After weeks of planning, moving day can still feel like a leap into the unknown, especially if you have never used a removals company before. Knowing what to expect on moving day takes a lot of the stress out of it. You know when the crew will arrive, what they will do, what they need from you and roughly how the day will run.
This guide walks through a typical house move with Cheshire Moving & Storage, from the crew knocking on the door to the last box being set down in your new home.
In short: the crew arrives at the agreed time, walks through the property with you, protects your home and belongings, finishes any agreed packing and dismantling, then loads methodically. At the new address they unload room by room, place furniture where you want it and reassemble anything they took apart. Your main jobs are to be available, keep essentials with you and make decisions quickly.
What Happens Before the Crew Arrives?
A smooth moving day starts the day before. By the evening before, you should ideally have:
- Finished your own packing, apart from an essentials box and overnight bag
- Emptied and defrosted the fridge freezer
- Taken down curtains and anything fixed to the walls that is coming with you
- Arranged parking, including any council permit or bay suspension at either address
- Made childcare or pet care plans if you need them
- Charged your phone and kept documents, keys and valuables to one side
If you are still packing, our room by room guide on how to pack for a house move will help you finish off. For parking permits and bay suspensions, contact the local council for each address, which you can find through GOV.UK’s council finder.
What Happens When the Removal Team Arrives?
The walk through
Your crew leader will introduce the team and walk through the house with you. This is your chance to point out anything fragile or valuable, anything that is staying behind and anything that needs to go on the vehicle last so it comes off first, such as beds or the kettle. If you have labelled boxes by room, the crew will use those labels at the other end.
Protecting your home
Before anything moves, the team uses protective covers and materials to guard furniture and belongings. Upholstery is covered, and wooden or polished items are wrapped in removal blankets to stop scuffs and scratches in transit.
Packing and dismantling
If you booked a professional packing service, the crew will either finish the packing or will have completed it on an earlier day, depending on the size of the job. Any beds, wardrobes or tables that were agreed for dismantling at the quote stage are taken apart now, with fittings bagged and labelled.
How Is the Removal Lorry Loaded?
Loading is a skill. A well loaded vehicle protects your belongings, because everything is braced and secured so nothing shifts on the road. The crew will usually load large, heavy furniture and white goods first, building a stable base, then fill the spaces with boxes and lighter items. Mattresses and sofas are covered, mirrors and glass are packed upright and straps hold each section in place.
Please do not be tempted to carry heavy items yourself to help speed things up. The crew are trained in safe lifting, and it is easy to injure yourself when you are tired and rushing.
What Should You Do While the Crew Is Loading?
- Stay reachable. The crew leader may need quick decisions about what goes and what stays.
- Keep your essentials box with you. Put it in your car so it does not get loaded by mistake.
- Take final meter readings. Photograph the gas, electricity and water meters once everything is out.
- Do a last check. Look in every cupboard, the loft, the shed and behind doors before you leave.
- Leave keys as agreed. Hand them to your estate agent or landlord, or leave them where your solicitor has instructed.
If you are renting, your final check matters even more for getting your deposit back. Our tenant’s guide to moving out covers what landlords look for.
What Happens if Completion Is Delayed?
If you are buying, you cannot collect the keys to your new home until the sale has completed and the funds have transferred. That can happen any time during the working day, and delays do occur. Your crew can load in the morning and wait for the go ahead, but if completion slips to another day, your belongings can go into secure storage overnight or for longer. Our guide to how long it takes to move house explains where these delays tend to come from.
What Happens at Your New Home?
Unloading room by room
Stand at the front door, or put someone you trust there, to direct each item to the right room. Clear box labels make this quick. The crew will place furniture where you want it and stack boxes in the right rooms, so it helps to decide in advance where the large pieces are going, especially beds, wardrobes, sofas and white goods.
Reassembly
Anything that was dismantled is put back together. Ask the crew to rebuild the beds first, so you know you have somewhere comfortable to sleep whatever else is left to do.
The final check
Before the crew leaves, walk through the new home with the crew leader and check the vehicle is empty. If anything is missing or damaged, raise it there and then.
How Can You Make Moving Day Easier for Everyone?
- Clear a path from each room to the front door
- Keep children and pets away from the main walkways, and see our guide to moving house with children and pets for ways to keep them calm
- Make sure your new home has electricity and water switched on
- Leave a toilet and a sink accessible at both properties
- Be realistic about what can be done in a day, and let the evening be about beds and a cup of tea, not unpacking
Once the lorry has gone, turn to our first week in a new home checklist for what to tackle next.
Frequently Asked Questions
What time do removal companies arrive on moving day?
Most crews arrive early in the morning, at a time agreed in advance. Your removals company will confirm the arrival time before the day.
How long does a house move take on the day?
A small flat can take a few hours, while a large family home may take a full day or be spread across two days if packing is included. Your surveyor will give you an estimate for your move.
Should I tip my removal team?
Tipping is never expected, but many customers offer drinks through the day, and a kind review is always appreciated.
Do I need to be at the property during the move?
Yes, or someone you trust needs to be. The crew will need decisions and directions at both ends.
Can you move on a weekend or bank holiday?
Yes. We operate seven days a week, including weekends and bank holidays, though these dates book up quickly.
Plan Your Moving Day With Us
With more than thirty years of experience and long serving crews who know the roads of the North West inside out, we make moving day feel organised rather than chaotic. Call 0151 343 1264 or get your free moving quote.
