Moving day is hands down one of the most stressful days of the year.
The trucks pull up, boxes start flying everywhere and before you realize it... your whole life is packed on wheels bound for another location. The good news is, a little preparation the day (or week) before can save you hours of insanity and piles of money.
Everyone procrastinates and then scrambles at the last minute. Moving day becomes a nightmare. Don't do that.
Need to know what to do BEFORE your movers come? This article will tell you step-by-step what to accomplish around the house before the apartment movers arrive.
Let's get into it!
Here's What's Covered:
- Why Pre-Move Prep Matters
- The Pre-Move Checklist For Every Home
- Common Mistakes To Avoid
Why Pre-Move Prep Matters
The numbers don't lie...
Industry statistics show that nearly 15 million adults moved into different homes in 2025. That's millions of families breaking down boxes – and most think there isn't much prep work to do before the movers come.
Here's the kicker:
The less prep you do, the more expensive your move will be. Apartment movers charge by the hour, so if they show up to a home that's only partially packed with boxes, clothes still in drawers, and the kitchen fridge full, they'll just keep waiting (and charging you) until you've finished. Time is money and this is especially crucial when it comes to long-distance moves, as many companies charge by weight, cubic feet, and loading time.
A few hours of prep can save hundreds of dollars.
Worth it, right?
The Pre-Move Checklist For Every Home
These are your absolute must-do's before the moving truck arrives. Tackle them one by one, and moving day will be ten times easier.
Declutter Every Room First
Before anything else... start tossing.
Why would you spend money moving junk that you are just going to THROW AWAY at your new house? Take each room at a time and divide items into 4 piles:
- Donate: Stuff that's still good but no longer needed
- Sell: Anything worth a few bucks online or at a garage sale
- Trash: Broken or expired items
Face it: the average person owns way too much stuff. Decluttering before the move lessens your load AND trims your moving costs. Double score.
Your local thrift store would gladly take the donated pile.
Sort Out Utilities and Address Changes
This one trips people up all the time.
You must turn utilities off at the old residence AND turn them on at the new residence. Remember to:
- Update the address with the post office
- Notify the bank, insurance company, and any subscriptions
- Forward important mail to the new place
Ideally you should schedule this two weeks in advance. You don't want to risk forgetting and having to pay utilities on an empty house. Nobody likes that.
Pack An Essentials Box
This is the single most important box you'll pack.
Pack a box (or suitcase) with everything you'll need for your first 24-48 hours in your new home. Include:
- Phone chargers and laptop
- Snacks and bottled water
- Medications
- Important documents
- Basic tools (screwdriver, scissors, tape)
Place this box in your personal area. Not on the truck. When you are tired after a long day nobody wants to search through 50 cardboard boxes looking for a tooth brush.
Prep The Furniture and Appliances
Big items need a bit of love before they get moved.
For example:
- Defrost the fridge at least 24 hours ahead
- Disconnect washers, dryers, and dishwashers
- Drain garden hoses
- Tape doors shut on cabinets and wardrobes
It lightens your load, makes cargo easier to handle and keeps nasty water stains out of your truck. One leaky washer can damage every box surrounding it.
Protect Floors, Walls, and Door Frames
Want that damage deposit back?
Place floor sliders, blankets or old rugs down where the movers will be traveling through the most in your apartment. Door jams and corners can really get damaged while moving. Tape some cardboard to these areas to prevent a costly repair.
This step takes 30 minutes and protects you from hundreds in damages.
Disassemble What You Can
The movers can do this for you... but they'll charge extra for it.
Break apart bed frames, tables, shelving, etc. if you have time the night before. Bag all the screws and bolts and tape them to the underside of the furniture they belong to. Make sure each bag is labeled so nothing gets lost in moving day madness.
Walk The Route Beforehand
Take 5 minutes to walk the path the movers will use:
- Through hallways and stairwells
- Around tight corners
Get rid of any barriers before your move. Your crew will have more time and your belongings won't get banged or scratched accidentally.
It allows the crew to easily know what to do, giving them an efficient process. This allows for the load and unload process to happen much faster.
Common Mistakes To Avoid
No matter how much planning is done there are always going to be people who mess up moving day.
The biggest mistakes:
- Forget about your pets/kids: Leave them with someone you know. It really helps.
- Don't skip the inventory list: Inventory any pricey or breakable items so nothing can "disappear."
- Hiring the cheapest crew: Moving Industry statistics reveal they earned $23.1 billion in 2024 - and that's often because cheap crews take stuff and break your furniture.
Something else to consider - the average American will move 12 times in their life. Practicing these skills will be well worth it.
Bringing It All Together
Moving day doesn't have to be a disaster.
Go through it with some preparation, a checklist, and some chilled out vibes and you can clear it all in one day with very little drama. Let's dive back into this real quick:
- Switch utilities and forward mail
- Pack an essentials box
- Prep furniture and appliances
- Protect floors and door frames
- Disassemble big items the night before
- Walk the route with the crew
If you do this then your apartment movers will breeze in and out without a hitch. When someone asks you how everything went so smoothly on moving day, you'll know. It happened the week before.