5 Things to Do the Week Before Your Move — Quick Checklist Inside

The week before your move comes down to five priorities: confirming your moving crew, filing your USPS change of address, scheduling utility transfers, finishing all packing, and defrosting your refrigerator. Handle these five in order and everything else — labeling, parking permits, essentials boxes — fits naturally around them.

This guide breaks down exactly what to do each day of that final week, why the order matters, and which mistakes cost Sacramento movers the most time and money. If you’d rather hand off the heavy lifting, Service Pro Movers has helped more than 3000 Sacramento-area households through this exact week.

1. Confirm Your Moving Crew and Schedule

Do this first, seven days out, not the night before.

Call to confirm your crew’s arrival window, team size, and the exact addresses for pickup and drop-off. Sacramento’s summer moving season (May–September) fills up fast, and schedules sometimes shift when a company is juggling multiple jobs across the I-80 and Highway 99 corridors. A five-minute call prevents a no-show or a scheduling mix-up.

What to confirm on the call:

• Exact arrival window (not just “morning” or “afternoon”)
• Crew size and truck size based on your move (Service Pro Movers offers 2, 3, or 4-mover teams depending on home size)
• Payment method and deposit status
• Whether your building requires a certificate of insurance (common in downtown Sacramento high-rises like The Sawyer or Capitol Towers)

If your moving date changed unexpectedly, don’t panic — last-minute moving services exist for exactly this situation, with crews that can deploy on short notice.

Common mistake: Assuming your original booking email is enough. A phone confirmation with your crew leader is the only reliable proof you have a truck and team locked in for moving day.

2. File Your USPS Change of Address

Submit this online at least 7–10 days before your move date, not after.

Go to the USPS Change of Address portal, pay the $1.10 identity-verification fee, and select your forwarding start date. Mail forwarding typically takes 7–10 business days to activate, which is why waiting until moving week itself means you’ll have a gap with no forwarding coverage.

Beyond USPS, update these separately — USPS forwarding does not update your address with these organizations automatically:

Account Type	Where to Update
Bank & credit cards	Online banking portal or app
DMV / vehicle registration	California DMV online services
Voter registration	California Secretary of State portal
Insurance (auto, renters, health)	Provider’s website or agent
Subscriptions & deliveries	Individual account settings
Employer / payroll	HR department directly

Sacramento-specific note: If you’re moving within Sacramento County but crossing school district lines (e.g., from Sacramento City Unified to Elk Grove Unified), notify your child’s school separately — district changes aren’t triggered by USPS forwarding.

3. Schedule Your Utility Transfers

Set shut-off and start dates now so you’re never without power, water, or internet.

At your old address: Schedule disconnection for the day after your move, not the same day — this gives you a buffer if the move runs long.

At your new address: Schedule activation for the day before you arrive, so lights and internet work the moment you walk in.

Utility	Sacramento Provider	Lead Time Needed
Electricity/Gas	SMUD (Sacramento Municipal Utility District)	3–5 business days
Water/Sewer	City of Sacramento Utilities	3–5 business days
Internet	Comcast Xfinity, AT&T, or local ISP	5–7 business days (longer if a technician visit is required)
Trash/Recycling	City of Sacramento or contracted hauler	Automatically tied to address if within city limits

Common mistake: Forgetting that SMUD requires proof of residency (lease or deed) to activate service, which can delay setup if submitted too close to moving day.

4. Finish Packing and Label Everything

By the start of your final week, packing should be at least 80% done. The last seven days are for finishing, not starting.

Daily packing pace for the final week:

• Day 7–6: Pack non-essential rooms — guest room, storage closets, garage.
• Day 5–4: Pack kitchen items you won’t use again before the move (keep 3–4 days of dishes out).
• Day 3–2: Pack everything except what you need for the last 48 hours.
• Day 1: Pack your essentials box last; do a final walkthrough of every closet, drawer, and cabinet.

Labeling system that actually works: Label each box with the destination room and a one-word content summary (e.g., “Kitchen – Utensils,” not just “Kitchen”). This cuts unpacking time significantly because your crew can place boxes directly in the correct room without asking.

If the final-week packing pace feels unrealistic with everything else going on, Service Pro Movers’ packing and moving services can take over some or all of it — from wrapping fragile items to fully packing a room on request. Our team also handles full-service packing and moving from start to finish if you’d rather not touch a box at all.

Build your essentials box separately from the moving truck. Pack it last, keep it with you in your car, and include:

• Medications and a basic first-aid kit
• Phone chargers and a power bank
• Toiletries and a few days of clothes
• A roll of toilet paper and paper towels
• Pet food and bowls, if applicable
• A basic tool kit (screwdriver, box cutter, tape)

5. Defrost Your Refrigerator and Drain Appliances

Do this 24 hours before moving day, not the morning of.

Refrigerator/freezer: Empty it completely, unplug it, and let it defrost with towels underneath to catch water. Prop the doors open so it doesn’t develop mold or odor during transit. A fridge that’s still cold or icy when your crew loads it risks water damage to your other belongings and can crack the compressor if tilted.

Washing machine: Run a final cycle, then disconnect and drain the hoses. Coil them and tape them to the machine so nothing leaks in the truck.

Water heater or gas appliances: If you’re taking a gas dryer or water heater, this needs a professional disconnect — don’t attempt it yourself unless you’re qualified, since Sacramento building codes require proper gas line handling. Let your crew leader know in advance so it’s accounted for on the schedule.

Additional Steps That Matter in the Final Week

• Reserve parking or the elevator: If you live in a Sacramento apartment complex (Midtown and Downtown buildings especially), contact your property manager for a moving reservation and any required parking permits for the truck. Our apartment movers handle tight stairwells, elevator scheduling, and parking restrictions on a regular basis and can advise on timing.
• Document the condition of both homes: Photograph every room before you leave your old place and before you move into the new one. This protects your security deposit and gives you evidence in case of damage disputes.
• Line up short-term storage if your move-in date slips: Closing delays and lease overlaps happen. If you need somewhere secure to keep your belongings between homes, moving and storage in Sacramento covers exactly this gap.
• Confirm childcare or pet care for moving day so you can focus on logistics without distractions.
• Charge all devices and back up important files the night before, in case of an unexpectedly long day.

Expert Tips

• Keep a printed copy of your inventory list and contact numbers (your crew leader, landlord, utility companies) in your essentials box — phone batteries die at the worst times.
• Ask your crew leader to walk you through how the truck is loaded before it pulls away. Knowing how items are arranged is useful if anything needs to come off first at the new place.
• If moving locally within Sacramento, check the route for road closures or construction on moving day — Caltrans and city projects can add unexpected delays on major corridors like Highway 50.

What to Remember

The week before your move is about locking in logistics, not scrambling. Confirm your crew first, file your change of address early, schedule utilities with buffer days, finish packing with a clear labeling system, and defrost your fridge the day before. Everything else — parking permits, documentation, essentials boxes — supports these five priorities.

Final Week Before Moving: Quick Checklist

• Confirm your moving crew (arrival time, team/truck size)
• File USPS change of address online
• Update address with bank, DMV, insurance, employer, subscriptions
• Schedule utility shut-off at old address (day after move)
• Schedule utility activation at new address (day before move)
• Finish packing all non-essential rooms
• Label every box by room and contents
• Pack a separate essentials box for the first 48 hours
• Defrost and empty the refrigerator/freezer
• Drain washing machine hoses
• Reserve parking or elevator access if needed
• Photograph both homes before and after move
• Confirm childcare/pet care for moving day
• Charge devices and back up files the night before

FAQ: Week Before Moving

What should I do exactly one week before moving?

Confirm your moving crew, file your USPS change of address, and schedule your utility transfers. These three tasks have lead times of several days, so starting them a week out avoids last-minute gaps.

How early should I file my change of address with USPS?

At least 7–10 business days before your move, since mail forwarding takes that long to activate after submission.

When should I defrost my refrigerator before moving?

About 24 hours before moving day. This gives it enough time to fully defrost and dry so it doesn’t leak or grow mold during transport.

Should I schedule utility shut-off for moving day or the day after?

The day after. This gives you a buffer in case the move takes longer than planned and you need power, water, or internet at your old place a little longer.

What goes in a moving essentials box?

Medications, phone chargers, toiletries, a change of clothes, basic tools, pet supplies, and toilet paper — anything you’d need in the first 24–48 hours without unpacking.

How much packing should be done by the final week?

At least 80%. The final week should be for finishing non-essential rooms and packing your last-used items, not starting from scratch. If you’re behind, packing and moving services can help you catch up quickly.

Do I need a parking permit for a moving truck in Sacramento?

If you live in an apartment building or a dense neighborhood like Midtown or Downtown, yes — contact your property manager or the City of Sacramento for temporary parking permits.

What’s the best way to label moving boxes?

Write the destination room and a short content summary on each box (e.g., “Bedroom – Linens”), so boxes go directly to the right room without questions.

Should I drain my washing machine before moving?

Yes. Run a final cycle, disconnect the hoses, drain them fully, and tape them to the machine to prevent leaks during transport.

What Sacramento utility company handles electricity and gas?

SMUD (Sacramento Municipal Utility District) handles electricity and gas for most of the Sacramento area; confirm your specific provider based on your new address.

How do I update my address for voter registration in California?

Through the California Secretary of State’s online voter registration portal — this is separate from your USPS change of address.

What should I photograph before and after moving?

Every room in both your old and new home, focusing on existing damage, wall condition, and appliance state. This protects your security deposit and provides evidence for any disputes.

Can I disconnect a gas water heater or dryer myself?

No — gas appliance disconnection should be handled by a licensed professional to meet safety codes and avoid gas leaks.

What’s a common mistake people make the week before moving?

Assuming an online booking confirmation is enough without a follow-up call, and waiting until the last day to defrost the fridge or drain appliances, both of which cause avoidable delays.

How far in advance should I schedule internet installation at my new home?

5–7 business days, since providers often need a technician visit that requires scheduling in advance, especially during peak moving season.

Moving within Sacramento or planning a long-distance move? The core checklist stays the same, but timelines can shift depending on your building requirements and utility providers. Contact Service Pro Movers to confirm your schedule, or check our moving tips and FAQ for more guides like this one.