Moving gets hard when everything lands in the same week. The fix is boring but it works: spread the jobs out. This checklist is the same order of operations our crews see work on hundreds of moves around Omaha. Start at the week you’re in and work forward.
Short on time? Skip to the moving week list or the room-by-room packing checklist.
8 Weeks Before Your Move
- Pick your moving date. Mid-month and midweek dates are easier to book. Summer weekends and the last few days of the month fill up first.
- Get moving quotes. Ask at least two companies for a written estimate. Ask how they charge (by the hour or flat rate), what’s included and whether they charge for stairs. Here’s what movers cost in Omaha if you want a ballpark first.
- Start a moving folder. One spot (paper or your phone’s notes app) for quotes, your lease or closing documents, school records and receipts.
- Walk through every room and declutter. Every box you don’t move is time and money you don’t spend. Sort things into keep, sell, donate and toss.
- Measure the big stuff. Check that your couch, dining table and bed frame will fit through the doors and stairways at the new place.
6 Weeks Before
- Book your movers. Once you’ve picked a company, lock in the date. We recommend booking two to four weeks out at minimum, and earlier in the summer.
- Read your moving agreement. A good mover sends it when you book, not on moving morning. Look at the hourly rate, the crew size and your valuation coverage options.
- Order supplies or decide on packing help. You’ll need more boxes than you think. If you’d rather not pack at all, ask about full or partial packing.
- Start packing the stuff you never use. Off-season clothes, holiday decorations, books, guest room items and the garage shelves.
- Plan for the in-between. If your closing dates don’t line up, line up short-term storage now.
- Request school and medical records if you’re changing schools or doctors.
4 Weeks Before
- Change your address. File a change of address with USPS online. Update your bank, credit cards, insurance, employer, subscriptions and anything that ships to your door.
- Schedule your utilities. Set up a stop date at the old place and a start date at the new one. In Omaha that usually means OPPD for electric and M.U.D. for gas and water. Both let you schedule service online.
- Book internet installation. Install appointments can book out a week or two, and you’ll want Wi-Fi the night you move in.
- Keep packing, one room at a time. Label every box with the room it goes to and a quick list of what’s inside.
- Use up your food. Start cooking down the freezer and pantry so you aren’t moving half-empty jars.
2 Weeks Before
- Confirm your moving day details. Arrival time, crew size and the address for both homes. Ask your mover if they’ll call when they’re on the way. (Ours do.)
- Reserve elevators and parking. Apartments and condos often need an elevator reservation or a certificate of insurance from your mover. Ask your building manager now, not the day before.
- Arrange childcare and pet care for moving day if you can. Moving day is a lot easier when nobody has to watch the front door.
- Take your cars in for any service you’ve been putting off, especially before a long-distance drive.
- Sell or donate what’s left from your declutter piles, or book a junk removal pickup.
Moving Week
- Finish packing everything except daily essentials.
- Defrost and clean the fridge and freezer at least 24 hours before moving day.
- Lighten your dressers. You don’t have to empty them, but full drawers make a dresser heavy and can crack the frame. Lighter is safer.
- Take apart what you can, or ask your movers to handle bed frames and tables. Put screws and hardware in a labeled bag and tape it to the piece.
- Pack your essentials box (see below) and keep it with you, not on the truck.
- Set aside valuables. Jewelry, passports, important documents, medications and laptops ride with you.
- Confirm with your movers one last time and get cash or a card ready for payment and tips.
Your Essentials Box
Pack one box or bag per person for the first night and next morning:
- Phone chargers and laptop
- Medications
- Toiletries, toilet paper and a towel
- A change of clothes and pajamas
- Sheets and pillows
- Snacks, water and paper plates
- Basic tools: box cutter, screwdriver, scissors
- Paperwork: your moving agreement, keys and lease or closing documents
Moving Day
- Do a walkthrough with your crew lead. Point out what’s going, what’s staying and anything fragile or awkward. A good crew will flag tricky pieces before they touch them.
- Keep paths clear. Prop doors, clear the driveway and put down floor protection if you have it.
- Stay reachable. You don’t need to hover, but your movers will have questions. One of our customers napped on her couch for most of her move, and that’s fine too.
- Do a final check of every room, closet, cabinet and the garage before the truck leaves.
- At the new place, point and place. Tell the crew which room each piece goes in. If you want beds set up, say so before the crew starts unloading.
The First Week in Your New Home
- Unpack the kitchen, bathrooms and bedrooms first. Everything else can wait.
- Test your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
- Change the locks or garage codes if you bought a house.
- Find your breaker box and water shutoff.
- Look up your trash and recycling day.
- Register to vote at your new address.
New to Nebraska? Two Deadlines to Know
If you moved to Nebraska from another state, the Nebraska DMV gives new residents 30 days to get a Nebraska driver’s license and 30 days to title and register your vehicles. Registration happens at the county motor vehicle office, and out-of-state vehicles need a sheriff’s inspection first. In Douglas County there’s only one inspection station, so plan for that trip. Check the Nebraska DMV’s new resident page for the current documents list.
Room-by-Room Packing Checklist
Pack the least-used rooms first and the kitchen and bathrooms last.
Kitchen
– Wrap plates and glasses individually and pack plates on their side, like records
– Use small boxes for heavy items like cans and cookbooks
– Tape lids on spices, oils and cleaning products, or leave liquids behind
– Keep one plate, cup and set of utensils per person out until the last day
Living Room
– Wrap TVs in a blanket or the original box, never screen-down
– Take photos of the cords behind your TV before you unplug anything
– Bag cushions and pillows to keep them clean
– Pack books in small boxes so they don’t get too heavy to lift
Bedrooms
– Lighten dressers and tape drawers shut or wrap them in plastic
– Leave clothes on hangers and use wardrobe boxes or trash bags over them
– Bag bedding for the first night separately and label it “open first”
Bathrooms
– Toss old medicines and nearly empty bottles
– Put liquids in a sealed bag inside the box
– Keep a “day one” bathroom bag with toilet paper, soap and towels
Garage and Outdoors
– Drain gas and oil from mowers and power equipment
– Movers can’t take propane tanks, gasoline, paint thinner or other flammables, so plan to use up or dispose of them
– Bundle long-handled tools together with tape
Labeling tips
– Write the room and a short list of contents on two sides of every box, not just the top
– Mark fragile boxes clearly and stack them on top
– Number your boxes so you know if one goes missing
Moving Checklist FAQs
How far ahead should I start planning a move?
Six to eight weeks is comfortable for most households. You can pull off a move in less time, but the earlier you book movers and schedule utilities, the more choices you’ll have.
What should I pack first when moving?
Start with things you won’t need before moving day: off-season clothes, decor, books, guest rooms and storage areas. Leave the kitchen and bathrooms for last.
What shouldn’t go on the moving truck?
Valuables and documents (passports, jewelry, cash, medications, laptops) should ride with you. Flammable and hazardous items like propane, gasoline and paint thinner can’t go on the truck at all.
Do I need to empty my dresser drawers?
You don’t have to, but it helps. Full drawers make a dresser heavy and put stress on the frame, so lighter is safer for your furniture.
How much should I tip my movers?
Tipping is up to you. A common guideline is $20 to $30 per mover for a local move, a bit more for a long or hard day. Cold water and snacks are always appreciated too.
Want the Heavy Lifting Off Your List?
At Easy As Pie Moving Co., our crews call when they’re on the way, walk every room with you and pad and strap every load. Your moving agreement arrives when you book, with every rate spelled out and no stair fees.
Request your free estimate or call us at (402) 200-4661.
