The 8-Week Moving Timeline for a Denver Move

A smooth move along the Front Range almost never happens by accident. It happens because someone built a moving timeline and worked it backward from move day. We've handled more than 7,000 moves across the Denver metro since 2010, and the households who start eight weeks out are the ones who avoid the scramble. This moving timeline for a Denver move walks you week by week, from locking your date and verifying a mover's Colorado PUC permit, to pulling a Denver DOTI street permit, transferring Xcel Energy and Denver Water, sorting school enrollment, and packing smart for our mile-high altitude. Eight weeks is the sweet spot, especially if you're moving during Denver's busy May-to-September season. Short on time? We're licensed, insured, and available 24/7 at (720) 241-3615, and you can grab a free flat-rate quote online in about two minutes.

Why an 8-Week Moving Timeline Works for Denver

Eight weeks gives you room to do things right instead of fast. Denver's peak moving season runs May through September, and good crews along the Front Range book out weeks ahead during that stretch. Summer demand also tends to push rates up by roughly 15 to 25 percent across the market, so the earlier you reserve, the better your date and your price. Starting two months out also leaves time for the slower-moving pieces of a Colorado move: verifying a mover's PUC permit, pulling a city parking permit, and lining up utility transfers so nothing gets cut early.

If you have less than eight weeks, don't panic. The same sequence still applies, you just compress it. We keep crews available around the clock and handle same-week moves when our schedule allows. The one thing you can't rush is the city and state paperwork, so those are the items worth front-loading no matter how much runway you have. The rest of this guide breaks the countdown into weekly blocks you can actually follow.

Weeks 8 to 7: Book Your Move and Verify the Mover

The first job is locking your date, because everything else hangs off it. Request estimates from two or three movers, and insist on an in-home or video survey rather than a phone-only number. Colorado law actually requires a written estimate and a signed contract from any permitted household-goods mover before pickup, so a verbal quote isn't enough to protect you. With us, you can skip the back-and-forth and pull an instant flat-rate quote online in about two minutes, or call and we'll build one with you.

Verify the permit before you pay anything. Intrastate Colorado movers must hold a Public Utilities Commission permit number, and you can confirm it at puc.colorado.gov. For an interstate move, the carrier needs a USDOT number and FMCSA authority instead. Once you're comfortable, a 50 percent deposit books the date and the balance is due on move day, no large cash-up-front demands, which is a common red flag worth avoiding.

Our flat-rate base prices keep that early math simple: $199 for a studio or one-bedroom, $349 for a two-bedroom, $449 for a three-bedroom, and $649 for four or more bedrooms, plus $1.50 per mile beyond the first 10 miles. No hidden fees and no surprise line items on move day. We hold a perfect 5.0 rating across 102 Google reviews and 35-plus on Thumbtack, and we're glad to walk you through exactly what's included before you commit.

Weeks 6 to 5: Declutter, Donate, and Plan Logistics

Every box you don't bring is weight you don't pay to haul and time the crew doesn't spend on move day. This is the window to go room by room and sort what stays, sells, donates, or gets tossed. Denver has solid free pickup options, but slots fill during peak season, so schedule three to four weeks out rather than the week of your move. Get the big furniture spoken for first, since that's what's hardest to offload at the last minute.

• •Habitat for Humanity ReStore Metro Denver: free scheduled furniture pickup, usually within 2 to 3 business days, Tuesday through Saturday
• •arc Thrift Stores: free pickup Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., schedule at 303-238-5263
• •Salvation Army: another reliable option for bulky furniture across the metro
• •Heads up: Goodwill does not pick up large items in Denver, so route big pieces to ReStore, arc, or Salvation Army
• •Sell higher-value items early so you're not juggling buyers during your last week

This is also the time to think through access at both ends, because that's what shapes move day. Is your building a walk-up in Cap Hill or Baker? Does a LoHi or RiNo block have tight parking and no driveway? Will the truck need a spot in a metered or curb lane? Note all of it now and tell us when we finalize details. The more we know about stairs, elevators, and parking up front, the tighter your plan and the fewer surprises later.

Weeks 4 to 3: Denver Parking Permit and Utility Transfers

This is the most Denver-specific stretch of the whole timeline, and the one people most often forget. If the moving truck will block a curb lane, sidewalk, alley, or metered space, you generally need a street-occupancy or right-of-way permit through Denver DOTI. Apply at least five to seven business days ahead. Metered spots use a Parking Meter Request Form emailed to pwpermits@denvergov.org, and you can also handle residential street permits in person at the DOTI permit counter at 2000 W 3rd Ave.

Set up utilities next, and don't assume they're bundled. Start, stop, or transfer Xcel Energy (gas and electric) online at co.my.xcelenergy.com, and aim to schedule it roughly one to two weeks before move day. Denver Water is a separate account from Xcel, so you'll start that one on its own at the new address. Confirm exact lead times when you call, since both can shift. The goal is a one-day overlap on each: power and water on at the new place when you arrive, and the old place not cut off before you're out.

• •Xcel Energy gas and electric: transfer at co.my.xcelenergy.com, schedule 1 to 2 weeks out
• •Denver Water: start a separate account at the new address
• •Internet and cable: book the install early since appointment windows fill fast
• •USPS mail forwarding, plus banks, insurance, and subscriptions
• •Colorado reminder: update your driver license within 30 days of residency and vehicle registration within 90 days

Weeks 3 to 2: Schools, Records, and Serious Packing

If you've got kids, sort enrollment now. Denver Public Schools uses one unified SchoolChoice application, and families new to Denver or changing address mid-year file a Mid-Year Entry application to their preferred schools. The Round 1 window for 2023-24 already closed in January, so most relocating families this cycle will use Mid-Year Entry or an Administrative Transfer rather than the main round. The DPS Office of Choice and Enrollment can walk you through it at 720-423-3493.

With schools handled, packing shifts into high gear. Start with the rooms you use least: guest rooms, storage closets, off-season clothes, books, and decor. Label every box by room and add a quick note on what's inside, which makes unloading at the new place far faster. Keep a running inventory of anything valuable. If full or partial packing sounds better than doing it all yourself, that's one of our add-on services and we can bring the supplies too.

Week 1: Final Prep and Confirmations

The last week is about confirming and finishing, not starting anything new. Call to reconfirm your move date, arrival window, and crew size, and make sure your DOTI permit and posted 'No Parking' signs are squared away. Finish packing every room except your essentials, then defrost the fridge a day ahead and disconnect any appliances coming with you. Plan for kids and pets to be somewhere calm on move day, since open doors and a busy crew aren't a great mix for either.

Honestly, once you add up truck rental, fuel, gas, equipment, your own time, and the risk to your stuff and your back, a full-service flat rate usually costs less than it looks. If you're comfortable renting the truck yourself, our load-or-unload service starts at $199 and puts an experienced crew on just the heavy part. Either way, you'll know the exact number before you book.

Move Day and the First Week After

On move day, be there when the crew arrives to do a quick walkthrough, point out fragile or high-value items, and confirm the parking spot you reserved. Keep your essentials box, documents, and valuables with you in your own vehicle. Do a final sweep of closets, the garage, and the backyard before the truck pulls away, then hand off keys, codes, and garage remotes once you're confident nothing's left behind. Watch the Front Range forecast too, since a March snow squall or a July heat spike can change the day's pacing.

• •Confirm Xcel power and Denver Water are on, and check that nothing was cut at the old address
• •Unpack the kitchen and bedrooms first so daily life feels normal fast
• •Verify your driver license is updated within 30 days and vehicle registration within 90 days
• •Locate your water shutoff, breaker panel, and trash and recycling pickup days
• •Meet the neighbors and find your nearest grocery, pharmacy, and coffee spot
• •Break down and recycle boxes, or ask us about supply pickup

Whether you're landing in Wash Park, Central Park, Arvada, or out toward Castle Rock, the goal is the same: settle in without the chaos. Following an eight-week timeline is how thousands of our Denver customers have done exactly that. When you're ready to lock a date, grab your free online quote in about two minutes or call us at (720) 241-3615. We're family-run, fully licensed and insured, available 24/7, and proud of a perfect 5.0 rating across 102 Google reviews.

Frequently Asked Questions