Movers work fastest when they can walk in and start carrying. A little prep the night before and the morning of keeps the clock (and the cost) down, and makes sure nothing important gets loaded by accident. None of this is hard, it just needs to be done ahead of time.
Finish these before the crew arrives
- Have all boxes packed, taped, and labeled by room.
- Empty and defrost the fridge and freezer if they are coming with you.
- Take apart anything you have said you will handle yourself.
- Clear a path from the door to the driveway.
Set aside what should not be loaded
Put anything you do not want on the truck in one spot, ideally a bathroom or a car, and label it clearly. That includes:
- Your first-night box and daily essentials
- Medications, documents, keys, and valuables
- Chargers, a change of clothes, and toiletries
Make the crew's job easier
- Reserve the closest parking or loading spot for the truck.
- Confirm elevator time if you are in a building.
- Keep pets and small kids in one closed room or off-site.
- Walk the crew through the home and point out anything fragile or "do not take."
Common mistakes
- Still packing when the movers show up, which puts the whole day behind.
- Leaving the "do not move" pile mixed in with everything else.
- Forgetting to protect the entryway on a hot or rainy day.
When to hire movers
If prepping the whole house feels like too much on top of everything else, a full-service move takes it off your plate. Our residential moving crews can pack, wrap, and disassemble for you, so "prep" becomes little more than pointing us in the right direction.
Estimated time
Final prep is usually an hour or two the night before, plus a quick walkthrough the morning of. Doing it ahead can save far more than that on move day.
Local note: On a hot Santa Clarita afternoon, keep water on hand for the crew and prop the doors so the AC does not fight an open house all day.