Moving Day Survival Guide

February 13, 2026 · EPM Labs

Moving day is universally acknowledged as one of life’s most stressful experiences, right up there with job interviews and dentist appointments. But it doesn’t have to be chaos. With the right preparation, it can be… manageable. Maybe even satisfying.

Here’s everything you need to know to get through it in one piece.

Two Weeks Before: The Prep Phase

Moving day success is 80% preparation. The actual day should be mostly execution.

Declutter First, Pack Second

Do NOT pack things you don’t want to keep. Go room by room and sort everything into four piles:

  • Keep — Goes to the new place
  • Sell — Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist
  • Donate — Goodwill, local shelters
  • Trash — Be ruthless

The less you move, the less it costs, the faster it goes, and the less you unpack.

Gather Supplies

  • Boxes — Hit up liquor stores, bookstores, and grocery stores for free ones. Or buy from Home Depot/U-Haul. You’ll need more than you think.
  • Packing tape — Get a tape gun. Trust us.
  • Bubble wrap or packing paper — For dishes, glasses, and anything fragile
  • Markers — For labeling every single box
  • Trash bags — Heavy duty, for soft items like clothes and bedding
  • Zip-lock bags — For screws, small hardware, and random drawer contents
  • Furniture pads or blankets — Protect large items during transport

Start Packing Early

Begin with things you won’t need for two weeks:

  • Off-season clothes
  • Books
  • Decorations
  • Rarely-used kitchen items
  • Guest bedding

Pack a few boxes each day. It’s manageable in small doses and overwhelming if you leave it all for the last weekend.

One Week Before: Getting Serious

Label Everything

Label every box on the top AND at least one side with:

  • What’s inside (brief description)
  • Which room it goes to (kitchen, bedroom, bathroom)
  • Priority (open first, open later)

Color-coded tape or stickers by room are even better — your movers (or friends) can just match colors to rooms.

Pack a “Day One” Box

This is the most important box you’ll pack. It contains everything you need to survive your first night without unpacking anything else:

  • Toilet paper
  • Hand soap
  • Paper towels
  • Phone charger
  • Basic toiletries
  • Medications
  • Change of clothes
  • Pajamas
  • Sheets and a pillow
  • Towel
  • Snacks and water
  • Basic cleaning supplies
  • Trash bags
  • Scissors and a box cutter (to open everything else)
  • Important documents

Label this box clearly and load it LAST so it comes off the truck FIRST.

Confirm Everything

  • Moving truck or movers — confirm date, time, address
  • Utilities at new place — confirm activation dates
  • Keys and access — confirm you can get into the new place
  • Elevator reservation — if your building requires one
  • Parking — Where will the truck go at both locations?

Moving Day: Game Time

Morning Routine

  • Eat a real breakfast. Moving on an empty stomach is miserable.
  • Charge your phone fully.
  • Wear comfortable clothes and closed-toe shoes (you WILL drop something on your foot).
  • Have cash on hand for tips, tolls, or emergency supplies.
  • Do a final walkthrough of every room, closet, and cabinet before the truck leaves.

Loading Strategy

Load the truck in this order:

  1. Heavy furniture first — Against the walls, toward the cab
  2. Boxes — Heaviest on bottom, lightest on top
  3. Fragile items — Wedged securely, surrounded by soft items
  4. Awkward shapes (lamps, bikes, plants) — Fill in gaps last
  5. Day One box — Last in, first out

If You Hired Movers

  • Be present and available for questions
  • Point out fragile items and high-priority boxes
  • Offer water (they’ll appreciate it)
  • Do a final walkthrough together before they leave your old place
  • Do an inventory check at the new place before they leave
  • Tip: $20-50 per mover for a standard move, more for stairs, long distances, or heavy items

If Friends Are Helping

  • Feed them. Pizza is the universal currency of moving.
  • Have everything packed and ready before they arrive. Nobody wants to help you pack AND move.
  • Be specific about what goes where
  • Don’t ask them to help for more than 4-5 hours max
  • Thank them profusely. Buy them dinner later.

At the New Place

First Hour Priorities

  1. Do a walkthrough — Check for any damage or issues before moving stuff in. Take photos.
  2. Identify where furniture goes — Make decisions before heavy things are placed. Moving a couch twice is not fun.
  3. Unpack the Day One box — Get the bathroom functional, the bed made, and the phone charging.
  4. Set up the bed — You’ll thank yourself when you’re exhausted at 10 PM.
  5. Basic kitchen setup — Enough to make coffee in the morning.

First Night Reality Check

Your new place will look chaotic. Boxes everywhere, nothing where it should be, no idea where the silverware is. That’s normal.

Don’t try to unpack everything on moving day. Set up the essentials (bed, bathroom, kitchen basics) and give yourself permission to deal with the rest over the next few days.

Order dinner. You’ve earned it.

Unpacking Strategy

Days 1-3: Functional Unpacking

  • Kitchen (you need to eat)
  • Bathroom (fully set up)
  • Bedroom (clothes put away, bed made properly)
  • Living room furniture in position

Days 4-7: Getting Settled

  • Remaining boxes
  • Hanging curtains
  • Organizing closets
  • Setting up your workspace

Weeks 2-4: Making It Home

  • Wall art and decor
  • Final organization
  • Anything you’ve been “getting to”

The Box Rule

If a box is still sealed after 3 months, seriously consider whether you need what’s in it. If you survived 3 months without opening it, you might not need that stuff at all.

Common Moving Day Disasters (And How to Avoid Them)

Locked out: Have keys accessible, not packed in a box. Keep a backup with a trusted person.

Truck too small: When in doubt, go one size up. A 20-foot truck is fine for a one-bedroom; a two-bedroom needs a 26-foot.

Weather: Check the forecast a week out. If rain is likely, have tarps and plastic sheeting ready. Wrap electronics and mattresses in plastic.

Injuries: Lift with your legs, not your back. Use a dolly for heavy items. Take breaks. Stay hydrated. It’s okay to ask for help with heavy things.

Missing essentials: This is why the Day One box exists. Pack it thoughtfully.

The Emotional Side

Moving is a big deal. Even if you’re excited about the new place, leaving the old one can stir up unexpected feelings. That’s completely normal.

Give yourself grace on moving day and the days after. It takes time to feel at home somewhere new. Unpack at your own pace, explore your new neighborhood, and remember — every home felt unfamiliar at first.

You’ve got this. One box at a time.

📦 Want the complete toolkit? The First Apartment Starter Kit ($9.99) gives you moving checklists, setup guides, and budgeting templates for your new place. One download, everything you need.

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