Most people move house only a handful of times in their life, so it is completely normal not to know how the day runs. Here is what a typical house move looks like when you book a professional crew.
Before the crew arrives
Have a clear plan for these before 8am:
- An essentials box that travels in your car — kettle, mugs, tea, phone chargers, medication, toilet roll, a change of clothes
- Valuables, passports and jewellery kept with you, not on the van
- Pets and small children ideally with a friend or relative for the day
- Parking cleared outside both properties
8am–9am: arrival and walkthrough
The crew introduces themselves and walks the house with you. This is when you flag anything fragile, anything that is not going, and anything that needs dismantling. Floor protection and door guards go down before a single box is lifted.
9am–12pm: loading
Loading follows a deliberate order — heaviest and largest first, fragile items last so they travel on top. Furniture is blanket-wrapped as it goes. If you have booked a packing service, this will have happened the day before, which typically takes several hours off the morning.
A good crew will keep asking questions. Answer them — it is far quicker to confirm now than to hunt through forty identical boxes later.
Midday: the wait for keys
This is the part nobody warns you about. On a purchase, the keys are not released until the money has transferred between solicitors, which usually lands somewhere between midday and 2pm — occasionally later. The van is loaded and everyone waits.
Use the time to do your final meter readings, take photos of the empty rooms, and give the place a last sweep.
Afternoon: unloading
At the new house, direct the crew room by room. The single most useful thing you can do is label every box with the room it belongs in, and put a sign on each door at the new property. Furniture is reassembled and placed where you want it — not just dumped in the hall.
Late afternoon: the final walkthrough
Before the crew leaves, check the van is empty, check the beds are built, and check nothing has been left in the old property. Then, genuinely, stop for the day. Unpacking can wait.
What can go wrong, and what to do
- Completion is delayed — it happens. Ask your removal company in advance what their policy is on overnight storage of a loaded van.
- Something will not fit — measure doorways and stairs beforehand, particularly for wardrobes and sofas.
- The chain collapses — this is where storage becomes essential at short notice.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a house move take?
A typical three-bedroom house takes most of a day: three to four hours to load, then unloading through the afternoon once keys are released.
Should I tip the removal crew?
There is no obligation. Most crews will tell you a steady supply of tea is more welcome than anything else.
Do I need to empty wardrobes and drawers?
Ask when you book. Drawers can often stay filled with soft items; wardrobes usually need emptying, though wardrobe cartons are available — see our packing materials.
Planning a move in Hull or East Yorkshire?
Hardakers have been moving families and businesses across Hull, Beverley, Cottingham, Hessle and the East Riding since 1870. Call 01482 323069, request a free quote or get in touch and we will talk you through your options — no obligation.
