The Moving Checklist That Actually Fits Your Move
A local apartment move is not the same as an interstate family relocation. A senior downsizing move is not the same as a PCS. Tell us what kind of move you are making, how much time you have and what is going on in your household. Then use the right path instead of digging through a generic list.
1. How far are you moving?
This changes the planning path. HHG defines local as a move staying in Georgia and traveling 50 miles or less.
2. What describes your move?
Select everything that applies. These choices reveal extra checklist sections below.
3. How much time do you have?
4. Who is running the move?
Local move · Full planning timeline. Add any special situations above and the matching sections will appear.
Start With the Right Type of Move
Everyone uses the master timeline below. These are the extra things that become more important because of distance.
Same-Day Readiness Matters
Have both properties accessible, know when you get keys, reserve elevators/parking, finish self-packing before the crew arrives, and make quick furniture-placement decisions. Local full-service moves are typically hourly, so readiness affects time.
Inventory & Delivery Planning Matter
HHG uses a written flat-rate quote after reviewing the move. Make the inventory accurate, disclose access issues, separate what travels with you, plan delivery timing and address closing/storage gaps before loading day.
Travel & Carrier Details Matter
Crossing a state line adds travel planning and federal carrier considerations. Verify the mover, personally carry critical records and medications, confirm destination access, and understand the written quote and delivery plan before loading.
Organize the Move Before the Move Organizes You
The Real-World Moving Checklist
Check items off as you go. Your browser remembers checked items on this device. If you selected a shorter timeline above, lower-priority early phases are visually de-emphasized so you can work forward from what matters now.
Make the Big Decisions First
Do not start with boxes. Start with dates, money, mover selection, what is actually going and where it is going.
Lock Down Logistics
This is where the move starts becoming a real schedule instead of an idea.
Turn the Household Into a Move
Reduce surprises now: addresses, utilities, inventory changes, packing progress and things movers should never discover at the door.
Finish the Details People Forget
The goal is to prevent moving morning from becoming decision morning.
Make the House Crew-Ready
If you are self-packing, the moving crew should not arrive to a house that still needs to be packed.
Stop Creating New Work
Now is not the time for another decluttering project. Finish, separate and make access easy.
Build Tomorrow's Command Center
Anything you need during the move should be impossible to accidentally load.
Do These Before the First Piece Leaves
One organized ten-minute conversation can prevent hours of confusion.
Be Available Without Managing Every Hand Truck
Your job is to answer decisions, protect the plan and catch exceptions—not direct every movement.
Walk the Old Property Like You Will Never Return
Because sometimes you won't.
Prepare the Destination Before Unloading
A five-minute destination walkthrough saves a lot of “Where does this go?”
Do Not Wait Until Tomorrow to Notice This Stuff
This is your last easy chance to have the crew correct placement or identify a missing item while everyone is together.
Make the House Livable, Not Finished
Beds, medicine, food, bathroom, safety. Decorating can wait.
Finish the Transition
Unpack by function and close the administrative loose ends.
Your Move Has Its Own Problems. Plan for Them.
Select situations in the checklist builder to highlight the paths that apply to you. “Show all paths” is available for anyone who wants the full resource.
Apartment / Condo Path
Building rules can derail an otherwise simple move.
Moving Between Closings Path
A closing time is not the same thing as guaranteed possession. Build a Plan B before a loaded truck is waiting.
Temporary Storage Path
The biggest rule: physically separate what goes to storage from what goes home.
Senior / Downsizing Path
Start with the destination, not the old house. What will safely and comfortably fit in the new setting?
Military / PCS Path
Separate the official military process from the physical moving service.
College / Student Path
Small moves still get complicated when dorm rules, parents, roommates and semester dates collide.
Moving With Children Path
Moving With Pets Path
Moving Alone Path
Large Household Path
First-Time Mover Path
Self-Packing Path
HHG Packing Some or All of the Home
Rental Truck / POD / Container Path
This is a labor-only move. You control the transportation equipment and its schedule.
Splitting One Household Into Two Path
Divorce, separation, roommates or family division creates a labeling problem before it creates a moving problem.
Coordinating for Someone Else Path
Common for adult children helping parents, executors, spouses and remote family members.
Accessibility / Special Household Needs Path
Dates Aren't Firm Path
Job / Employer Relocation Path
KEEP WITH YOU — Do Not Accidentally Load This
Use judgment for your household, but these are the things most people should keep personally controlled and immediately accessible.
If You Don't Have Eight Weeks, Start Here
Do not try to “catch up” chronologically. Do the decisions that can block the move first.
Moving in 30 Days
Today: mover/quote, date, inventory, housing access, packing plan, storage possibility. This week: utilities, records, supplies, declutter and start packing. Then follow the master checklist from the 4-week section forward.
Moving in 14 Days
Today: confirm mover and access, identify everything moving, reserve elevators/equipment, solve closing/storage issues. Next: pack aggressively, utilities, medicine/records, children/pets, specialty items. Then follow the 2-week section forward.
Moving in 7 Days
Priority mode: mover, keys/access, inventory, packing, non-transportables, medication/documents, children/pets, utilities and first-night items. Stop optional projects. Your goal is a safe, ready household—not a perfect pre-move life.
If HHG Movers Is Handling Your Move
Video Walkthrough
Video walkthrough is the standard and preferred estimate method. In-person estimates are available when video isn’t practical or when HHG Movers determines an on-site review makes sense.
Tell Us When the Move Changes
The written quote is based on the move reviewed. Added furniture, extra stops, different access, packing changes or destination changes should be communicated before moving day.
Local Moves
Most HHG Movers local moving services are typically priced hourly with a 2-hour minimum: $224/hr for 3 movers or $295/hr for 4 movers with the HHG truck.
Georgia 50+ / Interstate
HHG provides a written flat-rate quote after reviewing the inventory and move requirements. We do not determine the final bill from a shipment scale ticket.
Questions That Change How You Should Prepare
When should I start preparing for a move?
Eight weeks gives you room to declutter, compare movers, collect records and pack gradually, but many moves happen faster. If you have less time, prioritize mover/date/access, inventory, packing, utilities, documents/medications and moving-day logistics first.
What is different about a local moving checklist?
Local moves usually have less travel planning, but same-day access and readiness matter more. Confirm keys, parking, elevators and destination access, and finish self-packing before an hourly crew arrives.
What changes for a Georgia move over 50 miles?
Inventory accuracy, travel/delivery timing, items traveling personally and housing gaps become more important. HHG Movers uses a written flat-rate quote for Georgia moves over 50 miles after reviewing the move.
What should I do differently for an interstate move?
Plan personal travel, important records/medications, destination access and delivery timing more carefully. Verify that the company you hire has appropriate interstate authority and understand whether you are dealing with a carrier or broker.
What should I pack last?
Daily clothing, toiletries, medicine, chargers, basic kitchen needs, pet/child necessities and first-night items. Critical documents and valuables generally belong with you rather than in the shipment.
What rooms should I pack first?
Start with least-used spaces: storage rooms, attic, seasonal items, books, decor, guest spaces and portions of the garage. Pack the kitchen and daily-use bedrooms later.
Should boxes be labeled with contents or rooms?
Destination room is the most useful primary label for unloading. Add general contents and fragile/priority information where it helps. For split households or storage, add the destination category too.
What should I do before the movers leave my old home?
Check every room, closet, cabinet, drawer, appliance, attic, garage, shed/shop, yard and storage area. Do a deliberate final walkthrough instead of assuming an empty-looking house is empty.
What should I check before movers leave the new home?
Walk every room, verify major furniture placement and agreed reassembly, look for obvious missing items, check the truck/container as appropriate, address visible concerns and complete final paperwork/payment.
Should I keep valuables with me?
Keep critical documents, medications, wallet/cash, jewelry, small irreplaceable valuables, keys, phones and other essentials personally controlled whenever practical.
What if my closing date changes?
Tell your mover immediately. Do not assume a closing appointment guarantees possession at a particular hour. Depending on the move, rescheduling, temporary holding or storage may need to be discussed.
What if I am moving a parent into assisted living or memory care?
Start with destination dimensions and what the community provides. Reduce belongings to what safely fits, personally manage medicine/documents, coordinate facility access and prioritize familiar comfort items in the new room.
How should I prepare pets for moving day?
Keep pets secured away from open doors and active moving paths. Personally carry food, water, medication, leash/carrier and immediate necessities, and establish a secure area at the destination before unloading.
How should I prepare for a POD or rental-truck move?
Confirm equipment size, placement, parking, delivery timing, transportation responsibility, needed cargo protection and destination unload timing. HHG's labor-only service supplies moving labor but the customer controls the vehicle/container and transportation.
Do I need to disconnect appliances?
Customers should handle required utility/water-line disconnections for appliances such as washers or refrigerators where applicable, or arrange qualified help. Tell HHG in advance about appliances and any unusual preparation requirements.
When should I tell the mover about a safe, piano or other heavy item?
During the estimate—not moving morning. Specialty items can change crew, equipment, access and safety requirements. HHG has specific limits for safes, pianos, hoisting and other specialty work.
How early should I book HHG Movers?
Two to three weeks is generally a comfortable planning window. Earlier planning is helpful for end-of-month, summer, holidays and other busy periods.
Does HHG Movers work weekends?
Monday through Friday is the standard schedule. Weekend work may be accepted at a premium if HHG chooses to take the date and is quoted individually.
A Good Move Starts Before the Truck Arrives.
Use this checklist whether you hire HHG Movers or somebody else. If you want HHG to handle the move, show us the actual inventory and circumstances so we can build the right moving plan.