A move in the Twin Cities comes with details most generic checklists skip right past. Between getting a Certificate of Insurance approved for a downtown skyway building, planning a carry down a steep century-home staircase in Mac-Groveland, clearing move-in paperwork with a Woodbury HOA, and shoveling a path in January, there is a lot to keep straight. The Fisher family runs these moves out of our warehouse off Pierce Butler Route every week, so here is the realistic, week-by-week timeline our own crews walk customers through, with the Minnesota details baked in.
4 to 6 Weeks Before Your Move
Lock Your Date and Get a Written Quote
The metro turns over hard every summer, and U of M and college student moves load the calendar from spring into early fall, so good crews fill up fast. Reach out at least six weeks ahead in peak season. We send a flat written rate so there are no surprises on move day. Just give us your two ZIP codes and your date, and tell us if there are steep stairs, a downtown high-rise, or a snowed-in driveway so Dale can map the access.
Check Your Lease, HOA, or Building Rules Early
This is where Twin Cities moves get specific. What you need to square away depends on where you are landing:
- Downtown St. Paul or Minneapolis high-rise or skyway building: The property almost certainly requires a Certificate of Insurance naming it as additional insured, plus a reserved freight elevator and a loading-dock window booked in advance.
- Woodbury, Eagan, or Plymouth HOA subdivision: Many newer communities have move-in hour rules, gate codes, and a notice requirement before a truck can roll in.
- Century home in Highland Park, Summit Hill, or Como: Steep, narrow staircases, tight alleys, and limited street parking mean we plan the carry and the truck staging ahead of time.
2 to 3 Weeks Before Your Move
Twin Cities Utility Transfer Checklist
Minnesota utilities are set by where you live, so most of this is about timing rather than shopping around. Here is how it breaks down for the St. Paul and Minneapolis area:
| Utility | Provider | Lead Time | How to Set Up |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electricity | Xcel Energy (most of the metro) | 3–5 days | xcelenergy.com |
| Natural Gas | CenterPoint Energy | 5 business days | centerpointenergy.com |
| Water/Sewer | St. Paul Regional Water or your city utility | 3–5 days | Through your city utility office |
| Internet/TV | Xfinity (Comcast) / CenturyLink-Quantum Fiber | 7–10 days | Check coverage at the new address first |
| Trash/Recycling | City service or hauler (varies by city) | With your move-in date | Through your city or its contracted hauler |
Sort Out Winter Parking and Plowing
If you are moving between November and April, plan the snow before move day. St. Paul and Minneapolis both declare snow emergencies that restrict on-street parking, and a plowed-in truck loses you time and money. Confirm where our truck can stage, arrange to have the driveway and walks cleared and salted, and check the snow-emergency rules for both addresses.
Forward Your Mail
Submit a change of address through USPS at least 10 days before your move. The online form charges a small identity-verification fee, around $1.10, or you can do it free in person at any post office.
1 Week Before Your Move
Final Week Checklist
- Confirm your date, arrival window, and any special instructions with our crew
- Share elevator reservations, gate codes, COIs, and parking restrictions with us
- Pack a move-day essentials box (see below)
- Plan truck staging for a tight downtown dock, a narrow century-home alley, or a snowed-in driveway
- Give neighbors a heads-up if the truck will block a shared alley or a plowed lane
Twin Cities Essentials Box
- Bagged ice melt and a shovel by the door if you are moving in winter, so paths and stairs stay safe
- A phone charger with a portable battery and a flashlight for the early dark of a winter move
- Warm gloves, boots, and a hat for yourself, since you will be in and out of the cold all day
- In summer, cold water and snacks for the crew, plus a fan or two while the doors are open
- Important documents, medications, and valuables to keep with you, never on the truck
After You Move
Post-Move Administrative Tasks
| Task | Deadline | Where | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Update driver’s license address | 30 days | Minnesota DVS, dps.mn.gov | New residents: 60 days to get an MN license |
| Update vehicle registration | With the state | Minnesota DVS | Tabs renew through the state or a deputy registrar |
| Register to vote | Anytime, incl. same-day | mnvotes.gov | Minnesota allows same-day registration with proof of residence |
| Update insurance policies | ASAP | Your provider | Auto plus renters or homeowners |
| Update bank/financial addresses | ASAP | Online banking | Checks, statements, tax documents |
One Minnesota item people skip: if you land in an older St. Paul or Minneapolis home, check whether the city requires a truth-in-housing or point-of-sale disclosure, and look into who handles your sidewalk snow clearing. The city tickets uncleared walks, and an old home can surprise a first winter.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you provide a Certificate of Insurance for downtown and skyway buildings?
Yes. We are a licensed and insured Minnesota mover and we issue COIs for downtown St. Paul and Minneapolis high-rises and skyway buildings regularly. Send us the property’s exact wording 3 to 5 business days before the move and we will get it on file with the building manager.
Will you move in the snow and cold?
Yes. We run moves all winter long. We bring floor runners, salt, and a shovel, and we ask that your driveway and walks are plowed and cleared so the path is safe. If a major storm lines up with your date, call Dale early and we will help you slide it a day.
Are you a moving company or a broker?
We are a moving company. Fisher Transfer uses our own trucks and our own W-2 crew on every job. We never subcontract or hand off your move, and your information is never shared or sold.
Do you offer heated storage between move dates?
Yes. We run a heated, climate-controlled warehouse, about $90 to $250 a month by unit size. We move you in, hold the load, and deliver when your dates and the weather line up.