Moving day can be exciting, but it can also become stressful quickly if you're trying to remember everything at once.
A good moving day checklist gives you a simple plan to follow before the movers arrive, while your belongings are being loaded, and after you reach your new home.
Whether you're moving across town or across the country, preparation can make the day more organized and help your movers work efficiently.
This checklist walks you through what to do before the movers arrive, what to keep with you, what to expect during loading and unloading, and what to check before the moving company leaves.
One of the easiest ways to make moving day less stressful is to prepare as much as possible the night before.
If you're handling your own packing, try to have your boxes finished before moving day.
Ideally, most of your smaller belongings should already be boxed, sealed, and labeled.
Avoid leaving a large amount of packing until the morning of the move unless you've arranged for the moving company to provide packing services.
Clearly label boxes with the room where they belong.
For example:
You can also mark boxes containing fragile belongings so they can be handled appropriately.
Pack a bag or small suitcase with the things you'll need immediately after the move.
Consider including:
Keep this bag with you rather than putting it on the moving truck.
Make sure your phone is fully charged before moving day.
You'll likely use your phone for communication, directions, photographs, calls, and other moving-day tasks.
Moving day can be physically and mentally demanding.
Finish as much preparation as possible before going to bed so you aren't trying to complete everything at the last minute.
Give yourself enough time to get ready before the movers arrive.
You don't want to be scrambling to finish packing, getting dressed, or organizing important belongings while the moving crew is trying to begin the job.
Some belongings should generally stay with you rather than being loaded onto the moving truck.
Consider keeping these items with you:
If you're unsure whether something should be transported by the movers, ask the moving company ahead of time.
Moving day can create a busy environment with people carrying heavy furniture through your home.
If possible, arrange for children and pets to stay somewhere safe and comfortable during the busiest parts of the move.
This can also help movers work without unnecessary interruptions.
Before the movers arrive, clear unnecessary items from:
Clear pathways can make it easier for movers to safely move furniture and boxes through the home.
When the moving crew arrives, take a few minutes to go over the job.
Make sure everyone understands:
Good communication at the beginning can help prevent confusion later.
If you have oversized furniture, fragile belongings, unusual items, or furniture that requires special handling, point those items out to the crew.
Don't assume the movers know about an item you didn't mention when arranging the move.
If certain furniture, boxes, appliances, or belongings are staying at the house, make that clear.
You don't want something accidentally loaded onto the truck.
A separate room or clearly marked area can help distinguish items that aren't going.
Once loading begins, the movers will typically work through the home systematically.
For a residential move, the process may involve preparing furniture, wrapping furniture, carrying belongings to the truck, loading the truck, and organizing the load for transportation.
Ask the movers what furniture protection is included with your service.
Furniture may need to be wrapped or otherwise prepared before being moved through doorways and loaded onto the truck.
If there are particularly delicate items, make sure the moving crew knows about them.
Examples might include:
The important thing is communication. Let the movers know about items that require additional attention.
Don't accidentally put your overnight bag, medications, documents, or phone charger on the truck.
Keep the items you need immediately accessible.
One of the easiest mistakes to make is leaving something behind.
Before you lock the door for the last time, walk through the entire property.
Look through:
Open cabinets and closets.
Look behind doors.
Check storage spaces that aren't used every day.
Make sure you haven't left belongings inside:
Don't forget:
It's surprisingly easy to leave something behind when you're focused on getting out the door.
Consider taking photographs of the empty home after everything has been removed.
Photos can provide a useful record of the condition of the property after the move.
When you arrive at the destination, take a few minutes before unloading begins.
This is particularly important with furniture.
Think about where you want:
If you know where something belongs, tell the movers before it gets carried inside.
This can save you from having to move heavy furniture yourself later.
If your boxes are labeled by room, unloading can be much easier.
For example:
Kitchen → Kitchen
Primary Bedroom → Primary Bedroom
Office → Office
Garage → Garage
A simple labeling system can save time and confusion.
This is an important part of your moving day checklist.
Don't rush through the final walkthrough.
Walk through your new home and make sure the major furniture pieces have been placed where you want them.
Look at:
If a sofa needs to move six inches to the left or a dresser needs to go against another wall, speak up before the moving crew leaves.
It's much easier to make adjustments while the movers are still there.
For Falco Moving Company, this final part of the move is particularly important. The goal is to make sure the customer is satisfied with where their furniture has been placed before the moving crew finishes the job.
Before the movers leave, make sure everything that was supposed to come off the truck has been unloaded.
Walk through the truck or ask the crew to verify that it is empty of your belongings.
Compare the new home against your inventory or your memory of what was loaded.
If something is missing or you're unsure about an item, address it before the crew leaves.
Here's a simplified version you can save or print.
One of the most important moving-day rules is to keep your most important personal belongings with you.
A moving truck isn't the place for items you'll need immediately.
Your personal moving-day bag might include:
If you're moving with children, consider bringing:
For pets, bring whatever they need during travel and immediately after arriving.
Moving day can be stressful for animals.
Doors may be open frequently, furniture will be moving through the house, and unfamiliar people may be coming and going.
If possible, keep pets somewhere secure and away from the main moving activity.
You might arrange for them to stay with:
If your pet remains at home, keep it in a secure room away from the moving crew and clearly communicate that the room is not part of the move.
This depends on the services you've arranged.
If you've hired a company for full-service packing, the movers may be able to handle packing as part of your scheduled service.
If packing isn't included, however, unfinished packing can make moving day take longer.
If you realize you're behind, contact your moving company as soon as possible.
Don't wait until the movers arrive to mention that a significant amount of packing remains.
The simplest moving days are usually the ones where everyone knows what to expect.
Here are a few ways to make your move easier.
Don't wait until the last few days to begin preparing.
Moving unwanted items adds unnecessary work.
Room labels can make unloading much more organized.
Tell your movers about anything unusual before moving day whenever possible.
Know where your major furniture should go in the new home.
Don't put important personal items on the moving truck.
Before the movers leave your old home and before they leave your new home, take a few minutes to check everything.
The basic moving-day process is similar whether you're moving locally or long-distance, but there are some important differences.
A local move may allow you to complete the entire process in one day, depending on the size and complexity of the move.
You may be able to travel directly from your old home to your new home and supervise the entire loading and unloading process.
Long-distance moves require more planning.
You'll want to make sure you have access to the belongings you'll need while traveling and before everything arrives at your destination.
Keep important documents, medications, clothing, toiletries, chargers, and other essentials with you.
If you're moving between states, confirm the transportation and delivery arrangements with your moving company before moving day.
Finish as much packing as possible, label your boxes, prepare an essentials bag, keep important documents and valuables with you, and make sure your home is ready for the movers.
Keep medications, identification, important documents, keys, valuables, electronics, chargers, and other immediate necessities with you.
Ideally, someone responsible for the move should be available to communicate with the moving crew, provide access, answer questions, and confirm where furniture should go.
Tipping is optional and depends on your experience and personal preference. If you're considering a tip, you can read our guide on how much to tip movers for more information.
If you've hired movers for transportation and labor only, you should generally have your smaller belongings packed and ready. If you've arranged professional packing services, the moving company may handle the packing for you.
Many residential moving companies will place furniture in the locations you specify as part of the unloading process. Confirm this with your mover before the job and communicate your desired furniture placement on moving day.
Walk through the home, verify that your belongings have been unloaded, check major furniture placement, and communicate any adjustments you'd like made before the crew leaves.
Moving day doesn't have to be chaotic.
The key is preparation.
Have your smaller belongings packed and labeled, keep your important personal items with you, communicate clearly with the moving crew, and take the time to inspect both homes before the job is finished.
Most importantly, don't be afraid to speak up.
If a piece of furniture isn't where you want it, let the movers know while they're still there. Clear communication at the destination can make a big difference in how satisfied you are with the finished move.
Falco Moving Company provides residential moving services in Asheville, North Carolina, Las Vegas, Nevada, and the Nashville, Tennessee area.
Whether you're planning a local move, long-distance move, furniture move, or need help with packing, preparing ahead of time can make the entire process easier.
Contact Falco Moving Company to discuss your move and request a quote.