The 8-week moving checklist.

Eight weeks out

1. 01Get flat-rate quotes from three movers. Verify USDOT numbers on safer.fmcsa.dot.gov for any interstate move.
2. 02Choose the company you trust, not just the cheapest. Read recent reviews on Google, Facebook, and Yelp.
3. 03Reserve your move date. Peak season (May to September) books up first.

Six weeks out

1. 01Cull aggressively. Anything you have not used in two years is probably not coming with you.
2. 02Donate to local charities. Habitat for Humanity ReStore, Salvation Army, Goodwill all do pickups in Syracuse.
3. 03Sell big items you no longer need. Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, and OfferUp all work in CNY.

Four weeks out

1. 01File USPS change of address.
2. 02Notify the IRS, your bank, your employer, and your insurance carriers.
3. 03Schedule utility disconnects at the current address and connects at the new one.
4. 04Update voter registration if moving to a new district.

Three weeks out

1. 01Confirm move date and time with your moving company.
2. 02Reconfirm any specialty items: pianos, gun safes, hot tubs, antiques.
3. 03If moving to or from a building with management, schedule the elevator and request the COI.

Two weeks out

1. 01Start packing non-essentials: books, off-season clothes, decor, garage items.
2. 02Label by room, not by content. The destination room is what matters on move day.
3. 03Begin emptying the freezer.

One week out

1. 01Pack the kitchen except for daily-use items.
2. 02Refill prescriptions and pack medications in your essentials kit.
3. 03Withdraw cash for anything unexpected.
4. 04Confirm with the moving company one final time.

Move day

Have a "do not pack" zone clearly marked. Phone chargers, laptops, important documents, medications, valuables, and anything you need access to in the first 24 hours at the new place.

Keep the path between the front door and the truck clear. Pets in a closed room or boarded for the day.

Walk through the home one last time after the truck is loaded. Check closets, attics, basements, and the freezer.

Tip is appreciated but never expected. Ten to twenty dollars per mover for an average local job is the norm if the crew did well.

Central New York additions

Winter moves: clear driveways, salt walkways, and confirm if your community plows the side streets your truck will use.

Lake-house moves: confirm road access, especially in spring mud season and after heavy snow.

Syracuse parking: certain neighborhoods require permits for moving trucks. Check with the city or your building well in advance.