ChecklistsMoving day, step by step
How a professional load actually runs, what to finish before the crew arrives, and the walkthrough that prevents disputes at delivery.
By Elijah Canfield, Founder, Hire Best Pros · Updated August 26, 2026
Elijah Canfield is the founder of Hire Best Pros. He writes and edits the site's consumer guides, with a focus on how home service and moving projects are priced, scoped and compared.
Before the crew arrives, finish packing, clear pathways, protect floors and doorways, park to reserve space for the truck and set aside the items that will not travel on it. During the load, stay reachable and answer questions rather than carrying boxes. Before the truck leaves, walk every room, closet and the garage with a crew member.
Key points
- A crew works faster if you finished packing. Packing during the load costs you money.
- Set aside a do not load zone and mark it clearly.
- Walk the house twice: once before departure, once after unload.
The night before
- Close and tape every box, including the last minute bathroom items
- Charge phones, and set aside chargers, medication, documents and valuables
- Empty and defrost the refrigerator, and drain hoses on the washer
- Disassemble anything you agreed to disassemble yourself
- Confirm arrival window, contact number and parking with the mover
The morning of
Clear a path from the farthest room to the front door and out to the street. Prop doors, remove rugs at thresholds and move vehicles so the truck can back in close.
Designate one do not load area. A bathroom or a corner of the porch with a large sign works. Everything traveling in your own vehicle goes there before the crew arrives.
While the crew loads
- Read the inventory and any condition notes before signing anything
- Stay available for questions, but keep out of the carry path
- Point out fragile and high value items directly, item by item
- Provide water and a clear bathroom, and keep pets and children out of the way
Still choosing a mover?
Compare moving helpBefore the truck pulls away, and again at delivery
Open every closet, cabinet, crawlspace, attic hatch and the garage. Check behind doors and inside the dishwasher. Do this with a crew member so anything found is loaded rather than left.
At delivery, check items against the inventory as they come off the truck and note any damage on the paperwork before you sign. Damage discovered after signing is much harder to resolve.
Common questions
- Should I tip the crew?
- Tipping is customary but discretionary in the moving industry, and it is normally handled per crew member at the end of the job. Base it on care and effort rather than a fixed rule.
- What should never go on the truck?
- Documents, medication, jewelry, cash, keys, chargers, anything irreplaceable, and hazardous materials such as propane, fuel, paint and aerosols, which most carriers will not transport at all.