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The complete move-in checklist (with the shopping list nobody hands you)

Moving is two jobs at once: getting your things into a new place, and quietly learning how that place works. This guide splits both into four phases — two weeks out, move-in day, first week, first month — and ends with a room-by-room shopping list so you are not driving to the store at 9pm for a shower curtain liner.

Start here if you only do three things

Change the locks, test the smoke and carbon-monoxide detectors, and find the water shutoff valve. Everything else on this page can slip a week. Those three cannot.

The move-in timeline

2 weeks before

Paperwork beats muscle. Do this while you still have time.
  • Schedule electricity, gas, water, and internet to start the day before you move
  • File a change of address with USPS and your bank, employer, and insurer
  • Buy or transfer renters / homeowners insurance so coverage starts on key day
  • Book movers or a truck, and reserve the building elevator if there is one
  • Photograph valuables and read your lease's move-out condition clause
  • Order the essentials below so they arrive before the boxes do

Move-in day

Safety and access first. Decor can wait a month.
  • Change the locks or ask for a re-key; you never know how many keys exist
  • Test every smoke and carbon-monoxide detector and replace the batteries
  • Find and label the water shutoff, breaker panel, and gas valve
  • Locate the HVAC filter slot and note the size printed on the old filter
  • Run every faucet and flush every toilet, watching for leaks under sinks
  • Photograph existing damage — scuffs, stains, cracks — before you unpack
  • Unpack the first-night box: bedding, towels, toilet paper, chargers, meds

First week

Turn a building into a home that runs itself.
  • Deep-clean before furniture lands: fridge, oven, bathrooms, inside cabinets
  • Replace the HVAC filter and write the date on the new one
  • Register your car, update your driver's license, and find your polling place
  • Meet the neighbors and learn trash and recycling days
  • Set the water heater to 120°F and check the thermostat schedule
  • Test the dryer vent airflow and clean the lint trap housing
  • Note your appliance model numbers for future filters and parts

First month

The things that quietly cost money if you skip them.
  • Set a recurring furnace-filter reminder (every 1–3 months)
  • Flush or inspect the water heater and note its age from the label
  • Check window and door weatherstripping before the season turns
  • Walk the yard: gutters, downspout direction, tree limbs on the roof
  • Add pest prevention if you see any activity — it is cheaper early
  • Build the year's maintenance calendar so nothing lands on you all at once

The move-in shopping list

Check items off as you buy them — your progress is saved on this device. Each "Shop" link opens a search so you can compare options and pick your own brand and budget. Work top to bottom: the first-night box matters far more on day one than anything in the yard section.

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First-night box

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Everything you will be furious about not having at 10pm.

  • Toilet paper 12 packShop
  • Paper towelsShop
  • Shower curtain linerShop
  • Bed sheets setShop
  • Bath towel setShop
  • Phone charging cableShop
  • Power strip surge protectorShop
  • Basic first aid kitShop

Cleaning and safety

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Do this before the furniture arrives — it is never easier than now.

  • All purpose cleaner sprayShop
  • Microfiber cleaning clothsShop
  • Toilet brush and plungerShop
  • Broom and dustpan setShop
  • Smoke detector 9V batteriesShop
  • Carbon monoxide detectorShop
  • Fire extinguisher homeShop
  • LED light bulbs packShop

Tools and hardware

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The starter kit that handles 90% of first-year home problems.

  • Home tool kit setShop
  • Cordless drillShop
  • Stud finderShop
  • Tape measure 25 ftShop
  • Command strips assortedShop
  • Picture hanging kitShop
  • Furniture felt padsShop
  • Step ladder 3 stepShop

Kitchen

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Enough to actually cook the first week without takeout every night.

  • Nonstick pan setShop
  • Chef knifeShop
  • Cutting board setShop
  • Dish soap and spongesShop
  • Food storage containersShop
  • Trash bags 13 gallonShop
  • Can openerShop
  • Kitchen towelsShop

Home systems

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The unglamorous items that prevent expensive service calls.

  • HVAC furnace filter MERV 11Shop
  • Refrigerator water filterShop
  • Water heater blanketShop
  • Outlet and switch safety coversShop
  • Door draft stopperShop
  • Window insulation film kitShop
  • Dryer vent cleaning kitShop
  • Drain snake toolShop

Yard and outdoors

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Skip this section if you rent an apartment or condo.

  • Garden hose 50 ftShop
  • Leaf rakeShop
  • Hedge shearsShop
  • Gutter cleaning scoopShop
  • Snow shovelShop
  • Outdoor extension cordShop
  • Hose faucet cover insulatedShop
  • Lawn mower oil and fuel stabilizerShop

Renting vs. owning

If you rent

  • Document every existing flaw with timestamped photos on day one.
  • Ask in writing who handles filters, smoke detectors, and pest control.
  • Get renters insurance — it is usually $12–20 a month and covers theft and water damage.
  • Do not drill into tile or brick without written permission.

If you own

  • Find the main water shutoff before you need it in an emergency.
  • Save appliance model and serial numbers in one place for filters and warranty claims.
  • Set aside roughly 1% of the home's value per year for maintenance.
  • Schedule an HVAC tune-up in the first season you own the house.

Frequently asked questions

What should I do first on move-in day?

Confirm utilities are on, change the locks, photograph every room before boxes arrive, and locate the water shutoff and breaker panel.

How far in advance should I start a move-in checklist?

Two to four weeks out. Utility transfers, address changes, and movers all book earlier than people expect.

What is easiest to forget when moving in?

The HVAC filter size, detector batteries, trash and recycling pickup days, and updating your address with your bank, insurer, and employer.

Related guides

Month two is when people forget all of this.

LyfeMinder takes a short quiz about your new place — rent or own, house or apartment, yard, climate, kids, pets — and builds the whole year of upkeep into a calendar. Filters, gutters, insurance reviews, mower winterizing, and a weekly shopping list with the supplies already linked.

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