An average American will change residences at least eleven times in a lifetime. According to the US Census Bureau, around 7.4 million Americans moved from one state to another in 2019. Although the number of movers has dropped by 10% -- the lowest since the Census Bureau started document migration statistics, Americans remain among the most mobile people.
If you haven’t moved houses, chances are you’ll be going through it too – if not now, maybe sometime in the future. There are a myriad of reasons why people relocate. It can be related to housing, employment, family, and other reasons. Regardless of your motive, every move is a major milestone that entails a lot of preparation and stress.
Relocation specialists on our list stressed the importance of adequate preparation and coordination in ensuring a stress-free moving day. Weeks or months before the scheduled move, you need to be preparing your stuff, packing them, and organizing them for the relocation. This ensures that once the movers arrive, they’ll just be loading your belongings.
If you haven’t done any sort of relocation, expect a lot of things happening during the moving day. Movers along with their equipment and trucks will come to your house as scheduled. Then, they’ll assemble equipment and start padding up your valuables. Soon, they’ll be loading all boxes, furniture, and all of your stuff into the trucks. Professional movers are quick; you’d be surprised to see your home empty. And most likely, you won’t be doing anything other than answering their questions.
What should you expect on moving day?
Here’s a quick outline of what happens during the moving day.
- The moving crew arrives at your home on the scheduled relocation date. A moving coordinator will be designated to oversee the entire relocation process. You can ask questions or address concerns to the coordinator.
- A written inventory of all the items will be done before loading them into the truck. Each item is assessed and the condition is noted in the inventory. This ensures that all of your belongings are loaded and their condition maintained. If you have already packed your stuff, they will be listed as numbered or labeled boxes or crates. Review the inventory to make sure everything is in order.
- If you have availed of full moving service, packers will quickly organize and pack up your items into boxes and label them accordingly. Professional movers have equipment as well as packing supplies that are specifically made for fragile or delicate items.
- They have techniques for packing and loading items. Furniture will be padded and wrapped to protect them during transport.
- The moving crew determines the order and strategy for loading to ensure everything is properly stacked up and secured. If you have any items that you want to keep with you for personal use, put them aside or place them in a separate box. Likewise, keep personal effects and valuables with you.
- All items will be packed and ensured that they fit tightly within the cargo, truck, or van. They will secure all your belongings using straps so they don’t shift while on the road. Professional movers ensure that all your stuff is placed in an organized manner on the cargo. If you have any special requests, such as items that you want to unload first, you can inform the moving coordinator.
- Once everything is loaded and secured, you will be given the final inventory and a waybill. This document contains the estimated cost, the expected delivery dates, and other conditions. Carefully read the document before signing to avoid any disputes.
Depending on the number of your items, the entire process of packing and loading can take a few hours. After all household items are loaded and secured, and documents are completed, the truck heads out to its destination. If it is just a local move, you can expect the delivery to happen on the same day. This time you’ll have to prepare for unloading, unpacking, and moving in.
Although different moving companies have unique procedures, the following things are what you can expect during the moving day. Go through this list so you can prepare for the big day.
