Moving in the Tri-Cities This Summer? Here's Your Checklist

Summer is peak moving season across the Tri-Cities — and for good reason. School's out, leases turn over, and families take advantage of the break to get settled before fall. But moving in June, July, or August in Northeast Tennessee comes with its own set of challenges: the heat, the afternoon thunderstorms, the fact that every moving truck in Johnson City seems to be booked on the same weekend.

This checklist won't make moving fun — nothing will — but it'll keep you from forgetting things that matter.

6 Weeks Before Moving Day

Decide what's coming with you. Go room by room and be ruthless. Moving is the best excuse you'll ever have to get rid of things you don't need. Donate to the ETSU surplus store, sell on Facebook Marketplace, or drop off at a Kingsport Goodwill. Every item you don't move is time and energy saved on moving day.

Book your moving help early. Summer books fast in the Tri-Cities. Whether you're hiring a moving company or roping in family, lock in your date now. The same goes for a rental truck if you're going that route.

Reserve your moving boxes. Stack N Go recommends reserving at least 2 weeks ahead for summer moves, especially in late July and August when demand peaks around ETSU and area college move-ins. Book online here or call 423-202-2276.

Notify the important people. Your employer, your bank, the post office. Start the USPS change-of-address process now so mail forwarding is in place by move-in day.

4 Weeks Before Moving Day

Gather your documents. Lease agreements, utility account numbers, school enrollment records, medical records for the family. Pack these in a folder that stays with you — not in a moving box.

Schedule utility transfers. Call your electric, internet, and gas providers to set a transfer or new service date at your new address. In the Johnson City area, JCPB handles city electric, and providers vary by neighborhood. Don't wait until the week before.

Start packing non-essentials. Books, off-season clothes, décor, extra kitchenware — anything you won't need for the next month can be packed now. Moving boxes make this easy because they stack neatly and you can access them later without the stack collapsing.

Measure your new space. Before you haul that sectional couch up three flights of stairs at your new place, confirm it fits through the doors and in the room. Check appliance dimensions while you're at it.

2 Weeks Before Moving Day

Confirm everything. Reconfirm your moving box delivery window, your moving help, and your truck reservation if applicable. Stuff shifts in the summer.

Pack room by room and label everything clearly. Label the top and at least one side of each moving box. Include the room destination ("Kitchen," "Master Bedroom") and a quick note on what's inside if it matters.

Use up perishables. Stop buying groceries you'll just have to move. Work through the freezer and pantry. Donate non-perishables to Second Harvest Food Bank of Northeast Tennessee if you have more than you can use.

Set up a "do not pack" zone. Designate a corner of one room for things that must stay accessible: documents, medications, chargers, kids' essentials, a change of clothes. Put a sticky note on the door. On a chaotic moving day, having this zone saves real time and stress.

Moving Day

Start before 9 a.m. This is not a suggestion. July afternoons in the Tri-Cities are no joke — temperatures above 90°F, high humidity, afternoon thunderstorms. The earlier you load, the better your experience.

Hydrate constantly. Keep water and electrolytes for everyone helping. Heat exhaustion on moving day is more common than people think, and it ends moves early.

Load heaviest items first. Furniture and appliances go in first, against the cab wall. Moving boxes and lighter items fill in around and on top. Never stack heavy boxes on moving boxes with fragile contents.

Do your walkthrough before you leave. Check every cabinet, every closet, the attic space if there is one. Check under beds, behind appliances, inside the dryer. Once you hand over the keys, that's it.

Photograph your old unit before you go. A few quick photos of each room protects your security deposit and documents the condition you left the place in.

Move-In Day

Check for damage before you unload. Do a walk-through of your new place before the first moving box comes off the truck. Note anything damaged or missing and text or email your landlord immediately so it's on record.

Set up the bedroom first. When you're exhausted at 8 p.m., the last thing you want is to dig through moving boxes for your sheets. Prioritize bedroom setup so at minimum, everyone has a place to sleep.

Get utilities confirmed before the crew leaves. Turn on a light, run a faucet, confirm the AC is working. Summer heat in a house with no working AC is miserable — you want to know about that problem while help is still around.

Schedule your moving box pickup. Let Stack N Go know when you're ready for pickup and we'll get them out of your way. No hauling cardboard to the curb, no breaking down boxes.

After the Move

Update your driver's license address with the Tennessee DMV within 30 days of moving. Register your vehicles at your new address. Update your voter registration if your address changed within the same county or to a new one.

And give yourself a day before you try to unpack everything. You earned it.

Stack N Go Rentals delivers heavy-duty contractor-grade moving boxes with a dolly included throughout the Tri-Cities — Johnson City, Kingsport, Bristol, Greeneville, and surrounding areas.

Reserve your moving boxes today or call us at 423-202-2276.

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I book my moving box rental for a summer move? At least two weeks ahead is recommended for summer. July and August are peak season in the Tri-Cities, and availability fills up, especially around the ETSU move-in dates in mid-August.

How many moving boxes do I need? A general rule of thumb: Studio needs about 20 moving boxes, a 1-bedroom needs 30, a 2-bedroom needs 40, a 3-bedroom needs 55. Our booking page walks you through package options, and you can always call us at 423-202-2276 if you're not sure.

Do you pick up after the move? Yes — pickup is included in every package. Just let us know when you're done and we'll schedule it at a time that works for you. No cleanup on your end.