The final week is where moves are won or lost
If you reached one week before your move with most of the heavy planning done, you have already won 70% of the battle. The remaining 30% is in this last week: a combination of careful packing, final confirmations, and small decisions that make moving day feel easy or impossible.
After 30 years moving families in Miami, Coral Gables, Doral, and the rest of South Florida, we have refined this 7-day plan that works every time. Each day has specific tasks. If you follow them, on moving day you will only have to open the door.
Day 7 (one week before): Confirmations and final inventory
Sunday or the equivalent day of the week. The strategic day.
- Final call with moving company: confirm time, address, route, payment
- Verify they have your insurance certificate (COI) if your building requires it
- Confirm reservation of freight elevator at origin and destination
- Walk through the entire house and complete inventory of remaining items
- Take photos of the current state of walls and floors (for security deposit)
- Make detailed list of fragile items or special pieces
- Verify you have all original boxes for valuable electronics
- Withdraw cash for tip to movers (50-100 USD per mover)
Day 6: Empty pantry and donations
- Empty pantry of items you will not consume this week
- Donate non-perishable food to local food bank (Feeding South Florida)
- Empty cleaning products you will not transport (cannot travel in truck)
- Final disposal of paint, batteries, light bulbs at recycling center
- Confirm bulk pickup with your city if you have large furniture to throw away
- Pack final living room (decor, books, lamps)
Day 5: Defrost freezer and pack secondary rooms
- Unplug freezer 48-72 hours before to defrost completely
- Plan meals of the next 4 days using everything in the fridge
- Pack home office (computer with paperwork)
- Finish packing secondary bedrooms
- Disassemble bed frames you are not using until the end
- Carefully label all electronic cables (Color tape: TV, router, computer, kitchen)
Day 4: Main bedroom and clothes
- Pack everything in main bedroom except the bed
- Use wardrobe boxes for clothes on hangers (saves hours)
- Vacuum sealed bags for bedding, towels, jackets
- Pack jewelry and valuables separately (these travel with you, not in truck)
- Pack shoes in original boxes or large boxes
- Set aside clothes for the next 3-4 days
Day 3: Kitchen and bathroom essentials
The kitchen is the most complex room. Pack everything except 3-4 plates, glasses, cutlery, one pot, one pan.
- Wrap each plate individually in packing paper
- Glasses in cell boxes or wrapped one by one
- Pots and pans nested with paper between
- Spices, oils, vinegars in sealed Ziploc bags (avoid spills)
- Pack everything in bathroom except daily use (toothbrush, soap, towels)
- Empty fridge of perishables (donate to neighbors or eat)
Day 2: Final disassembly and essentials box
- Prepare the essentials box (the most important of the entire move)
- Disassemble dining table and large furniture (or let movers do it)
- Pack everything except: bed, sheets, 1 day of clothes, toiletries, charger
- Confirm with movers final time and exact instructions
- Print map and directions to new home
- Make sure you have new home keys or arrival plan
- If you have pets, prepare carrier, food, medications, vaccination certificate
The essentials box: detailed content
This box travels with you in the car, not in the truck. It is for the first 24-48 hours.
- Toilet paper, hand soap, paper towels
- Towels, shampoo, basic toiletries
- Phone, laptop, tablet chargers
- Change of clothes for 2 days for each person
- Sheets and pillows for the first night
- Basic medications and first aid kit
- Snacks, water bottles, coffee, mugs, basic plates and utensils
- Documents: ID, contracts, insurance, deeds
- Tools: scissors, box cutter, screwdriver, flashlight
- Trash bags and basic cleaning supplies
Day 1 (day before move): Final stretch
- Empty fridge completely, clean it, leave it open if you are not taking it
- Disassemble main bed in the morning
- Pack remaining linen and final box of clothes
- Final cleaning of areas already empty
- Final confirmation with moving company (call, not just text)
- Cash in hand for tip
- Sleep early — moving day starts at 7-8 AM
Moving day: protocol from start to end
The team arrives. Receive them, offer them water (especially in Miami summer), do walk-through with the supervisor to identify fragile items, hard-access areas, and special items.
During loading: stay available but do not interfere. If you see something concerning (a poorly handled piece, a fragile box upside down), say it kindly to the supervisor.
Final signature: do not sign the inventory document until you have verified that everything that was on the original list is loaded. At delivery, same protocol: verify that everything arrived before signing the receipt.
Pro tip from 30 years of experience: assign one family member to receive boxes at the new home and direct each one to its correct room. This saves hours of subsequent reorganization.
Common errors in the last week
- Not defrosting freezer in time (puddles of water on moving day)
- Forgetting to confirm freight elevator (some buildings only release it 24 hours before)
- Leaving cleaning of old home for after the move (extra cost)
- Not having cash for tip (some movers do not accept Venmo)
- Not preparing the essentials box and arriving at new home without toilet paper at 11 PM
Need help in this last week?
At Wadjet Logistics we offer packing service for the last week. A specialized team comes for 1-2 days and leaves everything ready. It is the most stress-free option. Call us at +1 (305) 970-6538.