Moving Day Planner

A comprehensive relocation planning skill that manages every aspect of your move across an 8-week timeline. Covers packing room-by-room, utility transfers, address changes, moving company coordination, and day-of logistics. Supports multi-platform task management through Todoist, Trello, Notion, and Google Sheets for organized, stress-free moving.

Supported Platforms & Integrations

Platform	Integration Type	Features
Todoist	Task Export	Weekly task lists with subtasks, priorities, and deadlines
Trello	Board Export	Kanban board with columns per moving phase
Notion	Database Export	Moving dashboard with checklists, contacts, and documents
Google Sheets	CSV Export	Budget tracker, inventory list, and vendor comparison
Google Calendar	ICS Export	Timeline events with reminders for key deadlines
Apple Notes	Checklist Export	Room-by-room packing checklists for mobile access

When to Use This Skill

• Use this when you have confirmed a move date and need to build a comprehensive timeline backward

• Use this when relocating across state lines and need to manage complex utility and address changes

• Use this when planning a first move and have no experience with the logistics involved

• Use this when moving with a family including kids and pets and need coordinated planning

• Use this when downsizing and need to make decisions about what to keep, donate, or discard

• Use this when moving on a tight budget and need to compare DIY versus professional movers

• Consider alternatives when you need a moving company to handle the entire process including planning

• Consider alternatives when you need real estate closing coordination or mortgage processing

• Consider alternatives when you need international relocation with visa and customs requirements

Quick Start

Copy
# .claude/skills/moving-day-planner.yml
name: Moving Day Planner
trigger: "plan move"
context:
  move_date: "2026-05-15"
  move_type: local
  household_size: family-4
  current_home: "3BR apartment"
  new_home: "4BR house"
  budget: 5000

First Run Example:

User: Plan my move. Moving from a 3BR apartment to a 4BR 
house on May 15. Local move, family of 4, budget $5,000.

Expected Output:

## Moving Plan — May 15, 2026
Type: Local | 3BR Apt to 4BR House | Family of 4
Budget: $5,000

### 8-Week Timeline

**Week 1 (Mar 20-26) — Planning Phase**
- [ ] Research moving companies, get 3 quotes
- [ ] Create home inventory room-by-room
- [ ] Begin decluttering: start with storage/closets
- [ ] Order packing supplies (or collect free boxes)
- [ ] Notify landlord of move-out date
- [ ] File USPS mail forwarding (takes 7-10 business days)

**Week 2 (Mar 27-Apr 2) — Declutter & Sort**
- [ ] Sort each room: keep, donate, sell, discard
- [ ] Schedule donation pickups (Salvation Army, Habitat)
- [ ] List sellable items on Facebook Marketplace/Craigslist
- [ ] Begin packing rarely-used rooms (guest room, storage)
- [ ] Confirm moving company booking + insurance

**Week 3-4 (Apr 3-16) — Packing Begins**
- [ ] Pack: books, decorations, seasonal items
- [ ] Pack: kids' off-season clothing and toys
- [ ] Transfer utilities: electric, gas, water, internet
- [ ] Update address: bank, insurance, subscriptions
- [ ] School transfer paperwork if changing districts

**Week 5-6 (Apr 17-30) — Heavy Packing**
- [ ] Pack: kitchen (keep 1 week essentials unpacked)
- [ ] Pack: bedrooms, bathrooms, living room
- [ ] Arrange pet care for moving day
- [ ] Confirm new home walkthrough date
- [ ] Deep clean supplies for move-out cleaning

**Week 7 (May 1-7) — Final Prep**
- [ ] Pack remaining kitchen essentials
- [ ] Prepare "first night" boxes (see checklist below)
- [ ] Confirm movers: time, address, access details
- [ ] Defrost freezer 48 hours before move
- [ ] Back up all electronics and photos

**Week 8 / Moving Week (May 8-15)**
- [ ] Final walkthrough of new home
- [ ] Moving day: see Day-Of Checklist below
- [ ] Move-out cleaning of old apartment
- [ ] Return keys, collect security deposit info
- [ ] Unpack essentials first night

Advanced Configuration

Platform-Specific Setup:

Copy
# Todoist project structure
todoist:
  project_name: "Move — May 2026"
  sections_by_week: true
  priority_levels: true
  label_by_room: true

# Budget tracking
budget:
  spreadsheet_path: ~/Documents/moving-budget.csv
  categories: [movers, supplies, deposits, cleaning, storage]
  track_actual: true
  alert_threshold: 0.8

Parameter	Type	Default	Description
move_date	string	""	Target moving day for backward timeline planning
move_type	string	local	local, long-distance, cross-country, international
household_size	string	single	single, couple, family-3, family-4, family-5-plus
current_home	string	""	Current home size and type for packing estimates
new_home	string	""	New home size for unpacking and setup planning
budget	int	3000	Total moving budget in dollars
has_pets	bool	false	Include pet relocation logistics in the plan
has_kids	bool	false	Include school transfer, childcare on moving day
rental_move	bool	true	Include landlord notification, deposit, cleaning requirements
storage_needed	bool	false	Include temporary storage unit logistics
diy_vs_pro	string	professional	professional, diy-truck, hybrid, pod-container

Core Concepts

Concept	Description
Backward Planning	Builds timeline backward from move date ensuring nothing is left to the last week
Room-by-Room Packing	Organizes packing by room with priority order from least to most used spaces
Utility Orchestration	Manages overlapping utility activation at new home and deactivation at old home
Address Change Matrix	Comprehensive list of every entity requiring address updates post-move
First Night Preparedness	Ensures essential items are accessible immediately upon arrival at new home

+------------------+     +------------------+     +------------------+
|  Move Profile    |---->|  Timeline Engine |---->|  Task Generator  |
|  (date, type,    |     |  (8-week backward|     |  (weekly tasks,  |
|   household)     |     |   from move day) |     |   room packing)  |
+------------------+     +------------------+     +------------------+
                                                          |
                                                          v
+------------------+     +------------------+     +------------------+
|  Platform Export |<----|  Budget Tracker  |<----|  Logistics Plan  |
|  (Todoist, etc.) |     |  (estimates,     |     |  (utilities,     |
|                  |     |   vendor compare) |    |   address change) |
+------------------+     +------------------+     +------------------+

Workflow Examples

Scenario 1: First Night Box Checklist

Input: "What should go in our first night boxes?"

Output:
## First Night Essentials — Pack Last, Unpack First

**Box 1: Bathroom**
Toilet paper, towels (2 per person), soap, shampoo, 
toothbrushes, medications, shower curtain + rings

**Box 2: Kitchen**
Paper plates, plastic utensils, cups, coffee maker, 
coffee, snacks, dish soap, trash bags, paper towels

**Box 3: Bedroom**
Sheets and pillows for each bed, phone chargers, 
night lights, alarm clock, pajamas for everyone

**Box 4: Kids**
Favorite stuffed animals, one activity each, 
snacks, water bottles, change of clothes

**Box 5: Tools**
Screwdriver, hammer, box cutter, flashlight, 
first aid kit, light bulbs, step stool

Scenario 2: Address Change Comprehensive List

Input: "Generate my complete address change list."

Output:
## Address Change Checklist — Complete

**Government (Week 1-2):**
- [ ] USPS mail forwarding
- [ ] Driver's license / state ID
- [ ] Vehicle registration
- [ ] Voter registration
- [ ] IRS (file Form 8822 or update on next return)

**Financial (Week 2-3):**
- [ ] Bank accounts (checking, savings)
- [ ] Credit cards (all cards)
- [ ] Investment accounts (brokerage, retirement)
- [ ] Insurance (auto, health, life, renters/homeowners)

**Services (Week 3-4):**
- [ ] Employer / HR department
- [ ] Doctor, dentist, pediatrician
- [ ] Pharmacy
- [ ] Subscriptions (Amazon, streaming, magazines)
- [ ] Online shopping accounts

[Complete list with 30+ entities]

Scenario 3: Budget Comparison

Input: "Compare costs: full-service movers vs renting 
a U-Haul for a 3BR local move."

Output:
## Moving Cost Comparison — Local 3BR

**Full-Service Movers ($1,800-3,200)**
- 3-person crew, 6-8 hours: $1,400-2,400
- Packing materials: $200-400
- Insurance: $100-200
- Tips (15-20%): $200-400
Total: $1,800-3,200

**DIY U-Haul ($400-900)**
- Truck rental (17-ft, 1 day): $150-250
- Fuel: $50-80
- Moving supplies: $100-200
- Furniture pads/dolly rental: $50-80
- Pizza and drinks for helpers: $50-100
Total: $400-900 (plus your labor and risk)

**Recommendation:** For a family of 4 with a $5,000 
budget, full-service movers offer the best value 
when factoring in time, physical risk, and stress.

Best Practices

• Start the 8-week timeline the moment your move is confirmed. Procrastination compounds exponentially with moving logistics. Week 1 tasks like getting mover quotes and filing mail forwarding require lead time that cannot be compressed.

• Pack rooms you use least first. Guest bedrooms, storage areas, and seasonal closets can be packed weeks early. Leave the kitchen, master bedroom, and bathrooms for the final week when they cannot be lived without.

• Label every box on three sides with room and contents. Writing only on top means you cannot identify boxes when stacked. Include room destination and a brief contents list. This transforms unloading from chaos to organized placement.

• Overlap utilities by at least three days. Having both old and new utilities active simultaneously prevents gaps. The cost of three days of double billing is negligible compared to arriving at a home with no electricity or internet.

• Take photos of electronics wiring before disconnecting. Photograph the back of your TV, router, gaming console, and computer setup. Reassembly at the new home becomes trivial with visual references rather than memory.

Common Issues

• Timeline feels too compressed for my situation. Extend the plan to 10 or 12 weeks by adding buffer in the early phases. The skill can regenerate with a longer lead time. More time for decluttering always reduces moving day stress and cost.

• Moving company quotes vary wildly. Get at least three in-home estimates rather than phone quotes. In-home estimates account for stairs, bulky furniture, and access challenges that phone quotes miss entirely. Always check reviews on Yelp and Google.

• Forgot to update an address and missed important mail. The address change matrix covers the most common entities, but everyone has unique accounts. Review bank statements and email for any services billing you that might need updates.

Privacy & Data Handling

• Local Processing: All moving plans are generated locally. Your addresses, household details, and financial information are never transmitted to moving companies or external services.
• Data Retention: Moving plans and checklists exist only in your current session and exported files. No personal address or household data persists between sessions.
• Export Options: Export as Todoist projects, Trello boards, Notion dashboards, CSV budgets, or Markdown checklists. All files are saved to your local filesystem.
• No Vendor Sharing: The skill does not share your move details with moving companies, utility providers, or real estate services. All vendor contact is initiated by you independently.