Want to know how to make your move day go as smoothly as possible?
Every year, thousands of people experience damaged furniture, costly moving delays, and last-minute stress when moving home. According to recent industry data, 57% of moving company complaints list furniture damage as the most common moving problem. Worst of all, most of these cases could have been easily prevented by proper planning and preparation.
There's good news though:
It's not difficult to prepare your home before movers arrive. You can avoid the majority of common moving problems when you're organised and finish packing and protecting your home early. Working with professional furniture moving companies is also easier when you prepare your home. After all, even the best removals company can't protect your furniture without your help.
Here's exactly how to do it…
In this article, I cover
Why Preparation Matters For Your Move
How To Prep Each Room Before Moving Day
What To Do The Day Before Movers Arrive
Common Mistakes That Cost You Money
Why Preparation Matters For Your Move
The first thing to understand is why preparation matters for moving.
Movers are coming to lift heavy furniture, squeeze through tight spaces, and move everything into a truck as efficiently as possible. They aren't there to help you pack or clear clutter from rooms.
If the movers arrive and have to wait while you clear out a closet or move boxes off doorways, that's costing you time and money.
The majority of moving companies also charge by the hour. If movers spend 15 minutes waiting for you to be ready, that's extra cash out of your pocket.
It's not just about money, though.
Proper home preparation protects your furniture from damage too. A prepared home gives movers clear pathways and helps them focus on handling your belongings rather than moving obstacles.
Pretty cool, right?
Statistics show that over 30% of moving related accidents happen when people exert themselves. Most of these are due to rushing or overreaching in spaces that aren't prepared in advance.
Start With A Room-By-Room Plan
The first thing to do when preparing for movers is to plan your work…
Take a deep breath and don't try to do everything at once. There's a simple way to make sure you cover every inch of your home.
Break it down room-by-room, and tackle your home in stages over the weeks leading up to your move. Tackle rooms you don't use often first, and work down to your kitchen and bedrooms last.
The process is the same for each room:
First: Go through every item and decide if you want it with you. Donate, sell, or throw away things you no longer need.
Second: Pack everything you don't need before moving day. Label boxes with the destination room, and number them for your own reference.
Third: Disassemble any furniture that can be broken down. Remove table and chair legs, bed frames, and other parts from modular furniture. Keep all hardware in separate bags labeled with the piece of furniture they belong to and tape them to the furniture.
That really is it!
Clear Pathways and Protect Your Home
Let's take a look at what I consider the most important step…
Clear pathways throughout your home.
Before moving day, walk through your home and figure out the best routes movers will take to go from each room to the exit door. Remove all potential obstacles including
Rugs and floor mats that could cause tripping hazards
Small pieces of furniture or other items in doorways
Decorations on walls near corners or tight spaces
Plants or fragile items on shelves or window sills
Toys, clothes, or other clutter on floors
BUT THERE'S MORE…
Protecting your home from damage is also important.
Moving heavy furniture means movers will have to carry items through doorways and around tight corners. It's easy for people to accidentally bump walls, door frames, and furniture in the process.
Steps you can take to avoid damage include
Corner guards on exposed corners
Cardboard sheets taped to walls along hallways
Old towels or moving blankets wrapped around door frames, secured with painter's tape
You'll save hundreds in repair costs by taking a few minutes to protect your home.
Prepare Your Parking Situation
Parking is one of the most frustrating moving day issues.
It's often not about your things, but getting the moving truck close enough to your home to work.
If the movers have to park far away, they'll need to carry items much further than if the truck can park in your driveway. The worst case? Your moving company may charge extra for a long carry situation.
Here's what to do:
Call building management two weeks before moving day to reserve a parking spot. For a house, clear your driveway and ensure there's also space on the street in front of your home. Remove your own vehicles from the driveway and move them elsewhere.
For apartment buildings, reserve an elevator slot if possible. Confirm parking and other moving day restrictions with management.
The Day Before Movers Arrive
The last 24 hours before the move are critical.
You should use this time to finish preparation and double-check that you haven't missed anything.
Here's your day-before moving day checklist:
Finish all packing: Your home should be empty except for moving boxes.
Pack an essentials bag: Pack any items you'll need access to immediately after moving. Think about toiletries, phone chargers, important documents, and other items you want to start unpacking right away.
Defrost refrigerators or freezers: Give appliances at least 24 hours to fully defrost before moving day.
Disconnect and label electronics: Unplug electronics, wrap cords, and label them so you know what goes where.
Pack up valuables: Securely pack any jewelry or important documents that you don't want movers to transport.
And here's the big one…
Do a final walkthrough of your entire home. Make sure you've packed everything and gone through every closet, cabinet, and drawer. It's so much easier to grab a forgotten box now than after the moving truck has left.
Mistakes That Will Cost You
Let's get real for a moment…
There are mistakes you can make during preparation that cost people extra hundreds on moving day.
Here's a few to avoid:
Mistake #1: Not labelling boxes clearly enough. Label every box on multiple sides with the destination room.
Mistake #2: Leaving full drawers in dressers. Empty all drawers before movers arrive.
Mistake #3: Not measuring doorways and tight spaces. Measure your largest pieces and all doorways beforehand.
Mistake #4: Not having a plan for kids and pets. Arrange for children and pets to be elsewhere on moving day.
Mistake #5: Not planning your first load. Decide what furniture goes on the truck first since it will come off last.
Moving Day Morning Prep
On moving day itself, get up early and do one final check.
Make sure pathways are still clear and nothing got missed.
When the movers arrive, do a walkthrough with them, and show them any furniture that will need special care or has pre-existing damage. Point out your parking situation, and show them the easiest route through your home. Be available to answer any questions the movers have before they start working, then leave them to it and stay out of their way.
Bringing It All Together
Preparing your home for furniture movers is not complicated, but it does take effort and a little planning.
Here's the key points to remember:
Clear pathways and remove all obstacles from every room
Protect walls and doorways from damage
Arrange parking and building access in advance
Finish packing before moving day
Do a final walkthrough of your home to catch forgotten items
It all comes down to making your moving company's job easier. Your preparation and organisation makes your move faster, smoother, and less stressful. Plus, it will protect your furniture and save you money.
The time and effort you put in to prepare your home will be well worth it when everything goes smoothly on moving day. That's the power of proper preparation!
