What better way to help our customers prepare for moving day than to offer truly expert tips from a couple of Chicago’s favorite movers?
We consulted with two of the greatest move crew leaders this side of the Mississippi to bring you some professional advice on how to have a smooth and wallet-friendly move:
- Tyler, a member of the Move-tastic! Team since 2023. He doesn’t only boast a c-class driver’s license. He’s also won multiple MOM (Mover of the Month) and DAD (Dope Ass Driver) awards.
- Alex, who joined the team in 2024 (on his girlfriend’s birthday, no less!). He broke company records with how quickly he rose from rookie mover to full-fledged crew leader, but don’t worry—the only thing he’ll break on a move is a sweat.
Ready to learn from these experienced pros? Let’s dive into their tips so you can prepare for moving day.
Be as Packed as Possible…But Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff
One of the absolute best ways to prepare for moving day is to have everything boxed up and ready to be carried to the truck.
It doesn’t matter if you brought in a professional packing service or wrapped and boxed everything up on your own. The better packed your home is before the move crew arrives, the more quickly your move will go. And since your final bill will depend largely on the hours worked, a quicker move is a less expensive one.
However, there will inevitably be a few things that just can’t be packed before your move day. Tyler and Alex weighed in on some preparation tips:
- Put the right stuff in the right boxes. If you’re packing on your own, learn to pack like a pro and don’t overload your boxes. If anything inside is fragile, label the box as such. Keep in mind, though, that fragile items can’t go on the bottom of a stack of boxes inside the truck, and heavy items can’t go on the top of a stack. Try to avoid a heavy box of fragile items.
- Disassemble what you’re comfortable disassembling. If you have furniture like tables or shelves that are easy for you to take apart, do it before your crew arrives. We’re happy to disassemble for you, but it’ll add a little time to your move.
- Take some small items in your personal vehicle. Plan to bring items like your laptop, jewelry, and plants to your new home in your own car. This way, they don’t necessarily have to be boxed up and put on the truck, and you won’t have to start unpacking right away to find them.
Crew leaders like Tyler and Alex completely understand that there are some items that just can’t be packed. Children’s bicycles and cushions for patio furniture are just a couple of examples. We can certainly protect and transport these items for you, but it’ll take an extra trip or two between your home and the moving truck.
Make Sure Everyone is on the Same Page as You Prepare for Moving Day
Moving can be stressful, so it’s common for people to have friends or family members with them during their move. These buddies provide great support (and maybe even bring coffee and donuts to the move). Just make sure that everyone has the basic information about your relocation, such as items that might require special handling, boxes you’re going to take in your own car instead of the moving truck, etc.
Questions always pop up during a relocation. Crew leaders like Tyler and Alex will ask these questions to make sure they can perform the move swiftly and efficiently. If your on-site support team provides the wrong answers, there could be confusion, frustration, or worse: a longer and more expensive move.
As you prepare for moving day, give anyone who’ll be there with you some key details. It’s also a great idea to identify yourself as the movers’ go-to so they’re only asking questions or confirming details with the person who’s in charge. As a third option, you can have your friends or family with you and the move crew leader as you perform the walkthroughs, which are built-in opportunities to get everyone on the same page.
Get to Know the Moving Day Process
As you get further along in your moving process, you’ll want to understand what to expect when the big day finally arrives. Tyler and Alex provided this helpful breakdown of what generally happens on move day:
- The crew leader will call you before departing our facility with an estimated time of arrival to your home.
- When the crew hits the road, you’ll receive a link to track our moving truck en route.
- Upon arrival, the crew leader will ask you to lead a walkthrough of each room of your home to review the boxes, furniture, and other items.
- The crew loads up the moving truck. Before they drive to your new home, they’ll perform another walkthrough with you to make sure nothing was missed.
- When you and the move crew get to your new place, you’ll walk through each room together. This is a great opportunity for you to provide details like which is the primary bedroom versus the kids’ bedroom, where your large sofa will go, etc.
- The crew unloads the moving truck into your new home. Once everything is inside, you’ll do a final walkthrough to confirm that everything is in the right room and there’s no garbage like shrink wrap or tape lying around.
- You’ll be asked to review, approve, and pay the final bill.
Four walkthroughs might seem excessive, but trust the experts like Tyler and Alex. The walkthroughs go quickly, and each one allows you and the crew to ask key questions that’ll help your move go smoothly.
Understand the Factors That Could Affect Your Move
Even when you work hard to prepare for moving day, there are a few factors that could cause your move to go a little longer…and unfortunately, they’re completely out of your control and ours. Alex and Tyler emphasized a few in particular:
- Weather. We run the weather gamut here in Chicago. If rain or snow is forecasted on your move day, you can expect the move to take a little longer.
- Traffic. Drivers throughout Chicagoland don’t only have to contend with rush hour traffic. There could be gridlock due to construction or street closures as well.
- Truck-friendly route. You’ll probably drive from your old home to your new place more quickly than your movers. We’ll have to find a truck-friendly route that doesn’t include Lake Shore Drive (trucks aren’t allowed on that road) or low viaducts.
- Small or slow elevators. Some large condo and apartment buildings, especially in older neighborhoods, have small freight elevators that run very slowly. If you’re on a high floor, the crew will need to wait for the elevator every trip to and from the truck.
The good news is that awesome crew leaders like Tyler and Alex know the Chicagoland Area inside and out. We know to look out for the low viaducts in Ravenswood, the tight turns in Bronzeville, and the parking challenges of moving to the West Loop.
In other words, don’t worry! Whatever area you’re moving to and from, our outstanding team of crew leaders and movers will help you have the smooth move you deserve.
Let Chicago’s Favorite Movers Help You Prepare for Moving Day and Enjoy a Great Moving Experience!
You don’t have to stress out when you prepare for moving day. Just give us a call! We’ve got the experienced movers, pro tips, and unmatched skills to help you pack and prep before heading to your new home.
Tell us about your move today and we’ll get started on your custom estimate!