Generic moving checklists skip the parts that actually derail a move around here: Philadelphia parking permits, building certificates of insurance, township restrictions, and school calendars. This one is built for the Delaware Valley.
Book your mover 8 weeks out. Sort and purge at 6 weeks. Order supplies and start packing at 5 weeks. Transfer utilities and file address changes at 3 weeks. Confirm building access and parking permits at 2 weeks. Pack essentials and confirm timing in the final week.
8 weeks out: lock in the date
Everything else is easier once the date is real. Summer dates in this market disappear early, especially the last weekend of each month.
- ✓Get estimates from two or three licensed movers, in home or by video survey
- ✓Verify each mover’s PA PUC number and USDOT number before booking
- ✓Book the date, and get the estimate in writing
- ✓Ask your building or HOA what they require and when they need it
- ✓Start a moving folder for the estimate, lease, and closing paperwork
- ✓If children are changing schools, contact both districts about records
Main Line and Chester County families often move between the end of the school year and mid-August. If that is you, book in April. By June the good crews are spoken for.
6 weeks out: decide what is not coming
Every item you move costs time and space. The cheapest box is the one you never pack.
- ✓Walk every room and sort into keep, donate, sell, and discard
- ✓Schedule a donation pickup, they book out two to three weeks in spring
- ✓Book junk removal for anything a charity will not take
- ✓Measure large furniture against the new home’s doorways and stairs
- ✓Photograph the back of your TV and stereo before anything is unplugged
- ✓Use up frozen food, cleaning supplies, and anything that cannot travel
If a cleanout is the real project, our junk removal and donation service handles both in one visit. For a home going on the market, pre-listing cleanouts clear a house before photos.
5 weeks out: supplies and the first boxes
- ✓Order boxes, tape, paper, and markers — see our supplies checklist
- ✓Choose your labeling system before the first box is sealed
- ✓Pack the attic, basement, garage, and storage closets first
- ✓Pack out-of-season clothing and holiday decorations
- ✓Order any replacement furniture now, delivery lead times run long
- ✓Arrange care for pets and young children on moving day
Not sure how many boxes to buy? Our moving supplies checklist gives exact counts by home size.
4 weeks out: paperwork and access
This is the week that separates a smooth Philadelphia move from a truck idling on Walnut Street with nowhere to park.
| If you are moving… | What to arrange now |
|---|---|
| Into or out of a Center City building | Reserve the freight elevator and request a certificate of insurance from your mover |
| On a Philadelphia city street | Apply for a temporary no-parking permit through the Philadelphia Parking Authority |
| Into a Main Line condo or HOA community | Confirm allowed move hours, gate access, and any deposit requirement |
| Into a township with permit rules | Check the township website for truck size or street closure restrictions |
| A long distance move | Confirm delivery window, inventory method, and valuation coverage |
Ask your mover for the certificate of insurance in writing this week, not the week of. Building management offices commonly need three to five business days to approve one, and no COI means no elevator.
Buildings and HOAs ask for the mover’s license and insurance details. LiteMovers carries PA PUC A-8916211, USDOT 2173383, and MC-888055, and we issue certificates of insurance on request.
3 weeks out: utilities and address changes
Utilities
- ✓Electric — PECO for most of the region, schedule start and stop dates
- ✓Gas — PECO or Philadelphia Gas Works depending on your address
- ✓Water and sewer — Aqua Pennsylvania or your township authority
- ✓Internet and cable — book installation for the day before you move in
- ✓Trash and recycling — township pickup schedules vary widely here
Start new service one day before you take possession, and end old service one day after you leave. That one-day overlap on each end costs very little and prevents a dark house.
Address changes
- ✓USPS change of address, filed for the day you take possession
- ✓Bank, credit cards, and any account with autopay
- ✓PennDOT driver license and vehicle registration
- ✓Voter registration
- ✓Employer, payroll, and health insurance
- ✓Doctors, dentists, veterinarian, and pharmacy
- ✓Subscriptions and recurring deliveries
2 weeks out: pack the bulk
- ✓Pack everything except one week of clothing, dishes, and toiletries
- ✓Bag hardware from any furniture you disassemble, tape it to the piece
- ✓Transfer medical, dental, and school records
- ✓Confirm the certificate of insurance was received and approved
- ✓Confirm the parking permit, and note when signs must be posted
- ✓Service or clean anything you are leaving behind for the buyer
- ✓Return library books, dry cleaning, and anything borrowed
1 week out: the details
- ✓Confirm arrival window with your mover
- ✓Post no-parking signs if your street requires them, usually 48 hours ahead
- ✓Empty, defrost, and dry the refrigerator and freezer
- ✓Drain fuel from mowers, trimmers, and grills — movers cannot carry it
- ✓Pack the essentials bin and label it clearly
- ✓Withdraw cash for tips if you plan to tip the crew
- ✓Confirm who has keys, garage remotes, and alarm codes at both ends
- ✓Charge every phone, laptop, and power tool battery
What goes in the essentials bin
- ✓Medications and eyeglasses
- ✓Chargers and a power strip
- ✓Two days of clothing per person
- ✓Toiletries, toilet paper, hand soap, paper towels
- ✓Coffee setup and a few snacks
- ✓Basic tools, box cutter, and a flashlight
- ✓The moving folder with all paperwork
- ✓Pet food, bowls, and leash
Moving day
- Be there when the crew arrives. Walk the home together and point out anything fragile or not going.
- Review the inventory and paperwork before loading starts. Ask about anything you do not understand.
- Keep the essentials bin out of the truck. Put it in your car before the crew starts.
- Do a final sweep. Every closet, cabinet, the attic, the basement, the garage, and behind every door.
- Photograph meters and the empty rooms before you hand over keys.
- At the new home, direct the boxes. Stand where you can see the door and call rooms as boxes come in.
- Inspect and sign at the end. Note anything damaged on the paperwork before the crew leaves.
Set up beds first at the new house, before anything else gets unpacked. Moving days run long, and a made bed at 10pm is worth more than an organized kitchen.
The first week in your new home
- ✓Test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, replace batteries
- ✓Change the locks
- ✓Locate the water shutoff, electrical panel, and gas shutoff
- ✓Confirm trash and recycling day for your new township
- ✓Update your address anywhere you missed
- ✓Unpack the kitchen and bathrooms first, decor last
- ✓Break down and recycle boxes as you empty them
Frequently asked questions
How far in advance should I book a mover in Philadelphia?
Book eight weeks ahead for a summer move and four weeks ahead off-season. The last weekend of the month and the last two weeks of August book out first, because leases and school calendars concentrate demand there.
Do I need a parking permit to move in Philadelphia?
Yes on most city streets. Philadelphia requires a temporary no-parking permit from the Philadelphia Parking Authority for moving trucks. Apply at least three business days ahead and post the signs 48 hours before your move.
What is a certificate of insurance for a move?
A certificate of insurance, or COI, is a document your mover sends to a building proving liability coverage. Most apartment and condo buildings in Center City and along the Main Line will not release an elevator without one.
When should I transfer utilities for a move?
Schedule transfers three weeks out, with service starting one day before you take possession. That overlap day prevents arriving to a home with no power, which is the most common utility timing mistake.
What is the best day of the month to move?
Mid-month, mid-week. The first and last three days of the month are the busiest because leases turn over then. A Tuesday or Wednesday in the middle of a month gives you the widest choice of crews and times.
How long does it take to pack a 3-bedroom house?
Two people packing evenings and weekends need about three weeks. A professional packing crew does the same house in one to two days. Start with storage areas and off-season items either way.
What should I do the day before moving day?
Confirm the arrival time with your mover and finish the essentials bin. Defrost the refrigerator, charge every device, and clear a path to the truck. Post parking signs if your street requires them.
Plan your move with LiteMovers
Start your checklist with a real estimate
The date drives everything else. LiteMovers has moved homes across Philadelphia, the Main Line, Chester County, Delaware County, and Montgomery County since our first truck. Tell us your timeline and we will build the plan around it.
Call (610) 755-5535Get a free estimate
LiteMovers · 687 West Lancaster Ave, Wayne, PA 19087 · Toll-free 1-877-798-8989
PA PUC A-8916211 · USDOT 2173383 · MC-888055 · Fully licensed and insured
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