Bay Area moving checklist, week by week.

How to use this checklist

Every task below is tied to a point on the calendar counting down to move day. If your move is closer than eight weeks out — which is common in the Bay Area rental market — just start at the phase that matches your timeline and roll the earlier tasks forward. The goal is simple: never leave booking, utilities, or permits to the last minute, because those are the items that go wrong most often.

8 weeks out: plan and book

• Set your move date. Mid-week and mid-month dates are cheaper and easier to book.
• Get written estimates from at least three licensed, insured movers and book your crew — during peak season (May–September), the best slots fill 6–10 weeks ahead. Request a free estimate from B2.
• Start a moving folder (digital or paper) for quotes, receipts, and building rules.
• Confirm move-out and move-in dates with both landlords or your closing schedule.
• Ask both buildings about COI requirements, elevator reservations, and allowed move hours.

6 weeks out: declutter and source supplies

• Declutter room by room — donate, sell, or toss. Less to move means fewer billable hours locally and less weight on a long haul.
• Book a donation pickup or schedule drop-offs at Goodwill or a local charity.
• Collect free boxes from grocery, liquor, and bookstores, or order supplies. Decide whether B2 will handle packing — see our packing services.
• Measure large furniture against doorways, stairwells, and elevators at the new place.
• If you'll need storage between homes, arrange it now.

4 weeks out: logistics and address changes

• File a change of address with USPS (usps.com) to start mail forwarding.
• Update your address with your bank, employer, insurance, DMV, and subscriptions.
• Schedule utility transfers — see the PG&E note below.
• Begin packing rooms you rarely use: guest room, garage, off-season clothes, books.
• Label every box with its destination room and a short contents note.
• Arrange care for kids and pets on move day.

2 weeks out: utilities, permits, and confirmations

• Confirm your move date, arrival window, and crew size with your mover in writing.
• Set up electricity and gas at the new home and schedule shut-off at the old one. In most of the Bay Area that's PG&E — request the transfer online or by phone about two weeks ahead so service is live on arrival day.
• Transfer or set up internet, water, and trash service.
• Reserve any required parking permits. San Francisco offers temporary no-parking permits through the SFMTA for moving trucks — apply about two weeks out. Oakland issues temporary loading-zone/parking permits through the city as well. Reserving space in front of both buildings avoids a costly long carry.
• Return library books, dry cleaning, and anything borrowed; retrieve items being repaired.
• Use up frozen and perishable food.

1 week out: pack the bulk

• Pack everything except daily essentials. Keep a clear path through each room.
• Disassemble what you can, and bag hardware taped to each piece (the crew handles basic disassembly, but pre-planning speeds it up).
• Pack a clearly labeled first-night box: medications, chargers, phone and laptop, a change of clothes, toiletries, basic tools, paper towels, snacks, pet supplies, and important documents. Keep this box with you, not on the truck.
• Confirm the plan with your movers one final time and make sure your phone is charged for move day.
• Set aside cash for a tip and note where your parking permit signs go.

Moving day

• Post parking-permit signs and clear the loading area before the crew arrives.
• Do a walkthrough with the crew lead: point out fragile items, what's not going, and priority pieces.
• Keep water and snacks on hand for the crew, especially in warm weather.
• Do a final sweep of closets, cabinets, the garage, and outdoor spaces before the truck leaves.
• At the new home, direct boxes to their labeled rooms and check off your inventory.
• Confirm the final bill against your Not-to-Exceed estimate and tip the crew at the end.

After the move

• Unpack the first-night box and set up beds so everyone can rest.
• Confirm PG&E, internet, water, and trash are all active and correctly billed.
• Update your driver's license and vehicle registration with the DMV, and re-register to vote.
• Test smoke and carbon-monoxide detectors and locate the water shut-off and breaker panel.
• Break down and recycle boxes, or ask about pickup of packing debris.
• Leave a review for your movers and note anything you'd do differently next time.

A few Bay Area specifics worth planning around

Two things trip up local moves more than anything else: parking and building rules. In San Francisco and parts of Oakland and Berkeley, a full-size truck may not fit or legally park near your door without a temporary permit, and a shuttle to bridge the gap adds cost and time. Apply for permits early and reserve the curb. Meanwhile, many apartment complexes and HOAs require a certificate of insurance and restrict move hours — confirm both when you book so nothing stalls on the day. B2 provides a COI within 24 hours on request. For a full breakdown of what a move costs once these factors are included, see our moving cost guide.