Hour-by-hour guide to moving day in the UK. When the van arrives, how long it takes, what the crew does and what you should be doing while they work.
Moving day always feels like it'll be chaos, but for most house moves it follows a predictable pattern. Knowing roughly what to expect — and when — makes the day far less stressful.
Finish packing everything except your overnight bag and first-night essentials box. Take meter readings (gas, electric, water) and photograph them. Charge your phone fully — you'll use it constantly for calls, maps and photos. Get an early night if you can; moving day starts early and is physically tiring even if you're not lifting anything yourself.
Most removal companies arrive within a set time window, typically 8-9am for a full-day move. The crew will do a quick walkaround to confirm what's being moved and check access — this is your chance to point out anything fragile, anything that needs special handling, and confirm the loading order if you have a preference.
This is the longest part of the day. For a 3-bedroom house, loading typically takes 2-4 hours depending on volume and access (stairs, parking distance, lift availability all add time). The crew works room by room, usually loading larger furniture first and boxes around it to use the van space efficiently. You don't need to help — in fact most removal companies prefer you don't, for insurance reasons — but you should be available to answer questions and do a final check of each room as it's cleared.
Once loading is complete, do a full walkthrough of the old property — every room, the loft if accessible, garage, shed and garden. This is the point of no return, so check thoroughly. Take final meter readings if you haven't already, and leave keys with the agreed person (estate agent, landlord, or new owners directly, depending on your sale arrangement).
For local moves this might be 20-30 minutes. For longer moves, the crew will travel separately and you'll likely arrive at the new property around the same time or slightly after them. Use this window to grab lunch — moving day is not the day to skip meals.
Unloading generally takes less time than loading — often 1.5-3 hours for the same volume — because there's no need to plan space efficiently, items just come off in a sensible order. Direct the crew to the right rooms as items come off; this is much easier if your boxes are clearly labelled. Large furniture goes to its room first, then boxes.
Once the van is unloaded and the crew has left, the real work of unpacking begins — but there's no need to do it all on day one. Set up beds, find the essentials box, and get the kitchen functional enough for a cup of tea and something to eat. Everything else can wait until tomorrow.
Most removal companies will ask you to sign a job sheet confirming the work is complete and noting any issues. Check this carefully — if anything was damaged in transit, note it here and take photos before the crew leaves, as this is usually required for any insurance claim.
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