Moving Logistics

The physical move — packing, hiring movers, coordinating logistics — is where planning meets reality. This lesson builds your moving timeline, helps you compare movers, and creates a day-by-day countdown so nothing falls through the cracks.

🔄 Quick Recall: In the previous lesson, you found housing — neighborhood analysis, remote apartment hunting, and lease review. Now you’ll plan the physical transition from your current home to your new one.

Your Moving Timeline

Create a moving timeline for my situation:

Move date: [date]
Moving from: [city] to [city]
Home size: [studio / 1BR / 2BR / 3BR / house]
Budget for moving: $[amount]
Moving method preference: [full-service movers / rental truck / hybrid]
Special items: [piano, pets, fragile art, vehicle, etc.]
Help available: [friends/family / just me / hiring everything out]

Build a week-by-week countdown:
8 weeks out → 6 weeks → 4 weeks → 2 weeks → 1 week →
3 days before → moving day → first week in new city

For each phase: specific tasks, deadlines, and estimated time needed.

Moving method comparison:

Getting Moving Quotes

Help me compare moving quotes:

My move details:
- From: [address or city]
- To: [address or city]
- Home size: [describe]
- Move date: [date] (flexible: [yes/no])
- Special items: [list]

For getting quotes, help me:
1. Create a list of what to tell each company (for accurate quotes)
2. Questions to ask each mover (binding vs non-binding, insurance, etc.)
3. A comparison template for side-by-side evaluation
4. How to verify they're legitimate (FMCSA check)
5. What to look for in the contract before signing
6. Red flags that indicate a scam

✅ Quick Check: A moving company asks for a 50% deposit upfront and will only accept cash. Red flag? (Answer: Major red flag. Legitimate movers typically require a small deposit — 10-20% — and accept credit cards or checks. Cash-only, large upfront deposits, and no written contract are the top three moving scam indicators. Always verify the company’s USDOT number at protectyourmove.gov before paying anything.)

Room-by-Room Packing Plan

Create a room-by-room packing plan for my [home size]:

Move date: [date]
My schedule: [when I can pack — evenings, weekends, etc.]
What I own that's unusual or fragile: [list]

For each room:
1. When to start packing (weeks before move)
2. Supplies needed (boxes, tape, paper, specialty items)
3. Packing order (least used items first)
4. Labeling system (room + contents + priority)
5. Items to purge/donate/sell instead of moving
6. Special packing instructions for fragile items

What NOT to move (cheaper to replace):

✅ Quick Check: It’s moving week and you realize you have 20% more stuff than you thought. What’s the fastest cost-saving move? (Answer: Sell, donate, or trash the excess before moving day — not after. Every extra box costs money to move. A last-minute Facebook Marketplace post, Goodwill drop-off, or “free” pile on the curb can save hundreds. The rule of thumb: if you haven’t used it in a year and it’s replaceable for under $50, don’t move it.)

Key Takeaways

• Get at least 3 moving quotes and verify each company’s FMCSA license before paying anything — moving scams are one of the most common consumer complaints
• Always get a binding estimate (not non-binding) — non-binding estimates can legally increase 20-40% on moving day
• Start packing 4-6 weeks before the move, beginning with rarely-used items — last-minute packing leads to breakage, lost items, and chaos
• Purge before moving, not after — every unnecessary item costs money and effort to transport
• Tip movers $20-80 per person depending on job length, provide water and snacks, and document any damage immediately

Up Next

In the next lesson, you’ll build your relocation budget — accounting for all moving costs, deposits, income gaps, and the hidden expenses that catch people off guard.