Moving out of state is a big project, and it’s easy to feel like everything needs to happen at once. It doesn’t. When you break the move into weekly tasks, an Austin to Denver, Phoenix, Atlanta, or Nashville move becomes a series of small, manageable steps instead of one giant to-do list.
This checklist starts eight weeks before moving day. If you have more time, great: start earlier and spread the work out. If you have less, start at the top and catch up as quickly as you can. The most important steps are the early ones, especially getting your mover booked and your inventory sorted.
8 Weeks Out: Set Your Plan and Budget
- Pick a target moving date. Work backward from your lease end, closing date, or start date at a new job. Give yourself a little cushion on both ends if you can.
- Set a moving budget. Include the move itself, packing materials, travel to your new city, a few nights in a hotel if you need them, and deposits for your new home and utilities.
- Start a moving folder. Paper or digital, keep quotes, receipts, lease or closing documents, and important contacts in one place.
- Research your new city. Look into neighborhoods, schools, commute routes, and local rules such as HOA requirements or parking limits for moving trucks.
7 Weeks Out: Get Quotes and Book Your Movers
Long-distance moving schedules fill up quickly, especially in late spring, summer, and at the end of the month. Booking early gives you the best choice of dates.
- Make a full inventory. Walk through every room, closet, attic, garage, and the backyard. The items people forget most often are the ones they don’t see every day.
- Request written quotes. Share the same inventory with each company so you can compare quotes fairly. For larger homes, ask for an in-home estimate.
- Ask the right questions. Is the company licensed and insured? What’s included: packing, materials, disassembly, reassembly? How is the price set, and is it in writing? How will pickup and delivery be scheduled?
- Book your move. Once you choose a mover, confirm your dates and get everything in writing.
At Elite Star Movers, our long-distance moves come with a flat-rate price guarantee, with the details confirmed in your written quote. You can submit your inventory online and we’ll email you an estimated quote.
6 Weeks Out: Declutter Room by Room
Every item you don’t move is one less thing to pack, load, and haul hundreds of miles. Decluttering is the single easiest way to make a long-distance move simpler.
- Sort into four piles: keep, sell, donate, and toss.
- Measure your new home. A sectional that fits your Austin living room may not fit a Denver condo or an older Atlanta bungalow. Measure big pieces and check them against your new floor plan.
- Sell big items early. Furniture and exercise equipment can take a while to sell, so list them now.
- Use up what won’t travel well. Frozen food, cleaning supplies, and pantry staples are easier to use up than to pack.
5 Weeks Out: Packing Supplies and Specialty Items
- Decide how much packing help you want. You can pack yourself, have your movers pack fragile items like the kitchen, artwork, and electronics, or have the whole home professionally packed. Our packing services can cover as much or as little as you need.
- Gather supplies. Sturdy boxes in several sizes, packing paper, bubble wrap, tape, and markers. Long trips are harder on boxes than a move across town, so don’t skimp on quality.
- Flag specialty items. Pianos, oversized furniture, and heavy equipment need extra planning. If you’re bringing a piano, let your mover know now. Our guide to moving a piano long distance explains what to expect.
- Start packing rarely used items. Seasonal decorations, off-season clothes, books, and guest room items can go in boxes now.
4 Weeks Out: Records, Schools, and Address Changes
- Request records. Ask for school, medical, dental, and veterinary records, and look for new providers in your new city.
- Change your address. File a change of address with USPS and update your bank, employer, insurance providers, and subscriptions.
- Plan your utilities. Schedule shutoff at your Austin-area home for the day after you move out, and set up electricity, water, gas, and internet at your new home for the day before you arrive.
- Look up new-state requirements. Check what your new state requires for updating your driver’s license and voter registration, and put the deadlines on your calendar.
3 Weeks Out: Pack in Earnest
- Work room by room. Finish one room before starting the next, so you’re not living in half-packed chaos.
- Label every box. Write the room and a short list of contents on at least two sides. Number the boxes and keep a list, so you can confirm everything arrived.
- Keep boxes a manageable weight. Heavy items like books go in small boxes; light items like linens go in large ones.
- Take photos of electronics. Snap a picture of how your TV and computer cables connect before you unplug them.
- Set aside valuables. Jewelry, important documents, passports, and family keepsakes should travel with you, not on the truck.
2 Weeks Out: Confirm the Details
- Confirm with your mover. Review your dates, addresses, inventory, and any changes since your quote. If you’ve added or removed large items, tell your mover so your quote stays accurate.
- Check access at both homes. Reserve elevators, confirm parking for the truck, and check HOA or building rules for move-in hours.
- Plan your own trip. Book flights or hotels, plan your drive, and make arrangements for pets and plants.
- Arrange childcare or pet care for moving day. A quiet, safe spot for kids and pets makes the day easier for everyone.
1 Week Out: Final Prep
- Pack your essentials bag. Include clothes for several days, medications, chargers, toiletries, important documents, basic tools, snacks, and anything you’ll need before the truck arrives.
- Pack a “first night” box. Sheets, towels, a shower curtain, paper plates, a few kitchen basics, and a roll of toilet paper. Label it clearly so it’s unloaded last and opened first.
- Clean out the fridge. Defrost and dry your freezer at least a day before moving day if it’s going on the truck.
- Disconnect what you can. Or ask your movers about help disconnecting appliances and setting them back up at your new home.
Moving Day
- Be there when the crew arrives. Walk through the home with the crew lead and point out fragile items and anything that’s not going.
- Keep a path clear. Clear hallways and walkways so loading goes quickly and safely.
- Do a final walkthrough. Check every closet, cabinet, and the garage before the truck leaves.
After You Arrive
- Check your inventory. Use your numbered box list to confirm everything arrived.
- Direct furniture placement. Tell the crew where large pieces go, so you’re not moving them twice.
- Unpack the essentials first. Beds, bathroom, and kitchen basics, then work through the rest at your own pace.
- Finish your paperwork. Update your driver’s license and anything else your new state requires within its deadlines.
Planning an Out-of-State Move from Central Texas?
Elite Star Movers is a family owned and operated moving company based in Buda, with more than 10 years of experience. We’re state-licensed in Texas (TXDMV #007098595c), insured, BBB-registered, and HomeAdvisor-screened, and our owner works in the field alongside our crews. Long-distance moves come with our flat-rate price guarantee, with the details confirmed in your written quote.
See our long distance moving page, or explore popular routes like Austin to Denver, Austin to Phoenix, Austin to Atlanta, and Austin to Nashville. When you’re ready, request a free quote or call us at (512) 358-7827. We’d be glad to help you plan.
