A Guide to Moving Day Etiquette

The boxes have been packed; the fridge has been wiped down; and the walls have been spackled. Moving day has finally arrived! With all of that moving preparation out of the way, you can now concentrate on the actual logistics of the day. Whether you’re hiring a professional moving company or embarking on a DIY relocation, you’ll need to be aware of certain moving day etiquette norms.

As simple as some of these etiquette tips may seem, you’d be surprised just how many people forget to mind their moving day manners once the truck arrives. Afterall – coordinating a relocation with a (seemingly) million moving parts is no walk in the park. Moving day is stressful and is certainly capable of bringing out the worst in some people.

To make it easy for you, we’ve compiled a list of simple yet essential etiquette rules to know for your upcoming moving day. Good luck and happy moving!

Inform current neighbors about the move

Blocking a driveway and causing a commotion isn’t the best way to bid farewell to your current neighbors. Generally, it’s a good idea to inform your neighbors of the move beforehand. When moving, be mindful and considerate of the folks nearby. You’ll want to avoid parking on or near your neighbors’ driveways and walkways. Make sure neighbors can access the road. If it can’t be helped, I suggest letting them know ahead of time so that they can plan accordingly.

Also, when choosing a moving date and time, consider your neighbors’ schedules. If they leave early for work, it may be best to start the process after 9 a.m. Similarly, if they leave later perhaps disrupting their sleep with early moving mayhem isn’t the most considerate wake up call.

Figure out the parking situation ahead of time

When moving to a new place, make sure to check with the appropriate person beforehand about where the mover should park. If you’re moving to an apartment building in a city, then your new residence most likely has a designated parking and loading spot for the moving truck. If the new neighborhood has an HOA or a shared driveway, there will probably be certain rules about when and where moving companies can park their trucks and unload. Moving to a city? You’ll have to check the city’s parking rules as well. Otherwise, the movers could end up with a parking fine or, possibly, even towed. Research these regulations ahead of time and let your moving company know as soon as possible.

Make the day as easy as possible for your movers

A little preparation goes a long way on moving day. Not only will your movers appreciate the consideration, but the day will mostly likely run a whole lot smoother (and faster), if you’ve properly prepared for the movers’ arrival.

First, if you live in a high-rise condo or apartment building, you should ask your property manager about reserving an elevator for a certain time frame on your moving day. Most buildings will be happy to do so. A dedicated elevator gives movers an easier way to get up and down throughout the day, and will certainly speed up the moving process.

Second, if you’re moving during the winter or in treacherous conditions, I recommend salting any pathways or driveways prior to the movers arriving. Make sure your stoop isn’t slippery. Trust me – you do not want any moving day accidents due to weather. Also, if it’s pouring rain, it may be a good idea to provide ponchos and towels for the movers. Afterall, it’s the nice thing to do.

Third, organize and label your boxes (by room) as best you can before the movers arrive. This will make it easier for them to discern which boxes contain fragile items and which do not. It will also help them figure out where to put the boxes in your new home. Also, don’t forget to draw an arrow with THIS SIDE UP clearly written on the side of the box.

Provide beverages for the movers

If you’re hiring a professional moving company or enlisting friends to help, make sure you have plenty of water bottles on-hand. Moving is back-breaking work. Lifting clunky furniture, bulky mattresses and heavy boxes is sure to make even the most fit of people sweat and tire. Your movers will undoubtedly get thirsty. So it’s only common courtesy to offer water (at the very least). I recommend arriving at your new home before the movers, and immediately loading the fridge up with a few bottles of water. If your moving day is a hot one, you’ll probably need a full case in the fridge.

If you’re moving during the winter, feel free to also provide movers with basic paper cups and a hot beverage, such as coffee or hot cocoa. Trust me – they’ll appreciate the effort. I don’t recommend offering the movers any sort of alcoholic beverages unless they specifically request a cold one. That’s because there’s a good chance that their moving company prohibits drinking alcohol on the job.

Consider your new neighbors

Avoid making enemies on day one by not blocking your new neighbors’ driveways and walkways with the moving truck. Not only is it just plain rude, but it’s also an unfortunate way to meet your (now angry) neighbors. To make a good first impression, be respectful of others’ yards and access to the street. Keep boxes and belongings off of your neighbors’ lawns, and try not to move super early to avoid waking people up. If you’re able, I also suggest not moving at certain times of the day (i.e. 9 a.m., 5 p.m.), when people generally commute to and from work.

Be friendly

It’s as simple as that. Acting polite and friendly towards your movers will make the day more enjoyable for everyone. When meeting neighbors, smile and wave. If you’re moving on a weekend, you can expect to meet at least a few of your neighbors. Chances are, they’ll be home and plenty curious about the new people moving in next door.

Tip the appropriate amount to each mover

Finally, don’t forget to tip! When hiring a moving company, it’s customary to tip the appropriate amount to each mover. Of course, tipping is never mandatory and it’s not necessarily expected – but if you’re satisfied with a job well done, it’s a nice way to thank your mover for all of their hard work and efficiency. How much you tip may depend on the cost of your move and just how complicated the move was for the movers to complete.

While the industry standard for tipping is normally 5 percent of the total bill, you can certainly tip more or less depending on your overall experience with the movers. An example of how to tip: if a move costs $2,000 and you have two movers, you could tip a total of $100 – with $50 for each mover. If you plan to tip, make sure you have cash on-hand.

While you probably won’t need to tip friends who help you move, it’s customary to pay them back in some way. Whether it’s a gift card to their favorite restaurant or a bottle of wine, I recommend doing something nice for the people who helped you move. Depending on the person, even a thoughtful, hand-written thank you note may be enough.