Skip to main content
Skip to footer
Moving Guide: Use This Primer to Plan a Business or Personal Move
Use this handy checklist (PDF) for moving with less stress.
Moving Guide: Use This Primer to Plan a Business or Personal Move
Move with less stress! We assembled this moving and packing cheklist to give you a week-by-week overview of critical tasks.
8 weeks out
- Develop a schedule and budget
- Research and finalize professional moving services
- Change your address with the Postal Service, delivery services, banks and insurers, vendors, etc.
- Order new stationery, business cards and business and wayfinding signs and banners
- Send email and printed announcements with your new business location to customers, partners and vendors
- Order new home or office furniture, retail supplies and equipment
7 weeks out
- Digltize records that don’t require hard copies so you don’t have to move them; shred sensitive papers
- Use latching storage for vital records (like leases, and medical and Insurance information) and a small lockbox for valuables
- Fill a container with day-of-move essentials:
- Box cutter and scissors
- Toilet paper
- Antibacterial wipes
- Water
- Snacks
- Batteries and charger sets for devices
- First aid kit
6 weeks out
- Create a packing schedule
- Decide which things you’ll need right up until moving day and don’t pack them early
- Begin sorting items into move, store, donate and recycle categories; pack or dispose these items to avoid additional clutter
- Buy packing and moving supplies, lncluding:
- Small, medium and large moving boxes
- Ink-free packing paper to protect breakables (so it won’t stain possessions) or as void fill for boxes
- Stretch wrap for holding drawers and doors in place and grouping small items together
- Bubble roll:
- Antistatic for electronics;
- Self-cling for odd-shaped items;
- Extra wide for larger items like mirrors, picture frames and wall art
- 3/16” for surface and scratch protection for individual fragile items
- 5/16” provides an added layer of protection/ padding in the box
- Moving tape for boxes you’re sending
- Storage tape for boxes you’re stowing long term
5 weeks out
- Avoid making boxes too heavy to carry
- Use small boxes for heavy items; put lighter items in large boxes
- Tape all box seams for extra strength (it should look like an H)
- Surround breakables with 3” of bubble roll to avoid damage
- Keep contents in place with 2” of packing paper, peanuts or other filler
- Wrap furniture with stretch wrap to prevent scratches
- Store packed boxes by room or function so they go on and off the truck in a logical order
- Keep boxes going to storage in a designated area to avoid confusion
4 weeks out
- Measure doorways at your new place to make sure furniture can pass easily
- Hire professional cleaners to leave your old space tidy
- Book a locksmith to change the locks at your new location as soon as its ready for occupancy
3 weeks out
- Book a tech services pro to help you shut down and set up your network, computers and other crucial devices and software
- Develop a moving week and post-move staffing plan to mitigate service disruption
- Reroute auto shipments or scheduled deliveries to your new location
- Forward medical and dental records to your new providers
1-2 weeks out
- Update first aid kit contents
- Properly dispose of paint, chemicals and other hazardous waste
- Empty the refrigerator and use up kitchen/ breakroom inventory
- Note your business move on your website or blog to remind customers
Moving day
- Keep your day-of-box handy
- Power down critical technology as late as possible so it’s first on and first off the truck
- Reprogram security and entry/exit keypads
- Test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors
- Locate fire extinguishers, emergency shelter, water shutoff and circuit box
We welcome your comments about the articles on the Staples Business Hub. Please
follow these simple rules when submitting your comments: Do not mention our competitors, the price you
paid for products, URLs, or your personally identifiable information (such as your full name or
address). Be considerate and courteous. Do not attack or insult other users, use violent language, or
engage in name-calling. These types of comments will be removed. Our moderation team may read comments
before they are displayed.