Moving to a new home is exciting, but without proper planning, it can quickly become overwhelming. The key to a stress-free household shift is starting early and staying organized. This comprehensive checklist walks you through exactly what to do from 30 days before your move right up to moving day itself, so nothing falls through the cracks.
30 Days Before Moving Day
Start your research and planning. Shortlist and compare at least three packers and movers — verify their ISO certification, IBA approval, reviews, and request detailed quotations. Create a complete inventory of every room in your home, noting items that need special handling such as electronics, glassware, and antiques. Begin collecting important documents (lease agreements, school transfer certificates, utility bills) in a single folder. Notify your landlord if you are renting, and start the process for security deposit refund.
21 Days Before Moving Day
Declutter aggressively. Go room by room and separate everything into four categories: keep, donate, sell, and discard. Sell unwanted furniture on OLX or Facebook Marketplace. Donate usable clothes and kitchenware to local charities. Dispose of expired food, broken items, and anything you have not used in over a year. The less you move, the less you pay — and the faster your new home gets organized.
14 Days Before Moving Day
Finalize your movers and lock in the details. Confirm your booking with the chosen packers and movers company. Get the written quotation with full cost breakup. Confirm the pickup date, time window, and payment terms. Begin packing non-essential items yourself — out-of-season clothes, books, decorations, and rarely used kitchen items. Label every box with its contents and the room it belongs to in your new home.
7 Days Before Moving Day
Handle all the administrative tasks. Schedule disconnection of electricity, gas, water, broadband, and DTH services at your current address, and arrange connections at your new one. Update your address with banks, insurance providers, Aadhaar, and vehicle registration. Inform your children's school about the transfer. Pack a separate "essentials box" with toiletries, medications, phone chargers, a change of clothes, snacks, basic tools, and important documents — this box stays with you, not on the truck.
3 Days Before Moving Day
Final preparations. Defrost and clean your refrigerator (it needs at least 24 hours to dry). Disconnect and safely pack electronics — take photos of cable connections so you can reassemble easily. Empty and clean all furniture drawers. Secure loose shelves and glass doors with tape. Confirm the arrival time with your movers one last time and share any special instructions about parking, lift access, or fragile items.
Moving Day
Stay calm and supervise. Be present when the moving crew arrives. Walk them through the house and point out items that need extra care. Check every room, closet, shelf, and balcony before the truck leaves — it is surprisingly easy to forget items in overhead storage, behind doors, or inside built-in wardrobes. Keep your essentials box, valuables, and important documents with you in your personal vehicle. Take meter readings for utilities. Hand over your keys and say goodbye to your old home.
After Arrival at Your New Home
Inspect and unpack systematically. When the movers arrive, check the inventory list against delivered boxes. Note any visible damage immediately and photograph it for insurance claims if needed. Unpack the essentials box first, then the kitchen, then bedrooms. Avoid the temptation to unpack everything at once — take it room by room over a few days. Set up beds and the kitchen first so you can sleep and eat comfortably from day one.
Let InterCity Handle the Heavy Lifting
Planning is easier when your movers are reliable. InterCity Packers and Movers assigns a dedicated relocation coordinator to every booking who guides you through the entire process. With free packing materials, GPS tracking, and transit insurance, we handle the logistics so you can focus on settling in. Book your move today.