Moving is a big task under any circumstances, but when you have only days or weeks to pack up and relocate, the stress is even greater.
Whether you just landed a new job, closed on a home faster than expected, or have to move on short notice for personal reasons, a short timeline doesn’t mean your move has to be chaotic.
With the right last-minute moving tips, you can learn how to pack and move fast, organize your belongings, prepare for unexpected snags, and settle into your new home without feeling overwhelmed.
Tips for Planning Your Last-Minute Move
When you find you have to move at the last minute, planning is the first step toward feeling in control.
Even if you’re short of time, creating a checklist and getting organized early will prevent important tasks from slipping through the cracks. The following last-minute moving tips will guide you through this planning stage.
1. Create Your Moving Checklist
Even with a typical timeline, it can be hard to remember every task associated with moving. With a compressed schedule, a written moving checklist becomes essential. Use it to track the steps below and add any additional tasks specific to your situation.
- Schedule Your Move: Decide whether you’ll hire full-service movers, rent a truck for a DIY move, or use hourly labor. Hiring professionals on short notice may cost more, but they’re more likely to handle your move quickly.
- Get Packing Supplies: Before packing, gather boxes, tape, scissors, packing paper, bubble wrap, old towels and blankets, and markers. A packing station will help you keep everything organized.
- Declutter: A last-minute move isn’t the time to pack items you no longer want. Separate your belongings into four piles to save valuable time: donate, sell, dispose of, and keep.
- Pack a “Moving Day” Box: An “open first” box filled with essential documents, medications, chargers, linens, toilet paper, toiletries, and a change of clothes will be a lifesaver.
- Transfer Utilities: Contact utility providers as soon as possible (ideally one month before moving) to ensure water, electricity, and other services are turned on at the new address.
- Change Your Address: File a change-of-address form with the USPS to have your mail forwarded to your new home. Notify insurance companies, banks, and subscription services of your new address, and be sure to update your driver’s license and vehicle registration within 30 days.
- Notify Schools and Doctors: If you have children, let their schools know the date of their last day. If you receive government benefits, update your address with the Social Security Administration to avoid disruptions.
- Update Employment and Legal Documents: Provide your new address to your employer for tax forms and W-2s. Update voting registration and let your tax preparer know if your move crosses county or state lines.
2. Choose a Last Minute-Moving Option
Selecting how to move is especially important when you’re on a tight deadline. There are three main options:
- DIY Moving with a Rental Truck: Renting a truck is often the most budget-friendly choice. Reserve your truck as soon as possible to ensure availability during peak moving times. If you need help- loading or unloading, consider hiring hourly labor from a reputable company.
- Full Service- Movers: Hiring professionals to take care of everything (loading, driving, and unloading may be pricier than other options, but it’s usually the least stressful when you’re moving in a pinch. Because last-minute availability may be limited, contact multiple companies quickly, compare quotes, and look over their reviews.
- Hybrid Option: Combine a rental truck with professional loading or packing services. This arrangement allows for more control over your moving timeline, while professional moving labor speeds up packing, loading, and unloading.
3. Declutter Before You Pack
An efficient move begins with fewer belongings. The less you pack, the easier (and faster) moving day will be. Getting rid of things you no longer want is key to making a last-minute move manageable.
Sell What You Can
Sell items that are in good condition through local marketplaces (e.g., Facebook, Nextdoor, OfferUp), or host a garage sale. Keep prices reasonable so you can sell items as quickly as possible.
Donate or Toss the Rest
Donate items you can’t sell to local charities. Some organizations will pick up donations if scheduled in advance. Recycle or discard anything that is broken or unusable.
4. Use Temporary Storage
If you’re downsizing and don’t have time to declutter properly before your move-out date, consider renting a storage unit for non-essential items.
Temporary storage during your move can simplify (and speed up) the moving process. It also prevents cluttering your new space. Once you’re settled, take all the time you need — whether that’s several months or a year — to decide what to keep, sell, or donate.
5. Ask for Help in Advance
Friends and family can make a huge difference during a last-minute move. Don’t be afraid to ask for help! Extra hands speed up packing and loading.
When you recruit helpers, assign each person a task such as packing kitchen items, disassembling furniture, or loading boxes. Show appreciation by providing refreshments and snacks on moving day and by thanking your helpers after the move.
Packing Tips for Moving in a Hurry
With planning out of the way, it’s time to start packing. The following last-minute moving tips focus on efficient packing strategies to save time and reduce stress when you’re short on time.
1. Gather Your Packing Supplies
Gather all your supplies as early as possible to avoid multiple or last-minute trips to the store.
Consider buying a moving kit, which contains all the supplies you’ll need in one package: a mix of box sizes, packing tape, bubble wrap, packing paper, and markers. Simply pick out a kit based on the size of your home, and you’re ready to go.
If you’re on a tight budget, collect gently used boxes from grocery stores, liquor stores, and other retailers. Or check online marketplaces for people giving away free moving boxes. (Just make sure the boxes are sturdy enough to keep your items intact.)
But do yourself a favor and splurge on high-quality tape guns and markers. Purchase at least one tape dispenser for each packer and invest in thick permanent markers for labeling boxes. Having the right tools keeps the packing process efficient.
2. Plan Your “Moving Day” Box and Bags
Before you pack everything, identify items you’ll need to access right up to the very last moment. These might include a coffee maker, a frying pan, dish soap, cleaning supplies, and vital devices. Keep these aside and accessible until the day of the move.
- Prepare a personal bag for each family member with clothing, toiletries, medications, and chargers.
- Keep cleaning supplies accessible so you can tidy up after the truck is loaded.
- Pack a “moving day” box with tools like screwdrivers, a small flashlight, trash bags, and snacks.
Label these boxes clearly and load them last so they’re the first boxes you unpack at your new home.
3. Tackle Packing One Room at a Time
Packing room by room is more efficient than tackling the whole house at once. Focus on essentials in each room first, then pack less important items.
- Start with Storage Areas: Basements, attics, and closets often hold items you rarely use. Packing these areas first makes visible progress.
- Move on to Guest Rooms or Offices: These rooms often contain non-essential items, such as seasonal storage or old filing, which can be packed up early on.
- Finish with the Kitchen and Bedrooms: Pack seldom-used appliances and extra bedding first, leaving everyday dishes and clothing for last.
By finishing one room before moving on to the next, you can minimize confusion and keep boxes organized by space.
4. Keep Boxes Light
Stick mostly to small and medium boxes to keep box weights manageable and reduce the risk of injury. Write “heavy” on boxes that may require two people to lift. Reserve large boxes for lightweight items like pillows or comforters.
5. Pack Quickly
When you’re moving in a pinch, aim for efficiency rather than perfection. Have a “pack now and sort later” mindset:
- Don’t worry about grouping similar items for this move. Put things where they fit, even if it means the water glasses share a box with board games.
- Use soft items to protect fragile goods. Wrap glassware and breakables in socks, towels, or clothing. This saves money on packing materials as well as reducing waste.
- Set up boxes as you need them. Keep your workspace clear by building boxes one at a time and taping them shut as soon as they’re full.
- Pack clothes as they are. Leave clothes on hangers and protect them with a garbage bag tied around the hangers. For dresser drawers, pack them intact if they aren’t too heavy.
6. Use T-Shirts and Linens to Protect Fragile Items
Household fabrics can help you save money on packing supplies, as well as time spent shopping for them.
Casual clothing, like T-shirts or pajamas, makes cost-effective, environmentally friendly padding for fragile items such as dishes and glassware. Similarly, towels and linens can be used as padding, and pillows or throw blankets can fill empty space in boxes.
7. Clearly Label Each Box
Labeling boxes helps streamline the unloading and unpacking process. Write the destination room (e.g., “Kitchen”) and a brief list of contents.
For boxes containing breakable items, add “FRAGILE” on multiple sides to ensure they’re handled with care. Color-coded stickers or markers are an easy way for movers to identify the correct rooms for boxes quickly.
8. Stack Boxes Near the Entrance
As you finish packing each box, move it to a staging area near your home’s entrance. Stacking boxes in one area keeps your living space clear, reduces clutter, and speeds up the loading process on moving day.
Moving Day Tips for Last Minute-Moving: How to Move Quickly
With planning complete and boxes packed, moving day has arrived. These last-minute moving tips focus on ensuring the day goes smoothly.
1. Get Plenty of Sleep the Night Before
Aim for a full night’s sleep so you have the energy to lift, load, and clean without feeling exhausted. Go to bed early and avoid last-minute packing that can keep you up late.
2. Start Early
Begin loading the truck early in the morning to maximize daylight and take advantage of cooler temperatures. Early starts are especially helpful in the summer when midday heat can drain your energy.
3. Have Refreshments and Food on Hand
Moving is physically exhausting, even for those in great shape. Staying well-fed and well hydrated helps maintain momentum. Keep water, sports drinks, and snacks ready for yourself and any helpers, whether they’re friends or hired workers. Having sandwiches or a light meal prepared on hand also ensures you won’t need to stop the process for meal breaks.
4. Load the Truck Efficiently
Loading the truck takes strategy. Place heavier items such as appliances, mattresses, and sofas toward the front of the truck (closest to the cab) and on the bottom. Use vertical space by placing lighter boxes on top of furniture. Keep fragile boxes secure and avoid stacking heavy items on top of them. If you hired movers, communicate any special instructions, such as boxes that should be unloaded first.
5. Clean Your Home
A final clean demonstrates courtesy to the new occupants and can help you recover a rental deposit. Move-out cleaning doesn’t have to be exhaustive; focus on high-touch areas and visible surfaces:
- Wipe down countertops, cabinets, and appliances
- Vacuum or sweep floors
- Clean bathrooms quickly: wipe sinks, toilets, and bathtubs
- Dispose of trash and recycling
Tidy up rooms as you finish packing. Cleaning in small increments prevents an overwhelming workload at the end. Get the kids to pitch in, or consider hiring a house cleaner, if you’re pressed for time.
6. Do a Final Walk-Through
After everything is loaded, walk through each room, closet, and storage area. Check cupboards, drawers, and attic spaces to ensure nothing is left behind. Verify that windows are closed, lights are turned off, and doors are locked.
7. Double-Check Your List
Look over your moving checklist one last time. A quick review reduces the chance of overlooking a vital step like transferring your utility service or turning in your keys to your landlord.
Last Minute-Moving: FAQs
What Is the Hardest Room to Pack When Moving?
The kitchen is often the hardest room to pack because of its fragile glassware, dishes, and appliances. The kitchen’s many breakable items require extra care, making it one of the most challenging rooms to pack.
Laundry rooms and garages are also difficult because they contain awkwardly shaped items and equipment. Hiring packing assistance can reduce stress.
How Do You Prepare for a Sudden Move?
Preparing for a sudden move involves organizing quickly and prioritizing essentials. Create a checklist, declutter belongings, and gather supplies before packing. Separate items into keep, donate, and toss piles, and pack an “open first” box with essentials like toiletries and important documents. Contact movers promptly if you need professional help and notify relevant parties, utilities, banks, and insurance companies of your change of address.
How Do You Pack a Last-Minute Move?
The key to packing for a last-minute move is efficiency over organization. Use a “don’t think, pack” strategy, pack items where they fit rather than grouping similar items. Gather all supplies at a packing station and wrap fragile items in soft belongings like socks and towels. Pack room by room and label each box clearly. Save time by keeping clothes on hangers and using garbage bags to cover them. If possible, enlist friends or family to help, and remember to take breaks to stay focused and keep energy levels high.
Find a Last-Minute Storage Solution Near You
Last-minute moves can feel daunting. But with careful planning, smart packing strategies, and a calm mindset, you can tackle everything with less stress. Whether you’re moving across town or to a new state, staying organized will make the process smoother.
When you’re short on time or space, extra room can make all the difference. CubeSmart offers flexible storage options, including climate-controlled storage, to help streamline your move. Store non-essential items temporarily until you have time to sort them, make room for renovations, or simplify life during a busy transition.
Ready to make your last-minute move easier? Find a CubeSmart storage facility near you.
