Most moving-day stress comes from not knowing what you’re actually meant to be doing while the crew works. Here is the running order, hour by hour, for a typical one-day local or regional move.

Before the crew arrives

• Disconnect major appliances yourself, in advance, unless you have specifically agreed otherwise. The British Association of Removers advises customers to “disconnect mains services (cooker, washing machine) yourself before crew arrival” — confirm with your mover beforehand whether this is expected of you or included in their service, since assumptions here cause the most avoidable delays.
• Defrost the freezer two or three days beforehand, not the morning of the move, so it is fully dry and safe to tip or lay down if needed.
• Walk the loft, shed and garage the night before and tell your mover in advance what is up there — BAR notes that communicating attic contents ahead of time affects the accuracy of the original quote, so surprises on the day can mean the crew has not brought the right kit or time for it.
• Set aside your first-night essentials and important documents in a bag that travels with you, not the van.

Loading: what to actually do while it happens

Once the crew starts, your job shifts from packing to supervising and deciding:

• Be present and reachable for questions about what goes where — particularly anything fragile, valuable, or going into storage rather than the new property.
• Do a room-by-room check as each room empties, rather than waiting until the whole house is done, so nothing gets missed behind a door or in a cupboard.
• Keep pets and small children away from the loading route — both for their safety and so the crew can move without stopping.
• If anything looks like it is being handled in a way you are not comfortable with, say so immediately, not after it is loaded.

The final walkthrough, before you leave

Before the van pulls away, go through every room, including ones you think are already empty:

• Check every cupboard, the loft hatch, under stairs storage and the garage or shed one last time.
• Take final meter readings (gas, electricity, water) and photograph them, for your own final bill and to hand to the new occupants or agent if asked.
• Confirm with the crew what paperwork you need to sign before they leave, and read it before signing — this is your record of the condition of the load, which matters if a dispute comes up later.
• Leave keys and any instructions for the new occupants where agreed, and take a final photo of the empty property for your own records.

In transit

For a local move this stage is short, but for a longer move the timing matters more — delivery windows, overnight stops and whether your load is shared with another customer’s goods are all things to have confirmed before moving day, not discovered on it; see our guide to long-distance UK removals if your move involves any of these. Keep your phone charged and reachable in case the crew needs to confirm access at the new property.

Arrival and unloading

• Confirm access at the new property before the van arrives if you can — parking restrictions, narrow lanes or lift bookings in a block of flats are easier to sort out with a phone call than with a loaded van outside.
• Direct the crew room by room using labels on the boxes, and unload your first-night box last onto the van so it comes off first.
• Check items against the inventory as they come off, particularly anything flagged as fragile or high-value, and note any visible damage on the delivery paperwork there and then — while the crew is still present, not after they have left.
• Do a final count against what left the old property before signing anything confirming delivery is complete.

If something goes wrong on the day

Citizens Advice’s guidance on service complaints is the relevant standard here: under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, “services must be provided with reasonable care and skill”, and where that standard is not met you can ask for the work to be put right or seek a price reduction. In practice, on the day itself that means: note the problem in writing immediately, take photos before anything is moved further, and get it recorded on the paperwork you sign rather than raised only after you have unpacked everything. See our guide on removal insurance and liability for what happens next if the issue turns into a claim.

FAQs

What time should removal crews normally arrive?

This varies by firm and by how far the crew is travelling to reach you, and should be confirmed as part of your booking rather than assumed. Ask for a realistic arrival window, not just a single time, and a contact number for the day itself.

Should I tip the removal crew?

It is not required, but many people do for a job well done, particularly on a physically demanding move. It is entirely optional and not something a reputable firm will expect or chase.

What if the new property isn’t ready when the van arrives?

This is a completion-day risk worth planning for before moving day, not discovering on it — see our guide on what happens if completion is delayed for waiting-time and short-term storage options.

Sources

• British Association of Removers – Moving in the UK (moving-day guidance)
• Citizens Advice – Complain about a service (Consumer Rights Act 2015)

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