By Ben Gottfredson, Founder | Big Ben’s Moving and Storage

Date Published: April 7, 2026

Most people spend weeks getting ready for a move. They book the truck, buy boxes, and call the utility companies. But when the moving day finally comes, things still go wrong. Boxes are missing labels. A couch won’t fit through the door. The elevator is taken. What was supposed to be a fresh start turns into one of the worst days of the year.

If that sounds like your last move, there is a good reason it happened. Most of the time, people stop preparing too early. What you do in the two days before the truck shows up makes all the difference. The good news is that every common moving day problem can be avoided.

This guide shares what we have learned from years of doing local, long distance, and storage moves. We cover what to do before the crew arrives, how to handle the day itself, and how to get settled into your new home without the stress.

Table of Contents

Why Moving Day Gets Stressful
Two Days Before: Don’t Waste This Time
The Night Before: A Simple Checklist
Moving Day Morning: Before the Crew Shows Up
During the Move: How to Work with Your Movers
Protecting Your Home During the Move
Tips for Long Distance Moves
If You Are Using Storage
At Your New Home: The First Two Hours
What Not to Do on Moving Day
Frequently Asked Questions
References and Further Reading

Why Moving Day Gets Stressful

A lot of people think moving is just stressful no matter what. But that is not really true. Most of the chaos comes from a few problems that could have been avoided.

The most common problems are boxes that are not packed, items that are not labeled, furniture that was not taken apart ahead of time, and not having a plan for where things go at the new place. None of these have to happen. They are all choices that get made, or skipped, in the days before the move.

When you hire a professional moving company, the actual moving part is not where things go wrong. Loading, driving, and unloading with a good crew goes smoothly. The problems almost always start before the truck even pulls up.

Two Days Before: Don't Waste This Time

Two days before your move is the most important window you have. Most people spend it finishing packing they should have done a week ago. Here is how to use it the right way.

Finish Packing Every Box

Every item in your home should be in a box by the end of this day. Not almost done. Done. This gives you a full day to find anything you missed. Movers cannot safely load a home where drawers are still full or items are sitting out loose.

Label Boxes for Where They Are Going, Not Where They Came From

Most people write things like Kitchen or Master Bedroom on their boxes. But that just tells you where the stuff came from. Write the room name at your new home on every box. Put it on the top and on one side. This saves a lot of time when the crew is unloading.

Take Apart Big Furniture

Bed frames, large bookshelves, and anything too wide to fit through a door should be taken apart now, not on moving day morning. Your movers can help with this, but it is faster and cheaper when it is already done.

Call Your Movers to Confirm

Call or message your moving company two days before the move. Confirm the arrival time, parking at both addresses, and anything special about your items. You can also reach us on our contact page. A short call prevents most last-minute surprises.

The Night Before: A Simple Checklist

The night before is where prepared customers pull ahead of everyone else. Before you go to sleep, make sure all of this is done:

Every box is sealed, taped, and labeled with the destination room
Your moving day bag is packed (more on this below)
Big furniture is taken apart where needed
Appliances are unplugged and ready if your movers are not handling that
All your devices are charged
Your mover’s arrival time is confirmed
Parking is set up for the moving truck at both addresses
Elevator time is reserved if needed
Kids and pets have somewhere to be that keeps them out of the way
You get a full night of sleep

That last one matters more than people think. Moving day takes a lot of energy and a lot of decisions. When you are tired, you make more mistakes and get frustrated faster. Get some sleep.

Bottom Line: Moving day stress is really just a buildup of skipped preparation. Every hour you put off packing or planning shows up as a problem on moving day. This guide will help you take care of it ahead of time.

Moving Day Morning: Before the Crew Shows Up

On moving day morning, your goal is simple. You want a clean, open home where the crew can start loading right away.

Do a Quick Walk-Through

Walk through every room, closet, and drawer. Check under the beds, behind doors, and in the garage. Anything found after the truck is loaded either gets left behind or costs extra time. This takes about ten minutes and is worth every second.

Clear a Path

Push boxes and furniture toward the exits so the crew has a clear route to the truck. Take up any rugs in the main walkways. Clear the driveway or parking area for the truck.

Set Aside Things That Are Not Going on the Truck

Anything that is riding with you needs to be kept away from everything being loaded. Put your moving day bag, your keys, your medications, and your important papers in a corner or in your car. Tell the crew clearly what not to load.

Protect Your Floors

Put down cardboard or floor runners on hardwood and tile in the main walkways. Big Ben’s movers bring professional floor protection and moving pads to every job. Adding your own in the busiest spots gives extra coverage.

During the Move: How to Work with Your Movers

Moving goes much faster when the customer and the crew work well together. The more clearly you communicate, the better the day goes.

Walk the Crew Lead Through Your Home

When the movers arrive, take five to ten minutes to walk the lead mover through the house. Point out anything fragile, anything that needs to come apart, and anything that needs special care.

Be Available but Stay Out of the Way

Be easy to reach when questions come up. But do not hover. Movers work faster with room to move. Your job is to answer questions quickly and then let the crew do their work.

Talk Through Furniture Placement Before Unloading

Before the truck is unloaded at your new home, walk through with the crew lead and point out where the big pieces go. Moving a couch after it has already been set down takes time and can scratch your floors. A five minute talk before unloading saves a lot of work later.

Professional movers are fast because they do this every day. Let them work. Be there when they need you, give clear answers, and then step back. The moves that take the longest are usually the ones where no one is around to make decisions.

Protecting Your Home During the Move

Walls, floors, and door frames can get damaged during a move. The good news is that most of this damage is easy to prevent.

Moving Blankets and Furniture Pads

All furniture should be wrapped in moving blankets before it goes on the truck. This protects the furniture and keeps walls and floors from getting scratched. Big Ben’s includes this on every job we do.

Your Moving Day Bag

Pack a bag with everything you will need in the first day or two at your new home. This bag rides with you in your car, not on the truck. If Big Ben’s is handling your packing, let us know to set this bag aside last so it stays with you.

Here is what to put in it:

Medications for everyone in the house, including pets
Phone chargers and a power bank
Important papers like your ID, lease, or closing documents
A change of clothes for each person
Toothbrush, soap, and toilet paper (people forget this one a lot)
Snacks and water for moving day
Cash or a card for tips, food, or anything unexpected
Keys to the new home and any storage units
A comfort item, snack, and change of clothes for any kids

This bag is the reason you will not spend your first night in a new home digging through boxes looking for a toothbrush. Pack it the night before, label it, and put it in your car.

Tips for Long Distance Moves

Long distance moves have a few extra things to plan for. There is travel time, possible overnight stays, and delivery windows to coordinate. Big Ben’s long distance moving service includes GPS tracking and guaranteed delivery dates so you always know where your things are.

Ask About Your Delivery Window

Most long distance movers give you a range of days for delivery, not a single day. Find out what your window is and make sure someone will be at the new home to receive everything when it arrives.

Make a List of Everything on the Truck

Write down every item going on the truck and number your boxes. Take photos of anything valuable before it gets loaded. This protects you if something goes missing or gets damaged during the trip.

Plan for the Gap

There will be time between when you leave your old home and when your stuff arrives at the new one. Figure out where you will sleep, what you will eat, and what you need during that time. Your moving day bag covers the basics for a day or two.

If You Are Using Storage

A lot of moves include a storage stop. This might be because your new place is not ready yet, or because you are downsizing and need time to sort through things. Big Ben’s storage solutions include climate-controlled units, 24/7 security, and short or long-term options. We can handle the whole chain from loading to storage to final delivery.

Decide What Goes to Storage Before Moving Day

Know which boxes and furniture are going to storage and which are going straight to the new home. Group and label them separately. This keeps things from ending up in the wrong place.

Protect Temperature-Sensitive Items

Electronics, wood furniture, artwork, and important papers can be damaged by heat, cold, or humidity in a regular storage unit. Ask us about our climate-controlled storage options if your storage period will be more than a week or two.

At Your New Home: The First Two Hours

The move is not over when the truck is empty. It is over when you can walk into your new home and find what you need.

Check the Home Before Unloading

Before the crew starts bringing things in, walk through the new home. Make sure the utilities are on and the appliances work. Finding a problem after the furniture is already in the way is much harder.

Stand at the Door and Direct Traffic

Have someone stand at the entrance to point boxes and furniture to the right rooms as they come in. Labels on the boxes help a lot, but having a person at the door speeds things up even more.

What Not to Do on Moving Day

Do Not Leave Packing Unfinished

The biggest problem we see on moving day is a home that is not fully packed when we arrive. Movers cannot safely load loose items or open drawers. If you do not want to deal with packing at all, check out our professional packing service. We handle all the materials and do all the boxing before move day.

Do Not Book Other Things Right After Your Move

Moves almost always take longer than people expect. Do not schedule dinner plans, appointments, or anything else for right after your move window ends. Give yourself extra time on both ends of the day.

Do Not Move Things You Do Not Want

Every extra box on the truck costs time and money. The weeks before a move are a great time to donate, sell, or throw away anything you do not want at your new home. Do not pay to move a couch you were planning to replace anyway.

Do Not Skip Meals

Moving is hard physical work. Keep snacks and water close all day. Skipping meals makes you tired and grumpy, and that makes everything harder.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I do the night before moving day?

The night before your move, confirm the arrival time with your movers, charge all your devices, and pack your moving day bag. Get a full night of sleep. Most moving day problems come from things that should have been taken care of the night before.

What time do movers usually show up?

Most moves start between 8 and 9 in the morning. Starting early gives you extra time in case something unexpected comes up. Confirm the exact time with your moving company at least two days before the move.

Do I need to be home the whole time?

Yes. Having the homeowner or someone who can make decisions there the whole time keeps the job moving. When no one is around to answer questions, things slow down or go to the wrong place.

What goes in my moving day bag?

Your moving day bag should have your phone charger, medications, a change of clothes, toiletries, your important papers, snacks, water, and your keys. This bag travels with you in your car, not on the truck.

What is the most common moving day mistake?

Leaving packing unfinished when the movers arrive. Everything needs to be in a box and labeled before the crew walks in. An unpacked home adds hours to the job and extra cost.

How do I keep my floors and walls from getting damaged?

Professional movers bring floor runners, furniture pads, and door frame guards. Big Ben’s includes all of this on every move. If you are evaluating other companies, ask whether they bring protection or if it costs extra.

Should I tip my movers?

Tipping is not required but it is always appreciated. A good rule of thumb is 20 to 50 dollars per mover for a local move, and 50 to 100 dollars per mover for a long distance or difficult move. Tip based on how hard the crew worked and how well they took care of your things.

References and Further Reading

American Moving and Storage Association. Professional Mover Standards and Best Practices. AMSA; 2024. moving.org
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move. FMCSA; 2024. fmcsa.dot.gov
Consumer Reports. How to Hire a Moving Company. Consumer Reports; 2025.

About the Author

Ben Gottfredson is the founder of Big Ben’s Moving and Storage. He has over 10 years of experience helping families and businesses move in St. George, Utah County, and across the country. Ben started Big Ben’s because he believed moving should be simple and stress-free when done right. Big Ben’s holds a 4.9 out of 5 customer rating and is fully licensed and insured.

Date Reviewed/Modified: April 7, 2026

Moving Day Tips: The Complete Guide to a Stress-Free Move