Moving day checklist: two weeks out to move-in

This is the countdown we walk our Los Angeles customers through. Print it, put it on the fridge, and cross items off as you go — by the time the crew rings the doorbell, the hard part will already be done.

The first week of the countdown is about choices, not boxes. Everything on this list gets harder — or more expensive — if it waits until the last few days.

• Lock in your moving date and book the crew — dates near the 1st of the month and on weekends go first
• Declutter room by room: donate, sell, or recycle anything you do not want to pay to move
• Give notice to your current building and ask about move-out rules
• Ask your new building about elevator reservations, loading zones, and certificate-of-insurance requirements
• Schedule utility transfers for both addresses: electricity, gas, internet, water
• Start collecting boxes, tape, and markers if you are packing yourself

Pack the rooms you use least first — the garage, bookshelves, closets, seasonal clothes. Label every box with the room it is going to, not the room it came from: the crew unloads by those labels, and dinner arrives in the kitchen instead of the hallway.

• Confirm the arrival window with your movers and mention stairs, long hallways, or tricky parking
• Reserve street parking as close to the entrance as possible if your building has no loading zone
• Use up frozen food and open pantry items you do not want to carry
• Photograph the backs of your TV and router before unplugging anything
• Set aside documents, chargers, medication, and valuables to travel with you, not in the truck

Finish packing everything except what you will use tonight and tomorrow morning. If the fridge is moving, empty it, defrost it, and leave the doors open to dry overnight.

• Pack an essentials box: kettle, mugs, snacks, soap, towels, toilet paper, bed sheets, basic tools
• Confirm the elevator reservation one more time if either building is a high-rise
• Arrange care for kids and pets — the day goes faster when the pathways are clear
• Charge your phone and free up space for photos and notes

Walk the crew through the home first: what goes, what stays, and which pieces you are worried about. After that, the most useful thing you can do is keep doorways clear and stay reachable — small questions come up in every move, and quick answers keep the clock moving.

In Los Angeles, timing matters as much as distance. If you can choose, a morning start beats afternoon traffic — especially when the two addresses sit on opposite sides of the 405 or the 101.

• Direct boxes by their room labels — it is much faster than opening them to check
• Ask the crew to assemble beds first, so the first night is covered no matter how late it gets
• At the old place, check closets, cabinets, the dishwasher, and the balcony before handing over keys
• Do a final walkthrough of the truck before the crew leaves

That is the whole system: decide early, pack by room, protect the timeline, and let the crew do the heavy part. If something on your move is not covered by this list, call or text us — a real LA mover will answer, 7 days a week.