5 Moving Day Tips

Moving day is exciting. You're starting a new adventure, putting down roots in a new place. You've been dreaming about the new home you've acquired, and it's fun to see how fresh and different your furniture and pictures look when they're placed in a brand new environment.

But moving day can also be stressful. There's a lot to do, and you want it to run smoothly. Whether you've hired movers or gathered a group of friends and relatives to help you move, what can you do to make moving day a breeze? Find out on the next five pages.

Contents

Draw a Floor Plan
Be There During Packing and Pickup of Your Things
Make it Easy on Your Friends
Keep Children and Pets Out of the Way
Make Sure There's Parking for the Truck

5: Draw a Floor Plan

You know what will save you time and eliminate confusion on moving day? Try drawing a floor plan of your new home before you move. Sketch in and number your furnishings the way you want them to be arranged in each room. Then tag the furniture pieces to correspond with the numbers on the floor plan. That way, the movers know where to put each piece of furniture. You don't want to be making decisions about where each piece of furniture goes on the day of the move. It's better to make those decisions ahead of time, so the movers can carry the heavy pieces directly to the rooms in which they'll live.

4: Be There During Packing and Pickup of Your Things

If you've hired movers to pack, pick up and deliver your furniture and boxes, then you need to be on hand when they're doing the packing and picking up. If you can't be there, then you should ask someone to stand in for you -- a relative or friend. The movers will issue you an inventory of all items. Look over the list carefully and make sure the inventory list is correct and legible before you sign it. If an item is lost or damaged, you don't want to find out later that it's not on their list of inventory.

3: Make it Easy on Your Friends

If you didn't hire movers and you're having friends and family members help with your move instead, then make it as easy and organized as possible for them. Don't expect them to pack boxes for you. Have all the boxes packed before they arrive, so all they have to do is pick up a box and carry it to the moving van. You can even decide beforehand which friend will be assigned to which furniture and boxes. Be sure to have plenty of beverages and snacks on hand. And send out for food if the moving encroaches on lunch or dinner. They deserve it.

2: Keep Children and Pets Out of the Way

No matter who is moving your things -- professional movers or friends -- they don't want a barking dog or a rambunctious kid running around while they're carrying heavy boxes and furniture. It's distracting for the movers and it's unsafe for the children and the pets. So, it might be a good idea to have a friend babysit the children the day of the move. And the same goes for your pet. If you take them out of the equation for the day, you'll be able to focus on getting the move done.

1: Make Sure There's Parking for the Truck

When the moving van or truck arrives at the new place, it will need a place to park and unload. This can become complicated depending on what type of home you're moving into. For example, if you're moving into a house, the truck can simply park out front. But if you're moving into a high rise building, then you may need to set up a place ahead of time for the van or truck. You may also need to reserve an elevator. This should be set up beforehand, so the movers can carry things in as quickly as possible when they arrive.

Moving Day Tips FAQ

How do I save money if I'm moving locally?

The best way to save money is to take a DIY approach. Rent a moving truck or trailer from a company such as a U-Haul or Penske, pack and unpack yourself, collect free cardboard boxes far in advance, and enlist the help of friends and family on move day.

When should I start packing my house to move?

To help moving day go smoothly, you should start packing about eight weeks prior. Start with things you won't need before the day, including items like home decor and seasonal items that aren't in use.

How do I pack my house to move?

Some easy guidelines include: Packing similar items together, labeling each box by room and its contents, wrapping breakables in clothing, and packing well in advance of moving day. For more tips, check out our article on tips for packing.

What is the easiest way to move a heavy box?

To move a heavy box, use more than one person to carry it, move slowly, lift with your legs, or use tools such as lifting straps, a dolly, or sliders.