Plan a small move in one day: a checklist

A studio or a couple of rooms can move in a single day, as long as most of the work happens before moving day. This checklist splits it into four steps: one week before, two days before, the day itself, and the first hour in your new home.

One week before

• Sort everything. Keep, sell, give away or throw away. Every box you don't move makes the day shorter and the vehicle smaller.
• Measure the big pieces. Sofa, wardrobe, bed, fridge, washing machine: note height, width and depth. Then measure the doors, stairwells and lifts at both addresses.
• Book the vehicle. Pick a time slot early in the day and say what is moving, so the right vehicle comes.
• Ask both buildings about parking in front of the door and using the lift.
• Collect packing supplies: boxes in two or three sizes, strong tape, a marker, and old blankets or sheets to protect furniture.

Two days before

• Pack room by room. Heavy things (books, dishes) go in small boxes, light things (bedding, clothes) in big ones. No box should be too heavy for one person to lift.
• Label every box on two sides with the room it goes to and what is inside.
• Take apart what won't fit through a door: table legs, bed frames, shelves. Put the screws in a bag and tape it to the piece.
• Empty and defrost the fridge the day before if it moves, and leave the door open to dry.
• Pack an essentials bag you keep with you: documents, keys, chargers, medicine, a change of clothes, a few tools and some snacks.

Moving day

• Clear the paths. Doorways, hallway and stairs should be free before loading starts.
• Load the heavy furniture first, against the front wall of the vehicle, then fill the gaps with boxes. Mattresses and long pieces stand on their edge along the sides.
• Protect corners and glass with blankets; take glass shelves out and carry them separately.
• Do a last walk-through: cupboards, balcony, cellar, behind doors. Photograph the empty rooms and the meter readings.

In your new home

• Put each box in its room as it comes off the vehicle, so you don't carry it twice.
• Assemble the beds first, so you can sleep whatever happens.
• Check your furniture for damage before the driver leaves.

Tip: keep this list on your phone and tick things off as you go.

Moving with AtlasMove

In the AtlasMove app, you enter both addresses and what needs to move, pick the vehicle that fits and see an estimated price before you confirm. On the day, you can follow the driver on the map from loading to drop-off.