Moving Day Guide

Most of the work that determines how moving day goes happens the day before. Movers charge by the hour — the more prepared you are when they arrive, the faster (and cheaper) the move.

• 1Finish packing everything except day-of essentials like toiletries and phone chargers
• 2Box and label every container clearly — room name in bold marker, with contents below (e.g., "Kitchen — canned goods")
• 3Avoid garbage bags for anything the movers will handle; they're hard to stack and easy to damage
• 4Skip labels like "misc" — if you can't name what's in the box, it's a sign it needs sorting before it goes on the truck
• 5Reserve the elevator and arrange a parking pass or street clearance in advance if you're in a building or urban area
• 6Clear a direct path from every room to the front door the night before

Professional movers have strict restrictions on what they'll transport — partly for safety, partly for liability. Knowing this ahead of time means no surprises on moving day.

Hazardous and Prohibited Items

Movers won't transport flammable, explosive, or corrosive materials. This includes propane tanks, ammunition, paint, certain cleaning products, alcohol, and combustibles. Dispose of these safely before your move date.

Handle These Yourself

Certain items should travel with you in your personal vehicle — not on the truck — regardless of what any mover suggests.

• Medications and medical devices
• Passports, birth certificates, and mortgage documents
• Cash and jewelry
• House keys, car keys, and garage remotes
• Pets and pet supplies
• Laptop, phone, and chargers
• Irreplaceable sentimental items

Your job on moving day is to stay out of the movers' way while keeping things moving. That sounds simple, but most delays come from homeowners hovering, asking questions mid-lift, or leaving rooms unprepared.

• 1Have backup supplies on hand — extra tape, markers, and a few empty boxes for last-minute loose items
• 2Stock a small cooler with water and snacks — moving day runs long, and hydrated movers work faster
• 3Keep children and pets in a single room or arrange for them to be elsewhere for the day
• 4Focus on loading your own vehicle with the items you're transporting personally
• 5Do a final sweep of every room, closet, and cabinet once the movers are done loading — check appliances are unplugged, windows are closed, and nothing is left behind

Tipping movers isn't required, but it's standard practice — and a good crew makes a real difference. The baseline is 5% of the total move cost, split evenly among the crew.

For exceptional service — careful handling of fragile items, navigating stairs or a difficult building, or a particularly long day — 10% or more is appropriate. If friends or family helped with the move, food, gift cards, or a sincere thank-you go a long way.

Moving day is the wrong time to realize your electricity isn't on or your internet won't be active for another week. Utilities, internet, home security, and insurance all need to be coordinated before the truck pulls up.

Haven handles this coordination for you — contacting providers, scheduling transfers, and confirming activation before move-in. More than 50,000 homebuyers have already been connected to Haven through their home inspection company, lender, or real estate agent.