Free checklist
Your relocation checklist
6 stages and 30 items, from deciding to move to your first 30 days in Tennessee. Check items off as you go, or print it.
Your progress is saved on this device, and nothing is sent to anyone.
Decide and plan (3-6 months out)
- Write down why you are moving and the date you would like to be settled by
- Talk to a lender about what you can afford, and get pre-approved before you shop
- If your employer is paying for any of the move, ask what is covered and what the tax treatment is
- Ask a tax professional how a move to Tennessee affects your situation, especially if you will keep working for an employer in another state
- Compare areas by the numbers: price, property tax, commute and distance to what matters to you
- Pick two or three areas to visit, and plan a trip to see them
Choose where to live (2-3 months out)
- Visit the areas you picked, and drive the real commute at the time of day you would drive it
- For any home you are serious about, check school assignment with the school district using the exact address
- Look up the property tax on the exact address with the county, not just the listing's figure
- Ask about HOA dues, rules and fees for any community you like
- Tour homes in person or by live video, and ask about utility costs, age of the roof, HVAC and water heater
Buy, and sell where you live now (1-3 months out)
- Make an offer and agree on the closing date that fits your move
- If you own a home now, talk to an agent licensed in that state about when to list and how to line up both closings
- Schedule your home inspection, and consider a sewer scope, radon and termite inspections
- Arrange homeowner's insurance and send proof of coverage to your lender
- Keep your job, credit and bank accounts steady until you close, and answer your lender quickly
Book the move (4-8 weeks out)
- Get quotes from at least three licensed moving companies, and check each one's registration
- Schedule utilities to start on move-in day: electric, water, gas, trash and internet
- Set up mail forwarding and tell your bank, card companies and employer your new address
- Request medical, dental, vet and school records from your current providers
- Decide what to sell, donate or leave behind before the movers arrive
Move week (The last 7 days)
- Do your final walkthrough of the new home before closing
- Confirm the closing time, how you will get the keys and what to bring
- Photograph meter readings and any existing damage on move-in day
- Keep your important papers, medications and valuables with you, not on the truck
Your first 30 days in Tennessee (After you move)
- Get a Tennessee driver license within 30 days of establishing residency, at a full-service Driver Services Center
- Register your vehicle through your county clerk, and bring your out-of-state registration
- Register to vote and update your address with the IRS, your employer and your insurers
- Check whether you qualify for any property tax relief or exemptions, and note the county's appeal dates
- Introduce yourself to your neighbors, and save the contact details for your city and county services
Rules and fees change, so confirm each state requirement on the official site before you go. This checklist is general information, not legal, tax, lending or financial advice. Equal Housing Opportunity.
Also see the buyer and seller checklists, the property tax comparison and the mortgage calculator.
Planning a move to Middle Tennessee?
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