What to Do While Movers are Moving Your Stuff: 11 tips

Preparing for a move is a busy time and there’s no doubt it can be overwhelming. Many people choose to hire professional movers for their moving day to eliminate some of that stress. Not only does hiring movers make the big day easier for you, but it also ensures the job will be done right.

But if you decide to hire movers, you may also be asking yourself what to do while movers are moving. Don’t worry — there’s still plenty for you to do on moving day, even if you’ve hired professionals to do the heavy lifting. Keep reading to learn how you can prepare for your movers and 11 things you can do while your movers are working.

How do you prepare for movers to pack?

When you’re buying a new home, hiring professional movers can go a long way in helping to make moving day go more smoothly. And just as hiring movers can make things easier for you, there are a few things you can do to make things easier on the movers when they arrive.

First, when you’re preparing to move, pack all of your belongings before the big day, unless your moving contract specifically states that the movers are also in charge of packing (which is sometimes the case).

Another thing you can do to make things easier on the movers is to get rid of any roadblocks that will make it more difficult for them to carry your belongings in and out of your old and new home. For example, move clutter out of the way, unplug any electronics the movers will be taking and get rid of anything that won’t be coming to your new home.

Finally, make sure the movers know exactly what you’re looking for on moving day. Provide clear instructions for where they should park and move any vehicles that might be in the way. And be sure to properly label all your belongings so the movers know exactly where to place them in your new home.

11 tips on what to do while movers are packing up your home

Working with a moving company can help to make moving day a lot easier for you. But if you’re not moving your belongings yourself, you might be wondering what you should do while the movers are packing up your home and taking your belongings to your new home.

Here’s a list of 11 things to do while your movers are moving.

1. Give clear directions

Set clear expectations with your moving company. It’s important that you provide instructions for everything they’ll need to know on the big day, including where they should park, what you want them to move and where you want it placed in your new home. The more clarity you provide, the more likely it is they’ll be able to meet — or even exceed — your expectations.

2. Avoid telling them how to do their job

While it’s important to provide clear instructions to your movers, you also shouldn’t tell them how to do their jobs. Remember, you hired professional movers for a reason. They know what they’re doing and almost certainly have more experience moving than you do. Trust their expertise.

3. Stay out of their way

The last thing your movers want is to be trying to move your belongings out of your home is to be running into you. It makes their job more difficult, slows down the moving process, and can create a potentially unsafe environment. Do what you can to stay out of the movers’ way and give them plenty of room to work.

4. Have a plan for kids and pets

Just as it’s important to stay out of your movers’ way, it’s equally important to have a plan to keep any pets or children out of their way. If you have kids or pets, it may be worth having someone else look after them for the day or having someone in your family keep them busy in another room so they aren’t getting in the way of the movers.

5. Carry valuables with you

If you have anything especially valuable or fragile that you’ll be moving to your new home, consider carrying those items with you in your vehicle and wrapping them up safely. Of course, your movers are probably experienced in moving valuable items, but they’ll also be going into a truck with the rest of your belongings and the movers can only do so much to keep your things safe. The best course of action is to keep those items with you so that you’ll know they are safe.

6. Offer refreshments

Moving can be a long process and, depending on how big your home is, may take the better part of a day. And during that time, it’s likely your movers will get hungry or thirsty. It’s a nice touch to offer refreshments to your movers throughout the day, whether it be lunch midday or simply snacks for them to eat throughout the day, along with plenty of water and other beverages, such as sodas or sports drinks.

7. Clean while they move

Don’t try to clean the space that your movers are also trying to clear out. Instead, as the movers finish up in a particular room, use the opportunity to start cleaning those spaces. You can make the most of your time while the movers are doing their job without being in their way. And don’t forget — some of the cleaning and decluttering should be done before your movers even arrive so they aren’t tripping over clutter as they’re trying to move your belongings.

8. Make sure they have the right access

Make sure your movers can get everywhere they need to go throughout the day. If they’ll need to get into your home, make sure the entrances they’ll need access to are unlocked. If you live in an apartment building that requires special entry, either provide them a key or are there to let them in. Finally, have a place for them to park so they have easy access into and out of your home while carrying your belongings.

9. Don’t disappear on them

You don’t want to be in the way of the movers, but you also don’t want to disappear altogether. It’s important that you or someone else in your household is present the entire time to answer questions they might have or move to the next step when they’ve finished packing your home. If you do need to leave home to run an errand, let them know you’re leaving and give them contact information for where they can reach you if they need anything.

10. Double-check your belongings

Chances are that your movers won’t have a problem packing up everything you’ve asked them to. But just to be safe, you’ll want to assure they’ve remembered to grab everything. Check for common hiding spaces that you may have forgotten about, such as your medicine cabinet, rarely used drawers and the attic.

Also, remember that there are some things that aren’t your movers’ responsibility to take care of, such as food in your refrigerator or leftover trash. You’ll want to plan to take care of those items yourself.

11. Have payment ready

Depending on your moving contract, you may have already paid them before the day started, or you may be waiting to pay until after the job is done. If the contract states that you should pay them when they’re finished with their work, be prepared to do that. Know what your payment options are (cash, check, credit card, etc.).

And in addition to paying the bill, you can tip movers for a job well done. While it’s not expected, a general rule of thumb is to tip $4 – $5 per person for each hour of work. So, if you have two movers who work for 5 hours, you’ll want to tip them both $20 – $25, or a total of $40 – $50.

The bottom line: Help movers while they help you

Hiring movers can help to make your moving day easier, but you might be wondering what you should actually be doing while they’re working. After all, there could be several hours where they are hard at work and you aren’t sure what to do. Even if you’ve hired professional movers, you still have plenty of responsibilities on the big day, including making sure they can do their jobs without any major issues or roadblocks.