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How to Prepare Your House for Movers

Hiring professional movers can take a lot of physical work off your shoulders, but a little preparation before the moving crew arrives can make the day much easier.

Preparing your house doesn't necessarily mean doing everything yourself. In fact, if you've hired professional movers for packing, loading, or other services, your preparation may be different.

The goal is simple:

Make it easy for the movers to safely and efficiently do their job.

Whether you're moving across Orlando, somewhere else in Central Florida, or making a long-distance move, these steps can help you prepare.

1. Decide What the Movers Are Moving

Before moving day, determine exactly what is going with the movers.

Separate items that are:

Staying behind
Being donated
Being sold
Going into storage
Traveling with you personally
Being discarded

This is particularly important when moving out of a house you're selling.

You don't want movers accidentally loading something that was supposed to remain at the property.

2. Finish Packing if You're Packing Yourself

If you've hired movers only for loading and transportation, try to have your belongings packed before the crew arrives.

Boxes should ideally be:

Closed
Taped
Labeled
Ready to move

Avoid leaving loose belongings scattered throughout the house.

If you've hired professional packing services, however, you don't necessarily need to complete this step yourself.

3. Label Your Boxes

Clear labeling can make unloading much easier.

Instead of simply writing:

BOX 1

consider labeling it:

KITCHEN — DISHES

or:

MASTER BEDROOM — CLOTHING

You can also use room names such as:

Kitchen
Master Bedroom
Bedroom 2
Office
Garage
Living Room

This helps movers understand where boxes should go at the destination.

4. Create an Essentials Bag

Don't accidentally send everything you need onto the moving truck.

Set aside an essentials bag containing things you'll need immediately.

Consider including:

Phone charger
Wallet
Identification
Medications
Toiletries
Change of clothes
Important documents
Basic cleaning supplies
Snacks
Water
Children's necessities
Pet supplies

Think of it as your first-night survival kit.

5. Separate Valuable and Important Items

Certain belongings may be better kept with you.

Examples can include:

Jewelry
Cash
Important documents
Passports
Keys
Personal identification
Medications
Small electronics
Irreplaceable sentimental items

Put these items somewhere clearly separated from the belongings being moved.

6. Clear the Walkways

Movers need clear paths between the furniture, boxes, doors, and moving truck.

Before the crew arrives, remove unnecessary obstacles from:

Hallways
Staircases
Doorways
Garages
Walkways
Driveways

This can make it easier and safer to carry large furniture.

7. Protect Children and Pets

Moving day can be chaotic.

Doors may remain open while furniture and boxes are being carried in and out.

Children and pets should be kept away from active moving areas.

For pets, consider placing them in a quiet secure room or making arrangements for them to stay elsewhere during the busiest part of the move.

This reduces the possibility of an accidental escape or injury.

8. Make Sure the Movers Can Access Your Home

Think about how the moving truck will reach your property.

Consider:

Driveway access
Street parking
Gated communities
Apartment entrances
Elevators
Stairs
Long walks from the truck
Narrow access points

If you're moving from a condominium or apartment, check whether the building requires an elevator reservation or has specific moving hours.

9. Tell Your Movers About Stairs

Don't wait until moving day to mention a large staircase.

Let your moving company know about:

Interior stairs
Exterior stairs
Multiple floors
Narrow staircases
Spiral stairs
Long flights of stairs

Access information can help the moving company plan the labor and equipment needed for your move.

10. Identify Large and Heavy Items

Make sure your movers know about unusual items before moving day.

Examples include:

Pianos
Safes
Pool tables
Hot tubs
Large refrigerators
Commercial equipment
Heavy exercise equipment
Large furniture
Industrial machinery

Some items require additional planning or specialized equipment.

MOVE IT ALL provides large and heavy item moving services for qualifying projects.

11. Take Measurements

One of the most frustrating moving-day problems is discovering that a large piece of furniture doesn't fit through an entrance.

Before moving especially large furniture, consider measuring:

Doorways
Hallways
Staircases
Elevators
Ceiling heights
Tight corners

If you aren't sure whether something will fit, tell your moving company ahead of time.

12. Disconnect Appliances Properly

Certain appliances may require preparation before they can be moved.

Examples include:

Refrigerators
Washers
Dryers
Dishwashers
Ovens

Don't assume movers will automatically disconnect every appliance.

Ask what preparation is required for your particular move.

13. Empty Drawers When Appropriate

Heavy furniture can become significantly heavier when drawers are full.

Depending on the furniture and moving company's procedures, removing contents from drawers may make pieces easier to handle.

Ask your movers whether drawers should remain in the furniture or be removed before moving.

14. Take Photos of Valuable Items

Before your belongings are moved, consider taking photographs of valuable or particularly important items.

Photographs can document the condition of items before the move.

This can be particularly useful for:

Antiques
Artwork
Electronics
Expensive furniture
Collectibles
Specialty equipment

15. Protect Floors and High-Traffic Areas

Moving means people repeatedly walking between your house and the moving truck.

Depending on the circumstances, floor protection may be appropriate.

You can discuss protection options with your moving company, especially if you're concerned about:

Hardwood
Tile
Carpet
Newly installed flooring
Newly renovated areas

16. Don't Overload Boxes

A box full of books can become extremely heavy.

Instead of putting everything into one large box, distribute heavy items among several boxes.

A good rule is:

Heavy items in smaller boxes. Lighter items in larger boxes.

This makes boxes easier to handle.

17. Keep Hardware Together

If furniture is disassembled, keep screws, bolts, brackets, and other hardware organized.

A labeled bag attached to the appropriate piece of furniture can help prevent hardware from getting lost.

For example:

MASTER BED — HARDWARE

DINING TABLE — HARDWARE

18. Keep the New Home Ready

If you're moving into a new home, prepare the destination before the movers arrive.

If possible:

Turn on utilities
Make sure the home can be accessed
Clear pathways
Reserve elevators if necessary
Arrange parking
Know where furniture should go
Label rooms

This can make unloading considerably easier.

19. Tell the Movers Where Furniture Goes

You don't necessarily want to move a 300-pound dresser twice.

Before unloading begins, know where major furniture pieces should go.

You can provide simple instructions such as:

Sofa → Living Room

Bed → Master Bedroom

Desk → Office

Dining Table → Dining Room

Clear instructions can save time.

20. Don't Try to Do Everything Yourself

One of the reasons people hire professional movers is to avoid doing the entire physical move themselves.

You don't have to:

Lift heavy furniture
Carry large appliances
Load an entire truck
Drive a large moving truck
Unload everything yourself

If you need help with packing, loading, transportation, unloading, or specialty items, discuss those services with your moving company.

What Should You Do the Night Before Moving Day?

Try to have the essentials handled before you go to sleep.

Your night-before checklist:

☐ Finish packing what you're responsible for
☐ Label boxes
☐ Separate valuables
☐ Prepare your essentials bag
☐ Prepare children's items
☐ Prepare pet supplies
☐ Charge your phone
☐ Confirm the movers' arrival information
☐ Make sure pathways are clear
☐ Confirm parking/access
☐ Set aside keys and important documents

Then get some rest.

Moving day can be physically demanding even when professional movers are doing the heavy lifting.

What Should You Do When the Movers Arrive?

When the moving crew arrives:

Show them the home

Point out rooms, stairs, large items, fragile belongings, and anything requiring special attention.

Explain what isn't being moved

Clearly identify items that should remain behind.

Identify special items

Point out pianos, safes, heavy furniture, appliances, and other unusual items.

Confirm the destination

Make sure the movers have the correct delivery information.

Ask questions

If you're unsure about something, ask before the crew begins moving it.

Do Movers Need Everything Packed Before They Arrive?

Not necessarily.

It depends on the services you've hired.

If you're hiring a moving company for loading and transportation only, you will generally want your belongings packed and ready.

If you've hired professional packing services, the movers may handle some or all of the packing for you.

When requesting your estimate, explain exactly how much packing help you need.

How Early Should You Start Preparing?

For a small move, preparation might begin relatively close to moving day.

For a larger household, starting several weeks ahead can make the process much less stressful.

Begin with things you don't use every day:

Seasonal decorations
Extra clothing
Books
Collectibles
Storage areas
Guest rooms

Then gradually work toward everyday belongings.

Preparing for Your Orlando Move

Whether you're moving across Orlando or relocating somewhere else in Central Florida, preparation can make moving day more efficient.

MOVE IT ALL provides:

Residential moving
Commercial moving
Local moving
Long-distance moving
Packing
Loading
Unloading
Furniture moving
Large and heavy item moving
Specialty moving

If you're not sure how much help you need, tell us about your move and we can discuss the services that may fit your situation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I do before movers arrive?

Pack and label your belongings if you're handling the packing yourself, clear pathways, separate valuables, secure pets and children, and make sure the movers can access your home.

Should I empty my house before movers arrive?

No. Your movers are there to move your belongings. However, you should remove items that aren't being moved and clearly identify anything that should remain behind.

Should I label moving boxes?

Yes. Labeling boxes by destination room can make unloading and organizing your new home easier.

Should I move valuables myself?

Many people choose to personally transport jewelry, important documents, medications, cash, and irreplaceable personal items.

Do I need to disconnect appliances before movers arrive?

Some appliances may require preparation or professional disconnection. Ask your moving company what is required for your specific appliances.

What if my furniture won't fit through the doorway?

Tell the movers before moving day if you know of potential access problems. Depending on the furniture and circumstances, disassembly or another moving strategy may be necessary.

Should I prepare my new home before the movers arrive?

Yes. Whenever possible, make sure the destination is accessible, utilities are available, pathways are clear, and you know where major furniture should go.