, you want a timestamped record of the condition things were in before loading.

If your move involves a gap — a lease end date that does not line up with your move-in date, or a new home that is not quite ready — temporary storage can bridge it. It is worth knowing the options before moving day rather than scrambling the morning of. The MovingRated guide to using storage during a move covers unit sizing, cost benchmarks, and what to look for in an agreement.

The rest of the MovingRated newsroom covers the full arc of a move — from picking a company to settling in. If a specific topic is not covered in this guide, it is likely covered there.

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**How far in advance should I confirm details with my moving company?** At minimum, one week out. Confirm the scheduled time, both addresses, the crew contact number, and the payment arrangement. If your building requires a certificate of insurance from the mover, request that at least a week ahead — it can take a business day or two to obtain.

**When should I submit my USPS change of address?** USPS recommends at least two weeks before your move date. Online submissions at usps.com process faster than paper forms and typically begin forwarding mail within seven to ten business days. You can submit up to 90 days in advance.

**How early do I need to contact utility companies?** Two to three weeks is the practical minimum for most utilities. For services requiring a technician — internet, cable, gas in some markets — allow up to four weeks, especially if you are moving during peak season (May through September). Schedule your old address disconnection for the day after you move out and your new address connection for the day before you move in.

**What should go in an essentials box?** Anything you would need if the rest of your boxes were inaccessible for 48 hours: phone charger, toiletries, a change of clothes, medications, important documents, a couple of kitchen items if you plan to cook, and unpacking supplies like scissors and garbage bags.

**Do I need to defrost the refrigerator before the movers arrive?** Yes, if the refrigerator is being moved. Defrost and thoroughly dry the freezer section at least 24 hours before the move. A wet freezer can leak during transit, damage floors, and in some cases void the mover's liability coverage for the appliance.

**What if my move-in date and move-out date do not overlap cleanly?** A gap between your lease end and move-in date is common. Options include negotiating a short-term extension with your current landlord, staying with family or a hotel, or placing your belongings in short-term storage. See the MovingRated storage guide for sizing and cost guidance.