Moving Day: What to Expect When We Arrive

Moving day can feel like the biggest unknown of the whole move. The good news is that with us it runs to a plan you already know, because the same small in-house crew that surveyed your home is the one that loads, drives and unloads it. Below are the questions people ask us most, from what time we start to what you should keep in your pocket. And because you get a fixed written quote within the hour, there are no nasty surprises waiting on the day.

What happens on moving day when your crew arrives?

We arrive, say hello, and walk round the house with you before we lift a thing. It is the same named in-house crew throughout, Connor and Jack, the people who surveyed your move, so there are no strangers and no subcontractors turning up on the day.

The walk-round is quick and practical. You point out anything fragile, anything that needs to go on last, and anything staying behind. We then protect the parts of the house that take a knock during a move: floors, carpets and doorways get covered before the heavy items move.

Loading follows a plan, not a scramble. Heavy and sturdy pieces go in first to build a stable base, with lighter and more delicate boxes layered around them, so the van is packed to travel safely rather than just filled. Because we handle every move from survey to unload, nothing gets lost in a handover between teams.

What time do removal companies start on moving day?

We agree a start time with you in advance, so you are never guessing on the morning. There is no fixed clock that suits every move, and we would rather plan around your day than make you fit ours.

A few things push the start earlier or later. A bigger house with more to load usually means an earlier start to give the day room. A long-distance move adds driving time, so we set off sooner. And if you are completing on the same day, we often have to wait for keys to be released before the new place is ours to unload into, which can shift the timing.

This is exactly what the free pre-move survey is for. We see the house, judge the volume and access, and build the plan and the start time around the real job rather than a guess.

How long does it take to move house?

Honestly, it depends, and any firm that gives you a flat number before seeing the house is guessing. What we can do is tell you what makes a move quick or slow, so the answer is useful rather than vague.

The main things that drive it:

- How much there is. The number of rooms and the volume of furniture and boxes.
- Access at both ends. Stairs, narrow halls, long carries from the door to the van, and where we can park.
- Distance. A move across town and a move across the country are very different days.
- Whether we pack for you. A fully packed house loads far faster than one being boxed up as we go, which is where our packing add-on earns its keep.

Rather than quote you hours blind, we use the free survey to see all of this for ourselves and give you a realistic plan for the day.

Do I have to be there on moving day?

Ideally yes, with someone at both ends of the move. You know your home better than anyone, and having you there means we can point things out, hand over keys, and answer the small questions that come up as the van fills.

It matters most at the start and the finish. At the old place you show us what goes and what stays. At the new place you tell us which room each box belongs in, and you do the final walk-round with us before we leave, so nothing is left in the van and nothing is missed.

If you genuinely cannot be there, it still works. Nominate someone you trust to be present at each property, and label everything clearly by room so the crew knows where it all lands. Our moving house checklist covers the labelling well before the day arrives.

What should I keep with me on moving day?

Keep one bag with you that does not go in the van. Into it go the things you cannot afford to lose or dig for: keys, important documents, medication, phone and chargers, and any valuables.

Then pack a first-night box and keep that close too. The idea is to land in the new house and not have to open ten boxes before you can sit down. A good first-night box holds:

- The kettle, a few mugs, tea, coffee and milk
- Phone chargers
- A change of clothes and basic toiletries
- Any medication for the next day or two
- A torch, and chargers for anything that needs them

Label that box clearly and tell us it is the one that comes off the van first. Our moving house checklist has the full list if you want to tick it off as you go.

How should I prepare the night before the move?

Get the essentials box and your keep-with-you bag set aside first, because everything else is easier once those are sorted. Then work through a short, practical list so the morning is calm rather than frantic:

- Finish any packing you are doing yourself, and seal the last boxes.
- Label boxes by the room they are going into at the new house, not the room they came from.
- Empty and defrost the fridge and freezer so they are dry and ready to move.
- Sort van access and parking at both ends, so there is somewhere to load and unload without a long carry.
- Charge your phone fully overnight.
- Set the kettle, mugs and tea to one side in your first-night box.

If packing the night before sounds like one job too many, we can do it for you. Our packing add-on means you wake up to a job already done. And if parking is tight where you are, it is worth a quick look the evening before. On the older lanes around towns like Shaftesbury a sensible spot for the van saves real time on the day.

Do you pay before or after the move?

A reputable firm should never ask you to hand over the full cost upfront, so if anyone does, treat it as a warning sign. Most removals are settled around the move itself rather than well in advance, and a good firm will be happy to talk you through exactly when payment is due before you book.

We also carry full insurance, which is part of the reassurance you are paying for. That is £2.5m public liability and £50k goods-in-transit cover, and the goods-in-transit part is free with us. Most firms charge extra for it, so it is worth checking when you compare quotes.

The bigger reassurance is that the price does not move on the day. Because we give you a fixed written quote within the hour, the figure you agreed is the figure you pay, with no surprises once the van is loaded.