The 2026 Moving Guide
Your Advocate — Serving the Valley Since 1986
By Daniel Racedo · Realtor at eXp Realty · CA DRE #00989968
Moving is one of life's biggest transitions. It touches your home, your work, your kids' school, and your daily routine, and it usually has to happen on a timeline you don't control. This guide turns the whole process into one clean schedule, from eight weeks out to moving day, with room-by-room checklists and the Valley logistics that keep a move from falling apart at the end. Daniel helps you through every step of it, bringing Nearly 40 Years of Experience in Southern California real estate to your corner.
Work backward from your move date and give every task a week on the calendar. The point of the timeline is to have nothing urgent left for the last 48 hours.
8 · Weeks Out
Book Your Movers, Declutter, Gather Boxes
- Book your movers or reserve a moving truck for the date you have in mind.
- Declutter room by room: donate, sell, or recycle what you will not take.
- Gather boxes, tape, markers, and packing paper before the real packing starts.
6 · Weeks Out
Set the Move Date, Start Packing Non-Essentials
- Set the move date and lock it in with your agent, movers, and family.
- Start packing non-essentials first: books, decor, and out-of-season clothes.
- Label every box with its room as you go, so sorting later is easy.
4 · Weeks Out
Start Address and Utility Prep
- Begin your change of address prep: USPS, banks, subscriptions, and your employer.
- Arrange utility transfer dates for electric, water, gas, and internet.
- Notify your landlord or HOA of your move date and any move-in requirements.
2 · Weeks Out
Pack the Kitchen, Confirm Your Movers
- Pack the kitchen: dishes, glassware, small appliances, and the pantry.
- Confirm the movers, the truck size, and the time on the calendar.
- Request any street or parking permits the moving truck will need.
1 · Week Out
Essentials Box, Freezer, and Parking
- Pack your open first essentials box with everything you need the first night.
- Defrost the freezer and wipe it down so it is dry before loading.
- Confirm truck parking and access for moving day, including any permits.
0 · Moving Day
Walk Every Room Before You Leave
- Walk every room, closet, garage, and outdoor space before the door closes for good.
- Check drawers, cabinets, under beds, and storage spots one last time.
- Leave keys, garage door openers, and move documents in the agreed place.
Kitchen
- Wrap dishes and glassware in packing paper and pack them upright in small boxes.
- Empty the pantry; donate unopened non-perishables you will not take.
- Clean appliances and coil their cords before they are loaded.
- Pack small appliances with their cords and accessories together.
- Mark fragile boxes FRAGILE on the top and both sides.
Bedrooms
- Pack hanging clothes in wardrobe boxes; fold the rest into labeled boxes.
- Keep bedding together, one box per bed, with sheet sizes noted on the label.
- Tape dresser drawers shut and move them full if your movers agree.
- Pack shoes in their own box instead of loose at the bottom.
- Pack the kids' rooms last and plan to unpack them first.
Bathrooms
- Line a box with a trash bag for toiletries and cleaning supplies.
- Keep daily medications and toiletries in the open first box.
- Wrap mirrors and glass shelves, and mark them fragile.
- Pack towels and bath linens last; you will need them before the movers arrive.
- Empty cabinets and wipe down shelves before move-in day.
Living Areas
- Photograph the back of your electronics before unplugging so reconnecting is quick.
- Pack books in small boxes; weight calls for smaller sizes.
- Wrap lampshades separately and label each lamp with its shade.
- Use picture or dish-pack boxes for art, mirrors, and glass.
- Roll rugs instead of folding them.
Garage
- Drain fuel from mowers and power tools before the move.
- Dispose of paints, solvents, and other flammables safely; movers will not carry them.
- Bundle garden tools and tape the heads.
- Keep heavy items like tools in small, manageable boxes.
- Sweep the garage so nothing is left behind.
Outdoor
- Water potted plants and wrap them for the ride, or gift them to neighbors.
- Wipe down patio furniture and stack cushions together.
- Drain the grill's propane tank and check the mover's rules for it.
- Secure pool equipment and confirm what stays with the new owner.
- Label anything that is staying behind so there is no confusion.
Electric and Water
Transfer your LADWP electric and water service so it starts at the new address on move-in day.
Gas
Schedule your SoCalGas transfer so service continues without a gap.
Edison, If Applicable
If your home is served by Southern California Edison rather than LADWP, transfer your electricity directly with Edison.
USPS Change of Address
Submit your change of address and give mail forwarding a few weeks to kick in.
Internet and Cable
Transfer internet and cable service and confirm the installation window at the new home.
Insurance
Keep renter's or homeowner's insurance active through move day and update your policy with the new address.
Parking Permits
Request parking permits for the moving truck and confirm where it can legally stop.
HOA Move-In Rules
Check HOA move-in rules, deposits, and elevator or gate access when your new community has them.
Pack an "open first" essentials box
Chargers, medications, toiletries, a change of clothes, basic tools, and important documents go in one clearly marked box that travels with you, not in the truck.
Label and color-code boxes by room
Give each room a color and a label, and mark every box top and side. Movers can place each box exactly where it belongs.
Photograph the electronics wiring before unplugging
One photo of the back of your TV and computer setup makes reconnecting everything a five-minute job at the new house.
Heavy items in small boxes
Books, tools, and canned goods go in small boxes. Big boxes of heavy items get impossible to lift, and anything lighter underneath gets crushed.
Keep clothes in garment bags
Hanging clothes move in wardrobe boxes and garment bags, straight off the rack and ready to wear at the new place.
Moving with Kids
- Pack their rooms last and set them up first at the new house, so the move ends in a familiar place.
- Keep a small bag of favorite toys, books, and comfort items with you for the first night.
- Explain the move in plain language before the truck arrives, and let them pack a few things themselves.
- Keep bedtimes, meals, and routines steady in the week leading up to moving day.
Moving with Pets
- Keep pets in a quiet room with a sitter or family member on moving day, away from open doors and the truck.
- Update microchips and ID tags with the new address before you leave.
- Pack food, water, bowls, leash, medications, and vet records in the open first box.
- Confirm pet rules and any deposits or fees at your new rental or community.
The Valley has its own rhythm. These three details decide whether moving day feels smooth or like the scene from a comedy.
Rush Hour on the 101, 405, and 5
The freeways around the Valley are thickest roughly 7 to 9 a.m. and 4 to 7 p.m. A moving truck is slow to brake and turn, so plan the route for off-peak hours and give yourself extra time.
Plan for Summer Heat
Valley summers get genuinely hot. Book a morning move, keep water out for the crew, and never let electronics, candles, or vinyl bake inside a closed truck.
Truck Parking and Permits
Confirm where the truck can park and whether your city or HOA requires permits, before moving day. Watch for overhead wires and low branches on your street.
Moving into a condo, apartment, or gated community? Ask about the loading dock, elevator reservations, and gate codes while you still have time to book them.
Selling and Moving at the Same Time
One move is a project. A move and a sale is a juggling act.
If you are selling your current home and buying your next one, the two timelines have to line up: listing date, escrow, move-out day, and closing. Daniel coordinates both sides of the calendar so you are not paying two mortgages or camping in a hotel between homes. He handles the sale from pricing to close, then stays with you through the move itself.
Read the Home Selling Guide
Your Advocate ★ Let's Talk Real Estate
An advocate in your corner from the first box to the last key.
Whether you are moving across the Valley or across the country, Daniel helps you plan the move and the real estate behind it. Talk to you soon.
CA DRE #00989968 · eXp Realty