A house move has dozens of small tasks, and the stress usually comes from leaving them all to the last week. The fix is simple: spread the work across a month. Here's the exact plan our move managers recommend to customers.
The golden rule: the earlier you book your packers and movers, the smoother (and often cheaper) your move will be — especially during peak season.
4 weeks before
This is the planning phase. Getting these done early removes almost all the last-minute panic later.
- Book a reputable, insured mover and confirm your date.
- Declutter room by room — donate, sell or discard what you won't carry.
- Start using up frozen food, cleaning supplies and pantry items.
- Create a simple folder for move-related documents and quotes.
2 weeks before
Now you handle the admin that's easy to forget in the final rush.
- Arrange transfer or disconnection of utilities (electricity, gas, internet).
- Update your address for banks, subscriptions and important services.
- Confirm packing date and any special handling (piano, aquarium, art).
- Plan transport for pets, plants and anything fragile you'll carry yourself.
1 week before
Time to prepare the home and the essentials you'll need first at the new place.
- Pack a clearly-labelled "first night" box: chargers, toiletries, a change of clothes, basic kitchen items and medicines.
- Set aside valuables and documents to keep with you, not on the truck.
- Confirm parking and lift access at both addresses with your mover.
- Back up important data if you're moving computers.
The day before
- Charge your phone and keep some cash handy.
- Defrost and dry the fridge if it's being moved.
- Do a final walk-through and confirm the crew's arrival time.
Moving day
If you've followed the plan, today is mostly supervision. Walk the crew through any fragile or priority items, keep your essentials box and documents with you, and do a final check of every room and cupboard before the truck leaves.
With a professional, insured mover and this checklist, the day that usually feels chaotic becomes genuinely manageable — which is exactly how it should be.
Want this handled for you?
ARG provides full packing, insured transport and unpacking — with a dedicated manager guiding every step.
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