This guide gives you a clear, concierge-style plan for your move...
8+ weeks before your move:
- Confirm your closing date and possession terms in writing with your agent and escrow. Start a one-page move plan with deadlines.
- Begin utility planning. Check service availability and schedule turn-ons for electric, gas, water, and internet.
- If you have children, verify your address and start enrollment with Los Altos School District for TK–8 and Mountain View–Los Altos Union High School District for high school. Review transfer and open-enrollment rules early.
- Book your mover and get a binding estimate. Confirm access limits, permitted hours, and insurance.
- If you need a POD or storage, check city rules before reserving.
- Request a pre-move utilities cost estimate and ask about Silicon Valley Clean Energy options for your address.
4 to 6 weeks before moving
- Schedule inspections and track contingency dates with your agent.
- Plan your exit walk thru and your new home walk thru.
- Take pictures and document your walk thru or have your agent document the old property and the new property.
- Start packing, donating or throwing out items that you are or are not taking with you.
- If you are moving into a condo or HOA, get a copy of all the rules including move in rules, lobby rules and when work or movers may be working in the building or unit. Do not assume these rules.
- Buy plastic clear boxes to start packing.
- If you are renting and not renting for the entire month, ask your agent or property manager in writing to give you a cost per day for renting and what your final invoice will be.
- Also, if you are renting ask for a complete ledger history of all payments, including dates, amounts, any fees or credits and copies of the original contract, renewals and walk thru documentation.
7 to 14 days before your move
- Set final utility start dates. File change-of-address with USPS and update banks, insurance, and subscriptions.
- Arrange trash, recycling, and organics service start, plus any bulky-item pickup with the city’s provider.
- Reconfirm your movers, any parking reservations, and building access.
- Have all the members of your family pack a suitcase for their essential needs for a 4-day trip. These suitcases should include medicine, makeup, clothes, toothpaste and important documents and if you have young children games and their favorite stuff animal.
- Do your final walkthrough. Pick up keys, remotes, and codes.
- Turn on main systems and test smoke and CO alarms.
- Photograph meter readings and settings.
- In your first 1 to 2 weeks, update voter and vehicle registration, complete school enrollment, and file any HOA move-in paperwork.
- Get a professional cleaner to do a move out clean of your old vacant home after the movers have moved all items.
- Unpack
- Set up the movers to come back 2 weeks after the new home has been officially unpacked and have them do a dump run for you.
Local essentials to set up
Utilities and providers: Get there contact information
- Electricity and gas
- Water
- Garbage and recycling:
- Internet: Comcast/Xfinity and AT&T are common.
- Confirm fiber or high-speed options early if you work from home.
- Pool Service Companies
- School transfers including school records
- Medical Records
- Trust and Real Estate Attorney contacted
Commute and transit
See the commuting profile at DataUSA.
Evaluate VTA bus routes, nearby Caltrain stations, and employer shuttles for your routine.
Ready to make your move
A smooth relocation comes down to timing, clear steps, and local knowledge. Use this checklist to stay ahead on utilities, permits, and school tasks, and set the tone for a stress-light move. If you’re married, divide roles: let one spouse be The CEO of the Move—the one who keeps the logistics on track—and the other be The CEO of the Experience, making sure the transition stays light, memorable, and even a little fun.
If you want a data-informed purchase plan and guidance tailored for your specific move, connect with The Grail Group for trusted local advisory.
