Moving day is always stressful and chaotic! You’re busy packing, furiously cleaning, and barely have enough time to eat. When your movers arrive, it’s normal to feel like a sore thumb. You can’t help them do the heavy lifting, so what can you do?
This article discusses ways you can indirectly help your moving team both before and during the moving process. Arming yourself with these moving tips will help the movers do their job so much more efficiently!
Sell, Gift, or Donate Everything You Don’t Want to Bring With You
If you’ve been living in your old home for years, you must have accumulated many things. Some of these things should not be making the move with you at all. Old desks, clothes, couches, televisions, electronics, and toys are great candidates for gifting, re-selling, or donating.
Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, and Kijiji are excellent platforms for getting rid of items you don’t need anymore. Alternatively, you can donate your items to second-hand clothing and furniture stores.
Many movers will have packing services, but sorting through your stuff beforehand reduces the number of items they need to pack. It’s also a sustainable way to get rid of clutter while also putting a bit of change back in your pocket.
Disconnect and Unplug All Electronics
If you have a typical household, you likely have at least one entertainment center complete with a television, gaming consoles, Blu-ray players, and more. These set-ups are unsightly breeding grounds for dust bunnies and often feature a nest of unseen wires.
Most reputable moving companies will be happy to take apart your entertainment center as a part of their moving services, but why not make things easier for both of you and pack up these items beforehand? Doing this will allow the pro movers to focus on the heavier work on the day of your move.
Clear Your Fridge and Freezer
Deep-cleaning a fridge is a messy task that’s oft-forgotten. Doing this on your actual moving day can easily add two to three hours of work to your already busy day!
Unless you’re springing for all-new kitchen appliances, your fridge and freezer need to be thawed, emptied, and thoroughly cleaned out.
Start by consuming, discarding, or donating the food that’s already in the fridge and freezer. Do this about three to four weeks before moving day.
Frozen meats, vegetables, condiments, and other daily staples should be easy to consume as long as they’re not expired. Donate unopened and sealed items to your local soup kitchen or your neighbours, and discard anything expired, freezer burnt, or otherwise inedible.
A day or two before moving day, unplug the empty freezers and fridges and allow them to thaw for a few hours. Be sure to place plenty of towels around the appliances to soak up any condensation. Clean the refrigerator thoroughly and leave it open to dry.
Drain Your Mowers and Blowers
Did you know that your movers cannot transport flammable liquids like gasoline, propane, and oil? It’s a hazard to them as well as the rest of your belongings.
Be sure to drain all devices that operate using oil or gasoline. This includes lawn mowers, leaf blowers, wood chippers, and more.
Propane tanks are usually found on barbecues and can be designated as ‘certified empty’ by a gas station. However, given how propane tanks expire, it’s safer to dispose of them at a gas station before moving and purchase a new one when you’re settled in your new home.
Reach out to the Moving Experts at Simple Moves Today!
Our experienced team at Simple Moves understands that moving day can be overwhelming. Still, we’re here to lift the stress off of your shoulders. We are your one-stop shop for all things moving. We offer long-distance moves, local moves, storage, post-move cleaning, and more.
Proudly based in Vancouver, our team strives to exceed the expectations of each client, no matter how small or big the job may be!
Are you moving soon? Call us at (604) 398-4680 or fill out our online contact form to find out more about how Simple Moves can help.
Create a Clear Path for Your Movers
On moving day, one of the simplest yet most impactful things you can do is ensure clear pathways throughout your home. Movers carrying heavy furniture and stacked boxes need unobstructed routes from each room to the front door and out to the truck. Remove rugs that could cause tripping, clear shoes and clutter from hallways, and prop open doors that the crew will be passing through repeatedly.
If you live in an apartment or condo, reserve the elevator well in advance and confirm the reservation the day before your move. Nothing slows down a move more than waiting for elevators shared with other residents. Also check whether your building requires padding in the elevator or hallways, and communicate any building rules to your moving team ahead of time.
For houses with stairs, ensure the stairway is clear and well-lit. Remove any wall-mounted decorations along the staircase that could be bumped or knocked during the move. If your driveway is long or the truck needs to park on the street, measure the distance and communicate this to your movers so they can plan accordingly.
Communicate Special Items and Concerns
Your movers are professionals, but they are not mind readers. If you have items that require special attention, such as a family heirloom, an expensive piece of art, a fragile antique, or an unusually heavy item like a safe or piano, let your moving company know well before moving day. This allows them to bring the right equipment and allocate enough crew members for the job.
Similarly, if there are items you do not want the movers to handle, point those out clearly. Many people set aside a box of personal valuables, important documents, medications, and irreplaceable items that they transport personally. Keeping these items in a clearly marked area away from the main packing zones prevents any confusion.
In 2026, the best moving experiences happen when there is open communication between the customer and the crew. Walk through your home with the team lead before they start, pointing out anything unusual, fragile, or particularly heavy. This five-minute conversation can save hours of problems and ensure everyone is on the same page.
Prepare Your New Home Before the Movers Arrive
Helping your movers does not stop at your old address. Preparing your new home before the moving truck arrives can make the unloading process dramatically faster and smoother. If possible, visit your new home the day before the move to clean the floors, check that all utilities are connected, and ensure the space is ready to receive your belongings.
Create a simple floor plan showing where major furniture pieces should go in each room. You can sketch this on paper or use a free room-planning app. Tape a copy of the plan to the wall of each room or have a family member stationed at the new home to direct the movers. This prevents the frustrating scenario of having to move heavy furniture multiple times because it ended up in the wrong room.
Label rooms in your new home to match the labels on your moving boxes. If your boxes are marked “Kitchen,” “Master Bedroom,” and “Office,” put corresponding signs on the doors of those rooms. This allows the movers to deliver boxes directly to their correct locations without constantly asking for direction.
Moving Day Etiquette and Tips for 2026
Professional movers appreciate customers who are organized, communicative, and respectful. While tipping is not required, it is a common way to show appreciation for a job well done. A general guideline is $20 to $40 per mover for a standard local move, with more for particularly long, difficult, or hot-weather moves.
Keep water, snacks, and access to a washroom available for your crew. Moving is physically demanding work, and a well-hydrated, well-fueled crew works more efficiently and carefully. Simple gestures like offering cold water on a hot day or coffee on a cold morning go a long way.
Stay available throughout the move to answer questions and make decisions, but avoid hovering over the crew as they work. Trust their expertise and let them do what they do best. If you notice something concerning, address it calmly with the team lead rather than directing individual movers.
At Simple Moves, our crews are trained to communicate clearly, handle your belongings with care, and make the moving experience as pleasant as possible. Whether you need a small move in Vancouver or a complete household relocation, we bring the professionalism and positivity that make moving day something you might actually enjoy.
Ready to book your move? Call us at (604) 398-4680 or get a free moving quote today. Let us show you why thousands of BC families trust Simple Moves with their most important belongings.
Clear pathways, communicate about special items, label boxes by room, prepare your new home with a floor plan, and stay available for questions. Providing water and snacks also helps your crew stay energized and efficient throughout the day.
A common guideline is $20 to $40 per mover for a standard local move. For particularly long, difficult, or weather-challenging moves, consider tipping more generously. Tipping is not required but is a welcome way to show appreciation for excellent service.
Movers cannot transport flammable liquids like gasoline, propane, and oil. Hazardous materials, perishable food, live plants, and pets must also be transported separately. Drain all fuel-powered equipment like lawn mowers and leaf blowers before moving day.
Clean the floors, verify all utilities are connected, create a floor plan for furniture placement, and label each room to match your moving box labels. This allows movers to place items in the correct rooms on the first trip, saving time and effort.
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Get a Free Moving Quote From Simple Moves
Simple Moves is a full-service moving company serving Metro Vancouver, the Fraser Valley, and all of British Columbia. We provide the experienced movers and the trucks — you do not need to rent a vehicle or recruit friends. Whether you are moving across the street or across the province, we make every move simple.
Call (604) 398-4680 or request a free quote online today.