Moving Day Timeline: An Hour-by-Hour Plan

Let's get this out of the way: the hard part of moving isn't carrying boxes, it's the timing. When moving out of the old place, the drive, moving into the new home and settling in all have to fit into one day, a small hiccup quickly snowballs. The elevator permit wasn't arranged, the fridge is still dripping, the truck is waiting at the door. The plan below starts four weeks before the move and wraps up at 6 PM, as the furniture assembly is finishing. Shift it to fit your own schedule; the order matters, not the dates.

4 Weeks Before

Start with the date. Lock it in and book your appointment with the moving company; days near the end of the month fill up quickly. Then walk through your home and sort everything into three groups: going to the new home, not going, and going to storage. If part of your belongings is going to storage, roughly estimate the volume and get a quote now. Also put transfer or cancellation requests for electricity, water, natural gas and internet on the calendar this week; leave them to the last day and you'll be sitting in the dark in your new home.

2 Weeks Before

This is supplies week: boxes, stretch wrap, bubble wrap, tape, a marker. Start packing anything you rarely use: off-season clothes, books, knick-knacks on the shelves. Number the boxes and keep a list of their contents handy; we explain the method in our article on box labeling and numbering. Gather the items going to storage in a separate pile in one corner of the house, for example in a kids' room that has already been cleared out.

1 Week Before

Send the items going to storage this week. Honestly, this is the most useful step of the whole plan; it means fewer boxes, fewer decisions and less rushing around on moving day. Start emptying the fridge, because it needs to be switched off and defrosted 24 hours before the move. Prepare a separate box for important documents, jewelry and electronics; that box doesn't go on the truck, it goes with you. Cleaning the new home and any minor repairs should also be finished this week.

1 Day Before

Switch off the fridge, defrost it and dry the inside. Pack your "first-night bag": medications, chargers, towels, a change of clothes, basic cleaning supplies and documents. Double-check with building management about permission to use the elevator and where the truck will park. Fully charge your phone; it will be ringing all day tomorrow.

Moving Day: Hour by Hour

8:00 AM. The crew hasn't arrived yet. Clear the hallways and roll up the rugs. Have a separate plan for pets and small children; the doors will be open all day, and the cat knows it.

9:00 AM. Loading begins. The crew first disassembles and wraps the large furniture. Meanwhile, mark the boxes with fragile items; the crew hasn't gotten to those yet.

11:00 AM. Loading is halfway done. Check the inventory list against the crew leader's list. If something meant for storage was overlooked, set it aside now; separating it once it's on the truck is twice the work.

1:00 PM. Move-out check. Every closet, drawer, the balcony and the pantry. The most commonly forgotten spots: the top of the bathroom cabinet, the highest kitchen shelves and the balcony storage closet. Plus anything hanging on the back of a door.

2:00 PM. The truck hits the road. Head to the new home with your first-night bag and get the elevator and parking ready there.

4:00 PM. Unloading. Have the boxes carried straight to the rooms they belong in rather than piled up in the living room. This is where the labeling you did two weeks ago pays off.

6:00 PM. Assembly and final check. The furniture is being put together. Go over the inventory list one last time; if anything is missing or damaged, record it in the delivery report, as it's hard to do afterward.

If You're Moving with Storage

If part of your belongings is going to storage, you're now managing three addresses instead of two. In this case, the easiest approach is to send the storage portion on a separate day. If you'd like to handle moving and storage through a single provider, check out our storage service with moving included.

5 Common Mistakes

1. Not numbering the boxes. Unloading takes twice as long.
2. Switching off the fridge on the morning of the move; it won't finish defrosting and will leak water in the truck.
3. Not packing a first-night bag. Your first evening is spent hunting for a toothbrush.
4. Not getting elevator permission. Carrying everything up the stairs doubles the time.
5. Leaving the items for storage until moving day; the day drags on for no reason.

For more detail on packing up a home, see our article on home packing techniques.

Get Help

If you'd like to manage packing, moving and storage from a single point, take a look at our home moving page or call 0850 888 66 15 to request a free on-site survey.

You can find the planning steps for your move in detail on our local moving guide page.

Frequently Asked Questions

For the storage solution that suits you best, Fill out the form and we'll get in touch!

Household Storage Product Storage Storage Transport Home Moving Intercity Moving International Moving Other

You can read the Privacy Notice and the Information Notice on Commercial Electronic Messages here.

I have read and accept the Explicit Consent and Commercial Electronic Message Notice for the use of my information for information and marketing purposes.

Submit Request

This field should be left blank