When you hire a professional mover, you can sit back and let them take the lead on moving day. But that doesn’t mean your work is done. Knowing your responsibilities during a move can help make the day go more smoothly.
Be there
First, you must be home on the day of the move. If you can’t be there, find someone who can: a friend, neighbor, or family member, but someone reliable and trustworthy. Confirm that they will be present throughout the day to answer the porter’s questions and perform the tasks listed below. That person should also be able to contact you if there is a situation that requires your attention.
Give parking instructions
Before the porters arrive, find out where they can park. If you live in or move into a single-family home, movers may park in the driveway. However, the HOA may have regulations on where and how mobile trucks can be parked. Find out before moving. You also need to know where the moving truck can be parked when moving. Ask the apartment manager. Are you moving to a building with off-street parking? You must contact the city for guidance.
On moving day, when the movers arrive, be outside and direct them to a parking space if necessary. While you should have provided the company with parking instructions, that information may not have been shared with the driver.
Clear the way
Likewise, before the porters arrive, follow their path from all possible exits (including the front door, garage door, and backyard gate) to the porter truck. Remove any obstructions, such as garden hoses or children’s toys. If it snows, shovel the snow; if it freezes, sprinkle with salt. Also sweep or blow away any leaves, broken branches, or debris along the way.
One of the most important things you can do during the day keeps these passages clear. Porters may not always be able to see the road ahead, especially when moving large appliances or furniture. You may even have to walk backward to help with heavy and awkward objects. Therefore, making sure their routes are safe should be a priority.
Show them around
When the porters arrive, greet them at the door and show them around the house. Highlight any items you think are particularly challenging or require special attention. If you have marked the unpacked area, be sure to point to it. You can even bring items you want to move into rooms that can be locked. Put “Do Not Pack” signs on closed doors.
During the tour, including toilets where porters are welcome and where they can get water and refreshments (more on this later). Finally, show them all the exits from the house so they know what their options are when it comes to bringing out items. Inform them of any potential hazards they may encounter on the route to and from the house and moving trucks.
Be a good host
When the porters arrive, offer them a drink. Porters love coffee in the morning, especially on cold days, but mineral water is fine too. You may also want to prepare some snacks, such as granola bars or assorted dried fruit. During meal times, suggest buying a pizza or sandwich. Not only is it a nice touch, but if the porters don’t have to stop somewhere for lunch, they can get back to work earlier.
It’s also a good idea to set up a sink with liquid soap and paper towels in your bathroom. In this way, porters can remove particularly dirty items, such as those in the B. garage, and wash them off.
Of course, when it’s hot outside, you can adjust the thermostat to keep it cool inside. You might even consider installing some fans to keep the air circulating. Do the exact opposite in winter and turn up the heat if the door is too cold with the door open.
Keep kids busy
Make sure your kids are out of the way while the hauler packs your stuff and loads the moving truck. Ask neighbors or relatives to watch them if possible. Otherwise, put together a bag of activities—coloring books, favorite toys, books to read, playdough, and crafts—to keep them busy. Then end the day with your favorite movie or video game. Portable devices such as tablets are also an option.
The same goes for pets. Plan to take your pet for a day. They can easily escape with the door open. Or ask a friend to leave your pet at home. At the very least, lock your pets in their crates or kennels. Make sure they have enough water and take them outside to rest. If the move overlaps with the meal, don’t forget to feed them.
Provide help
Professional movers know how to pack your belongings and bulky items to avoid damage. Resist the urge to help, even if you are tempted to help. Take a step back and let them do their jobs. Instead, be prepared to answer questions or address issues that arise. If you need to run errands, go to lunch, or talk to your neighbors, make sure they have your phone number.
When they have finished loading the mobile truck, make sure they have the correct address for your new home and the route to get there. Then, when you tip, tip them. While not expected, a tip is appreciated if the job is done well. The standard tip is $20 per person per day for 8 hours, but you can tip as much or as little as you want.
What to do if you packed
The day-to-day chores of your move are largely the same, whether you pack or hire a mover to do it. The main difference is that when the porter arrives, you must fully pack and label the box. Also, indicate which room the box belongs to in the new house.
You should also organize the boxes so that porters can easily access them. Clear sidewalks so porters don’t have to dodge boxes when navigating houses on their way to moving trucks.
Moving soon? Moving can be a lot of work. So let someone else do it for you. Exist an extensive network of reputable and reliable movers who can pack and move your entire home. They only need to answer questions and help with details and logistics on the day of the move.
