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BRANDED CHECKLIST · PRINT-FRIENDLY
The Moving Day Checklist
What to do hour-by-hour on move day. From wake-up through the crew's departure at destination. Print-friendly — save as PDF via your browser.
Move-day timeline (full day)
What's in this checklist
7am
Typical Crew Arrival
6 phases
Of Move Day
40+
Action Items
Branded
Print-Ready PDF
Why this matters
Move day is the convergence of everything you've planned in the previous weeks. This checklist walks you through the hour-by-hour reality.
The timeline assumes a standard residential move starting at the origin in the morning, transiting same-day, and delivering by end-of-day. Long-distance moves stretch the timeline; commercial moves run after-hours; both adapt the same general protocol.
BEFORE CREW ARRIVES
Morning prep (6am-7am)
- 01Wake up early. Coffee. Breakfast. The day is long.
- 02Final walk-through of the home — anything overlooked?
- 03Confirm the "first night" bag is set aside (won't go on the truck).
- 04Confirm valuables (jewelry, important docs, cash) are in your personal vehicle.
- 05Move pets to a safe room (closed door, water, food, litter box).
- 06Move plants to a safe corner — most plants don't ship; transport in your vehicle.
- 07Lay out drop-cloths or runners over high-traffic floors if not already in place.
- 08Open all interior doors. Make sure all paths are clear.
- 09Have parking spot reserved for the moving truck (no other vehicles blocking).
- 10Have the BOL paperwork accessible — review what you'll sign before the crew arrives.
CREW ARRIVAL
Walkthrough + planning (7am-8am)
- 01Meet the crew lead. Get names of all crew members.
- 02Verify the carrier's ID, truck plate, and USDOT/TxDMV numbers match the booking.
- 03Walk through the home with the crew lead room-by-room.
- 04Point out high-value items, fragile items, items needing specialty handling.
- 05Confirm pre-existing damage on furniture so it isn't mistaken for move-day damage.
- 06Identify the loading order — what goes on the truck first vs last.
- 07Confirm the route from rooms to truck — any tight doorways, stair turns, low canopy?
- 08Provide destination address, your contact phone, and any access codes.
- 09Show the crew where the bathroom is + offer water/coffee.
- 10Sign the inventory exception report.
The walkthrough sets the tone
A good crew lead asks lots of questions during the walkthrough. They want to understand the move before the work starts. If your crew lead is rushing this part, that's a yellow flag — slow them down or escalate.
LOADING
The actual work (8am-2pm typical)
- 01Step out of the way. Let the crew work. Hovering slows them down.
- 02Be available if questions come up — but don't loiter in the load path.
- 03Check on the crew every 1-2 hours. Refill water bottles. Offer breaks.
- 04If lunch is on you (optional but appreciated), order around 11am for noon delivery. Pizza is the universal favorite.
- 05Confirm items are wrapped properly before loading. Watch for furniture being padded, mattresses bagged, electronics boxed.
- 06Take final photos of high-value items before they're loaded.
- 07If the crew identifies an issue (item that won't fit through a door, etc.) — solve it together. Sometimes a piece needs disassembly.
- 08When loading is complete, walk through the empty home one more time. Confirm nothing is left behind.
- 09Confirm the truck is properly secured (E-Track, load bars, straps).
The "are we sure this is everything?" walk
Before the crew leaves origin, do one final walk-through. Check closets. Check under beds. Check the garage. Check the attic. Check behind doors. Items left behind become return trips that cost more than the move did.
IN-TRANSIT
Travel time (varies by lane)
- 01For local moves: drive to destination. Beat the truck by 15-30 minutes if possible.
- 02For long-distance: follow the carrier's in-transit communication protocol. Most carriers update once per day.
- 03Check that all utilities at destination are turned on (electricity, water, gas).
- 04Verify the COI is on file with the destination building / HOA / property manager.
- 05Check that all access points are clear at destination (parking, freight elevator booked, etc.).
- 06If the destination is locked, coordinate access with the carrier in advance.
DESTINATION UNLOADING
Unload + placement (varies)
- 01Meet the crew at the destination address.
- 02Walk through the destination with the crew lead. Show them the room assignments.
- 03Take photos of any new damage (to walls, floors, banisters) before the crew leaves.
- 04Verify the inventory item-by-item against the origin paperwork.
- 05Note any exceptions on the destination BOL — missing items, new damage, etc.
- 06Direct the crew on furniture placement.
- 07Have the crew move items to final positions (don't accept "we'll just put it in the room").
- 08Confirm bed frames + dining tables + other major pieces are reassembled.
- 09Verify any TV mounts, mirrors, and similar items are properly secured.
- 10Inspect heavy items (gun safes, pianos, hot tubs) for damage.
Sign the destination BOL last
Don't sign the destination BOL until you've inspected everything to your satisfaction. Once signed, the move is considered complete and any new claims become harder. Take 30-60 minutes for the inspection if needed — the crew expects it.
CREW DEPARTURE
Closing things out
- 01Provide tips if service warranted — typically $20-$50 per crew member for routine moves, more for exceptional service.
- 02Thank the crew. Get the crew lead's contact info for any follow-up.
- 03Confirm the post-move "punch list" expectations — when can you call if something needs adjustment?
- 04Take the photographs of the destination BOL paperwork.
- 05Walk through the destination one more time after the crew leaves.
- 06Document any issues that emerge in the first 24-48 hours via text or email to the carrier.
- 07Begin unpacking the "first night" bag.
- 08Don't try to fully unpack on move day. You'll be exhausted. Tomorrow is fine.
- 09If something is missing, file the claim within 75 days (federal regulation for interstate; check state for local).
- 10Take a moment to actually breathe. You did it.
Final thoughts
The finish line.
Move day done. The work of the next two weeks is unpacking, organizing, and settling in. Most of the stress was in the planning — not the execution.
If something goes wrong post-move, contact the carrier immediately. Reputable carriers want to resolve issues quickly; rogue carriers don't. We at Muscleman Elite have a 48-72 hour punch-list crew on every move — they come back to address whatever shifted in transit or got mis-placed at delivery. Included on every move, not an upsell.
Welcome to the new place.
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