Skip to content

Top Navigation

Better Homes & Gardens
Better Homes & Gardens
  • Gardening
  • Home Improvement Ideas
  • Cleaning and Organizing
  • Recipes and Cooking
  • Decorating
  • Holidays
  • Rooms
  • Shopping
  • News

Profile Menu

Join Now

Account

  • Join Now
  • My Profile
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletter
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Help
  • Logout

More

  • Give a Gift Subscription
  • BH&G Books this link opens in a new tab
My Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • My Profile
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletter
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Help
  • Logout

More

  • Give a Gift Subscription
  • BH&G Books this link opens in a new tab
Login
Subscribe
Pin

Explore Better Homes & Gardens

Better Homes & Gardens
Better Homes & Gardens
  • Explore

    Explore

    • The Only Weed Identification Guide You'll Ever Need: 33 Common Weedy Plants to Watch For

      The Only Weed Identification Guide You'll Ever Need: 33 Common Weedy Plants to Watch For

      Don't let these pesky plants crash your garden party! The first step is to know your enemy. Then you'll know the best way to deal with your weed problem. Read More
    • 6 Small Steps You Can Take Today to Get Organized for Good

      6 Small Steps You Can Take Today to Get Organized for Good

      A professional organizer offers advice on how to tidy up your home without feeling overwhelmed. Read More
    • 5 Anti-Inflammatory Ingredients to Add to Your Smoothie for a Healthy Boost

      5 Anti-Inflammatory Ingredients to Add to Your Smoothie for a Healthy Boost

      Anti-inflammatory smoothies do exist! Instead of blending in boatloads of sugar and artificial ingredients, try these smoothies for inflammation that are stoked with ingredients that may help lower your risk for chronic diseases including cancer, heart disease, depression, and more. Read More
  • Gardening

    Gardening

    See All Gardening
    4 DIY Seed-Starting Pots You Can Make With Items You Already Have

    4 DIY Seed-Starting Pots You Can Make With Items You Already Have

    Upcycle old newspapers, junk mail, and other waste paper to make these easy, eco-friendly containers you can use to sprout new plants for your garden.
    • Flowers
    • Houseplants
    • Plant Encyclopedia
    • Garden Pests
    • Trees, Shrubs & Vines
    • Caring for Your Yard
    • Edible Gardening
    • Garden Design
    • Gardening By Region
    • Landscaping
  • Home Improvement Ideas

    Home Improvement Ideas

    See All Home Improvement Ideas
    What Style Is Your House? The 10 Most Popular House Styles Explained

    What Style Is Your House? The 10 Most Popular House Styles Explained

    With so many types of house styles, narrowing the list down to your favorite can be overwhelming. We'll show you the top 10 most popular house styles, including Cape Cod, country French, Colonial, Victorian, Tudor, Craftsman, cottage, Mediterranean, ranch, and contemporary. Here's how to tell the differences between each architectural style.
    • Home Exteriors
    • DIY Home Electrical Tips & Guides
    • Outdoor Structures
    • Home Remodeling
    • Plumbing Installations & Repairs
    • Remodeling Advice & Planning
    • Flooring
    • Lighting
    • Decks
    • Porches
  • Cleaning and Organizing

    Cleaning and Organizing

    See All Cleaning and Organizing
    A Whole-House Cleaning Schedule You'll Actually Stick To

    A Whole-House Cleaning Schedule You'll Actually Stick To

    Cleaning your home doesn't have to be a daunting, time-consuming chore. The key to managing household duties quickly and efficiently is to design an easy-to-follow routine that includes all the most important tasks. Follow these step-by-step instructions for creating a customized whole-home cleaning schedule.
    • House Cleaning
    • Laundry & Linens
    • Cleaning Tips
    • Closet Organization
    • Organization Tips
    • Kitchen Storage Organization
  • Recipes and Cooking

    Recipes and Cooking

    See All Recipes and Cooking
    21 Essential Baking Tools Every Home Cook Needs (Plus 16 That Are Nice to Have)

    21 Essential Baking Tools Every Home Cook Needs (Plus 16 That Are Nice to Have)

    If you're a beginner baker who's just starting out (or a master chef looking to declutter), start with this list of baking tool must-haves. We'll help you set up a baking essentials kit for beginners with 21 pastry tools. For those who already own these handy tools, this list may finally provide the motivation you need to toss that never-been-used soufflé dish. Building your essential baking tools and equipment inventory starts here.
    • How to Cook
    • Chicken Recipes
    • Desserts & Baking
    • Fish Recipes
    • Beef Recipes
    • Healthy Recipes
    • Breakfast and Brunch Recipes
    • Lunch
    • Dinner Recipes & Meal Ideas
    • Ethnic Food
  • Decorating

    Decorating

    See All Decorating
    7 Interior Design Trends Everyone Will Be Trying in 2021, According to Experts

    7 Interior Design Trends Everyone Will Be Trying in 2021, According to Experts

    Designers weigh in on the most popular decorating styles, colors, and materials you can look forward to in the coming year.
    • Choosing Color
    • Expert Decorating Advice
    • Fireplace Design Ideas
    • Do It Yourself Magazine
    • Window Treatments
    • Styles & Decor
    • Interior Painting
    • Home Makeovers
    • Small-Space Decorating
    • Traditional Home
  • Holidays

    Holidays

    See All Holidays
    International Women's Day: The Powerful Story Behind This 111-Year-Old Tradition

    International Women's Day: The Powerful Story Behind This 111-Year-Old Tradition

    What began as a small movement, has grown into a global holiday dedicated to celebrating the strong women in our communities.
    • Valentine's Day
    • Mother's Day
    • Easter
    • Father's Day
    • Fourth of July/Memorial Day
    • Halloween
    • Thanksgiving
    • Christmas
    • New Year's
    • Juneteenth
    • Hanukkah
  • Rooms

    Rooms

    See All Rooms
    Living Room Furniture Arrangement Ideas

    Living Room Furniture Arrangement Ideas

    Get tips for arranging living room furniture in a way that creates a comfortable and welcoming environment and makes the most of your space.
    • Bedroom Decorating and Design Ideas
    • Bathroom Decorating and Design Ideas
    • Kitchen Decorating and Design Ideas
    • Living Room Decorating and Design
    • Dining Room
    • Home Office
    • Kid's Rooms
    • Baby Nursery
  • Shopping
  • News

Profile Menu

Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
Join Now

Account

  • Join Now
  • My Profile
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletter
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Help
  • Logout

More

  • Give a Gift Subscription
  • BH&G Books this link opens in a new tab
My Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • My Profile
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletter
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Help
  • Logout

More

  • Give a Gift Subscription
  • BH&G Books this link opens in a new tab
Login
Sweepstakes

Follow Us

  1. BHG.com
  2. Home Improvement Ideas
  3. Moving
  4. Moving Tips
  5. Countdown: 12 Weeks to Moving Day

Countdown: 12 Weeks to Moving Day

February 19, 2016
Skip gallery slides
Save Pin FB
4559660
You're moving! Yikes! Don't panic: although moving can be an intense and exhausting experience (it's one of the biggest causes of stress), breaking it down into week-by-week tasks can make it much more manageable. Here's what to do when -- to make your move as easy as possible.
Start Slideshow

1 of 11

Save Pin FB
Tweet Email Send Text Message

12 Weeks Before

4559660

Create a file to hold every detail of your move, from estimates and receipts to maps of your new town and lists of hot spots your kids might like.

Check out the Chamber of Commerce for interesting info on your new destination.

Start interviewing movers and asking for face-to-face estimates.

Review your moving budget, and check with the IRS about which moving expenses might be deductible.

If your car or boat has to be moved, start researching special companies that ship automobiles and boats.

1 of 11

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 11

Save Pin FB
Tweet Email Send Text Message

10 Weeks Before

5314980

Make sure your older children know about the move so they have plenty of time to spend with friends and say their goodbyes.

Nail down your mover. Make sure you understand all the ins and outs of the estimate and exactly how you need to pay the mover and when.

Make a list of any legal transactions or paperwork that needs to be done before you move, and which documents you'll want to have with you.

Take inventory of which items can't be moved (propane gas in the grill, toxic substances, perishables) and figure out how to use them up or give them away.

2 of 11

3 of 11

Save Pin FB
Tweet Email Send Text Message

8 Weeks Before

5196299

Draw a floor plan of your new home and take a hard look at your current furnishings and how they might fit into the new space. If some things won't fit, plan a garage sale for a few weeks before you move.

Alert your doctors and other medical professionals that you're moving and will need copies of medical files for every family member. Ask for doc recommendations in your new hometown. Make last doctor appointments.

3 of 11

Advertisement

4 of 11

Save Pin FB
Tweet Email Send Text Message

6 Weeks Before

4558725

Make a last appointment with your veterinarian if you have a pet.

Talk to your insurance agent about transferring coverage to your new home, and ask if your insurance covers household items in transit.

Figure out which items need to move with you, including jewelry and safe deposit contents, and how you'll safely transport them.

4 of 11

5 of 11

Save Pin FB
Tweet Email Send Text Message

5 Weeks Before

5292932

Update your address book and make a list of people to whom you want to send moving announcements.

Make a relocation plan for your plants. Most movers won't take them, so it's up to you to transport them or donate them to a good home.

Start thinking about what you could pack early -- those items that aren't used a lot or only seasonally, such as holiday decorations and out-of-season clothing.

If you're packing some items yourself, start gathering boxes and other necessary supplies.

5 of 11

6 of 11

Save Pin FB
Tweet Email Send Text Message

4 Weeks Before

5314954

Tell younger children about the move, and plan some special time/events with them to ease the transition.

If you have a pet, visit the vet to take care of all shots and paperwork. Make travel arrangements for your pet.

Make arrangements to have school records transferred.

If you belong to discount store clubs or health clubs, ask if your membership can be transferred.

Arrange connection/disconnection dates with utilities in both locations.

Notify all magazine providers of your address change, and fill out a change-of-address card at the post office.

6 of 11

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 11

Save Pin FB
Tweet Email Send Text Message

3 Weeks Before

4520371

Reconfirm any travel arrangements for your family, including airplane tickets, rental cars, lodging, etc.

Reconfirm with your mover that they are not overbooked and will be able to load you on the agreed-upon day.

Call your newspaper carrier with a cancel-by date and sign up for the paper in your new location.

Get a checkup for your car before any long trips. Collect copies of maintenance records, and get your auto registration transferred, if necessary.

Dispose of unmovables -- flammables and poisons -- in an environmentally responsible way.

7 of 11

8 of 11

Save Pin FB
Tweet Email Send Text Message

2 Weeks Before

5287151

Visit your bank to close or transfer accounts. If you have a safe deposit box, notify the bank that you'll be closing it and plan for when you'll pick up your valuables.

Hold a garage sale to get rid of all that stuff you haven't used in years (or never liked).

Pick up medical paperwork and make sure you have necessary prescriptions filled and enough refills to get you through the first few months in a new town.

Make sure your children are on board with the move and that all goodbye/transition activities are scheduled.

Hire a cleaner to do a final-sweep cleaning job once the house is empty.

Create a folder of helpful information for the next resident.

8 of 11

9 of 11

Save Pin FB
Tweet Email Send Text Message

1 Week Before

5350868

Reconfirm all details with your mover.

Send out change-of-address announcements to family and friends.

Close your safe deposit box and pack your valuables with you for safe traveling.

Plan how you're going to handle meals once the movers begin packing your dishes and your fridge is empty.

Back up your computer and make a hard copy or replacement disk of important information.

Pick up all dry cleaning and anything being repaired. Return anything you've borrowed from neighbors or the library.

9 of 11

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

10 of 11

Save Pin FB
Tweet Email Send Text Message

A Few Days Before

5351967

Empty your fridge and all wastebaskets. Clean all appliances.

Make a "survival kit" list so you're sure you have all of the things you need to carry with you (and they don't get packed at the bottom of a box).

Drain any hoses or outdoor pieces that are going with you, such as birdbaths.

Make sure you have enough cash to tip movers and for unexpected expenses.

Make arrangements for your children and pets to be occupied and taken care of on moving day.

10 of 11

11 of 11

Save Pin FB
Tweet Email Send Text Message

Moving Day

7443100

Give family members time to roam the house and yard to say goodbye.

Eat breakfast! You're going to need fuel for this busy day.

Pack everything the movers aren't taking in your car or someplace where it won't be accidentally loaded.

Be vigilant about checking off physical inventory items as they're loaded onto the truck.

Have a smile and a treat -- a beverage and cookies -- available for the moving people. You want them to like you and take extra-good care of your stuff.

11 of 11

Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook

Up Next

    Share the Gallery

    Pinterest Facebook
    Trending Videos
    Advertisement
    Skip slide summaries

    Everything in This Slideshow

    Advertisement

    View All

    1 of 11 12 Weeks Before
    2 of 11 10 Weeks Before
    3 of 11 8 Weeks Before
    4 of 11 6 Weeks Before
    5 of 11 5 Weeks Before
    6 of 11 4 Weeks Before
    7 of 11 3 Weeks Before
    8 of 11 2 Weeks Before
    9 of 11 1 Week Before
    10 of 11 A Few Days Before
    11 of 11 Moving Day

    Share & More

    Tweet Email Send Text Message
    • Better Homes & Gardens BHG Logo Products at Walmart
    • Better Homes & Gardens BHG Real Estate Real Estate Services
    Better Homes & Gardens

    Magazines & More

    Learn More

    • About Us
    • Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
    • Books from Better Homes & Gardens
    • Help
    • Advertise
    • Content Licensing
    • Accolades this link opens in a new tab

    Connect

    Follow Us
    Subscribe to Our Newsletter
    Sign Up
    MeredithBH&G is part of the Meredith Home Group. © Copyright 2022 Meredith Corporation. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policythis link opens in a new tab Terms of Servicethis link opens in a new tab Ad Choicesthis link opens in a new tab California Do Not Sellthis link opens a modal window Web Accessibilitythis link opens in a new tab
    © Copyright Better Homes & Gardens. All rights reserved. Printed from https://www.bhg.com

    Sign in

    View image

    Countdown: 12 Weeks to Moving Day
    this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines.