How to Prepare Your Home for Movers Before They Arrive

Movers charge by the hour. Every minute they spend untangling cords, hunting for parking, or asking which boxes go where is a minute on your bill. A little prep the night before pays for itself by 10am on move day.

The night before

Finish packing

Movers are not packers unless you specifically hired them for it. Anything not boxed by the time they arrive will either be left, packed at premium hourly rates, or shoved into the truck loose. Finish the night before, including the awkward stuff (kitchen junk drawer, bathroom cabinets, garage shelves).

Disassemble what you can

Beds, tables, and shelving units come apart faster when you're not on the clock. Bag and tape hardware to each item.

Empty drawers (mostly)

Lightweight clothing in dresser drawers is usually fine; everything else should come out. A loaded dresser can weigh 250+ lbs and risks both back injury and broken drawer slides.

Take down wall art and mirrors

Patch the holes another time. Get them off the wall, padded, and stacked against an interior wall.

Defrost the freezer

Pull the plug at least 12 hours before move day. A fridge full of melted ice in transit is a disaster.

The morning of

Reserve the parking spot

Especially in San Diego — Hillcrest, North Park, downtown, beach communities. Cones, cars, or trash cans claim a 30+ ft window for the truck. Without this, your crew may park 200 ft away and bill you for the long carry.

Protect the floors

If you have pets or kids, this matters even more. Movers usually bring floor protectors, but a runner of cardboard or rosin paper down the main hallway speeds them up dramatically.

Clear the path

Move loose rugs, kids' toys, dog gates, and anything else that creates a tripping hazard. Open exterior doors and prop them. Disable smart locks that auto-relock.

Set up a "do not load" zone

Pick a closet or bathroom and put everything there that should NOT go on the truck — important documents, medications, your laptop, the cat, the first-night box. Tape a sign on the door. Tell the lead mover at walk-through.

Have payment and tip ready

Most San Diego moving companies accept card, but tipping is cash or Venmo and people forget. Pull cash before move day. Standard tip range is $20–$60 per crew member for a half-day move, more for full-day or heavy jobs.

Walk the crew through

When the lead arrives, do a 5-minute walkthrough: - Show every room and what's going - Point out the do-not-load zone - Flag fragile items, antiques, anything you want extra padding on - Identify tight stairwells, low ceilings, or fragile flooring - Confirm the destination address and any access notes

This 5-minute investment saves 30 minutes of confusion later.

What movers wish you knew

• We don't take liquid items (cleaning supplies, gasoline, propane). Plan to transport these yourself.
• We don't take houseplants long-distance. Short-distance is usually fine but say so upfront.
• We can't move firearms or ammunition.
• We can't disconnect gas appliances. Have your dryer disconnected by a plumber the day before.

A prepared home turns a chaotic 8-hour move into a smooth 5-hour one. The crew works faster, your stuff is safer, and your bill is lower.