MOVING CHECKLIST
The Charleston moving checklist.
Print this page or keep it open on your phone. Each block is one week of small jobs, so nothing lands on the last night.
Download the checklist PDF ↓ Fillable checkboxes. Opens in any PDF app.
8 weeks out
Set the date and start the paperwork.
- Confirm your move-out and move-in dates, and whether they overlap.
- Get quotes from movers or reserve a truck; summer weekends in Charleston book early.
- Start a moving folder for leases, closing documents, quotes and receipts.
- Measure the new home for furniture that may not fit through doors or up stairs.
- Begin decluttering one room a week: donate, sell or recycle.
6 weeks out
Line up the services that have waiting periods.
- Request school and medical records if you are changing districts or practices.
- Book the elevator or loading zone with your building manager if you are in a downtown or Daniel Island building.
- Use up freezer and pantry food you do not want to move.
- Ask your employer about moving help and time off.
4 weeks out
Order the containers and file the address changes.
- Book your crate delivery for about a week before moving day. Use the calculator on the pricing page to pick a package.
- File a change of address with USPS and update your bank, insurer, employer and subscriptions.
- Schedule utility disconnects and connects: Dominion Energy, Charleston Water System, Berkeley or Dorchester utilities, internet and gas.
- Arrange pet and child care for moving day.
- Sell or donate large items you are not taking.
2 weeks out
Start packing what you will not need before the move.
- Pack out-of-season clothes, books, decor, guest bedding and the good dishes, labelled by destination room.
- Confirm the movers or truck, arrival time and parking.
- Refill prescriptions and set aside important documents, jewelry and valuables to travel with you.
- Back up computers and photograph the backs of electronics before unplugging.
- Defrost the freezer if it is moving with you.
The last week
Everyday life goes into crates last.
- Pack one crate of first-night essentials: chargers, medication, coffee, toilet paper, sheets, basic tools, a change of clothes.
- Pack the kitchen last and label it clearly so it is unpacked first.
- Confirm move-in access, keys and the gate or elevator code at the new home.
- Clean as rooms empty out; take photos of the empty home for your landlord or buyer.
- Set aside cash or a card for tips, tolls and a takeout dinner.
Moving day
Keep it simple and stay out of the heat.
- Load electronics, candles and photos last so they come off first and do not sit in a hot truck.
- Walk the old home once more: closets, cabinets, garage, attic, outside spigots.
- Take meter readings and photos at both homes.
- Direct crates to the room written on their label as they come in.
The first week
You have ten days with the crates, so unpack in order and let us collect the empties.
- Unpack the kitchen and beds first, then bathrooms, then everything else.
- Update your driver license and vehicle registration with the SCDMV within the required window.
- Register to vote at the new address and find the new trash and recycling days.
- Stack empty crates and nest the dollies for the pickup window you chose. Add five-day blocks from your booking page if you need more time.
Common questions
How far in advance should I book moving boxes?
Two to four weeks ahead is ideal so the delivery date you want is open. We need at least 48 hours notice at the standard price, and rush delivery inside 48 hours is available for a fee.
When should the crates arrive?
About a week before moving day for a house, three to four days for an apartment. Packing goes faster than most people expect once there is nothing to tape or build.
Can I print this checklist?
Yes. Download the PDF version, which has checkboxes you can tick on your phone or on paper, or use your browser print button and the page prints without the site header and footer.