How to Prepare Your Home for Moving Day

Why Preparation Saves You Money

Here's a fact most homeowners don't realize: the biggest variable in your moving cost isn't the distance or the truck — it's time. Ottawa movers charge by the hour for local moves, and every minute your crew spends waiting, navigating obstacles, or working around unprepared items is a minute on your bill.

Beyond cost savings, preparation protects your property. Scratched hardwood floors, dented walls, and damaged door frames are common casualties of poorly prepared moves. An hour of preparation the night before can prevent hundreds of dollars in repairs.

Protecting Your Floors and Walls

Moving heavy furniture across your home is tough on surfaces. Here's how to protect them:

• Hardwood and laminate floors: Lay down Masonite boards or heavy-duty floor runners along all traffic paths. Felt pads on furniture legs prevent scratches during any sliding or repositioning.
• Carpet: While more forgiving than hardwood, carpet can be stained by dirty boots or torn by heavy dollies. Lay plastic sheeting or Kraft paper along main pathways.
• Walls and door frames: Corner guards and moving blankets taped to high-traffic corners prevent dings and scrapes. Pay special attention to tight hallways and stairwell walls.
• Banisters and railings: Wrap exposed banisters with moving blankets secured with painter's tape (never regular tape — it pulls paint).
• Tiles and marble: These surfaces are vulnerable to cracking under concentrated weight. Use plywood boards to distribute the load of dollies carrying heavy items.

Professional moving companies bring their own floor protection materials, but confirming this in advance — and having extra materials on hand — ensures nothing is left to chance.

Furniture Disassembly Guide

Disassembling furniture before the movers arrive saves significant time and reduces the risk of damage in tight spaces. Here's what to take apart and how:

Bed Frames

Remove the mattress and box spring. For bed frames with side rails, remove the rails and stand the headboard and footboard upright. Place all bolts, screws, and connectors in a labelled zip-lock bag and tape it to the headboard.

Dining Tables

If the legs are removable, take them off and wrap each leg individually. The tabletop should be wrapped in moving blankets and transported on its edge (not flat) to prevent warping.

Bookshelves and Dressers

Remove all items and empty all drawers. For tall bookshelves, remove adjustable shelves and wrap them separately. Drawers can stay in dressers if they're secured with stretch wrap to prevent them from sliding out.

Desks and Office Furniture

Remove drawers, detach keyboard trays, and disassemble any L-shaped desk connections. Bag all hardware and label it clearly.

Preparing Large Appliances

Appliances require specific preparation to move safely. Skipping these steps can result in damage during transit:

Refrigerator

Empty all contents and defrost at least 24 hours before the move. Clean the interior and leave the doors slightly ajar overnight to prevent mildew. On moving day, secure the doors with appliance tape or stretch wrap, and wrap the exterior in moving blankets. Refrigerators must be transported upright — never on their side.

Washer

Disconnect water hoses and drain any remaining water. If you still have the transit bolts that came with the machine, reinstall them to secure the drum. If not, inform your movers so they can stabilize the drum with blankets or packing material. Leave the door open overnight to dry the interior.

Dryer

For gas dryers, have a licensed technician disconnect the gas line — never attempt this yourself. For electric dryers, simply unplug and remove the vent hose. Clean the lint trap and vent duct before the move.

Dishwasher

Run an empty cycle the night before. Disconnect water supply and drain lines, and remove the dishwasher from under the counter if it's built-in. Secure the door and any loose racks.

Clearing Pathways and Access Points

Your movers need clear, unobstructed paths from every room to the truck. Walk through your home from the perspective of someone carrying a large dresser or sofa and eliminate every obstacle:

• Remove loose rugs and doormats: These are trip hazards, especially when carrying heavy items.
• Take down low-hanging light fixtures: Chandeliers and pendant lights in hallways and entryways can be struck by tall furniture. Remove them or tie them up and out of the way.
• Open and secure all doors: Prop open every door between rooms and the exit. Use doorstops or wedges to keep them from swinging closed.
• Remove screen doors and storm doors: These narrow the exit point and are easily damaged. Take them off their hinges and store them safely until after the move.
• Clear the driveway and walkway: In winter, shovel and salt thoroughly. In summer, move bikes, toys, planters, and garden hoses out of the path between the front door and the truck.
• Ensure adequate lighting: If you're starting early or finishing late, make sure hallways, stairwells, and exterior paths are well-lit. Movers can't protect what they can't see.

What to Do the Night Before

The night before moving day is your final preparation window. Use it wisely:

• Complete all remaining packing: By tonight, everything should be in a box or clearly identified as "going as-is" (furniture, appliances). The only exceptions should be tomorrow morning's essentials.
• Shower and prep your personal bag: Pack your toiletries, a change of clothes, medications, phone chargers, and any valuables you'll keep with you. This bag goes in your car, not on the truck.
• Set out tomorrow's clothes: Don't pack what you'll be wearing. Comfortable, weather-appropriate clothes and closed-toe shoes are essential.
• Do a final room-by-room sweep: Open every drawer, cabinet, and closet. Check behind doors, under beds, and inside appliances. It's remarkably easy to leave items behind.
• Charge all devices: Phone, laptop, tablet — make sure everything is at 100%. You'll be using your phone heavily tomorrow for coordination and documentation.
• Pre-position boxes by the door: Stack boxes in the hallway or living room near the exit to streamline loading. Place the "load last" essentials box near the front door so it goes on the truck last (and comes off first).
• Get a good night's sleep: Moving day is physically and mentally demanding. Rest up — tomorrow will go more smoothly if you're sharp and energized.

Morning-of Checklist

Moving day is here. Follow this hour-by-hour guide to ensure a flawless start:

2 Hours Before the Crew Arrives

• Strip all beds and pack bedding into clearly labelled bags
• Pack remaining toiletries and morning essentials
• Empty and wipe out the refrigerator (if not done last night)
• Take out all garbage and recycling
• Ensure the parking spot for the moving truck is clear and accessible

1 Hour Before

• Lay down floor protection in hallways and at doorways
• Prop all doors open and remove any remaining trip hazards
• Verify your personal essentials bag is in your car
• Have your moving contract, payment method, and tip money ready
• Walk through one final time to confirm nothing has been missed

When the Crew Arrives

• Greet the crew leader and do a walkthrough together
• Point out fragile items, oversized pieces, and anything requiring special handling
• Show them what's NOT going (donation piles, items for disposal)
• Confirm the unloading plan at the destination: which rooms get which items
• Offer water and let them know where the bathroom is

Common Preparation Mistakes to Avoid

Even well-intentioned homeowners make these preparation errors. Avoid them to keep your move on track:

• Not emptying dresser drawers: While lightweight items like clothes can stay in drawers, heavy items (books, tools, electronics) must come out. Overloaded dressers are dangerous to carry and can break apart.
• Leaving pictures on the walls: Remove all wall art, mirrors, and shelving before the crew arrives. Wrap framed items in packing paper or bubble wrap and pack them in picture boxes standing upright.
• Forgetting about the garage and shed: Outdoor equipment, tools, seasonal items, and garden supplies are often an afterthought. Include them in your packing plan from the start.
• Not measuring doorways at the new home: That sectional sofa that fits perfectly in your current living room may not fit through the front door of your new place. Measure major furniture and doorways in advance to avoid day-of surprises.
• Packing too-heavy boxes: The ideal box weight is 30-50 pounds. Overpacked book boxes are the number one source of mover injuries and box failures. Use small boxes for heavy items, large boxes for lightweight items.
• Leaving cleaning supplies packed: You'll need cleaning supplies for touch-ups after the movers leave (both old and new home). Keep a caddy of basics accessible.

Invest the time upfront, and your moving day will be one of the easiest parts of your entire relocation. Get your free moving quote and let our experienced Ottawa crew handle the heavy lifting.