What to Do on Moving Day: Moving Day Checklist

So, the countdown to moving day is on and time is ticking away faster than ever, bringing the dreaded moment closer and closer with every passing second. The mere thought that all your careful planning, meticulous organization, and laborious work will boil down to a single day can be downright scary and overwhelming:

What if things don’t go according to plan?

What if you’re not ready by the time the movers arrive?

What if your movers are late (or don’t show up at all)?

What if it rains (or snows, or thunders, or turns biting cold or scorching hot) on moving day?

What if the moving truck breaks down or gets in an accident?

What if someone gets hurt during the move?

The list goes on and on – there are so many things that can go wrong on moving day and ruin your move that you have every right to be anxious and fearful and very much stressed out. And yet, panicking will do you no good – instead of worrying and despairing, you need to do everything possible to make moving day easier, smoother, and safer.

You can’t stop it from raining on your parade on the Big day, of course, or prevent traffic accidents from happening, but you can still have a successful relocation experience – as long as you know what happens on moving day, how to best prepare for it, and what crucial moving day mistakes to avoid.

If you’re not yet sure what to do on moving day in order to keep moving chaos at bay and ensure the favorable outcome of your relocation endeavor, the following moving day checklist is just for you – it will guide you through the most important 24 hours of your relocation adventure and will help you make it, no matter the difficulties.

1. Rise with the Dawn

It’s Moving day – the busiest and most important day of your move! You want to be up early – fresh and rested – so that you have plenty of time before the movers arrive and don’t need to rush things.

You’re going to need a lot of energy and stamina during the following 24-hour period, so make sure you go to bed as early as possible the night before and try to get a decent sleep (as difficult as it may be, knowing what the morning will bring). Set the alarm clock for an early start, enjoy your morning cup of coffee (and a healthy breakfast), and get in a positive mode – your big adventure is about to begin! (And our insightful tips for a smooth moving day will help you make the most of it.)

2. Pack the Last of Your Items

Once you’ve finished breakfast, taken a shower, and got dressed for the day, it’s time to pack everything that is still out of the boxes – the sheets, blankets, pillows, and nightwear you slept in (as well as your bed – if relevant), the bathroom items you used in the morning, the kitchen items you needed for your breakfast, etc. Unless you have hired professional packers to prepare your items for shipment on moving day itself, everything else should already be packed and ready to go. Check if all the boxes are tightly sealed and properly labeled with their contents, destination rooms, and necessary handling instructions (pay special attention to cartons containing fragile items and items of high monetary or sentimental value).

Good to remember: Make sure all the items you’re going to need during the trip to your new home and immediately after arrival (or until your shipment is delivered, in the event of a cross-country move) are packed in a separate first-night box that is going to travel with you.

3. Take Plenty of Photos

With all the moving boxes and half-disassembled furniture lying around, your old place will hardly look like your sweet home anymore, but you’ll still benefit from having a few photos of it – they will not only remind you of your old life and your big moving adventure, but will also:

• serve as a proof of the current condition of your furniture, appliances, and any other items that will be handled by the movers (anything that is already in the boxes should have been photographed before it was packed);
• serve as a proof of the condition you’re leaving your old home in;
• serve as a proof of the final meter readings;
• help you reassemble furniture and reconnect appliances and electronics after the move.

4. Set Aside the Items That Are Not to Be Loaded on the Moving Truck

To avoid confusion and mistakes when the movers arrive and start loading your items on the waiting truck, you’re advised to put everything that you’d like to keep with you during the move – your box of essentials, personal electronic devices (phones, laptops, tablets, chargers), tickets and keys, documents, jewelry, family heirlooms, etc. – in a separate room and lock it so that no one but you and your family members have access to it. In fact, it’s best to set aside all your valuables and move them yourself – this will help ensure your peace of mind and prevent conflicts with your movers. (See also: Things you should not entrust to movers)

Bonus moving day tip: Be careful not to become victim of identity theft during your house move.

5. Ensure Moving Day Safety

One of the most important things to do on moving day is to take the necessary precautionary measures to avoid injuries and accidents during the hectic moving activities:

Make it safe and easy for the movers to take your items out of your property and into the moving truck:

• Reserve a convenient parking place for the moving truck – as close to the entrance of your home as possible;
• Clear the way from obstacles – keep the pathways between the front door and the moving truck free of debris, fallen leaves, snow, ice, mud, and other potential hazards; remove potted plants, planters, and other items from the porch, walkways, and driveways; remove boxes and other obstacles from the corridors and the entryway of your home; disconnect the spring on the screen door so that it stays open all the time; take down hanging items such as wind chimes, pictures, and mirrors; ;
• Provide enough free space for the movers to maneuver your items around – make sure there’s plenty of room around an item so that the movers can securely grip it and easily lift it off the ground; remove doors from their hinges; etc.;
• Reserve an elevator for the time of your move (if applicable).

Protect your property against damage:

• Cover floors and carpets with protective materials – carpet film protectors, large pieces of cardboard, plywood sheets, floor runners, etc. Consider laying old rugs or other anti-slippery coverings on stairs and in areas that will see a lot of traffic to help prevent personal injuries;
• Wrap banisters in blankets or old clothes;
• Protect door frames with foam paddings;
• Use corner guards wherever necessary.

Dress appropriately:

• Mind the weather and choose your clothes accordingly;
• Wear long-sleeved and long-legged clothing made of flexible, breathable fabric. Avoid loose, baggy clothes as they can get caught on something and cause you to fall;
• Choose comfortable, sturdy shoes – high-top sports shoes with good ankle support and anti-slip soles are your best bet;

  

• Put on work gloves and a protective hat;
• If you have long hair, tie it back securely;
• Avoid wearing long jewelry pieces as they can easily get hooked on something and break or compromise your safety.

Keep children and pets out of harm’s way:

• Ask a trusted person (family member, close friend, neighbor) to take care of your kids and/or pets at their place while the movers are at your home; or
• Arrange for someone (family member, friend) to keep your children and animal friends occupied in a safe and quiet room away from the moving chaos; or
• Hire a professional sitter to look after your little ones.

Just make everything possible to ensure the safety and well-being of your loved ones, your movers, and, of course, yourself. Hopefully, your preparations will be over by the time the movers knock on your door (at the pre-agreed hour, if everything is alright – if the movers are more than half an hour late, though, contact the moving company right away and demand to know what is going on and when exactly you can expect the moving team to arrive).

6. Meet the Movers

So, how does moving day work? When using professional moving services, the process is quite straightforward – the movers arrive, load your items on the truck, and head for your new address. To have a smooth moving day, though, you need to be alert and flexible, pay attention to the details and respond quickly and effectively in every situation.

First things first, when the movers arrive, welcome the team, show them around, and discuss any necessary details, concerns, and requirements:

1. Greet the movers and let them know you’ll be there for them whenever they need you;
2. Make sure the moving truck’s USDOT number is the same as the one on your estimate and all workers are representatives of the moving company you hired;
3. Review the movers’ paperwork and make sure you’ve been provided with all the required documents (order of service, Bill of Lading, valuation addendum, inventory lists, receipts, etc.) – moving companies are required to give you all the papers before they start loading your items on the truck. Read them very carefully to confirm that the details of your move are clearly and explicitly stated, the terms in the Bill of Lading match the terms on your original service order, and everything is as previously agreed. Address any concerns before you sign the documents;
4. Check the movers’ inventory to make sure that ALL the items you’re going to entrust to your relocation partners are included in the list and the condition of your goods is stated correctly;

   

5. Give the movers a walkthrough of your house or apartment and provide them with all the relevant information they need:

• Point out special items (breakables, valuable articles, sensitive items, etc.) that require extra care;
• Indicate the boxes and items that you’d like to have unloaded first;
• Indicate the items that are not to be loaded on the moving truck (including any appliances, furniture, or other household items you’re leaving behind);
• Point out the furniture pieces that need to be disassembled for the move;
• Discuss any obstacles that may occur during the move;
• Show the movers where the bathroom is;
• Warn the crew of any rules they need to be aware of – parking rules, time restrictions, etc.

Professional movers have the experience and know-how required to ensure a smooth and trouble-free relocation. Your carefully chosen moving partners know their stuff and will perform your move in the safest, fastest, and most efficient way possible – let them do their job, but stay around so that they can easily get to you if they have questions or need assistance.

7. Be Kind and Considerate to Your Movers

Being polite and keeping a light mood will go a long way towards reducing the moving stress and inspiring some goodwill in your movers. It will be highly appreciated if you:

• ensure good communication with the movers and state your requests in a polite and friendly manner;
• keep your calm and your sense of humor in the face of the challenges and difficulties that moving day presents;
• play some upbeat music to motivate your and your movers’ efforts;
• offer snacks and drinks to keep the movers’ energy up;
• equip a bathroom with liquid soap and disposable hand towels and provide the movers easy access to it;
• tip the movers if you’re happy with their services.

8. Check and Double-Check for Forgotten Items

Once your items have been taken out and loaded on the moving truck, do a final walkthrough of your house or apartment to make sure nothing has been left behind. Visit every room and check all the closets, cabinets, and shelves, go through the garage, the attic, and the basement, look in the crawl space, under the stairs, on the walls and in any other place where something may be hiding. If you’re leaving any furniture behind, make sure all the drawers are empty.

Be sure to finish your inspection before the movers leave, as you don’t want to find a forgotten item after the moving van has already departed.

9. Provide Directions and Contact Information

The last thing to do before the movers leave your home is to speak with the driver, provide any necessary last-minute information, and find out as many details about the delivery as you can:

• Make sure that the movers have the correct address to your new home and provide directions if required;
• Provide the driver with your contact information so that you can be easily reached if necessary;
• Record the driver’s name and phone number;
• Ask the driver if they will be departing for your new home right away or will be loading other shipments on the trailer;
• Find out if your shipment will be transferred to another moving vehicle during the transportation process;
• Confirm the time and date that your belongings will be delivered to your new home. Keep in mind though that many factors can result in a delay or change of schedule and ask the driver to call you with changes as early as possible so that you can adjust your plans accordingly.

10. Clean and Secure Your Old Home

Tired and exhausted as you may be by the time the movers depart, there is one more thing to do before you can leave your old home – ensure its good condition:

1. Check for damages that occurred when hauling out your bulky items – dings in the walls, chipped stairs, broken doorframes, etc. You’ll want such damage repaired as quickly as possible so that you don’t lose part of your security deposit or haggle with homebuyers;
2. Give your old home a good cleaning (or hire a professional cleaning company to do the job for you if you don’t have the time or energy to deal with it yourself) and take out the garbage;

   

3. Make sure that all the lights, ceiling fans, remaining appliances, heating and cooling systems, etc. are turned off;
4. Write down the meter readings (or even better – take a picture) so that you can verify that the figures match up when you receive your final bills from the utility companies;
5. Leave a welcoming note with useful information (such as when the next garbage day is or where to find the garage door opener) to the new occupants of your home. It’s also a good idea to collect all the keys from your family members and leave them on the kitchen counter for the new home owners/renters;
6. Close and lock all the doors and windows and wave your old home goodbye.

Your moving day checklist is complete. Have a safe and fun trip to your new home!

See also: What to do on the first day in your new home

Now that you know what to expect on moving day and how to make the most of it, you can give a simple answer to the bothersome questions: How to have a smooth moving day?, How to make moving day easier?, How to make moving day less stressful?, etc. – all you need to do is choose the right movers for you and be fully prepared by the time they arrive. Your success is guaranteed!