Moving Day Tips

Do a full walk-through with photos. Photograph every room, every wall, every floor. Get close-ups of any pre-existing damage to doorframes, banisters, and walls. Do the same at your new place if you can get access before the truck arrives. These photos are your evidence if a damage dispute comes up later.

Clear all pathways. The route from each room to the front door should be completely clear. Remove rugs that could slip underfoot. Open all doors along the path and prop them if needed.

Protect floors and doorframes. Lay down floor runners or old blankets on hardwood. If your movers don't bring doorframe padding, tape cardboard or moving blankets around high-traffic door jambs. Scratched hardwood or a gouged doorframe is the most common moving-day damage.

Reserve the elevator. If you live in a building with an elevator, reserve it with management in advance. Confirm the reservation the morning of. A shared elevator turns a 3-hour move into a 6-hour move.

Have parking sorted out. The truck needs to park as close to the entrance as possible. If street parking is competitive, put out cones or chairs early. Some cities require a parking permit for moving trucks. Check with your city or building manager at least a week ahead.

Set aside your "do not load" items. Put valuables, important documents, medications, car keys, phone chargers, and anything irreplaceable in one spot. Your car, not the truck. Mark this area clearly so the crew knows not to touch it. A bright sign on the pile ("DO NOT LOAD") prevents mistakes.

Check that the truck is empty. Before anything gets loaded, look inside the truck. You should see bare walls. If there is other cargo already on board, that means you are sharing truck space with another customer. This can lead to lost or mixed-up items. If you booked an exclusive load, the truck must be empty. If it is not, call the company immediately.

Review the estimate. Go over the written estimate with the crew lead before they start. Confirm the price, the hourly rate, any stair or long-carry fees, and the expected timeline. If the crew lead says the price will be different from your written estimate, get it in writing before they touch anything.

Get the crew lead's name. Ask who is in charge and get their name. This is your point of contact for the rest of the day. If something goes wrong, you need to know exactly who was responsible.

Walk them through the layout. Give the crew lead a quick tour. Show them which rooms to start with, where the heavy or awkward pieces are, and where the stairs or tight corners will be tricky.

Point out fragile items. If something is delicate, say so out loud and show them. Do not assume they will notice "fragile" written on a box. Verbal communication is more effective than labels.

Let them work. Professional movers have a system. They know how to stack a truck, how to carry heavy furniture, and how to navigate stairs. Let them do their job.

Do not try to help carry. This is not about being lazy. Most mover insurance policies do not cover injuries to customers. If you grab one end of a dresser and throw out your back, you are on your own. Your job today is to supervise, not to lift.

Watch for careless handling. You do not need to hover over every box, but keep an eye out. If you see someone dragging furniture across hardwood instead of lifting it, or tossing boxes marked "fragile," say something to the crew lead. Be direct but respectful.

Offer water. Moving is physically brutal work, especially in summer. Have a case of water bottles ready. Offering water and snacks is common courtesy and it sets a positive tone. Crews that feel respected tend to take better care of your belongings.

Keep kids and pets away from the path. A mover carrying a dresser down a stairway cannot see their feet. A dog underfoot or a toddler in the hallway is a serious safety risk. Keep them in a closed room or with a neighbor for the day.

Every item gets numbered and tagged. For interstate moves, the movers are required by federal law to create a detailed inventory. Each piece of furniture and each box gets a numbered sticker. The description and condition are written on the inventory sheet. This is your legal record of what was loaded onto the truck.

Note pre-existing damage on the list. If the movers write "scratched" or "dented" next to an item, verify that you agree with their description. If a piece is in perfect condition and they mark it as scratched, cross it out and correct it. Initial every correction. If damage happens during the move, you need the inventory to show the item was in good condition at origin.

Do not rush through it. The crew may want to move fast, especially if they are on the clock. That is fine for loading. But the inventory is a legal document. Take the time to review every line. If a description is vague ("box, misc"), ask them to be more specific. This is the document you will reference if you need to file a claim later.

Keep your copy. You will receive a copy of the signed inventory. Do not lose it. Photograph every page with your phone as a backup.

Check every item against the inventory before signing. As items come off the truck, check the numbered sticker against your inventory list. Confirm the count matches. Open boxes if you can and check contents for damage. This takes time, but it matters more than any other step on this page.

Note ANY damage on the delivery receipt before you sign. If a table leg is cracked, a box is crushed, or a lamp is missing, write it on the delivery receipt. Be specific. "Dining table, right rear leg cracked" is useful. "Damaged" is not. The crew may tell you that you can file a claim later. That is true, but noting damage on the delivery receipt at the time of delivery makes your claim dramatically stronger.

Once you sign clean, claims get harder. If you sign the delivery receipt with no damage noted, the moving company will argue that everything arrived in good condition. You can still file a claim, but you will need to prove the damage happened during transit, not after. That is a much harder case to make.

You have 9 months to file a formal claim. For interstate moves, federal regulations give you 9 months from the delivery date to file a written claim. Do not wait that long. File as soon as possible while details are fresh. The moving company then has 30 days to acknowledge your claim and 120 days to resolve it.