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The Washington moving checklist

This checklist works for any move within Washington. One statewide caveat up front: utilities are municipal or district-level here — Seattle City Light, Tacoma Public Utilities, Avista in Spokane, Clark Public Utilities in Vancouver, and dozens of PUDs elsewhere — so 'transfer the utilities' always means looking up who serves your specific new address.

4–6 weeks out

  • Request quotes and compare several providers — start earlier for summer or month-end dates
  • If renting, give written notice per your lease terms
  • Identify the utility providers at your new address (electric, water, gas, garbage vary city by city in Washington)
  • Declutter room by room — everything you shed is time or weight you don't pay for
  • For cross-Cascade winter moves, discuss weather contingency plans with providers now

2–3 weeks out

  • Schedule utility stop dates at the old address and start dates at the new one
  • Set up internet installation — lead times vary widely between Washington providers
  • File USPS mail forwarding
  • Start packing low-use rooms; label every box with its destination room
  • If moving into a managed building, ask about elevator reservations and insurance-certificate requirements

Move week

  • Confirm dates, crew details, and both addresses with your provider
  • Arrange truck parking or loading access at both ends
  • Pack a first-night box: medications, chargers, basic kitchen and bathroom items
  • Empty, defrost, and dry the freezer a day or two ahead
  • Photograph electronics cabling before disconnecting anything

After the move — Washington paperwork

  • Update your address with the Washington DOL — driver license and vehicle registration can be changed online
  • Vehicle tabs renew to your new address automatically once DOL records are updated; verify the county is right
  • Update or confirm your voter registration — Washington votes by mail, so ballots follow your registered address
  • Change your address with banks, insurers, and employers
  • If you changed school districts, start enrollment transfers promptly

First item on the list: know your options.

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