Most moving checklists are 90 items long and get abandoned by day two. This one is built around the weekly rhythm of a bin rental — short, sequenced, and battle-tested.
Two weeks out: before the bins arrive
Book your delivery date. Confirm your building's elevator or stair situation at both ends (stair carries are priced per flight, so knowing now keeps the quote exact). Start a "do not pack" drawer: leases, closing documents, chargers, medications, and the kettle.
Delivery week: pack in the right order
Start with what you won't miss: off-season clothes, books, décor, the guest room. One room per evening is a relaxed pace with bins — no assembly or taping between boxes. Label every bin on the short side (the side that faces out when stacked) with the destination room, not the origin room.
Three days out: the logistics pass
Reserve street parking or the loading dock if you need it. Defrost the freezer. Pack a first-night bin per person: sheets, towel, toiletries, two changes of clothes — and load it onto the truck last so it comes off first.
Moving day
Bins stack three high in a truck without crushing, so build walls of bins first and fit soft items in the gaps. Keep the do-not-pack drawer contents in your car, not the truck. Do the final walkthrough with your phone flashlight — check closets, the dishwasher, and behind every door.
After the move: the part bins make easy
Unpack by room, restacking empties as you go — nesting them saves space while you settle in. Then schedule pickup from your new address and you're done. No flattening, no curb pile, no cardboard in the garage "just in case."
Want the bins for this plan? Reserve online in a few minutes and your rental starts on delivery day.