Part 2
Moving To Nashville
Welcome to Part 2 of our Moving To Nashville Series where we help you move to Nashville in the most stress free and organized way possible!
Don’t miss Part 1 of this series: How To Plan & Prep for a Stress-Free Move!
A Fresh Space's Expert Tips
How To Create a really useful Moving Checklist
Moving to Nashville—whether you’re relocating from across the country or just a few miles away—is an exciting adventure, but it can also be overwhelming. At A Fresh Space, we specialize in making your transition smooth and stress-free with our expert move concierge services throughout the Nashville area, including Brentwood, Franklin, and beyond.
One of the best tools you can use to stay on track is a well-crafted moving checklist. But we’re not talking about a generic “pack your boxes and call the movers” list. The ultimate moving checklist is more than a to-do list—it’s a customized roadmap built to reduce decision fatigue, avoid last-minute chaos, and ensure a seamless transition into your new Nashville home.
Moving to Nashville
How To Create the Ultimate Moving Checklist (Nashville Edition)
Why a Moving Checklist Matters (And Why Most Are Incomplete)
Most people think of a moving checklist as a list of tasks like changing your address or booking a moving truck. But truly effective move planning involves so much more—timing, sorting & decluttering, prepping for pets or kids, planning for interim housing or storage, and coordinating services like internet setup or furniture deliveries.
A successful checklist takes into account:
- Your lifestyle, including your available time and bandwidth
- Family dynamics
- Work schedules
- School enrollments
- Local Nashville logistics
- What the movers won’t take
- Your unpacking goals
This is why our move management team doesn’t just hand out a template—we create personalized move plans that walk our clients through every phase of the process. But if you’re DIY-ing your move, here’s how to create a checklist that works for you.
Moving to Nashville
How To create the Ultimate Moving Checklist (Nashville Edition)
1. Start with Your Timeline: Count Backward from Move Day
The most successful moves begin with a realistic timeline. Create your checklist based on key milestones, not just a long list of to-dos.
Key questions to ask:
- What is your move-in date?
- What is your drop dead move out date?
- Will you be moving into a temporary living situation or moving straight from house to house?
- Do you have overlap dates in your housing?
- Do you need to store items in the interim? If so – will you need access to those items?
- Are there kids to account for? If so – working around school, activities, or camp schedules comes into play.
- Do you have pets moving with you?
- Are you driving or flying to your new home?
- Will you be working during your move?
Pro Tip: We recommend starting a minimum of 8–12 weeks in advance to give yourself breathing room for decluttering, donating, prepping, and coordinating logistics. But realistically – as soon as you know you are moving – this is the time to start.
Moving to Nashville
How To create the Ultimate Moving Checklist (Nashville Edition)
2. Break Your Checklist Into Phases
Organize your checklist into the following stages:
- 8–12+ Weeks Out: Planning, hiring services, creating inventory
- 6-8+ Weeks Out: Decluttering, donations, repairs
- 4 Weeks Out: Packing non-essentials, confirming logistics
- 2 Weeks Out: Packing essentials, setting up utilities
- Move Week: Final walkthroughs, packing day-of bag, key handoffs
- Post-Move: Unpacking, organizing, address changes, settling in
Each phase should have no more than 5–10 key action items to keep it manageable. Delegate wherever possible!
3. Inventory Everything—Room by Room
Before packing, document what you have and where it will go. Use a spreadsheet or home inventory app to keep track or video/photo walk throughs work really well. Ideally you can have photos of your items, a list of what you have, and measurements if needed – this can be helpful for things like rugs, art, or large pieces of furniture.
Why this matters:
- Makes it easier to unpack by room
- Helps your movers (or move concierge!) place items correctly
- Reduces risk of lost or damaged items (and assist with claims if something goes missing or is damaged)
- Identifies what can be sold, donated, or discarded – this inventory portion often happens during the decluttering part of the move process
Moving to Nashville
How To create the Ultimate Moving Checklist (Nashville Edition)
4. Account for Special Categories
There are things your movers may not transport—or that require special attention:
- Hazardous items (paint, propane, cleaning supplies)
- Open liquids (bathroom products, oils/vinegars, wine/liquor, etc)
- Firearms/ammunition
- Plants
- Pets
- Pianos, fragile antiques, grandfather clocks, wine collections, fragile or large art or chandeliers, or Tonal/Peloton’s may need specialty movers or crating
Include special instructions for these items in your checklist and arrange for specialty packing/transport if needed.
5. Include Kids and Pets in Your Planning
Moving can be especially stressful for kids and pets. Your checklist should include:
- Packing their essentials separately
- Booking childcare or pet boarding on pack & move days
- Updating pet microchips & making sure you have updated vet records
- Updating school enrollment info
- Creating comfort kits (toys, blankets, snacks)
Moving to Nashville
How To create the Ultimate Moving Checklist (Nashville Edition)
6. Think Beyond Boxes—Plan for Life
Checklist items that make settling in easier:
- Set up/schedule utilities & internet before move-in day if possible
- Schedule furniture delivery or assembly
- Update your address with banks, insurance, and subscriptions
- Notify DMV and voter registration for Tennessee
7. Decide What You’ll Unpack First
Your checklist should end with a priority unpack list for the first 24 hours. These items should be packed separately and labeled ‘Open First’. We recommend packing your bags like you are going to an Air BnB for the interim, and if you are driving and have the space – bring the essentials with you!
- Bedding and linens
- Toiletries & bathroom basics
- Kitchen basics like the coffee pot (and coffee!)
- Work/school supplies
- Apparel
- Chargers, remotes, etc.
A Fresh Space offers unpacking and organizing services so your home functions beautifully from day one—but if you’re doing it solo, plan this phase carefully.
Your Ultimate Moving Checklist Template
Here’s a sample checklist to get you started. You can copy and customize it for your needs – this is just a starting point!
8–12+ Weeks Before
- Hire professional movers or a move concierge service (like us!)
- Tour and measure your new home
- Create a moving budget
- Begin room-by-room inventory or photo/video walk through
- Start decluttering process
- Create a digital or physical folder for receipts, contracts, etc.
- Determine interim housing and/or storage solutions
6+ Weeks Before
- Donate/sell unwanted items
- Arrange school records & medical records transfers
- Research Nashville-area service providers (internet, utilities)
- Begin collecting boxes and packing supplies if you plan to pack yourself
- arrange for specialty packing or transport services
- Schedule repairs or cleaning (after the movers leave) for the old house
- Schedule pet checkups/vaccinations & get records
4 Weeks Before
- Pack seasonal and non-essential items
- Label pre-packed boxes by room & contents
- Plan meals to spend down perishable food
- Finalize moving truck or concierge details
- Create pet/childcare plan
- Schedule cleaners for the new house before the move AND after unpacking
1-2 Weeks Before
- Change address with USPS
- Set up trash, internet, and utility services at the new home
- Pack travel bags for each family member (pack like you are going to an Air BnB for a week or more!)
- Confirm move details with all parties involved
- Backup computer files and photos
- Create a list of things you still need to pack and don't want the movers to pack (think chargers, kids lovies, pet supplies, etc.)
Move Week
- Clean both homes if cleaners aren't scheduled
- Disassemble furniture if not done by movers
- Pack essentials last like medications or snacks
- Get bottled water, snacks, and tips for the movers
- Final walk through of old home
- Change addresses for banking, credit cards, online shopping or delivery services
- Lock up and leave keys & remotes as needed
Need Help with Your Move to Nashville?
At A Fresh Space, we take the stress out of moving with full-service move concierge, unpacking, and professional organizing. Whether you’re moving into a downtown condo, a farm in Leipers Fork, the Grove or Westhaven, and estate in Belle Meade or Oak Hills, or a family home in Franklin or Brentwood, our team can manage every detail.
Let us create and execute the ultimate checklist for you—so all you have to do is walk into your new space and breathe easy.
Contact us today to learn more about our moving concierge services in the Nashville area or to schedule a consultation.
