Moving day: what to do the night before and the morning of

Finish packing. A crew that arrives to a half-packed home either waits or packs, and both cost time. Strip beds if furniture is being disassembled, and clear the floor path from the furthest room to the front door.

Set aside what does not go on the truck: documents, jewellery, medication, laptops, keys. Put it in one place, ideally in your vehicle, so it cannot be loaded by mistake.

Walk the home with the crew lead before anything moves. Point out what stays, what is fragile, what needs to come off first at the destination, and where parking and the elevator are.

Keep pets and small children out of the carry path — usually in one closed room or offsite. It is a safety issue more than a convenience one.

Do a final sweep: closets, the back of cupboards, the basement corner, the garage rafters, the shed, behind doors. Then check that windows are closed and keys are accounted for.

At the destination, direct placement as items come in. Furniture placed once is furniture that does not need moving again on Sunday.