How to Move Before the Holidays Without the Stress

Moving Before The Holidays

Is It a Good Idea to Move Before the Holidays?

Yes, if you plan ahead. Moving before the holidays lets you start the new year settled in, host family in your new home, and get the hard part over before December fills up.

The catch is timing. Calendars get crowded fast in November and December, for you and for moving companies. The earlier you plan, the more control you have.

Start With Your Holiday Calendar, Not Your Boxes

Before you buy a single roll of tape, sit down with your calendar and answer three questions:

1. What date do you need to be settled? Hosting Thanksgiving? Work backward from November 26. Hosting Christmas? Work backward from December 25.
2. What's already booked? School events, office parties, travel, and family visits all compete for your time.
3. When does your lease end or your home close? That sets your hard deadline.

Aim for a moving date at least one to two weeks before your first holiday event. That buffer gives you time to unpack the kitchen and the guest room, which are the two rooms holidays actually use.



Your Holiday Moving Checklist

6 to 8 weeks before moving day

• Pick your moving date and request estimates from movers.
• Book your mover. Pre-holiday dates and month-end dates fill fast.
• Decide whether you want packing services or will pack yourself.
• Start decluttering room by room. Donate, sell, or toss what you won't use.
• Tell family about your move before holiday plans get locked in.

4 weeks before

• Gather boxes, tape, markers, and padding.
• Pack off-season items first: summer clothes, pool gear, and decorations you won't use this year.
• Start packing rooms you rarely use, like the guest room, attic, or storage closet.
• Make a list of accounts that need your new address: bank, employer, insurance, subscriptions, and schools.

2 to 3 weeks before

• Schedule utilities at both homes. In Little Rock, that usually means Entergy Arkansas for electricity, Summit Utilities for natural gas, Central Arkansas Water for water, and Little Rock Water Reclamation Authority for sewer. Check with your city if you're moving outside Little Rock.
• Set up internet at the new place. Installers book up during the holidays too.
• File your USPS change of address.
• Confirm any building rules: elevator reservations, moving hours, and parking.

1 week before

• Finish packing everything except daily essentials.
• Confirm your moving date, arrival time, and addresses with your movers.
• Pack an essentials box (more on that below).
• Plan simple meals. This is not the week to test a new casserole.

Moving day

• Keep walkways clear and pets secured.
• Walk through each room before the truck leaves.
• Keep your essentials box with you, not on the truck.

First week in your new home

• Unpack the kitchen, bedrooms, and bathrooms first.
• Set up the guest room if you're hosting.
• Pull out holiday decorations last. They can wait a few days.

How to Pack Holiday Decorations for a Move

Holiday decorations are fragile, sentimental, and almost always packed in a hurry. A little care goes a long way.

• Wrap ornaments individually in packing paper, and use egg cartons or divided boxes for small pieces.
• Wind string lights around a piece of cardboard so they don't tangle.
• Use sturdy boxes or plastic bins for anything breakable, and label them "Fragile."
• Keep family heirlooms with you instead of on the truck.
• Label decoration boxes by holiday so you can find what you need without opening everything.

What Should Go in Your Essentials Box?

Pack one box or bag you can reach on day one. Include:

• Medications and important documents
• Phone chargers
• Toiletries and towels
• A change of clothes for each person
• Basic tools and a box cutter
• Paper plates, cups, and utensils
• Cleaning supplies and trash bags
• Sheets for the first night
• Coffee and a coffee maker. Non-negotiable.

How to Keep Kids and Pets Calm During a Holiday Move

Holidays already disrupt routines. A move adds another layer.

• Keep meals and bedtimes as normal as you can.
• Let kids pack a small box of their favorite things and unpack it first.
• Plan childcare or a pet sitter for moving day.
• Set up kids' rooms early so the new house feels like home before the holidays.



Should You Hire Residential Movers in Little Rock for a Holiday Move?

If your calendar is already full, hiring pros is one of the easiest ways to get time back.

Our residential movers handle the heavy furniture, the stairs, and the loading puzzle. Our packing services can take care of the kitchen, the fragile items, or the whole house. That leaves you free to handle the parts only you can do, like holiday plans and family logistics.

We serve Little Rock, North Little Rock, Conway, Benton, Bryant, Maumelle, Sherwood, Jacksonville, Hot Springs, and surrounding areas.

Still deciding on dates? See our guide to moving in Little Rock in November.

Enjoy the Holidays. Let Us Handle the Heavy Lifting.

Moving before the holidays comes down to three things: book early, pack in order, and leave yourself a buffer before the first guest arrives.

You bring the holiday spirit. We'll bring the truck, the crew, and the dolly.

Let our team handle the heavy lifting so you can enjoy the holidays. Request your free moving estimate or call 501-316-0145.

Frequently Asked Questions About Moving Before the Holidays