Moving & Relocation

Updater, USPS COA, MoveAdvisor, Sortly — change of address, utility transfer, packing inventory.

The "we're moving in 8 weeks" project plan: inventory the house, change the address, transfer utilities, find movers, label boxes, unpack. For pre-move inventory see Home Inventory & Insurance and Storage & Decluttering; for the new house's smart-home setup see Smart Home Hubs and Smart Locks & Cameras; for utility tracking after moving see Utility Tracking; for the bills overlap see Bill Tracking & Household Finance.

Pre-move inventory

★ Sortly — paid + free; photo + barcode every box, label by room, search by item. The default for a methodical mover. See Storage & Decluttering.
HomeZada Move — paid + free; relocation module of HomeZada.
iPhone walkthrough video — free; the "I have 2 days, what's defensible" answer. Open every drawer, narrate, save to iCloud. Pair with insurance documentation.

★ ★ USPS Change of Address — $1.10 (online verification fee); the must-do. Forwards mail for 12 months. Don't skip.
- https://moversguide.usps.com/
★ Updater — free; automatically notifies banks, subscriptions, magazines of your new address; partners with realtors so it's often pre-loaded for you. The 2026 default for the "I have 30 things to update" pain point.
MoveBuddha, MyMovingReviews — free; comparison + checklist.

★ Updater — handles utility transfer / new-utility setup in supported markets.
Allconnect — free; aggregator for ISPs / cable / electric in your new market.
MoveEasy — paid + free; concierge-flavored.
Direct calls — free; the dependable answer; some utilities only transact by phone.

★ MoveAdvisor — paid + free; quote aggregator; reviews.
HireAHelper — paid; load + drive separately (you rent the truck, hire labor).
U-Haul, Penske, Budget Truck — paid; truck rental DIY.
PODS, U-Pack, 1-800-PACK-RAT — paid; container moves; the "load on your schedule, deliver to new house" middle ground.
Long-distance: Allied, Atlas, Mayflower, North American Van Lines, United Van Lines — paid; full-service interstate.
TaskRabbit / local Craigslist labor — paid + free; for the "I rented the truck and need 2 strong people for 4 hours" tier.

Color-code by room with painter's tape. A roll for each room. Done in a weekend.
Number every box + a master spreadsheet. "Box 23: kitchen drawer, mixer, baking sheet." Sortly does this; a spreadsheet does this. Either works.
First-night box: sheets, towels, toiletries, phone chargers, coffee setup, pet supplies, kids' favorite stuffed animal. Label aggressively.
Photograph wiring before disconnecting the TV / router / desktop. You will forget which HDMI went where.
Take a meter reading the day you leave + the day you arrive. Disputes happen.

★ DMV change of address — required in most states; varies by deadline (30-60 days).
★ Voter registration — vote.gov has the redirect.
Driver's license renewal — required in many states for a new home address.
Employer + payroll — for state-tax withholding.
Health insurance / prescriptions — pharmacies need the new address; doctors may not transfer easily.
Schools — enrollment + records transfer for kids.
Banks + credit cards + brokerages + tax-identity — Updater covers most; double-check.
Subscriptions — magazines, meal kits; often missed.

Default new-address admin: USPS COA + Updater.
Methodical inventory pre-move: Sortly.
Quick inventory pre-move: iPhone walkthrough video to iCloud.
DIY truck + labor: U-Haul + HireAHelper.
Container move: PODS.
Full-service long-distance: MoveAdvisor for quotes; pick a major van line.
New utilities: Updater first; Allconnect to compare ISPs; direct phone for the rest.