Moving day is here, and you’re probably feeling a mix of excitement and stress. Whether you’re moving across town or across the country, the day you pack up and transport everything you own can feel overwhelming. As a professional moving and storage company, we’ve helped thousands of families navigate moving day successfully. The good news? With the right preparation and a solid plan, you can make moving day much smoother and less stressful.
In this guide, we’ll share 10 essential moving day tips that will help you stay organized, avoid common mistakes, and get settled into your new home with less hassle. Let’s dive in.
Essential Moving Day Tips
1. Pack Your Essentials Box the Night Before
This is the single most important tip for moving day success. Your essentials box contains everything you’ll need immediate access to during the move and on your first night in your new home. Think about what you use every day and can’t live without for even 24 hours. Toiletries like your toothbrush, toothpaste, and soap should go in first. Add all medications, phone chargers, a change of clothes for each person, and important documents like IDs and moving contracts. Include basic tools like a box cutter and screwdriver. Don’t forget practical items like snacks, water bottles, paper towels, and toilet paper.
Label this box clearly with “ESSENTIALS – LOAD LAST, UNLOAD FIRST” and keep it in your personal vehicle. You’ll thank yourself later when you’re not digging through dozens of boxes at midnight.
2. Start Early and Eat a Good Breakfast
Set your alarm early on moving day. Most experienced movers recommend starting by 7 or 8 AM. The earlier you begin, the more time you’ll have to handle unexpected problems. Moving is physically demanding, even if you’ve hired professionals. Your body needs fuel for what will likely be a 10 to 12-hour day. Eat a protein-rich breakfast like eggs, oatmeal, or a hearty sandwich. Skip sugary foods that cause energy crashes.
Pack a cooler with water bottles, sports drinks, and healthy snacks like granola bars, trail mix, and fruit. Keep this accessible throughout the day. Dehydration and hunger can turn a manageable day into a miserable experience.
3. Dress Appropriately for Moving
What you wear matters more than you think. Start with closed-toe shoes with good traction sneakers or work boots are best. One dropped box on bare toes can send you to the emergency room. Wear comfortable, fitted clothing that won’t get caught on furniture or door handles. Choose breathable fabrics and dress in layers. Skip jewelry beyond simple rings or studs. Keep a fresh change of clothes ready for when the work is done.
4. Do a Final Walkthrough Before Movers Arrive
Before movers arrive, walk through your entire home one more time. Start at one end and work systematically through every room. Open every closet, cabinet, and drawer. Check under sinks, behind doors, and in corners. Don’t skip less obvious spaces like the attic, basement, garage, and outdoor storage. Look on top of the refrigerator, kitchen cabinets, and above the washer and dryer. While you’re walking through, remove any nails, picture hooks, or command strips from walls to protect your security deposit.
5. Keep Important Items with You
Some things should never go on the moving truck. Jewelry, cash, credit cards, and family heirlooms belong in your personal vehicle. All important documents like birth certificates, passports, social security cards, and home purchase papers need to travel with you. Prescription medications, laptops, tablets, and keys to your new home should also stay within your sight. Create a clearly marked “DO NOT LOAD” area in your home before movers arrive, and make sure they know it’s off-limits.
6. Communicate Clearly with Your Movers
When movers arrive, greet them professionally and offer water. Walk through your home together and point out fragile or valuable items. Mention any furniture that needs disassembly and discuss any challenges like narrow staircases or tight corners. During the move, stay nearby to answer questions but don’t hover or micromanage. Professional movers know what they’re doing. Have cash ready for tips—the standard is 15-20% of your total moving cost, or about $20-30 per mover for smaller moves.
7. Stay Hydrated and Take Breaks
Moving day is exhausting even if you’re not doing heavy lifting. The stress and constant activity will wear you down faster than you expect. Drink water every 30 minutes, even if you don’t feel thirsty. If it’s hot outside, sports drinks help replace lost electrolytes. Eat small snacks every few hours rather than waiting for one big meal. Trail mix, protein bars, and fruit work well. Save the heavy pizza dinner for when work is finished.
Take short breaks when you feel tired. Five or ten minutes to sit down and reset will help you work more efficiently than pushing through exhaustion.
8. Consider Portable Storage for Flexible Timing
Traditional moving creates a race against the clock. The truck arrives at a set time, you have limited hours to load everything, and then you must unload immediately at your new home.Portable storage offers a different approach. A storage container is delivered to your home, and you have one to three days to load it at your own pace. When ready, it’s picked up and either delivered to your new home or stored until you need it. Without hourly costs, you can take breaks and organize properly. If your new home isn’t ready, your belongings stay safely stored. For DIY moves, this is often easier than renting a truck. At STOMO, we’ve seen how this flexibility transforms moving from a frantic race into a manageable project.
9. Complete a Thorough Final Walkthrough
Once everything is loaded, go through every room one more time. Open every cabinet, closet, and drawer again. Check the basement, attic, garage, and any outdoor storage areas. If you’re renting, do basic cleaning to protect your security deposit. Sweep floors, wipe counters, and remove all trash. Turn off all lights, adjust the thermostat, and shut off the water heater if required. Lock all windows.
Take final photos of every room with your phone. These photos prove how you left the place and protect you if disputes arise later. Double-check that all windows and doors are locked, then turn in your keys as arranged.
10. Set Up Essentials First at Your New Home
When you arrive at your new home, resist the urge to unpack everything. You’re exhausted, and trying to do too much tonight leads to frustration. Focus only on what you need for the first night. Start with beds—everyone needs a place to sleep. Make all beds with clean sheets first. Next, set up your bathroom with toilet paper, hand soap, towels, and shower essentials. Then handle basic kitchen items like your coffee maker, paper plates, and cups.
Open your essentials box and put those items where they belong. Plug in phone chargers, set out medications, and put important documents somewhere safe. That’s enough for tonight. Order dinner from a local restaurant, eat, relax, and go to bed early. The remaining boxes can wait until tomorrow when you’re rested.
Common Moving Day Mistakes to Avoid
Not starting early enough, skipping meals or forgetting water, wearing inappropriate footwear, forgetting cash for tips, not labeling your essentials box clearly, putting valuables on the moving truck, skipping the final walkthrough, not confirming details with movers, trying to unpack everything the first night, and forgetting to arrange care for children and pets. All these mistakes add unnecessary stress and are easily avoided with proper planning.
Final Thoughts
Moving day doesn’t have to be overwhelming. With proper preparation, realistic expectations, and these 10 essential tips, you can handle the day with confidence. Remember that preparation makes all the difference. The work you do beforehand packing your essentials box, confirming details, getting organized saves you hours of stress when a moving day arrives.
Start early, stay flexible, and focus on one task at a time. Take breaks when needed and ask for help. Most importantly, remember this is just one day. By tomorrow, the hardest part will be behind you. Ready for a stress-free move? STOMO’s portable storage solutions give you the flexibility to move at your own pace without the pressure of racing against the clock. Get a free quote today and discover how we make moving easier
Frequently Asked Questions
What time should movers arrive on moving day?
Most professional movers recommend starting between 7-9 AM. An early start gives you plenty of time to handle unexpected delays and complete the move before evening, especially during hot summer months.
How long does moving day usually take?
A typical local move takes 4-8 hours depending on the size of your home. A one-bedroom apartment usually takes 3-5 hours, while a three-bedroom house can take 6-10 hours including loading, transport, and unloading.
What should I pack in my moving day essentials box?
Pack toiletries, medications, phone chargers, a change of clothes, important documents, basic tools, and toilet paper. Label this box clearly and keep it in your personal vehicle so you have immediate access to necessities at your new home.
Should I tip my movers, and how much?
Yes, tipping movers is standard practice in the industry. The typical tip is 15-20% of your total moving cost, or $20-30 per mover for smaller moves, given in cash at the end of the job.
What items should never go on the moving truck?
Never put valuables, important documents, prescription medications, electronics with personal data, or keys to your new home on the moving truck. These items should travel with you in your personal vehicle where you can keep them secure and accessible.