House Shifting Checklist: A Week-by-Week Moving Plan

Quick answer: Start about four weeks before moving: declutter and book a verified mover first, then handle address changes and utility connections, pack room by room in the last two weeks, keep a "first night" bag and valuables with you, and check every item against your list at delivery before signing.

A smooth move is mostly about planning. This checklist breaks the job into simple weekly tasks. Save or print it and tick items off as you go.

4 weeks before moving

Plan and declutter

• Fix your moving date. Check society or building rules for moving days and times at both homes.
• Walk through every room and decide what to keep, sell, donate or throw away. Every item you remove reduces cost.
• Make a list of large items: furniture, appliances, vehicles, plants.
• Measure large furniture and check that it will fit through doors and lifts at the new home.

Choose a mover

• Shortlist three movers. Check GST registration, office address and recent reviews.
• Get a home or video survey and itemised written quotes.
• Compare scope: packing, loading, transport, unloading, unpacking, dismantling, insurance, truck type.
• Book the mover, pay only a small advance, and get a receipt.

Paperwork

• Give notice to your landlord if you rent, and plan the security deposit refund and final meter reading.
• If moving for a job transfer, ask HR about relocation reimbursement rules and required documents.
• Start a moving folder (physical or digital) for quotes, receipts, the LR and insurance papers.

3 weeks before moving

Address changes

• Bank accounts and credit cards.
• Aadhaar address update.
• Insurance policies (health, vehicle, life).
• Employer records and payroll.
• Mobile operator, especially if you have a postpaid connection.
• Online shopping and food delivery addresses.
• Gas connection transfer or new connection at the new home.
• Vehicle registration, if moving to another state, requires specific procedures; check the transport department's rules.

New home preparation

• Arrange electricity connection or name transfer, water connection and broadband installation.
• Plan deep cleaning, pest control or painting before the furniture arrives.
• If rented, document the new home's condition with dated photos.

Children and pets

• Arrange school transfer certificates and admissions.
• Plan pet transport and vet records.

2 weeks before moving

Start packing what you rarely use

• Pack books, seasonal clothes, decorative items and extra crockery.
• Label every box with room name, a short content list and a number. Write "FRAGILE" and "THIS SIDE UP" where needed.
• Keep a master list of box numbers and contents on your phone.
• Use small boxes for heavy items like books and large boxes for light items like pillows.

Valuables and documents

• Collect important documents: property papers, certificates, passports, bank and insurance documents, medical records. Keep them in one bag that travels with you.
• Jewellery, cash and small valuables should not go in the truck.
• Back up laptops and phones.

Use up and clear out

• Use up frozen food and pantry items.
• Dispose of flammable items safely; movers usually cannot carry gas cylinders, fuel, paint thinners or similar items.

1 week before moving

• Confirm the date, time, truck type and team size with the mover in writing.
• Confirm parking and lift booking at both buildings.
• Pack most rooms, leaving only daily essentials.
• Photograph electronics and their cable connections before unplugging, so setup is easier.
• Service or empty appliances: defrost and dry the refrigerator 24 hours before, drain the washing machine, empty water purifiers.
• Arrange payment for the moving day amount as per the quote, preferably by a traceable method.

The day before

• Pack your first-night bag: clothes for two days, toiletries, medicines, phone chargers, basic tools, a torch, bedsheets, towels, snacks, water and important documents.
• Keep a small box of kitchen essentials for the first morning: kettle, cups, tea or coffee.
• Charge your phone and power bank.
• Keep the mover's quote and your item list handy.

Moving day

At the old home

• Check that the team and truck match your booking.
• Walk the team through the house and point out fragile and valuable items.
• Stay present during packing and loading.
• Count boxes as they are loaded and match them with your list.
• Get the lorry receipt (LR) with vehicle number, driver details, goods list and both addresses before the truck leaves.
• Get the insurance document if you took insurance.
• Do a final check of cupboards, lofts, balconies and the meter cabinet.
• Take final meter readings and photos of the empty house.

At the new home

• Be present when the truck arrives. Direct boxes to the right rooms using the labels.
• Check every box number against your list.
• Open and check fragile items and electronics before signing the delivery receipt.
• Note any damage or missing items in writing on the receipt and take photos immediately.
• Pay the balance only after checking, as agreed in the quote.

The first week after moving

• Unpack essentials first: kitchen, beds, bathroom.
• Set up internet and test appliances.
• Register with the society office and share vehicle details for parking.
• Inform the local police station if your building or city requires tenant verification.
• File insurance claims for any damage within the time limit stated in the policy.
• Collect your security deposit from the old landlord.
• Find local services you will need: electrician, plumber, doctor and pharmacy.
• Review the mover on the platform where you found them; it helps other families.

Packing tips that prevent damage

• Wrap plates individually and pack them standing on their edges, like files, not flat.
• Fill gaps in boxes with paper or cloth so items do not move.
• Remove bulbs and glass shelves from lamps and furniture and pack them separately.
• Pack TVs in their original box if you kept it; otherwise ask for proper TV packing with corner protection.
• Tape screws and small parts in a labelled bag to the furniture they belong to.
• Do not overload boxes; a box should be easy for one person to lift.

Room-by-room packing guide

Kitchen

• Pack rarely used appliances and extra crockery first.
• Wrap each plate and glass separately; pack plates on their edges.
• Seal opened spices and dry foods in zip bags or containers.
• Keep one box of daily essentials for the last day and first morning.
• Do not pack liquids like oil and ghee without sealing them inside an extra plastic layer.

Bedrooms

• Use wardrobe boxes for hanging clothes or pack them in suitcases.
• Vacuum-seal bags save space for quilts and winter clothes.
• Pack each family member's essentials separately.

Living room

• Photograph TV and music system connections before unplugging.
• Wrap sofas in stretch film and corrugated sheets.
• Pack showpieces and frames with bubble wrap, standing upright.

Bathroom

• Throw away nearly empty bottles.
• Seal lids with tape and pack liquids in leak-proof bags.
• Keep toiletries for the first two days in your personal bag.

Puja room

• Many families prefer to pack idols and puja items themselves and carry them personally.
• Wrap idols in soft cloth and then bubble wrap; use a small sturdy box.

Moving with children, elderly family members and pets

• Children: involve them by letting them pack a "favourite things" box they carry themselves. Keep snacks and entertainment for moving day.
• Elderly family members: plan medicines for a full week, keep prescriptions handy, and arrange a comfortable place for them to rest on moving day, perhaps with a relative.
• Pets: keep pets in a quiet room or with a friend during loading so they do not run out. Carry their food, water, bedding and vet records. For intercity moves, check pet transport rules for trains, flights or road travel.

Moving between states: extra things to check

• Vehicle registration: rules for using a vehicle registered in another state change over time; check the transport department's current requirements.
• Gas connection: transfer procedures differ between oil companies; contact your distributor in advance.
• Voter ID and ration card: apply to update your address after moving.
• Utility deposits: claim refunds of security deposits for electricity and water at your old home.
• Professional registrations: update your address with professional bodies, banks and investment platforms.

A simple inventory template

Box no.	Room	Contents	Fragile?	Received?
1	Kitchen	Dinner plates, bowls	Yes	☐
2	Kitchen	Pressure cookers, pans	No	☐
3	Bedroom 1	Winter clothes	No	☐
4	Living	Showpieces, photo frames	Yes	☐

Keep this list on your phone and on paper. Tick each box at delivery before signing the receipt.

Budget planner

Moving costs more than the mover's bill. Plan for:

• Mover's charges and insurance.
• Advance rent and security deposit at the new home, plus brokerage if applicable.
• Painting, cleaning and small repairs.
• New connections: broadband, gas, cable or DTH.
• Curtains, light fittings and small furniture that fit the new home.
• Food and travel during the moving days.

Listing these early helps avoid stress when deposits and bills arrive in the same week.

Choosing the right mover for your checklist

All the planning in this checklist works best with a reliable mover. When shortlisting:

• Check the mover's GST registration on the official GST portal and confirm the name matches the quote.
• Prefer movers with a real office you can visit.
• Ask for an itemised written quote after a survey.
• Insist on a lorry receipt and transit insurance for intercity moves.
• Never pay most of the amount before your goods are loaded.

On PeopleList, movers' listings show which of these checks our team has completed, with dates.

Common moving-day mistakes

• Leaving the house during packing and loading, so you cannot track boxes.
• Packing documents, keys or chargers in boxes that go in the truck.
• Forgetting to defrost the refrigerator, causing water damage.
• Not booking the building lift or parking, which delays loading and adds waiting charges.
• Signing the delivery receipt before checking fragile items.
• Not keeping the driver's phone number and vehicle number.

Settling in: making the new home work

• Change locks or get keys duplicated only from trusted locksmiths, especially in rented homes.
• Check smoke and gas safety, electrical earthing and water tank cleanliness.
• Introduce yourself to neighbours and the society office; they are your best source of local information.
• Save emergency numbers: nearest hospital, police station, building security and electricity complaint line.
• Update your address on delivery apps and with friends and family.

Within a month, most families feel at home if the basics are sorted early. Keep the moving folder for at least a few months in case of insurance claims or reimbursement queries.

Printable summary

When	Key tasks
4 weeks	Declutter, measure, book a verified mover, start the moving folder
3 weeks	Address changes, utilities at the new home, school and pet arrangements
2 weeks	Pack rarely used items, label boxes, secure documents and valuables
1 week	Confirm mover, book lifts and parking, pack most rooms, prepare appliances
Day before	First-night bag, essentials box, charge devices
Moving day	Supervise, count boxes, collect LR and insurance, final check
After	Check items, report damage, settle in, collect deposit, leave a review

Looking for a mover? Compare packers and movers on PeopleList whose GST registration, phone and office have been checked by our team.