The Only Apartment Moving Checklist You’ll Ever Need

No matter how many times you’ve moved in or out of an apartment, it can still feel like a lot of steps to manage — usually on a tight schedule, no less. Ever wish you had a handy apartment moving checklist that just spelled everything out? You know, all the who, what, where, and when of what to do when moving apartments. Well, we sure did. That’s why we created this eight-week apartment moving checklist full of tips and timelines to make sure you stay on track. 

Q: Wondering how to do an apartment checklist that’s personalized for you?  A: Create a personalized apartment moving checklist by prioritizing and mapping out what you specifically need to get done in the weeks up to your move. Organizing it by week creates a good timeline, but be sure to give yourself enough wiggle room in case there are any setbacks. Start with this handy moving checklist from PODS.

If you think eight weeks out seems a bit early to get started, think again. Not only are more apartment managers requiring two months’ notice, but you’d be surprised at how fast the time flies. Any moving pro knows it’s better to be left twiddling your thumbs than scrambling at the last minute. 

Don’t know where or when to start? No problem! This apartment moving checklist is perfect to use as your go-to resource during your next move. We’ll cover every step, from giving notice at your current apartment to the first things to unpack in your new place. 

The clock is ticking ... let’s get started!

Stay organized with a binder for all your important moving documents — including, of course, your moving-apartments checklist.
(Source: @missclewis via Instagram)

8 Weeks Out: Give Notice and Get Organized

Okay, first things first: You’re going to want to give notice and do a little behind-the-scenes research to make sure you know everything you’re going to need to take care of for your move.

Give Notice

Even if you’re not required to give a full eight weeks’ notice, you should do it if you can. Giving as much notice as possible only helps get you in the good graces of your landlord, which is never a bad thing — especially when it comes to references. Oh, and make it official: Give your notice in writing.

Create Your Moving Folder

Take a copy of your notice letter and slip it into a newly created folder, notebook, or file that will be dedicated to your moving apartment checklist from now on. This is where you’ll put all important paperwork, notes, reminders, invoices, etc. — anything to do with your move — in a safe, easily accessible place.

Find Out Basic Details for Your Move   

The day you give your notice is also a great time to ask about what the latest rules and requirements are for moving out of your apartment. Moving to or from a high-rise apartment? Then this step is especially important. Required to schedule your move with your building? Need any special permits from the management or city for parking a moving truck or container? Even if you’re using full-service movers, you need to double-check on this. This paperwork can take time, so find out what you’ll need now so you can start planning ahead. If you’re moving in a busy urban area, see our big-city moving tips to cut down on stress.

Create Your Moving Budget

This may be one of the most important items on your apartment moving checklist: Figuring out how much you can spend on your move. Include a range, from your ideal amount up to the ceiling of what you can afford. This range will guide your choices and options throughout the rest of your move. Knowing what you can and can’t afford helps you not only to prioritize but also keeps you from wasting time contemplating options that, alas, are not an option. 

Q: What to do before moving out of your apartment? A: Follow our moving checklist apartment guide, of course! Our step-by-step guide helps you plan and prepare so that when moving day arrives, you’re all set for a low-stress experience (whether you’re moving all by yourself or hiring professionals). From eight weeks out to the day of your move, these details will help you get through it all.

When researching moving companies, we recommend getting three to five quotes to compare.

7 Weeks Out: Start Vetting Moving Companies

Moving companies book up pretty fast, especially during summer months, so that’s why we suggest doing research right out of the gate. Check out local and nationwide moving companies, what services are included, insurance rates, reviews — all of it — and keep a thorough record in your moving checklist apartment binder. Gather at least three quotes (preferably five) and start comparing moving services and costs for DIY rental trucks, moving containers, and full-service movers. It’s also a great time to start casually mentioning that you’ll be moving — to plant a seed in case you need to call on friends and family for moving help.

Pro Tip: An 8-foot PODS container* is the perfect size** for apartment moves and can easily double as a convenient and secure storage option for anyone who needs to give notice but isn’t quite sure where they’ll be headed. You can get a local PODS moving quote online or call 855-706-4758 for a long-distance quote.  *PODS is constantly upgrading its container fleet, and container sizes may vary slightly from one model to another. **Suggested container sizes are for guidance only. Larger items and how efficiently containers are loaded can significantly impact the size and quantity of containers you’ll need.

 

Keep a calendar (either physical or electronic) handy, so you can plan out your moving schedule.
(Source: Anete Lusina via Pexels)

Schedule Your Service

Whether you’re making a local or long-distance move, now’s the time to schedule your moving container delivery, truck rental, or movers on your calendar. If you’re not exactly sure about dates, keep in mind that it’s a lot easier to change dates (or even cancel risk-free) with a moving container service or rental truck company than with full-service movers.

Submit Your Permits and Requests

By the end of the week, you should also make sure to wrap up any necessary paperwork or filings for those pesky little moving details you researched two weeks ago — parking permits, reserving a move date with your building, applying for curbside use with the city, etc.

On a strict budget? Check out our tips for hiring hourly moving help without breaking the bank.

5 Weeks Out: Start Planning Ahead

We know you’ve been diligently prepping for your move, but this week may be the week that it finally hits you that you’re actually moving. Why? Your apartment will start to show telltale signs. Here’s what’s on the agenda this week. 

This is when you should start collecting your moving and packing supplies. Dedicate a spot in your apartment where you’ll keep everything until you start packing. If you’re on a tight budget or eco-conscious (or both!), we’ve got a few tips on how to score free moving boxes. 

Snag a Welcome Packet  

Sometimes apartment buildings will have welcome packets for new residents that help explain how things work, where to find the closest post office or other important services in the neighborhood, and numbers to call to set up utilities, apply for parking permits, or call for repairs. If your new apartment offers one, grab it now so you can get your ducks in a row. 

Start Selling Things You Don’t Want

An easy way to recoup some of your moving costs is to sell the things you don’t want to keep. Host an estate sale, garage sale, or yard sale, or even list individual items online via platforms like Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, Nextdoor, or OfferUp. Just because you don’t want something anymore doesn’t mean someone else won’t pay you money to take it off your hands.

Some apartments require updated vet records before you move in, so be sure to take your pets for a final vet visit before you relocate.

4 Weeks Out: Tackle the Tiny Details

Congratulations! You’re halfway through your apartment moving checklist — and about a month away from your new apartment! It’s time to get down to business. You know all the small stuff that falls through the cracks? Nope, not this time. This is the week you’re going to tackle the tiny stuff, and it’s going to have a big payoff.

Handle Service Requests  

Put in cancellation requests for utilities at your current apartment and request service at your new apartment. Make sure everything’s guaranteed to be up and running by your move-in date.

Change Your Address

Schedule a change of address with the USPSⓇ, and update it on other services like your cell phone or memberships — but hold off on your banks and credit cards (we’ll do that later). 

Get Your Pet to the Vet  

If you’ve got a pet, get it to the vet for any certificates, vaccines, or medication you might need to cover your furry BFF for the next month or two.   

Request Time Off Work 

If you need to request time off work, ask for it now, even if you’re just moving locally. Sometimes moving company and rental rates are cheaper during the week, and it can be worth taking some PTO for your move, both mentally and financially. Add to your apartment moving checklist: R&R.

Sort Out Your Moving and Renters Insurance

If you opt for moving insurance, sign up for that now just to get it out of the way. It’s also a great time to get the ball rolling on your new renters insurance, in case there’s a waiting period.

Go Over Any Contracts

Things are about to get hectic, so make sure you understand all the stipulations in any contracts associated with your move, from your new and old apartments to any moving company or services you’ll be using. If there’s a discrepancy, this will give you a month to work it out before go time. 

Q: What can I pack a month before moving? A: This is one of the top moving questions people have. If you’re creating a checklist for moving into a new apartment, you can include an outline for small things to pack up every week. At this point, we recommend limiting it to only the things you won’t need before the move, including books, collectibles or knick-knacks, and old files you’d like to keep. You can also gather up spare pillows and blankets to wrap these things in. Don’t pack those linens away all at once, though, as you can also use them to pack other items in the coming weeks.

Moving is the ideal time to do a deep decluttering!
(Source: @goodwillmv via Instagram)

3 Weeks Out: Size Up Your Stuff and Schedule Cleaning

Okay, real talk. This week can be one of the most grueling because you’ve got to make some serious decisions about what you’ll be taking with you. Hopefully you already managed to sell some stuff back in week five because now you’re going to have to decide what’s coming with you and where to get rid of the rest.

Decide What To Keep

Sure, you can bring it all. But moving is also a great time to downsize and finally get rid of stuff that is just taking up space, whether it's furniture, kitchen gadgets, or sweaters. Can’t decide whether to toss or take an item? It helps to ask yourself if an item is worth paying to move — again, the more stuff you have, the more it costs to move.

Make a Donation Run

Take the stuff you’re not keeping to your local Goodwill or charity center. Make sure the items are in good condition and working order. And check to make sure the dropoff location is taking donations before you go.

Schedule Cleaners

If you’re using one, schedule a cleaning service to make sure you leave your soon-to-be old apartment cleaned, as per your rental agreement (and we can’t stress this enough: Read every word of your lease and have a lawyer look it over if there’s something you don’t understand in a clause or some of the legalese). If your budget allows, we’d also recommend a clean sweep of your new place to make it move-in ready. Unpacking in an already-clean apartment is akin to jumping into a bed with fresh sheets — it just feels better!

Q: What to pack when moving into a new apartment? A: You’ll want all your belongings, of course, but there are also some apartment-specific things you’ll need that you might not need for a house. For example: Extra non-damaging hooks are great for decorating, plus extra batteries, extension cords, and a box filled with all your Day 1 essentials (think cleaning supplies, bed sheets, shower curtain, cutlery, trash bags, paper towels, etc.). Having extra pillows and blankets on hand is also a great way to make things cozy from the beginning. Your apartment might feel bare, but you’ll be able to get comfortable among all the craziness.

Getting kids involved with the packing may take some extra time, but they’re more likely to be comfortable with the move if they’re allowed to help during the process.
(Source: Cottonbro via Pexels)

2 Weeks Out: Start Packing

You are so close, you can almost taste it! Better get packing, because you always have more stuff than you think! Start with things you don’t use often, like seasonal items, decorations, books, extra linens, etc. Leave things like kitchen items, bathroom stuff, and your current rotation of clothes.

Confirm All the Details

Hey, now is not the time for surprises, so confirm all your movers and double-check any permits or permissions you’ve applied for. 

Eat Your Stash 

Do you really want to pay to move your food? Certainly, you don’t want to waste it. You’re three weeks away from the big day. Solution: Start eating through your stores of food, and try not to buy anything new unless it’s absolutely necessary and will be eaten ASAP. Then, when you’re settled in your new home, what a great opportunity for a fresh start — in your pantry.

Pro Tips: Here are some of our favorite packing and moving hacks to help get the job done!

Moving Week: It’s Go Time!  

Now you’re getting into crunch time. Hopefully, you’re all set on the mundane but necessary and important things on the apartment moving checklist, so you can dedicate this week to packing up, painting, repairing, and cleaning. We always suggest packing one room at a time, if possible, which then gives you the chance to take a break from packing to bring each room up to move-out condition. This is also a superb time to make last-minute donations of items you took a second look at and decided not to keep. 

As you inch closer to your actual moving day, it’s important to tie up your last loose ends. Here’s a good guide to what you should be doing a few days before and then on moving day. 

Q: What are the first things you need when you move into an apartment?  A: Before you start moving into your new apartment, make sure you’ve got lighting — otherwise, you may find yourself unpacking in the dark. You’ll also want to keep your box of kitchen items, like plates and cutlery, at the ready. Even if you order takeout or delivery, you’ll likely need cups or forks to enjoy it.

A Few Days Out…

Change Your Address for Credit Cards and Banks

Remember when we said to hold off on changing your address for your credit cards and bank accounts? Now’s the time! Waiting until just a few days from move-in is smart, because sometimes you need to verify information to make a purchase. Or, if you lose a card, the new one will be sent to the address on file — and you won’t be living there just yet.

Get Cash for Tips

Don’t get stuck without cash to tip your movers or moving helpers! Make sure you withdraw enough cash (or even a little more!) a few days before moving day

Finish Packing

Getting everything packed away a few days ahead of time feels great — plus, it gives you a little more flexibility to handle anything that does end up falling through the cracks. (It’s okay, we won’t tell!)

Do a Walk-Through and Pick Up Keys

If you can, pick up the keys and do a walk-through of your new apartment while there’s nothing in it — and document the condition of everything as a record and reference for when you move again. Take photos, particularly of any damaged floors, blinds, appliances, or walls. Then it’s time to review your apartment moving checklist — and get ready for your move!

Get Confirmations, Again  

Last call for confirmations. Be sure you double-check times, meeting places, permits, handoffs, etc., a few days before your move to avoid any surprises on moving day. You should also confirm (yes, again) that your utilities will be working by moving day.

Plug In Your Fridge

This oft-forgotten item on the apartment moving checklist can cause serious disappointment and waste. If your move is local, you may need to toss a few remaining refrigerated items in a cooler for transport — and then get them into their proper spot as soon as you arrive at the new apartment. A few days ahead of the move, make sure the fridge is plugged in and set to the right temperature, so that it’s nice and chilled by the time you move in.

Q: What to check for when moving into an apartment? A: This is critical — especially if you’ve given the landlord a significant security deposit that you intend to retrieve when you move out. Review your lease and note anything you want to discuss with them. Then inspect the apartment thoroughly: Look for any damages or leaks, make sure all the appliances work, peer into a few nooks and crannies for any pesky pests, and make sure the smoke detectors are in working order. If anything is amiss — even the smallest thing — document it (take photos) and put it in writing for your landlord.

A new apartment is like a blank canvas. Moving day means you finally get to make it all your own!
(Source: Philipp Berndt via Unsplash)

Moving Day

The day has finally arrived. Congratulations! You’re officially moving! Here are a few things you should remember to do...

Get Your Things Out of the Old Place 

This is what you’ve been prepping for within the last two months. Be sure to be on time, keep your moving file handy, and stay on top of your things — whether you’re doing a DIY self-move or going with the pros.

Clean Everything

Do a last-minute sweep of your place and have it cleaned or clean up anything necessary in order to meet your lease standard for turnover. You don’t need to scrub down everything, but try to leave it in a condition that you’d want to receive it in yourself. 

Again, make sure you understand the terms of your lease. Some landlords will actually provide a moving-out checklist for apartments with everything they expect to see once you hand over the keys. If you have one of these on hand, follow it to a T, so you get your security deposit back. 

Do a Final Walk-Through

Once you’ve moved everything out and cleaned, grab your apartment manager and do a walk-through, so you can both document the condition of the apartment before the handover. This will help with any disputes around damages down the road — and hopefully help you get your security deposit back without too much hassle. If there’s damage, estimate the price on the spot, if you can. This is also where you say goodbye and hand over the keys.

Clean Your New Place

If you haven’t already, take a little time to clean your new place before bringing everything in. If the last tenants (and the landlord) did their duty, it should be in pretty good shape, but a quick wipe down of the counters and sweeping of the floors won’t hurt. Remember, sweeping will never be easier than it is in an empty apartment.

Unpack Perishables

Once you’re all moved into your new place, the first thing you should do is immediately unpack any perishable items. Hopefully, you’ve already separated them during the move and they are waiting patiently in the kitchen. If you’ve got a bottle of bubbly, pop it and cheers to a job well done!

PODS Makes Moving to a New Apartment Flexible

Whether you follow this apartment moving checklist to a “T” or just use it as a general guideline, we hope you feel a little more empowered and confident during the moving process. Remember, moving day doesn’t have to be a stress-filled ordeal. You can take your time and make your move flexible with a PODS portable storage container delivered right to your building. Pack and load at your convenience and at your own pace and, when you’re ready, the container will be picked up and transported to your new place. Need a little more time in between moves? No problem! You can keep your container at a secure PODS Storage Center for as long as you need.

Alex Keight is a frequent contributor to the PODS Blog who has moved 20+ times because she loves to experience new places.