Plan & book
- Set your exact move date (or date range)
- Get 2–3 written estimates from licensed movers
- Verify USDOT and CO PUC numbers
- Book your chosen mover in writing
- Start a moving folder — paper and digital
The complete playbook · free
Move without losing your mind.
Everything we've learned from 12,400+ moves — turned into a real, usable guide. Week-by-week countdown, budget calculator, room-by-room checklists, and the ten mistakes that ruin most moves. No email required, no PDF download, just the goods.
8 chapters
60+ checklist items
Budget calculator
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Table of contents
Eight chapters. One calm move.
Chapter 1 · The countdown
Eight weeks out. Then seven. Then six.
Most moves fall apart in the last ten days because everything gets crammed into them. Spread the work across eight weeks and the final week becomes almost boring. That's the goal.
Declutter & donate
- Purge one room per evening
- Donate usable items to Goodwill or ARC
- Schedule bulk pickup or junk removal for the rest
- Sell high-value items you don't want to move
- Photograph items you're selling for listings
Notify & transfer
- File USPS change of address
- Notify utilities (gas, electric, water, internet)
- Transfer or cancel insurance policies
- Update bank, credit card, and subscription addresses
- Notify schools, doctors, and vet
Pack & confirm
- Start packing non-essentials room by room
- Confirm move date, arrival window, crew size
- Reserve elevator and parking permits
- Arrange child and pet care for moving day
- Confirm deposit and final payment method
Final packing
- Pack everything except essentials box
- Label every box by room and priority
- Drain and defrost fridge/freezer
- Dispose of flammables and perishables
- Take photos of electronics cable setups
Prep for crew
- Clear walkways, hallways, and driveways
- Set aside keys, remotes, and important papers
- Charge your phone and backup battery
- Prepare cash tips for the crew
- Set up coffee and snacks at both locations
Move day
- Greet the foreman and walk the home together
- Point out fragile or special-handling items
- Do a final walkthrough of empty rooms
- Sign the bill of lading before truck departs
- Confirm delivery window for your destination
Settle in
- Unpack room by room — start with kitchen
- Break down and recycle empty boxes
- Update your driver's license and vehicle registration
- Register to vote and update voter address
- Report any damage within 30 days
Chapter 2 · Budget
What will your move actually cost?
This calculator gives you a real ballpark based on our current 2026 pricing — the same numbers our coordinators use when quoting. It's a starting estimate, not a binding quote, but it will get you within 10–15% of the real number.
- All prices assume a 2-hour minimum for local moves.
- Long-distance estimates are based on distance bands, not weight — actual price depends on volume.
- Packing costs vary by how much you want us to handle.
- Add-ons like storage and specialty items are quoted separately.
- The final written quote is always binding before we start.
Budget estimator
2026 ratesEstimated total
$489 – $740
Includes labor, truck, fuel & basic coverage
Chapter 3 · Checklists
Room-by-room, nothing forgotten.
Every room has its own list. Work through one room at a time — don't try to do the whole house at once. Six tabs, sixty-plus items, and a first-night essentials list at the bottom.
Pack first
- Rarely used appliances — waffle iron, slow cooker, stand mixer
- Holiday dishes, serving platters, punch bowls
- Cookbooks and recipe binders
- Extra pantry items you won't use in 2 weeks
- Wine, cocktail glasses, and barware
Pack last
- Everyday plates, cups, and utensils
- Coffee maker and coffee
- Refrigerated condiments and half-used items
- Trash bags, sponges, and cleaning spray
- The "last box" that opens first at the new place
Dishes & glassware
- Wrap plates individually in packing paper
- Stack plates vertically in dish packs, never flat
- Stemware in cell dividers, newspaper skipped for crystal
- Knives wrapped and taped shut, blades protected
- Breakable coffee mugs padded with socks or napkins
Day-of tasks
- Empty the fridge completely and defrost
- Clean out the freezer
- Dispose of perishables and half-used food
- Run the dishwasher one last time
- Photograph the inside for your landlord
Closet
- Hanging clothes transfer straight into wardrobe boxes
- Leave them on their hangers — no folding
- Fold sweaters, jeans, and t-shirts in small boxes
- Bag shoes by pair with rubber bands
- Pack off-season clothes separately and label
Linens & bedding
- Leave sheets on mattresses until the mattress bag goes on
- Pillows into clean trash bags with a small air hole
- Extra towels and blankets in clean liners
- Comforters in their own large box or bag
- Keep two full sets of sheets out for the first night
Valuables & personal
- Jewelry in a small pouch or travel case
- Prescription medication in your purse or backpack
- Passport, birth certificate, Social Security card
- Cash and emergency credit cards
- Irreplaceable photos and heirlooms
Furniture prep
- Empty all dresser drawers or tape them shut
- Disassemble bed frame and bag the hardware
- Remove mirrors from dressers and vanities
- Take apart any IKEA pieces that can't survive a move intact
- Keep a ziplock bag labeled "bed hardware"
Electronics
- Photograph the back of every TV, router, and console setup
- Label every cable at both ends with painter's tape
- Pack remotes in a ziplock bag taped to the device
- TVs go in reinforced flat-screen boxes only
- Back up desktops and laptops before disconnecting
Art & decor
- Wrap art in paper then pad with foam or bubble wrap
- Any piece over $500 should be custom-crated
- Remove art from walls 2 days before the move
- Take framed photos out of frames if glass is fragile
- Pack vases and ceramics in dish packs
Books & media
- Pack books flat in small boxes only — never large
- Alternate spine directions for a flatter load
- Vinyl records stand upright, not flat
- DVDs and video games in their own small box
- Donate anything you haven't touched in 2 years
Furniture
- Sofas and chairs: shrink wrap first, then quilted pads
- Table legs removed and bagged with hardware
- Glass tabletop in a custom crate or foam sandwich
- Drawers taped shut OR emptied completely
- Lamp shades packed separately — never with the base
Leak protection
- Bag every liquid product separately
- Tape the cap of shampoo, lotion, and soap
- Wrap nail polish bottles in paper towels
- Ziplock bag for anything that could leak
- Pack upright in a box marked "This End Up"
Linens & towels
- Use towels to wrap breakable items — free padding
- Bath mats in a separate bag
- Shower curtains folded flat
- Keep one towel and one washcloth out for night one
- Pack the shower caddy as one complete unit
Medications & personal
- Prescription medication in your personal bag, not the truck
- Sort by person if you have kids — labeled bags
- Medical devices and CPAP machines travel with you
- First-aid kit stays out for the move
- Keep 3 days of toiletries out in a small bag
Before you go
- Empty the medicine cabinet completely
- Clean out under the sink
- Check behind the toilet for hidden items
- Wipe down counters and mirror
- Photograph everything for your landlord
Cables & tech
- Photograph the back of your router and monitor setup
- Label cables with painter's tape at both ends
- Coil cables loosely — never tight
- Small parts (adapters, dongles) in one labeled bag
- Router, modem, and NAS in the "first night" box
Furniture prep
- Disassemble desks and bag the hardware
- Label each piece with where it goes on the new desk
- Office chairs fit through most doorways — no disassembly needed
- File cabinets: strapped shut with contents intact for short moves
- Monitor arms disassembled and bagged separately
Files & documents
- Sort and shred anything you don't need
- Scan important documents and back them up first
- Keep tax records from the last 7 years
- Moving-sensitive docs (passport, will, deed) travel with you
- Label file boxes by year or category
Home office essentials box
- Laptop and charger
- Router and ethernet cable
- Notebook and pens
- Important documents folder
- Wifi password and account info printed
Hazardous materials
- Propane tanks — drain and dispose
- Gasoline and kerosene — drain before the move
- Paint thinner and solvents — dispose at HazMat facility
- Ammunition — move separately, comply with transport laws
- Fire extinguishers — check with your mover
Tools
- Pack tools by category — plumbing, electrical, power
- Coil cords neatly and tie with velcro
- Power tools in original cases when possible
- Razor blades and sharp tools in labeled protective sleeves
- Keep a small toolkit out for move day and setup
Seasonal & sports
- Holiday decor in labeled plastic bins
- Bikes — pedals off, handlebars turned
- Ski gear bagged and bundled
- Camping gear in one consolidated bin
- Lawn equipment drained of fuel before loading
Deep clean before you go
- Sweep and vacuum the entire garage floor
- Wipe down shelves and workbenches
- Remove nails and hooks from walls
- Dispose of oil, rags, and old paint
- Photograph for landlord or buyer
Chapter 4 · First night
The box that saves your move.
The truck arrives at 8 PM. Everyone is exhausted. You've moved everything you own and now you need dinner, a shower, and a bed. This is what goes in the first-night box — the one you pack last and open first.
Bedding for night one
Sheets, pillows, blankets, and one towel per person. Nothing worse than sleeping on a bare mattress after a 12-hour day.
Change of clothes
One full outfit per person, plus pajamas. Pack in a duffel bag, not a box — you'll want quick access.
Toiletries
Toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, shampoo, deodorant, and any daily-use items for three days. Keep in a small toiletry bag.
Medication & first-aid
Every prescription, plus a small first-aid kit. Do not pack this in the truck. It travels with you.
Phone chargers & power
Every charger, plus a power strip and one lamp. Nothing's worse than a dark house with a dead phone at 10 PM.
Kitchen starter kit
Paper plates, plastic utensils, paper towels, trash bags, dish soap, sponge, and one all-purpose cleaner. Skip the real dishes until day two.
Snacks & water
Bottled water, granola bars, coffee, and something easy for dinner. Don't plan to cook on move night.
Tool kit & hardware
One screwdriver set, one drill, one hammer, and a bag of the hardware from your disassembled furniture. You'll need to rebuild beds on night one.
Paperwork & keys
Lease, mortgage, IDs, insurance cards, and every set of keys for the new place. Keep in one folder you can grab instantly.
Chapter 5 · Watch out
Ten mistakes that ruin most moves.
These are the issues we see most often — some caused by customers, most caused by bad movers. Read this before you book anyone, including us.
-
01
Booking the cheapest quote
The lowest bid is almost always a bait-and-switch. The truck shows up, the foreman reweighs the load, and you're paying 40% more than quoted — or your items end up held hostage until you pay.
The fix Verify USDOT and CO PUC numbers on every quote. If a mover can't give you a valid USDOT number, walk away. -
02
Skipping the written estimate
A verbal estimate isn't binding. Neither is a text message. If it's not in writing, signed, and dated, it doesn't mean anything.
The fix Require a written estimate before you sign anything. Read every line — especially the fine print about "additional charges." -
03
Packing the night before
Every move we've ever seen go sideways started with "we'll just pack it the night before." People underestimate packing by 3–4x.
The fix Start packing off-season and rarely-used items 3 weeks out. Budget 20–30 hours for a typical 2–3 bedroom home. -
04
Not photographing electronics
Nobody remembers which cable went where until they're standing in front of a dead TV at 11 PM on move night.
The fix Photograph the back of every TV, router, and console before you disconnect anything. Label cables with painter's tape at both ends. -
05
Packing heavy items in big boxes
A large box of books weighs over 60 lbs. Movers get hurt, boxes break, walls get scratched. It's the number one cause of back injuries on a moving crew.
The fix Small boxes only for books, tools, and canned goods. Large boxes for pillows, linens, and light bulky items only. -
06
Assuming basic coverage protects your stuff
Standard basic valuation covers about $0.60 per pound per item. A $2,000 TV weighs 40 lbs — you'd get $24 if it broke.
The fix Ask about full-value protection. It usually adds 2–4% to your move but covers items at fair market value instead of by weight. -
07
Not reserving elevators or parking
In most Denver high-rises, you need 3–7 days' notice to reserve a freight elevator. Without one, your movers are hand-carrying everything up 8 flights for 6 hours.
The fix Reserve your elevator the day you book the move. Book a parking spot or load zone with the city of Denver if needed. -
08
Leaving drawers full
Full dresser drawers can break the frame, crack the slides, or tip the entire piece while it's being carried. We've seen it dozens of times.
The fix Empty all drawers or lock them securely with tape. If it can't be emptied, let your mover know in advance. -
09
Moving hazardous items on the truck
Propane tanks, gasoline, paint thinner, and ammunition can't legally be moved on a household truck. It's a fire risk and an insurance void.
The fix Dispose of hazardous materials at a Denver HazMat facility or move them yourself in a properly-rated container. -
10
Not being there on move day
Someone needs to point out the fragile items, answer questions about placement, and sign the completion form. If you're not there, decisions get made for you.
The fix Be at the origin for the load and the destination for the unload. If you can't be at both, designate a trusted friend or family member.
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