Moving Out Checklist: A Renter’s Guide

Updated: June 30, 2026 | The Trulia Team

A moving out checklist probably seems excessive. That is, until the truck is three hours away and you realize what you’ve missed. The time between “I should probably start packing” and “the movers are here” goes faster than most people expect. And costly mistakes (a withheld deposit, a missed utility transfer, an account still routing to the old address) often don’t come from carelessness. They come from not having a plan and losing track of all the pieces in motion.

This moving out checklist organizes the things needed to move out by timeline, from the moment you give notice to the weeks after you hand over your keys.

Key takeaways:

• Check your lease for the required notice period. Most leases require 30 to 60 days of written notice.
• Book movers or a rental truck several weeks out – good options fill fast around the first and last of the month. 
• Some states give renters the right to request a pre-move-out inspection. It’s a chance to fix issues before being charged for them.
• Record a video walkthrough of your apartment before you leave as evidence of the state of the apartment.
• There are many different things to think about when you move. It is helpful to start early so that you are not in a rush on moving day.

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10 Weeks Before Moving Day

1. Review your lease and give written notice.

Before anything goes on a calendar, read your lease and find the required notice period. Most leases ask for 30 to 60 days of written notice, and giving too little can trigger a penalty or an unexpected extra month of rent. Send your notice by email and keep a copy, or hand-deliver a signed letter and ask for written acknowledgment. 

2. Build a moving budget that includes the hidden costs.

Moving costs add up fast. In addition to the truck and the movers, you may need to pay for packing supplies and pay tips to the movers. If you have an overlap in your tenancy (where you are renting your new place at the same time or soon after your current place), you may have to pay a new deposit while still not receiving your current deposit back. 

Professional cleaning is another expense many people don’t factor in until they’re told that the place needs to be cleaned upon move-out. Get a cleaning estimate before your move-out inspection so you have a reference point if the landlord’s cleaning charge seems inflated. 

Building a rough budget when you first decide to move prevents the kind of surprise that’s hard to absorb in the middle of a move.

3. Start your declutter pass.

Going through your belongings early and deciding whether you want to keep each item gives you enough time to sell or donate things you find that you are not using. The less things you move, the cheaper (and probably easier) your moving day will be. Furniture, appliances, and electronics can go through local resale groups and offset some of your moving costs. Make four piles: keep, donate, sell, trash. 

4. Research and vet your moving options.

Your first choice is whether to hire a professional mover or to do it all yourself. If you decide to do it yourself, you will need to figure out how you will pack your belongings and how you will transport them. You could ask friends to help you pack, and find a rental truck to move your boxes. 

If you decide to hire a professional mover, you will then need to decide whether you want to hire them to pack your boxes as well as load them onto the truck and transport them or whether you want to pack them yourself. The more you ask the mover to do, the higher the cost will be. You can always agree with your mover so that you pack a portion of your boxes and the mover packs the rest. 

If you are using a professional moving company, when collecting quotes, ask each company whether the estimate is binding or non-binding. A non-binding estimate is not a price guarantee, which means your final bill can be increased after your belongings are already on the truck. If the estimate is non-binding, it is important to try to understand what the additional costs could look like and set aside some extra budget for the moving day. 

If you’re moving across state lines and considering a professional moving company, you can look up their DOT number on the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s ProtectYourMove.gov website before signing with them. Every licensed interstate mover is registered there. 

5. Ask your landlord about a pre-move-out inspection.

Some places, like California, give renters the option to request a pre-move-out inspection scheduled near the end of your tenancy. During the pre-move-out inspection, the landlord walks through the unit and gives you a written list of anything they plan to deduct from your deposit. So, you get the chance to fix those items yourself before being billed for them. 

It can feel a little awkward to walk your own apartment with your landlord pointing out every scuff, but it’s considerably less awkward than receiving a deduction list after you’ve already left. 

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6 Weeks Before Moving Day

6. Book your movers or rental truck.

Good movers and rental trucks fill up fast, especially around the first and last of the month when most leases turn over. Weekends go even faster. Once you’ve settled on a company or truck, get the contract in writing, read the fine print, and keep a copy accessible on moving day. It is important to understand what happens if items are lost or damaged during the move. 

If a moving broker is involved, know that brokers don’t own trucks and instead the carrier will be the company that turns up at your door for the move. The broken often doesn’t take responsibility if something goes wrong with the carrier they assign. 

7. Collect packing supplies.

Boxes don’t have to cost much. You can buy them in bulk or ask people for them. Often, people who have recently moved are looking to give boxes away for free. Otherwise, grocery stores and liquor stores usually have sturdy ones that they may be happy to give away before they break them down for recycling. In any case, it is helpful to collect more than you think you’ll need. 

Beyond boxes, it is also helpful to get packing tape, padding for fragile items, and markers to write up what is in each box. You may also want to get a few wardrobe boxes to easily pack clothes on hangers.

8. Create a packing plan and labeling system.

Packing without a system tends to produce chaos at the other end. A good method is to start with things you use least (seasonal gear, books, storage items) and work toward daily essentials last. This allows you to pack your home over several weeks, while also keeping access to the things you need. 

It is helpful to create your labeling system before the first box is taped up. Label boxes on the side rather than the top so you can read them when they’re stacked. Using color-coded tape for different rooms is an easy way to organize without writing a description on every box.

9. Start your change-of-address list.

The list of places you’ll need to notify about your change of address can be long. It typically includes your bank and credit cards, loan providers, insurance companies (renters, auto, health, life), your employer for payroll, subscriptions, and government agencies. Starting the list now and adding to it over several weeks is much easier than trying to recall every account in one sitting, and takes the stress off the move-out day.

10. Set up USPS mail forwarding.

The U.S. Postal Service lets you schedule mail forwarding online. Standard mail forwarding lasts up to 12 months and can be extended and can be extended for a further 18 months. Mail forwarding buys time to update each individual sender, but it’s not permanent and it does not replace actually updating your address with each account directly.

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4 Weeks Before Moving Day

11. Schedule utility transfers and cancellations.

Contact your electric, gas, internet, and any other providers and give them your end date at the current address and your start date at the new one. Some utilities need a few weeks’ notice to process a transfer. If you’re moving within the same provider’s service area, a transfer is usually simpler and faster than a cancellation and new setup.

12. Arrange care for pets and young children on moving day.

Moving day involves open doors, heavy furniture, and movers walking in and out of your home for hours. Having a dog boarded or kids with a family member can make the day meaningfully easier. 

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2 Weeks Before Moving Day

13. Handle small repairs before your move-out inspection.

Things like nail holes from pictures, scuffs on walls, and a broken door stopper are quick and inexpensive to fix yourself. A tube of spackling compound and a small brush can handle most wall patches. Paint touch-ups are trickier because new paint rarely matches aged paint exactly, but a careful small-area patch can still be better than leaving a visible mark.

14. Confirm your moving day logistics.

Reach out to your mover or rental truck company to confirm the reservation, time, and address. If you’re moving into or out of a building with an elevator, check whether you need to reserve it in advance. Look into parking permits or restrictions near both locations. A moving truck that can’t park near the building can throw off the entire day.

15. Deep clean as you empty each room.

If you are packing boxes yourself, cleaning room by room as you pack is far more manageable than tackling an entire apartment the day you hand over your keys. Once a room is empty, you can wipe down the walls, baseboards, cabinets, and shelves. 

16. Designate a point person for each unit.

You can’t be in two places at once. If things are happening at both locations simultaneously, put someone you trust in charge at whichever place you’re not at. A friend with a copy of your box inventory can field questions without anyone needing to track you down.

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A Few Days Before Moving Day

16. Pack your essentials bag and valuables.

Pack the bags that stay with you, not on the truck. It should include anything you’ll need while the rest of your belongings are in transit, like a phone charger, toiletries, and some clothes. You can also pack valuables yourself, including important documents, and keep them with you. Moving trucks get delayed and boxes can get lost (it happens). 

17. Review your mover’s contract one more time.

Check the arrival window and the payment conditions. If you’ve acquired or gotten rid of significant items since the estimate was written, let the company know. 

18. Protect the floors at both locations.

Plastic drop cloths cost a few dollars and can prevent damage deductions at the old unit and floor damage at the new one. Movers typically bring these types of materials with them, and you can always ask them to confirm. If they don’t or if you are moving yourself, consider buying some and setting it up yourself.

19. Set time checkpoints for the day.

Moving days that run into the night are almost always ones where nobody knew they were behind until 4 p.m. Decide in advance what “on schedule” looks like at noon and 3 p.m. That gives everyone something to measure against before things start slipping.

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Moving Day

20. Start early, eat well, and plan for food.

Moving is a full day of physical work. A real breakfast makes a difference, and so does having snacks and water on hand throughout. If you’re feeding helpers, figure out lunch before the day starts rather than trying to coordinate it while the truck is half-loaded.

21. Photograph the utility meters before leaving.

Before you walk out the door for the last time, find the gas and electric meters and take a photo of each with your phone. The timestamp protects you if a bill arrives later with dates or amounts that don’t line up with when you left. It takes under a minute.

22. Do a final room-by-room walkthrough.

Go room by room one last time before leaving to check if you have accidentally left anything behind. Check every closet, every cabinet above and below the sink, behind appliances, and inside the oven. Open every interior door and look behind it. 

You can also record a video walkthrough of the apartment to be a source of truth for any discussions with your landlord about returning deposits. A single continuous video with a visible timestamp is hard to dispute. Email the video to yourself so the send timestamp is preserved.

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After Moving Day

23. Know your deposit return deadline and put it on your calendar.

Security deposit return timelines range from 14 days to 60 days, depending on where you live. Landlords are often required to provide an itemized list of any deductions within that window too. It is helpful to look up the deadline in your local area before you move so you have a clear date to expect your deposit to be returned. 

24. Clean and paint before unpacking.

Your new home will never be as easy to clean as it is before boxes are unpacked and your belongings again fill every room. Wiping surfaces, scrubbing the bathroom, and mopping floors can take a fraction of the time.

25. Find out the trash and recycling pickup days your first week.

Moving generates a surprising amount of cardboard. Knowing the schedule before you’re surrounded by broken-down boxes saves you from stacking them on the curb for days trying to figure it out.

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Frequently Asked Questions