The Complete Moving-Out Checklist for Missouri (76 Tasks)

About one in nine Americans changed addresses in 2024. The U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey put the mover rate at 11.8 percent that year, down from 12.1 percent in 2023, and most of those moves stayed inside the same state (U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 1-Year Estimates, 2024). If you're one of them this year, the hard part usually isn't the truck. It's the six weeks before the truck, when every closet in the house turns into a decision.

This checklist is built to take those decisions in order. It runs from eight weeks out to the day after you hand over the keys, with 76 tasks total. We wrote it from the Troy, MO yard where we've been loading dumpsters for movers since 2008, so the purge sections lean on what we see on driveways across Lincoln, St. Charles and Warren counties every week. Print it, cross things off, and skip anything that doesn't apply to your move.

How to use this list

Work top to bottom. The early tasks are cheap to do now and expensive to do late. Sorting a basement at eight weeks out costs you a Saturday. Sorting it the night before the movers arrive costs you a second truck, a storage unit you didn't plan for, and a lot of stuff you'll pay to move and then throw away at the new house.

One number worth keeping in mind while you sort: Americans generated 12.1 million tons of furniture and furnishings as waste in 2018, and 80 percent of it went to a landfill (U.S. EPA, Facts and Figures, Durable Goods). Furniture is the single biggest thing people move that they shouldn't. It's heavy, it rarely fits the next house, and it's the first thing to sell or donate when you still have time.

Eight weeks out: decide what's moving

☐  1.  Confirm your move-out date in writing with your landlord, buyer's agent, or closing attorney.

☐  2.  Pick a moving method: full-service movers, a rental truck, a portable container, or friends with pickups. Get three quotes if you're hiring.

☐  3.  Walk every room with a notepad and sort the big items into four lists: move, sell, donate, toss.

☐  4.  Measure the furniture on your move list against the rooms at the new place. Anything that doesn't fit goes to the sell or donate list now.

☐  5.  Start a moving folder for quotes, receipts, lease copies, and closing paperwork. Movers' receipts can matter at tax time for some job-related moves, so keep everything.

☐  6.  If you rent, reread your lease for notice requirements, cleaning clauses, and any fees for wall patches, carpet, or keys.

☐  7.  Give your landlord written notice by the deadline in your lease. Keep a copy with the date.

☐  8.  Request time off work for moving day and the day after.

☐  9.  If kids are changing schools, request records transfers and enrollment packets now.

☐  10.  Book the dumpster for your purge weekend. Around here, next-day delivery is standard and a 14-day rental gives you two full weekends of sorting, so put it on the calendar for weeks six and five.

Six weeks out: sell, donate, and purge

☐  11.  List furniture and larger items for sale online. Price to sell in two weeks, not to hold out for top dollar.

☐  12.  Schedule a donation pickup for anything a charity will take. Most need one to two weeks of lead time for furniture.

☐  13.  Photograph valuables and anything fragile before it's boxed. Insurance claims go faster with pictures.

☐  14.  Sort the garage. Old paint, half-used chemicals, and car batteries can't go in a dumpster, so set them aside for a household hazardous waste drop-off (see the Missouri rules section below).

☐  15.  Sort the basement and attic. Water-stained boxes, broken furniture, and anything you haven't opened in two years can go straight into the can.

☐  16.  Empty the shed. Yard tools are worth moving. Rotten lumber, old fencing, and the broken wheelbarrow aren't.

☐  17.  Go through closets and dressers. Clothes you haven't worn in a year go to donation. Stained or torn textiles go in the dumpster.

☐  18.  Clear out the kitchen's junk drawer, expired pantry items, and mismatched storage containers.

☐  19.  Break down old mattresses and box springs for disposal, or arrange a mattress recycler if you'd rather they not go to a landfill.

☐  20.  Load the dumpster heavy items first and flat items along the walls. Our loading guide walks through the order that saves the most room.

☐  21.  Use up frozen food and pantry staples over the next six weeks instead of moving them.

☐  22.  Start a "first night" box list: sheets, towels, toilet paper, phone chargers, coffee maker, basic tools, medications, and pet supplies.

Four weeks out: paperwork and services

☐  23.  File a change of address with the U.S. Postal Service, and set the start date for the day after you move.

☐  24.  Update your address with your bank, credit cards, and any lenders.

☐  25.  Update your address with your employer's HR and payroll system.

☐  26.  Contact your insurance agent about your homeowners or renters policy at the new address, plus vehicle insurance if your garaging address changes.

☐  27.  Schedule disconnection of electric, gas, water, sewer, and trash at the old address for the day after you move out, not the day of.

☐  28.  Schedule connection at the new address for the day before you move in. Cuivre River Electric, Ameren, and the local water district each have their own lead times, so call early.

☐  29.  Transfer or cancel internet, cable, and streaming equipment. Find the box the router came in, because return fees on unreturned equipment are common.

☐  30.  Update your address with your doctors, dentist, pharmacy, and veterinarian, and request records if you're switching providers.

☐  31.  Update your address for subscriptions, online shopping accounts, and delivery services.

☐  32.  Register to vote at the new address or update your existing registration with the Missouri Secretary of State's office.

☐  33.  If you're moving within Missouri, plan to update the address on your driver license and vehicle registration with the Missouri Department of Revenue after you move.

☐  34.  Order packing supplies: boxes, tape, markers, paper, and stretch wrap. Liquor stores and grocery stores often give away sturdy boxes.

☐  35.  Confirm the moving company or truck reservation in writing, including the arrival window and the address for both ends.

☐  36.  Ask your HOA or property manager about moving day rules: elevator reservations, loading zone limits, and where a truck can park.

Three weeks out: pack the rooms you don't use

☐  37.  Pack the guest room, storage closets, and seasonal items first. Label every box with the room it's going to at the new house, not the room it came from.

☐  38.  Pack books, framed art, and off-season clothes.

☐  39.  Pack the garage and shed tools you're keeping. Drain gas from mowers and trimmers before moving day.

☐  40.  Take a photo of the back of your TV and computer setups so you can rewire them without guessing.

☐  41.  Back up your computer and phone.

☐  42.  Return library books, borrowed tools, and anything that belongs to a neighbor.

☐  43.  Collect spare keys, garage remotes, and mailbox keys in one labeled envelope.

☐  44.  Use up or safely dispose of cleaning products you don't plan to move.

Two weeks out: pack the rest

☐  45.  Pack the kitchen except for a week's worth of dishes and pans.

☐  46.  Pack bathrooms except for daily essentials.

☐  47.  Pack the living room and dining room.

☐  48.  Disassemble furniture that won't fit through doors assembled. Tape hardware to the piece in a labeled bag.

☐  49.  Confirm the second dumpster if the first one filled up faster than planned. A swap is quoted separately, and it's cheaper than a second full rental.

☐  50.  Arrange child care or pet boarding for moving day.

☐  51.  Refill prescriptions so you're not hunting for a pharmacy the first week.

☐  52.  Pull together the documents you'll carry yourself: passports, birth certificates, titles, closing documents, and the lease.

☐  53.  Plan meals for the last week that don't need much equipment.

☐  54.  Clean out the fridge and freezer of anything you won't eat before the move.

One week out: cleaning and final loose ends

☐  55.  Deep clean rooms as they empty. Renters in Missouri should pay special attention here, and the section below explains why.

☐  56.  Patch nail holes and touch up paint if your lease requires it.

☐  57.  Defrost the freezer at least 24 hours before the move, and prop the door open once it's empty.

☐  58.  Clean the oven, stovetop, and inside the cabinets.

☐  59.  Vacuum and mop every floor once the furniture is out.

☐  60.  Take out the last of the trash. If your can pickup falls after your move-out date, put the last bags in the dumpster before it's picked up.

☐  61.  Confirm the dumpster pickup date with us so the driveway is clear before your

walk-through.

☐  62.  Do a final sweep of the garage, attic, crawl space, and any outdoor storage.

☐  63.  Take photos of every empty room, closet, and appliance for your records.

☐  64.  Schedule the final walk-through with your landlord or the buyer's agent. Missouri law gives tenants the right to be present when the landlord inspects for damages.

☐  65.  Pack the "first night" box and the essentials bag, and put both in your own vehicle, not the truck.

Moving day

☐  66.  Walk the movers through the house before they start, and point out fragile items and anything that isn't going.

☐  67.  Keep the moving paperwork, your ID, and your phone charger on you.

☐  68.  Check every closet, cabinet, and drawer before the truck leaves.

☐  69.  Turn off the water heater or set it to vacation mode if instructed, turn off lights, and set the thermostat as the landlord or buyer requested.

☐  70.  Lock all windows and doors, and leave the keys, remotes, and mailbox keys where you agreed.

☐  71.  Record final utility meter readings with photos.

After the move

☐  72.  Unpack the first night box, then the kitchen, then the bedrooms. Everything else can wait a day.

☐  73.  Check that mail forwarding has started. It usually takes a week to catch up.

☐  74.  Update the address on your Missouri driver license and vehicle registration, and notify your county assessor's office if you own the home.

☐  75.  Break down moving boxes and packing paper for recycling, and set aside anything damaged in transit for a claim.

☐  76.  Book a second dumpster if the new house needs a cleanout of its own. It's common for a new place to come with a garage or basement full of the previous owner's leftovers, and a 15 yard dumpster handles most of those.

Renting in Missouri? Read this before your walk-through

Missouri's security deposit statute sets three rules that matter on move-out day. A landlord can't require a deposit above two months' rent. After the tenancy ends, the landlord has 30 days to either return the full deposit or send an itemized list of damages with the balance. And a tenant has the right to be present at the landlord's inspection of the unit (Revised Statutes of Missouri, Section 535.300).

The same statute says a landlord who wrongfully withholds any part of the deposit owes the tenant twice the amount withheld. That's why the cleaning and photo tasks above are worth an afternoon. A clean, documented unit is the difference between a check in the mail and a small claims filing.

The purge weekend, sized right

Most moving-related cleanouts in our area fit in one 15 yard dumpster. It's the right size for one garage, one basement, or one apartment's worth of furniture and boxes. If you're clearing a whole house, or the garage and the basement both need work, take the 20 yard dumpster. Both sizes sit on the same 14 by 7 foot footprint, roughly 98 square feet, so the choice doesn't change what fits in your driveway. Our sizing guide breaks it down by project.

A few things can't ride in the can, and Missouri law is the reason for most of them. The state banned major appliances, waste oil, and lead-acid batteries from landfills starting in 1991, and yard waste starting in 1992 (Revised Statutes of Missouri, Section 260.250). Whole tires are banned as well, and Missouri tire retailers are required to take back the tires you're replacing (Missouri Department of Natural Resources, PUB0186). Our prohibited items guide covers the full list and where each item can go instead.

Everything else that comes out of a move, from broken dressers to old carpet to the contents of that closet under the stairs, is fair game. Call or text (636) 399-6361 with your move-out date, and we'll get a can in the driveway the next day.

Frequently asked questions

How far ahead should I book a dumpster for moving out?

A week is plenty. Next-day delivery is standard for us, and same-day is possible on a case-by-case basis. The bigger question is when you want it, and the answer is early. Booking it for six weeks out, when you're sorting instead of packing, gets you the most use out of the 14-day rental.

What size dumpster do I need to clean out a house before moving?

One apartment, one garage, or one basement fits in a 15 yard dumpster. A whole house, or a house with a full garage and basement, calls for the 20 yard dumpster. Both sizes take the same 14 by 7 foot patch of driveway, so if you're torn, take the 20.

Can I put furniture and mattresses in a moving dumpster?

Yes. Couches, dressers, tables, mattresses, and box springs are all fine. Break down what you can and stand mattresses on edge along the wall to save room. The EPA reports that 80 percent of discarded furniture ends up in landfills, so if a piece is still usable, a donation pickup is worth scheduling first.

How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit in Missouri?

Thirty days from the end of the tenancy, under Section 535.300 of the Missouri statutes. Within that window the landlord has to return the deposit or send an itemized list of damages and the balance. You also have the right to be present at the inspection.

What should I do with old paint, chemicals, and car batteries when I move?

Keep them out of the dumpster. Paint, oils, and batteries are prohibited in our cans, and Missouri bans lead-acid batteries and waste oil from landfills. St. Charles County residents can use the Recycle Works Central household hazardous waste program, and St. Louis County residents have the regional HHW program with two drop-off sites. Latex paint can be dried out with kitty litter or sand and then thrown in household trash, per the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.

Do I need a permit to put a rental dumpster in my driveway for a move?

On your own driveway, usually not. Permits come into play when a can sits in the street or on a public right-of-way. Rules vary by city and by whether you're inside city limits or in an unincorporated part of the county, so call your city hall before delivery day if the street is the only option. Our Missouri permit guide explains what to ask.

Sources

•      U.S. Census Bureau, Migration/Geographic Mobility At A Glance: American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates (2024 data) https://www.census.gov/topics/population/migration/guidance/acs-1yr.html

•      U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Durable Goods: Product-Specific Data (Facts and Figures about Materials, Waste and Recycling) https://www.epa.gov/facts-and-figures-about-materials-waste-and-recycling/durable-goods-product-specific-data

•      Revised Statutes of Missouri, Section 535.300 (security deposits) https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=535.300

•      Revised Statutes of Missouri, Section 260.250 (disposal restrictions) https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=260.250

•      Missouri Department of Natural Resources, What to Do With Items Banned From Landfills (PUB0186) https://dnr.mo.gov/document-search/what-do-items-banned-landfills-pub0186/pub0186

•      Missouri Department of Natural Resources, Household Hazardous Waste https://dnr.mo.gov/waste-recycling/reduce-reuse-recycle/what-to-do-with-specific/household-hazardous

•      Buzz Dumpster, What Size Rental Dumpster Do I Need? https://www.buzzdumpster.com/post/rental-dumpster-size-guide