Moving is stressful enough without the chaos of a last-minute scramble. The customers who have the smoothest moving days are almost always the ones who started preparing well in advance. This checklist breaks the process into manageable steps — starting 8 weeks out — so nothing falls through the cracks on your Kansas City move.
Save this page, print it out, or bookmark it. Work through it week by week and moving day will feel significantly less overwhelming.
8 Weeks Before Your Move
- Choose your moving date. If you have flexibility, avoid late May through August — peak season in Kansas City means crews book up fast and pricing is highest. Weekday moves (Tuesday through Thursday) typically have more availability than weekends.
- Start getting moving quotes. Contact at least two or three moving companies. Metro Wide Movers offers free quotes over the phone, online, via FaceTime, or in person — we respond same day.
- Start decluttering room by room. Moving is the perfect opportunity to pare down. Anything you donate, sell, or discard is money saved on your move. Start with storage areas — basement, garage, attic, closets.
- Notify your employer. If you’re relocating, give HR and your manager appropriate notice. Check your company’s relocation assistance policy if applicable.
- Research schools if you have children. If you’re moving within or to the Kansas City metro, research school districts in your new neighborhood early — enrollment deadlines can sneak up on you.
6 Weeks Before Your Move
- Book your movers. Once you have your quotes and have compared companies, lock in your date. The earlier you book, the better your chances of getting your preferred day and time — especially for weekend moves in summer.
- Create a home inventory. Walk through your home and make a rough list of what’s moving with you, what’s being donated, and what’s being discarded. This helps your movers give you the most accurate quote and helps you stay organized.
- Start collecting packing supplies. Boxes, packing tape, bubble wrap, packing paper, markers for labeling. You can often find free boxes on Facebook Marketplace, Nextdoor, or from local liquor and grocery stores.
- Arrange for utilities at your new home. Contact your electricity, gas, water, and internet providers to schedule service start dates at your new address. In the Kansas City metro, major providers include Evergy, Spire, and KC Water.
- Submit your change of address with USPS. Go to usps.com to forward your mail. It takes a week or two to kick in, so do this sooner rather than later.
- Start packing non-essentials. Begin with items you won’t need in the next six weeks — seasonal decorations, books, artwork, extra linens, off-season clothing.
4 Weeks Before Your Move
- Update your address with important accounts. Bank accounts, credit cards, investment accounts, insurance policies, subscriptions, the DMV, and the IRS (Form 8822). Don’t wait — some updates take time to process.
- Notify your doctor, dentist, and other providers. Request copies of medical records, prescriptions, school records, and any other documents you’ll need at your new location.
- Arrange for childcare and pet care on moving day. Having kids and pets out of the house during the move makes the process significantly smoother and safer for everyone.
- Pack guest rooms and storage areas completely. These rooms are easiest because they’re used least. Get them done now so you can focus on everyday living spaces closer to the move.
- Confirm your moving date and details with your movers. Double-check the time, address, access instructions, and any special items (piano, safe, large appliances) you’ve mentioned.
- If you’re moving to an apartment, reserve the elevator. Many Kansas City apartment buildings require advance scheduling for elevator use during a move. Contact your building management now.
2 Weeks Before Your Move
- Increase your packing pace. Most of your home should be in boxes by now except daily essentials. Pack room by room and label every box clearly on at least two sides: room name and a brief description of contents.
- Use a color-coding system. Assign a color to each room (blue = master bedroom, red = kitchen, etc.) and put colored tape or stickers on boxes. It makes unloading dramatically faster.
- Defrost and clean your refrigerator and freezer. Start using up frozen food or plan to pack it in a cooler. Most movers won’t transport a refrigerator with food inside.
- Disassemble large furniture you can do yourself. Bed frames, desks, large bookshelves — anything that needs to come apart. Keep all hardware in labeled zip-lock bags taped to the furniture piece.
- Arrange to return borrowed items and collect your own. Books, tools, dishes loaned to neighbors or friends — now’s the time to sort that out.
- Transfer or cancel local memberships and services. Gym memberships, local subscriptions, dry cleaning, lawn service, house cleaning. Update or cancel as needed based on your new location.
1 Week Before Your Move
- Finish packing everything except essentials. Your goal is to have 90% of your home boxed and ready. Leave out only what you absolutely need for the next 7 days.
- Confirm moving day logistics one more time. Call your moving company to reconfirm arrival time, truck size, and crew count. For Metro Wide Movers, call (913) 681-7700 or (816) 350-2000.
- Pack your essentials box. This is the one box (or bag) you keep with you — not on the truck. Include: medications, phone chargers, toiletries, a change of clothes for each person, important documents (IDs, lease, closing paperwork, insurance cards), snacks, and any valuables you want to keep close.
- Prepare your home for the movers. Clear pathways from each room to the front door. Move cars out of the driveway. If you have hardwood floors or new carpet, let the crew know so they can set down runners and take precautions.
- Charge everything. Phones, laptops, portable chargers. Moving day is not a great time to have a dead battery.
- Get cash for tips. Tipping your movers is not required but it’s a genuine way to show appreciation for a hard day’s work. $20–$40 per mover is a common range for a full day move.
Moving Day
- Be ready when the crew arrives. Everything should be packed, accessible, and ready to load. Crews are on a schedule and a prepared home makes everyone’s day smoother.
- Do a room-by-room walkthrough with the lead mover. Point out fragile items, things that need special handling, and anything staying behind. This prevents confusion and sets expectations clearly.
- Keep kids and pets out of the way. Whether that means a family member takes them out for the day or they’re in a contained area — this protects them and keeps the crew focused.
- Take photos before the crew leaves. Walk through both homes and photograph any existing damage at the new place before the truck unloads. This protects everyone.
- Do a final walkthrough of your old home. Check every closet, cabinet, drawer, and room — including the garage, basement, attic, and outside storage. Don’t forget items in the fridge, dishwasher, or laundry.
- Direct placement at your new home. Be present when the crew unloads to direct where each box and piece of furniture goes. Repositioning a sofa after the crew leaves is much harder than pointing to the right spot during unloading.
After Your Move
- Update your driver’s license and vehicle registration. Missouri and Kansas both require updating your address within 30 days of moving.
- Update your voter registration. You can do this online at sos.mo.gov (Missouri) or sos.ks.gov (Kansas).
- Test smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors. Know where they are, make sure they work, and replace batteries if needed.
- Locate your main water shutoff valve and electrical panel. In case of emergency, you’ll want to know where these are before you need them.
- Introduce yourself to your neighbors. Kansas City neighborhoods tend to be friendly. A quick hello goes a long way, and neighbors are often an excellent resource for local recommendations.
- Leave a review for your movers. If your move went well, an honest Google review makes a real difference for a small local business. It takes two minutes and means a lot to the crew who worked hard for you.
Ready to book your Kansas City move?
Metro Wide Movers has helped Kansas City families and businesses move since 2009 — over 20,000 moves completed across Missouri and Kansas. We’re veteran-owned, fully licensed and insured, and voted Best Moving Company in Kansas City by The Pitch KC in 2025 and 2026.
Get your free quote today — over the phone, online, via FaceTime, or in person. Call (913) 681-7700 (Kansas) or (816) 350-2000 (Missouri), or request your quote online here.
