1 week before you move

Passports, leases or closing papers, daily medications, chargers, and a small tool kit should travel with you, not in the back of a truck.

Print or save offline copies of anything you might need if internet is shaky on arrival day.

Build your bag using last-minute essentials bag as the template.

Keep a broom, dustpan, all-purpose cleaner, paper towels, and trash bags accessible for the final sweep. If you are renting, match your cleaning effort to what your lease expects.

Take dated photos of empty rooms after cleaning so you have a calm record if questions come up later.

Plan simple meals that do not need much cookware. Stock snacks and drinks for move helpers. Aim for boring, reliable sleep this week even if boxes are loud.

Walk through the day in your head: where keys live, who meets the movers, where pets stay, and what time you need to hand keys back.

Keep the move day checklist on the counter or your phone lock screen notes.

This week, aim to: pack personal bags like overnight luggage, stage cleaning supplies, and rehearse the day’s timeline out loud once.

Keep with people, not the truck: medications, chargers, keys, basic tools, and any papers you might need at signing or handoff.

Nice win: take final photos of empty rooms after cleaning so disputes have less oxygen.

If friends are helping, assign jobs before they arrive: tape stations, box labeling, or kid-wrangling. People feel useful when the ask is specific.

If you hired movers, confirm payment method, tip norms in your area if you plan to tip, and where they should stage items in the new place so you are not re-sorting everything twice.

Check the forecast for loading day. Plastic sheeting, old towels, and a few extra trash bags handle drizzle better than optimism.

If heat is extreme, plan water breaks and shade for anyone working outside. If cold is extreme, keep gloves where you can grab them without opening packed winter gear.

Each evening, spend five minutes updating a simple list: what is packed, what still needs a box, and what must stay open until the last day. That list prevents the midnight “did we pack the router?” spiral.

Batch errands: one trip for tape and markers, another for cash if you need it for tips or parking meters, and one trip for easy groceries that survive without a fridge.

If you are moving with a partner, trade off who owns “morning coffee stuff” so neither person feels solely responsible for the emotional center of the house.

When nerves spike, reread the essentials bag guide and add one item you would miss if the truck were delayed a day.

Packing the coffee maker too early, or burying the vacuum before the final pass.