A smooth moving day starts long before the truck arrives. In our experience, the single most important thing you can do is make sure every loose item is packed, sealed, labelled, and ready to move before the crew reaches your property.
Professional movers like Active Transport are there to lift, carry, protect, and load your belongings. When they arrive to find open boxes, loose kitchen items, a television still mounted to the wall, or a refrigerator that has not been defrosted, the entire move slows down. That lost time can lead to delays, extra labour costs, and unnecessary stress.
Use this practical guide to prepare your belongings, your property, and your family before professional movers arrive. Are you doing a home move or office move?
Finish All Packing Before Moving Day
Your packing should be complete by the night before the move. The morning of the move is not the time to finish the kitchen cupboards or start sorting through the garage.
Every loose item should be placed inside a suitable box. Each box must be properly closed and taped so that it can be carried and stacked safely. Open boxes and loose belongings break the crew’s rhythm because they require extra trips and cannot be packed securely inside the truck.
Seal Boxes Using the H-Taping Method
Do not rely on one strip of tape across the centre of a heavy box. Seal the centre seam and both edges where the flaps meet the sides, creating an H pattern. Repeat this on the top and bottom when the contents are heavy.
A secure, flat lid also makes the box easier to stack. If a box is not full, fill the empty space with packing paper so that the top does not collapse. Never overfill a box until its lid bulges.
Use the Right Box for the Weight
We always recommend one simple rule: heavy items go into small boxes, while light items go into large boxes.
- Pack books, canned goods, tools, and other dense items in small reinforced boxes.
- Use medium boxes for kitchenware, toys, and general household goods.
- Reserve large boxes for pillows, blankets, linen, and other light items.
- Use wardrobe boxes for clothing on hangers instead of packing clothes into rubbish bags.
A large box filled with books can become too heavy to carry safely. It may also split open while being moved. Rubbish bags are another common problem because they tear, cannot be stacked, and can easily be mistaken for waste.
Read our latest blog: How Much Should You Tip Your Movers?
Label Every Box So Movers Can Work Quickly
A good labelling system allows movers to identify a box without putting it down, turning it around, or asking where it belongs.
Label at Least Two Sides of Every Box
Write the destination room and a short description of the contents on at least two opposite sides. Do not label only the top because that label disappears as soon as another box is stacked above it.
Avoid vague descriptions such as “miscellaneous” or “stuff.” Labels such as “Kitchen: Baking Supplies” or “Bedroom 2: Cupboard Linen” tell the crew exactly where each box belongs and make unpacking easier for you.
Colour-Code Each Room
Assign one colour to every room in the new home. For example, use red for the kitchen, blue for the main bedroom, and green for the living room. Place the matching coloured tape or sticker on more than one side of each box.
At the new property, attach a matching coloured page to the entrance of each room. A mover carrying a heavy box can then follow the colour without stopping to read detailed instructions. This simple doorway-key system can save considerable time during unloading.
Make Fragile Labels Impossible to Miss
Use large, bright fragile stickers or red tape on every visible side of a box containing glass or breakable items. Add “This Side Up” labels with arrows so the crew knows how the box must be carried and positioned in the truck.
Prepare Appliances and Electronics Properly
Unprepared appliances are one of the most common causes of delays and preventable damage.
Defrost and Drain Appliances
Defrost your refrigerator and freezer at least 24 hours before the move. Empty them, disconnect the power, remove loose shelves, and allow them to dry. A leaking fridge can soak boxes and damage other furniture inside the truck.
Disconnect and drain washing machines, dishwashers, water dispensers, and garden hoses. Install the washing machine’s transit bolts to stabilise the drum. If you no longer have the bolts, speak to the appliance manufacturer or your moving company before moving day.
Disconnect Electronics in Advance
Remove televisions from wall brackets unless dismantling was specifically included in your quote. Disconnect power cables, HDMI cables, routers, gaming consoles, and sound systems.
Take a photograph of the connections before unplugging everything. Place cables and remotes in clearly labelled bags and keep each bag with the correct device. Do not leave movers to untangle a web of cables while the truck and crew are waiting.
Keep Furniture Hardware Together
When dismantling beds, tables, or shelving, place screws, brackets, bolts, and pegs into labelled resealable bags. Tape each bag securely to the matching furniture or place all hardware in one clearly marked container that travels with you.
A bed frame arriving safely is of little use if its bolts have disappeared somewhere inside the truck.
Separate Items That Should Not Go on the Moving Truck
Before the crew enters your home, place valuables, essentials, and prohibited items in a separate room or, preferably, inside your vehicle. Label the area clearly so nothing is loaded accidentally.
Keep Valuables and Important Documents With You
- Passports, identity documents, birth certificates, and marriage certificates
- Property documents, tax records, and important contracts
- Cash, bank cards, jewellery, watches, and valuable collections
- Family heirlooms, wedding albums, and irreplaceable keepsakes
- Laptops, hard drives, tablets, and essential work devices
- Prescription medication, glasses, and medical equipment
If an item is irreplaceable or essential to your identity, health, or work, keep it in your personal possession. Insurance may cover the financial value of certain belongings, but it cannot replace their sentimental value or recover lost personal data.
Confirm Which Items Your Mover Will Not Transport
Ask your moving company for its prohibited-items list before packing. Requirements can differ, but movers will generally refuse materials that present a fire, explosion, chemical, or contamination risk.
- Petrol, diesel, kerosene, lighter fluid, and other fuels
- Gas cylinders and certain pressurised containers
- Paint thinner, turpentine, bleach, ammonia, and pool chemicals
- Fireworks, ammunition, and other explosive materials
- Open, leaking, refrigerated, frozen, or highly perishable food
- Live plants and animals where company rules prohibit them
Lawnmowers, generators, and fuel-powered garden equipment should be drained before loading. Firearms and ammunition require lawful, specialised handling and should never be placed casually in a household moving load.
Pack a First-Night Essentials Kit
After a full moving day, you do not want to open 30 boxes to find a phone charger or a toothbrush. Pack one suitcase or essentials container for each family member and transport it in your car.
Your first-night kit should include:
- Prescription medication and a basic first-aid kit
- Toiletries, toilet paper, towels, and a change of clothing
- Sheets, pillows, and essential bedding
- Phone chargers, a torch, and power banks
- A box cutter, screwdriver, hammer, and basic tools
- Bin bags and basic cleaning supplies
- Drinking water, snacks, and pet food
Keep the box cutter safely packed and away from children. Clearly mark this kit “Do Not Load” so it stays with you.
Prepare Access to the Property
Your moving company needs accurate access information when preparing the quote. Undisclosed stairs, long walking distances, small lifts, low entrances, or restricted moving hours can change the required vehicle, crew size, equipment, and cost.
Reserve Enough Space for the Truck
Where permitted, reserve approximately three to four car lengths near the entrance so the truck can park safely and use its loading ramp. Check for narrow roads, low arches, low-hanging branches, steep driveways, and height restrictions.
The farther the crew must carry each item, the longer the move takes. Some companies charge a long-carry fee when the truck cannot park within a reasonable distance of the entrance, so discuss this during the quotation stage.
Check Estate, Complex, and Building Rules
Contact your estate manager, body corporate, landlord, or building manager well before moving day. Confirm:
- Permitted moving days and hours
- Which gate or loading area the truck must use
- Vehicle height or weight restrictions
- Security documents required from the moving company
- Whether a refundable moving deposit is required
- Whether the service lift must be booked
Give the guardhouse the moving company’s details in advance. If you need a service lift, reserve a time slot and confirm that protective curtains and access keys will be available. Missing a booked lift or building slot can result in waiting fees or force the move to be rescheduled.
Measure Tight Spaces Before the Move
Measure large sofas, refrigerators, wardrobes, staircases, doorways, lifts, and tight corners. Tell the mover about anything that may require dismantling, extra manpower, or specialist equipment.
Do not assume a large item will fit simply because it entered the old house years ago. It may have been assembled inside the room or brought through an opening that has since changed.
Create a Safe, Clear Route Through the Home
The route from every room to the truck should be clear before the crew begins. Remove area rugs, doormats, pot plants, wall art, low decorations, and any furniture that narrows the pathway.
Protect vulnerable floors with non-slip runners, heavy cardboard, or suitable floor protection. Avoid thin plastic sheets that bunch up and create a slipping hazard. Wrap exposed banisters and use corner protection on walls or door frames in high-traffic areas.
Unlock necessary doors and gates, but keep all access points secure until the crew arrives. Make sure there is adequate lighting in passages, staircases, garages, and outdoor walkways.
Keep Children and Pets Away From the Work Area
Moving day involves open doors, heavy furniture, restricted visibility, and constant movement between the house and truck. This can be dangerous for young children and stressful for animals.
The safest option is to arrange off-site care. If that is not possible, choose an empty room away from the main route, secure the door, and display a large sign stating, “Do Not Enter: Pets Inside.” Make sure someone is responsible for checking on them throughout the day.
Stay Available While the Truck Is Being Loaded
You do not need to supervise every lift, but the movers should be able to reach you when they need a decision. Point out fragile pieces, confirm which belongings must remain behind, and answer access questions quickly.
Avoid changing instructions repeatedly or standing in the crew’s pathway. One designated person should communicate with the team leader so directions remain clear.
Photograph Valuable Items and the Loaded Truck
Before loading begins, photograph valuable furniture, appliances, and electronics from several angles. Record any existing marks or damage. Before the truck doors are closed, take photographs showing how the load has been stacked and secured, provided it is safe to do so and the crew permits access.
These photographs create a useful record if you later need to identify new damage or clarify how an item was handled.
Complete a Zero-Item Walkthrough
Once the crew says the property is empty, walk through it yourself. Use one rule: look up, look down, and look behind.
- Open every cupboard, drawer, and built-in wardrobe.
- Check behind doors and beneath stairs.
- Inspect the ceiling storage area, garage, shed, and staff quarters.
- Walk through the garden, patio, balcony, and washing line area.
- Check for hoses, tools, braai equipment, cleaning products, and outdoor furniture.
Garden hoses, ironing boards, cleaning supplies, and items stored on high cupboard shelves are frequently left behind.
Direct the Unloading at Your New Home
Position yourself near the entrance or main passage at the new property. Direct furniture and boxes to their correct rooms as they arrive. If you use the colour-coded doorway system, the crew can work without stopping for detailed instructions.
Decide where large furniture must stand before it enters the room. Repeatedly moving a wardrobe or sofa around after delivery wastes time and increases the risk of damage.
Inspect Everything Before Signing
Check high-value furniture, appliances, televisions, mirrors, and fragile items before the crew leaves. Look for fresh scratches, dents, cracks, broken feet, or signs that an appliance was transported incorrectly.
If you find damage, photograph it immediately and record it on the delivery paperwork before signing. Review the inventory or bill of lading and confirm that all listed items arrived. Also make sure any notes about pre-existing damage are accurate.
Review the Final Invoice Before Paying
Compare the final invoice with the accepted quote. Check that the recorded working hours are accurate and ask for an explanation of unexpected waiting-time, stair-carry, long-carry, or additional-labour charges.
If something does not match what was agreed, contact the moving company’s office while the crew is still at the property. Keep your quote, inventory, payment confirmation, and photographs together until the move and any claims have been fully resolved.
Should You Tip the Moving Crew?
Tipping is optional. If the crew arrives on time, works efficiently, handles your belongings carefully, and remains professional throughout the move, you may choose to recognise that service with a tip. A commonly used guide is 10% to 15% of the moving cost, divided fairly among the crew, but the amount should reflect your budget and the quality of the service.
Cold water, sports drinks, and a simple meal are also appreciated during a long, physical moving day. Keeping the crew hydrated is a thoughtful gesture, especially in hot weather.
Final Moving-Day Preparation Checklist
Before the movers arrive, confirm that you have completed the following:
- Every loose item is packed inside a sealed box.
- Boxes are labelled on at least two sides.
- Fragile boxes have visible warnings and orientation arrows.
- Heavy belongings are packed in smaller reinforced boxes.
- The fridge and freezer have been defrosted and dried.
- Washing machines and other appliances have been drained and secured.
- Electronics are disconnected and their cables are labelled.
- Furniture hardware is stored in labelled bags.
- Valuables, medication, documents, and first-night items are in your vehicle.
- Fuel, chemicals, and other prohibited items have been removed.
- Parking, estate access, security, and lifts are confirmed.
- Floors and vulnerable surfaces are protected.
- Every route to the truck is clear.
- Children and pets have a safe place away from the move.
- You have photographed valuable items and retained your paperwork.
A Prepared Home Makes for a Better Move
The best moving days are not necessarily the smallest ones. They are the ones where the homeowner and moving company are properly prepared.
When every box is sealed, every appliance is ready, and every access issue has been discussed, the crew can focus on what they do best. They can protect your furniture, load the truck efficiently, and deliver your belongings safely to the correct rooms.
Preparation reduces delays, prevents avoidable damage, and gives you greater control over the final cost. Confirm your moving company’s specific requirements in advance, complete your packing before moving day, and remain available to guide the process. A few hours of careful preparation can save you an entire day of frustration.