Is 30 days enough time to prepare for a move?

Yes, 30 days is generally sufficient for an average household move, one to three bedrooms, local within South Florida, with self-packing or partial professional packing. Larger homes, long-distance moves, or full-service packing benefit from 6 to 12 weeks of planning. Less than 2 weeks is feasible but stressful and often more expensive because you have less flexibility on dates and movers. The earlier you start, the more options you have, the cheaper your move, and the smoother the experience.

What's the most important thing to do first?

Book your moving company. The best Miami movers book up quickly, especially for weekend dates and end-of-month closings. Once you have a date locked in with a reputable mover, every other piece of planning falls into place around that anchor. Trying to book a mover with less than two weeks notice often means choosing from whoever's left, which is rarely your first choice.

Should I pack the kitchen first or last?

Last. The kitchen is the most heavily used room in most homes and packing it early creates significant inconvenience for daily meals. Pack rarely-used kitchen items (specialty appliances, formal dishes, holiday platters) in Week 3, daily-use items in the final 2-3 days. Keep one pot, one pan, basic plates, and utensils accessible until move day morning, then pack those last and unpack first.

When should I notify the post office of my move?

Submit your official USPS Change of Address request 7 to 14 days before your move date, with a forwarding start date of 1 day before your actual move. This ensures mail begins forwarding without gaps. You can submit online at USPS.com for a small fee. Note that USPS forwarding is temporary (typically 12 months for first-class mail); you'll need to update your address with each individual sender (banks, employers, subscriptions) for permanent change.

What should never get packed on the truck?

Your essentials kit (3 days of clothes, toiletries, medications, important documents, phone chargers, basic kitchen items for first meals, bedding for night one), all valuables (jewelry, cash, passports, irreplaceable items), prescription medications, important paperwork, and any pets. Hazardous materials (propane, paint, ammunition, etc.) are prohibited from moving trucks entirely. Everything on this list either travels in your personal vehicle or is transported separately.

Moving Checklist: 30 Days Before Move Day

A successful move starts with a 30-day plan: book the mover, gather supplies, and start decluttering in Week 4, sort and pack low-use rooms in Week 3, handle address changes and packing in Week 2, finalize logistics in Week 1, and execute move day with everything ready. This 30-day checklist breaks down every task into specific weeks so nothing gets missed. At Wadjet Logistics we've helped families prepare for moves across South Florida for 30 years, and we can tell within 10 minutes of a phone call whether a customer is on track or behind. The single biggest predictor of a smooth move is whether the customer started preparing four weeks out instead of four days out. This guide is the playbook we share with every customer we book.

Use this checklist as a working document. Print it, save it to your phone, or share it with your partner. Adjust deadlines to your specific moving date.

Week 4: 30 to 22 days before move day

Choose and book your mover

Get at least 3 in-home or video-based estimates from licensed Miami movers
Verify FDACS IM number (intrastate) or USDOT number (interstate)
Read 20+ reviews on multiple platforms
Confirm insurance and request a Certificate of Insurance template
Get the written binding or non-binding estimate
Sign contract and pay any required deposit

Set up your moving binder or digital folder

Estimate and contract
Mover's contact info
New home address and key contacts
Important phone numbers (utilities, schools, doctors)
This checklist

Begin decluttering

Walk through every room with three piles: keep, donate or sell, trash
Schedule a charity pickup (Goodwill, Salvation Army, Habitat for Humanity ReStore) for the following week
List valuable items on Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist
Schedule a bulk pickup or rent a small dumpster if needed

Order packing supplies

Calculate boxes needed (10-15 per room as a baseline)
Order or buy: small boxes, medium boxes, large boxes, dish packs, wardrobe boxes, packing paper, bubble wrap, tape, markers, stretch wrap
Have supplies delivered within 2-3 days

Notify key parties

Landlord (if renting) of move-out date
Property manager / HOA for your new building if you're moving into one
Employer if address change affects payroll or benefits
Schools if children will change schools

Week 3: 21 to 15 days before move day

Pack low-use rooms

Garage, attic, storage closets
Off-season clothing
Books, decorative items, holiday decorations
Guest rooms (keep guest bedding accessible)
Formal dining room
Home office (keep essential work items accessible)

Handle address changes

USPS official forwarding request (start mail forwarding 1 day before move)
Driver's license and vehicle registration (Florida requires update within 30 days)
Banks and credit cards
Health insurance
Subscriptions: Netflix, Amazon, magazines, gym, etc.
Employer (W-2 address, payroll)
IRS (only if you have ongoing matters, otherwise it updates from your tax return)
Voter registration

Confirm utilities at new home

Electric (FPL in South Florida)
Water and sewer
Internet provider (often takes 1-2 weeks to install)
TV / cable
Gas (if applicable)
Trash collection

Cancel or transfer utilities at old home

Schedule disconnection for the day after move-out (in case of returns or delays)
Confirm final bill addresses

Schedule services

Cleaning service for old home (post-move) if security deposit is at stake
Locksmith for new home or key copying
Carpet cleaning if needed

Week 2: 14 to 8 days before move day

Pack secondary rooms

Living room (keep main TV, sofa, basic seating)
Master bedroom (keep current-use clothes, daily essentials)
Secondary bedrooms (keep daily essentials)
Most kitchen items (keep daily-use plates, glasses, basic cookware)

Confirm building access (if applicable)

Reserve service elevator at old building
Reserve service elevator at new building
Confirm COI is submitted at both buildings
Confirm parking and loading dock arrangements
Add moving company to gate lists if gated communities

Take inventory and photos

Photograph each room from multiple angles
Close-up photos of valuable items
Note any pre-existing damage on furniture or in rooms

Update important records

Transfer prescriptions to a new pharmacy
Request medical records from current doctors
Transfer veterinary records for pets
Update children's school records and transfer paperwork

Plan moving day logistics

Confirm crew arrival time
Plan childcare and pet care for move day
Plan meals (move day, plus 2-3 days at new home)
Arrange to be present at both locations during move
Confirm payment method with mover

Week 1: 7 to 2 days before move day

Finalize packing

Pack everything except daily-use items
Final pass on each room, label everything clearly
Pack kitchen except for last day's meals
Pack bathrooms except for daily toiletries
Pack bedrooms except for last 2-3 days of clothes

Prepare the essentials kit

3 days of clothing per family member
Toiletries and prescription medications
Phone chargers, key electronics
Important documents (passports, IDs, leases, insurance, this checklist)
Basic cleaning supplies
Toilet paper, paper towels, snacks, water
One pot, one pan, plates, utensils for first meals
Bedding for night one
Pet supplies for 2-3 days
Phone charger and laptop charger

Disconnect and prepare appliances

Defrost and clean refrigerator (24-48 hours before)
Drain washing machine
Clean and prepare dryer
Disconnect gas appliances (with professional if needed)

Confirm final details with mover

Re-confirm date and time
Re-confirm crew size and truck size
Re-confirm address and contact info
Provide payment method confirmation

Cash and gifts

Get cash for tips ($20-$60 per mover depending on length of move)
Consider snacks and water for the crew

Move day: D-day

Morning

Wake up early, get dressed for the day
Strip beds, pack remaining bedding into clearly-labeled box
Quick clean of bathrooms and kitchen
Last check of every closet, drawer, and pantry
Lay out essentials kit, the kit travels in your car, NOT on the truck
Move pets to their pre-arranged safe location
Confirm childcare is set

When the crew arrives

Walkthrough with the lead mover, identify everything, confirm placement at destination
Show them the items NOT going on the truck (essentials kit, valuables, etc.)
Confirm crew size, truck size, expected duration
Place floor protection at both ends if not already done

During the move

Stay accessible but out of the way
Periodic walkthroughs to confirm nothing is missed
Hydration and snacks available
Final walkthrough at origin before truck departs

At the destination

Direct furniture placement clearly
Monitor unloading for damage
Verify inventory as it comes off the truck
Sign the bill of lading after confirming nothing is missing
Pay the mover
Tip the crew

First 48 hours after the move

Unpack essentials kit and set up kid/pet sleeping areas
Unpack kitchen for basic meals
Set up beds and bathrooms
Confirm internet works
Take meter readings if utilities are being transferred
Unpack one room at a time, starting with bedrooms and bathrooms
Inventory check, report any missing or damaged items to mover within 9 months for interstate (sooner is better)

The single biggest tip

Start earlier than you think you need to. Every successful move we've seen at Wadjet Logistics over 30 years started 4+ weeks before the day. Every disaster we've witnessed started 4 days before. The work doesn't change, the only thing that changes is whether you do it calmly over weeks or frantically over a weekend. Choose calm. Call +1 (305) 970-6538 or email info@wadjetlogistics.com to start your 30-day plan today.

Adapting the checklist for your specific move

This 30-day timeline works for most moves but adjust based on your specific situation.

If you have less than 30 days

Compress timeline by working on multiple weeks' tasks simultaneously. Hire packing help, splurge on services that save time. Less than 2 weeks: consider full-service packing to make any progress.

If you have more than 30 days

Stretch the timeline, especially decluttering. The slower you go, the more you'll donate or sell, and the less you'll move. Use extra time for thoughtful purging.

If you're moving long-distance

Add 4 to 8 weeks at the front of the timeline. More research, more comparison shopping, more documentation. Long-distance moves have longer lead times for everything from IT setup at destination to school transfers.

If you're moving with kids

Add age-appropriate prep work throughout the 30 days. Conversations, school transfer paperwork, childcare on move day, all need extra attention.

If you're moving with pets

Add veterinary records transfer, microchip update, new vet selection, and pet care plan for move day. For long-distance moves, plan transport carefully.

If you're moving solo

Solo movers should consider professional packing or strong friend support. Trying to pack, supervise movers, and handle logistics alone often leads to mistakes. Budget for help where you can.

Digital tools that help

Several apps and tools simplify move planning:

Move planner apps (Sortly, MoveAdvisor) for inventory and timeline
Address change services (Updater, MoveMatcher) bundle multiple address updates
Cloud storage (Google Drive, Dropbox) for moving documents
Calendar reminders for each phase deadline
Shared family checklist (Todoist, Google Tasks) so spouses can both contribute

Common mistakes that derail the 30-day plan

Procrastinating decluttering. The biggest source of wasted moving cost is moving items you don't want.
Underestimating packing time. Most people pack 2-3x slower than they expect.
Forgetting address changes. Banks, employers, subscriptions, all need updates and tracking.
Not confirming building access. Elevator reservations, COIs, gate access, all common day-of failure points.
Underbooking the mover. Too small a crew or truck creates long, expensive days.
Skipping the essentials kit. Reaches into all 50 boxes on move-in night, looking for toothpaste.
Not photographing pre-move. Hampers any future damage claims.

The post-move 30-day plan

The work doesn't end on move day. The next 30 days should include:

Unpack one room per day or every other day
Verify all utilities and services working properly
Update address with any remaining accounts
Register kids at new schools
Establish new doctor, dentist, vet relationships
Explore the neighborhood (parks, restaurants, grocery stores)
Meet neighbors
File any moving-related claims promptly
Write reviews for your mover (positive or negative)
Tax record: keep moving receipts if any are deductible (work-related moves may qualify)

What an organized binder looks like

Create a single physical or digital binder for the move with these sections:

Moving company: contract, COI, contact info, payment receipts
New home: lease or closing docs, building rules, HOA info, utility setup confirmations
Old home: lease or sale docs, security deposit info, move-out walkthrough notes
Address changes: checklist with confirmation dates for each account
Kids: school transfer forms, medical records, copies of birth certificates
Pets: vet records, microchip info, transport plan
Inventory: photos of valuable items, declared value list
Receipts: every moving-related expense for tax records if applicable
Contacts: every important phone number, mover, building manager, utilities, schools, etc.

This binder is your single source of truth during the move. Keep it accessible at all times, especially during the final week and move days.