Moving Day Tips

Quick Answer: Start moving day with a final walkthrough, secure pets and valuables, and greet movers with clear instructions. Stay present and accessible throughout the move, maintain clear pathways, and conduct inventory checks at both locations. Complete final walkthroughs, handle payment and tips promptly, and keep essentials accessible for your first night. Expect 4-8 hours for local moves depending on home size.

Moving day represents the culmination of weeks of preparation. Success depends on clear communication, strategic oversight, and avoiding common pitfalls. Most moving complaints stem from poor communication and unclear expectations on moving day. These tips help you manage the process efficiently while maintaining positive relationships with your moving crew.

Moving Day Timeline

Before Movers Arrive: Morning Preparation

Complete your final preparations before movers arrive. Walk through every room, closet, attic, and garage checking for forgotten items. Secure valuables and important documents at this stage. Review How to Prepare for Movers if you missed any preparation steps.

Secure pets in a closed room, crate, or with friends/family—movers opening doors creates escape risks. Set aside valuables, medications, and important documents to transport personally. Prepare your essentials box with items needed for the first 24-48 hours. Have payment ready according to your moving company's policy.

Morning preparation checklist:

• Complete final walkthrough of all spaces
• Secure pets away from moving activity
• Pack valuables, documents, medications separately
• Verify parking access for moving truck
• Prepare payment and tip money
• Charge phone fully and keep charger accessible
• Dress in comfortable, practical clothing
• Have snacks and water ready for yourself and crew

When Movers Arrive: Setting Expectations

First impressions matter. Greet movers professionally and provide clear communication from the start. Walk through your home pointing out fragile items, furniture requiring special handling, and items staying behind. Document furniture condition before loading with photos.

Review the inventory list as movers create it. Each numbered sticker corresponds to a specific item. Take photos of valuable furniture before wrapping. Point out any pre-existing damage so it's documented. Clarify the address and access details at your new location. Understand How Long Does Moving Take to set realistic timeline expectations.

Essential information to share with movers:

• Fragile items requiring extra care
• Heavy or awkwardly shaped pieces
• Items staying behind (marked clearly)
• Parking and access at new location
• Any special circumstances (stairs, narrow doors, elevator)
• Your contact number and new address
• Preferred room placement at new home

During the Move: Your Role

Professional movers work best with engaged but non-hovering oversight. Stay accessible to answer questions but avoid micromanaging. Maintain clear communication according to FMCSA moving guidelines while respecting professional expertise. Review What Do Movers Not Move to ensure you're not asking them to transport prohibited items.

Position yourself where you can observe major furniture pieces being moved without blocking pathways. Check rooms periodically to ensure nothing is forgotten. Keep pathways clear—don't unpack boxes or create obstacles during loading. Stay hydrated and take breaks—moving day is physically and mentally demanding for everyone.

What to monitor during the move: Watch inventory stickers to ensure all items are tracked and loaded. Observe furniture wrapping to protect against damage. Confirm "fragile" labels are being respected. Keep pathways clear to prevent trips, falls, and delays. Check each room thoroughly to catch forgotten items in closets or under beds.

Common Moving Day Problems and Solutions

Movers arrive late: Contact the moving company immediately for ETA update. Late starts may compress timeline—be flexible on completion time. Document the actual start time for billing purposes. Late arrivals are common during peak season due to traffic and previous job overruns.

Furniture won't fit through doorway: Experienced movers have strategies—remove door from hinges, angle furniture differently, or disassemble further. Trust their expertise. This situation reinforces why measuring furniture and doorways beforehand (covered in How to Prepare for Movers) matters.

Weather complications: Have towels ready for wet floors according to National Weather Service safety guidelines. Protect flooring with cardboard or plastic runners. Budget extra time—movers work slower in rain or snow for safety. Some companies charge weather delays separately, so review your contract.

Damage occurs during move: Document immediately with photos. Note it on the inventory sheet before signing. File claim within required timeframe (typically 9 months for interstate moves per Department of Transportation regulations). Keep all paperwork for insurance claims.

At Your New Home: Unloading Strategy

Arrive at your new home before or with the movers. Unlock doors, prop them open, and clear pathways. Have your floor plan ready showing which furniture goes in each room. Direct traffic efficiently—"bedroom 1," "master bedroom," "kitchen"—rather than describing each piece.

Place box labels facing out so you can see contents without moving boxes. Have movers set heavy furniture first, then fill in with boxes. Check each room as items arrive to ensure proper placement before movers leave. Strategic furniture placement avoids rearranging later.

Unloading best practices:

• Provide clear room names for furniture placement
• Direct heavy items to final positions (avoid "just set it there")
• Check inventory stickers match your list
• Inspect furniture for damage as it's unwrapped
• Keep pathways clear during unloading
• Have movers reassemble what they disassembled
• Do room-by-room check before movers leave

Final Walkthrough and Payment

Before movers leave, complete a final walkthrough at both locations if possible. Verify all items arrived and are placed correctly. Check that nothing was forgotten at the old location. Review the inventory list marking any damaged items. Resolve discrepancies immediately.

Handle payment according to company policy—some require cash, others accept cards. Review the bill for accuracy. Tip crew members individually if possible—see Do You Tip Movers for detailed guidelines. Get copies of all paperwork including inventory lists and receipts. Follow our Moving Checklist for post-move tasks.

End-of-move checklist:

• Complete inventory verification
• Document any damage with photos
• Get copies of all paperwork and receipts
• Tip crew members (typically $20-40 per person)
• Confirm nothing left at old location
• Return keys or access cards
• Take photos of old home for security deposit

Critical Moving Day Mistakes to Avoid

Essential Moving Day Supplies

Keep these items easily accessible throughout moving day:



• Phone charger and backup battery: Stay connected throughout the day
• Snacks and water: Maintain energy for you and movers
• Basic tools: Last-minute adjustments and reassembly
• Cleaning supplies: Final cleanup at old home per EPA cleaning guidelines
• First aid kit: Minor injuries happen during moves
• Cash for tips: Not all situations accept cards
• Paper towels and trash bags: Inevitable spills and garbage
• Medications: Don't pack prescriptions in truck

Post-Move Immediate Tasks

After movers leave, prioritize immediate setup tasks. Locate your essentials box. Set up beds first—you'll be exhausted and need functional sleeping arrangements. Connect major appliances. Test utilities to confirm everything works. Tackle these tasks before unpacking decorative items.

Do a safety check according to NFPA home safety standards—test smoke detectors, check locks, locate circuit breaker. Know where emergency exits are located. Unpack kitchen essentials so you can eat without ordering takeout for every meal. Our Complete Moving Guide provides comprehensive post-move guidance. Consider reviewing How to Pack for Moving to understand which boxes to unpack first based on your labeling system.

For interstate moves, review USA.gov moving resources for additional requirements and consumer protections.

Moving day guidance based on industry best practices and federal moving regulations. Safety information from OSHA safety guidelines. Consumer protection information from FMCSA and Department of Transportation resources.