Every move we run out of Fort Mitchell goes smoother when it starts on a schedule instead of a scramble. This is the same rough timeline our dispatch lead Trace Boykin walks customers through on the phone — broken into weeks out, not a vague “someday” list. Print it, put it on the fridge, and check things off as you go.
8 Weeks Out
This is the planning window, and it’s the easiest one to skip if life gets busy. Don’t skip it.
- Set your moving date and book your crew (local dates fill up fast around Fort Moore PCS season and month-end)
- Decide what stays, what goes, and what gets sold or donated — walk every room and be honest with yourself
- Request time off work if needed, and if you have kids, check on school transfer paperwork or record requests
- Start a folder (physical or digital) for moving documents: estimates, lease paperwork, school records, medical records
- If moving long-distance, start researching your new area — utilities providers, DMV requirements, school zoning
Brianna’s tip: Call for your estimate before you start buying boxes. We can tell you roughly how many you’ll need based on your home size, which saves you from either running out at 9pm the night before or hauling ten unused boxes to your new place.
4 Weeks Out
This is where the physical prep starts and paperwork gets locked in.
- Confirm your moving date and details with our office — crew size, arrival window, any specialty items (piano, gun safe, etc.)
- Begin packing non-essential rooms: guest rooms, off-season clothes, garage items you won’t touch again before the move
- Start using up food in the freezer and pantry instead of buying more
- Order new furniture or appliances now if you need them at the new place, so delivery timing lines up
- Notify your landlord or HOA of your move-out date if applicable
- If long-distance, request time off and confirm lodging for moving day/days if the drive takes more than one day
2 Weeks Out
- Submit change of address with USPS and update it with your bank, employer, and subscriptions
- Schedule utility disconnect at your old place and connect at your new one (power, water, internet)
- Transfer or cancel local memberships — gym, storage units, anything tied to Columbus or Phenix City specifically
- Arrange care for pets and kids on moving day itself — a moving truck and a toddler underfoot is a rough combination
- Finish packing everything except what you’ll need in the final week
Moving Week
| Day | Task |
|---|---|
| 7 days out | Confirm crew arrival time and final address details with dispatch |
| 5 days out | Pack a “first night” box: toiletries, medications, phone chargers, a change of clothes, basic tools |
| 3 days out | Defrost and clean the refrigerator/freezer if it’s traveling with you |
| 2 days out | Disassemble any furniture you’re handling yourself; tape screws/hardware to the piece |
| 1 day out | Do a final walkthrough of closets, attic, and garage for anything left behind |
Moving Day
- Do a final walk-through of every room, including closets, cabinets, and the garage, before the crew leaves
- Keep essential documents (IDs, moving paperwork, valuables) with you personally, not on the truck
- Point out anything fragile or already-damaged before loading starts so it’s noted upfront
- Take photos of empty rooms for your move-out deposit or lease records
- Do a final check of utility meters if you’re responsible for reading them
- Keep your phone charged — dispatch or your crew chief may need to reach you about arrival timing on the other end
Cole’s tip: Set aside a “do not pack” zone — one corner of one room, roped off in your head — for anything you need same-day: medications, chargers, a folder of paperwork, snacks for kids. We see more last-minute stress from someone accidentally taping up their own toothbrush than from almost anything else on moving day.
After You Arrive
- Check furniture and boxes against your inventory sheet as they come off the truck
- Note any damage immediately and take photos before you start unpacking
- Locate your main water shutoff and breaker panel in the new home on day one, before you need them in an emergency
- Unpack the kitchen and bathrooms first — they make the rest of the unpacking process livable
- Register your vehicle and update your driver’s license if you’ve crossed state lines (Alabama and Georgia both have specific windows for this)
Quick Reference: What to Pack Last
| Item Type | When to Pack |
|---|---|
| Toiletries, medications, chargers | Morning of / night before only |
| Kitchen basics (coffee maker, one set of dishes) | Last 24 hours |
| Important documents, valuables | Keep with you the entire time, never on the truck |
| Cleaning supplies for final walkthrough | Last box loaded, first box off |
A moving day rarely goes sideways because of the truck or the crew — it goes sideways because of the ten small things nobody planned for: the toddler with nowhere to be, the fridge that wasn’t defrosted, the box of chargers taped shut somewhere in the back of the truck. Work this timeline backward from your move date and most of that stress just doesn’t happen.
If you want us to build this exact schedule around your specific move date and home, tell us where you’re starting and where you’re headed at /#quote, and our office will send over a checklist matched to your timeline.