Moving Checklist for Minnesota & Wisconsin

A move goes smoothly when the prep work is done right. The chaos people associate with moving day is almost always the result of things that weren’t handled in the weeks before. This checklist walks you through what to do and when, from the moment you know you’re moving to the morning the crew arrives.

It’s organized by timeframe so you can work through it in order rather than trying to figure out where to start.

Ready to get started? Request a free estimate from Matt’s Moving and get your date locked in first.

• Decide on your moving date. If you’re moving during peak season in Minnesota (Memorial Day through Labor Day), nail this down first. Summer weekends fill up fast, sometimes as early as May.
• Request a free estimate from Matt’s Moving. A moving specialist will come to your home, review your inventory in person, and build a quote based on your actual situation. Getting the estimate done early means your quote is ready when you’re ready to commit, with no pressure to decide on the spot.
• Take inventory of everything you own. Walk every room including the garage, basement, storage areas, and any outbuildings. Note all large and heavy items. This is what your estimate is built from. The more complete it is, the more accurate your final quote will be.
• Decide what’s coming with you. Moving is one of the best times to sort through what you actually want and need. Less volume means less time on the truck, which directly affects the cost of a local hourly move. Make the hard calls now, not on moving day.
• Start researching your new area. Get familiar with utilities, schools, healthcare providers, and any local services you’ll need to set up at the new address.

• Book your movers. Once your estimate is complete and you’re ready to commit, confirm your date with Matt’s Moving. For summer moves especially, waiting is the most common mistake people make.
• Start decluttering room by room. Donate, sell, or discard items you don’t want to move. Matt’s Moving also offers junk removal if you need help hauling things away before the move.
• Source packing supplies if you’re packing yourself. Matt’s Moving sells packing supplies directly, like boxes, tape, bubble wrap, and packing paper. If you’d rather have the crew handle packing, confirm that during your estimate conversation so it’s factored into the quote.
• Notify your landlord or coordinate your closing timeline. Make sure your move-out date is confirmed and you understand what condition the property needs to be in when you leave.
• Start a moving folder. Keep your estimate, lease or purchase documents, school records, and other important paperwork in one place. These documents should travel with you, not in a box on the truck.
• Begin packing non-essential items. Seasonal items, storage areas, and spare rooms can start getting boxed up well before you need to tackle the rest of the house.

• Confirm your booking with Matt’s Moving. Verify the date, time, and scope of work. If anything has changed about your inventory or access conditions since the estimate, communicate that now.
• Continue packing systematically. Work backward from the rooms you use least to the rooms you use every day. Label every box with the destination room and a brief description of contents.
• Arrange elevator reservations if applicable. If you’re in a high-rise or managed building that requires advance booking for moves, start that process now. Matt’s Moving has dedicated experience with high-rise and elevator buildings across the Twin Cities metro.
• Update your address. File a change of address with the US Postal Service and start notifying your bank, employer, insurance providers, doctor’s office, and subscription services.
• Transfer or cancel local services. Schedule disconnection of utilities at your current address and setup at the new one. Internet, gas, electric, and water all need to be coordinated so nothing overlaps and nothing goes dark on the wrong day.
• Arrange care for children and pets on moving day. Making those arrangements a month out is a lot less stressful than the night before.

• Pack everything except daily essentials. Clothes for the week, toiletries, kitchen basics, and medications should stay accessible. Everything else should be boxed, labeled, and ready to load.
• Drain fuel from all gas-powered equipment. Lawn mowers, snow blowers, chain saws, and any other fuel-powered tools need to be completely empty before the crew can load them. This is both a safety requirement and a Minnesota DNR regulation.
• Empty your gun safe. Matt’s Moving moves safes and gun safes regularly, but firearms and ammunition need to be removed by you and transported separately.
• Defrost your refrigerator and freezer. If they’re going on the truck, they need to be empty, clean, and dry before the crew arrives.
• Confirm parking and truck access at both locations. Make sure there’s a clear path for the moving truck at your current address and your new one. Flagging access challenges before moving day keeps the job on schedule.
• Set aside items that won’t go on the truck. Cash, jewelry, medications, important legal documents, and small valuables should travel with you personally.
• Check in with Matt’s Moving. Confirm all details are still accurate. If your inventory has changed significantly, let them know.

• Finish packing everything. The only things left unpacked should be what you need for the next few days and your essentials for moving day.
• Pack an essentials box and keep it with you. This box doesn’t get buried in the truck. It should have phone chargers, a change of clothes, toiletries, medications, snacks, paper towels, trash bags, a box cutter, and anything you’ll need in the first 24 hours. Keep it in your car, not on the truck.
• Clean and document your current home. Know what condition you’re expected to leave it in. For rentals, photograph every room before you leave. It takes ten minutes and matters a great deal if a deposit dispute comes up later.
• Do a final walkthrough of every space. Attic, basement, garage, every closet, every cabinet, outdoor areas. It’s easy to mentally check out of a space you haven’t been using for weeks and leave something behind.
• Confirm the moving day timeline with Matt’s Moving. Know when the crew is arriving and what the plan is for both locations.

• Be present and available. The crew will have questions. Being on-site and reachable makes the whole job run faster and smoother.
• Walk through the home with the crew when they arrive. Point out anything that needs special attention, items that aren’t going on the truck, access challenges, or anything else they should know before loading starts. A quick walkthrough at the start makes sure everyone is on the same page.
• Keep your essentials box and personal valuables with you. Don’t let these end up on the truck.
• Do a final check of every room before the truck leaves. Closets, cabinets, under beds, the back of the garage. Once the truck is gone, whatever was left stays.
• Walk through the new location when unloading is complete. Make sure everything arrived, note anything that needs attention, and confirm the job is complete before the crew leaves.