The definitive checklist: 8 weeks to a stress-free move

If you have been putting off finding a moving company for weeks, this article is for you. Below is the real timeline we use at MOVIN so the move is boring — in a good way — and stays inside budget. Eight weeks, one page, zero improvisation.

Week 8 — Strategic decisions

Eight weeks out feels far away. It is not. This is when you take the three decisions that shape everything: what you take, when you move and how you move it.

• Set a tentative date and two alternatives (be flexible: moving mid-month can save up to 25%).
• Decide whether you move yourself, with a full-service company or with a partial service (loading + transport).
• Measure large furniture and access in the new home. The fridge that does not fit in the lift is the classic.
• Open a folder (physical or digital) for contracts, quotes and receipts. Keep everything together.

MOVIN TIP — If you can choose the date, avoid the last 5 and first 5 days of the month. In Madrid and Barcelona those 10 days concentrate 60% of demand.

Week 7 — Quotes and choosing a company

With 7 weeks left you still have room to negotiate. With 2, you do not. Ask for at least 3 quotes and compare the same things in all three: volume, included services, day of the week and insurance.

• Demand a breakdown: labour, vehicle, packing, insurance and parking permits.
• Check the company is on the ROTT register and has current public-liability insurance.
• Read reviews specific to your city. A company that is good in Seville can be average in Madrid.
• Book the date in writing with a contract and a deposit of no more than 20%.

Week 6 — Sort and classify

Moving costs money by cubic metre. Everything you do not take is money you do not pay. This week is the most emotional, and also the most profitable: a good sort reduces volume by 15% to 30%.

• Apply the one-year rule: if you have not used it in 12 months, you probably do not need it.
• Create four piles per room: keep, sell, donate, throw away. Nothing stays in “I'll decide later”.
• List items to sell this week: what you want to sell needs time to find a buyer.
• Use the household waste point for bulky items: check the municipal calendar, there is often a 48-hour wait.

Week 5 — Packing materials

Cheap supermarket boxes look like a good idea until they collapse in the stairwell. Invest in proper materials: it will cost less than replacing what gets damaged on the way.

• Allow about 10 boxes per room + 15 for the kitchen. Keep 10 spare: you always run short.
• Buy 3 sizes: small (books, crockery), medium (clothes, kitchenware) and large (textiles, lamps).
• Add bubble wrap, kraft paper, wide packing tape (2 rolls minimum) and thick markers.
• Use specific covers for mattresses, sofas and TVs. Do not improvise with old sheets.

Week 4 — Admin

The boring part, but the one that causes 40% of last-minute headaches. Set aside a morning and get it done in one go.

• Change of registration (online if you already have a digital certificate).
• Start and stop utilities (electricity, gas, water, fibre). Ask for a 48-hour overlap if you work from home.
• Apply for a parking reservation permit at the town hall (Madrid and Barcelona: 10–15 days' notice).
• Postal redirection (6 months) and change of address at your bank, doctor and driving authority.

Week 3 — Start packing

Start with what you do not use daily: books, décor, seasonal textiles, guest crockery. One room every two days, without rushing.

• Label by destination room, not origin. “Kitchen” goes to the new kitchen, wherever it is today.
• Use colour by zone (green kitchen, blue bathroom, red fragile). Loading and unloading is three times faster.
• Fragile items in small, heavy boxes: books cannot travel in large boxes (they break).

Week 2 — Last details

With 14 days to go, start the things that eat time without you noticing: watering plants for travel, pet medication, spare keys.

• Empty and defrost the fridge 48 hours ahead. Eat or give away perishables.
• Dismantle bulky items (beds, large tables) or confirm the company will do it.
• Prepare a “day one” box with sheets, towels, toilet paper, chargers and a coffee maker.
• Confirm in writing the time, exact address and contact details of the loading team.

Week 1 — The final stretch

Seven days. From here, just execute. If you have done the work, this week feels surprisingly calm.

• Pack what is still in use (everyday clothes, bathroom, basic kitchen).
• Do a final walk-through: terrace, storage room, mailbox, garage. Those are the three classic omissions.
• A quick clean and photos of the home's condition before you leave (deposit).
• Sleep well the night before. It sounds obvious. Nobody does it. It makes a difference the next day.

And on the day…

Even the best plan does not avoid every surprise: a broken lift, unexpected rain, a box that appears where it should not. A good plan keeps them to a minimum and, above all, means none of them catch you without a plan B. If you want a real shortcut, upload your photos to MOVIN and let the financial part — the most stressful — be resolved before you open the first box.