By Brandon Bermudez · Published
Finish the decisions before the truck reaches the driveway. A crew can move a ready home efficiently. It cannot guess which boxes stay, wait on a locked gate, or safely load a half-packed kitchen without changing the work you originally described.
What should be finished the night before?
If you are packing yourself, seal and label every box before the crew arrives. Premiere Movers normally schedules a booked packing service the day before the move because packing on the same morning lengthens an hourly job considerably.
Use the destination room on the label, not just the room where the box started. Mark fragile contents on more than one face. Then make one clearly separated area for everything that will travel with you instead of on the truck.
| Prepare before arrival | Ready state | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Boxes | Sealed and labeled by destination room | The crew can load immediately and place each box correctly |
| Furniture and large items | Every item included in the estimate, with heavy or awkward pieces identified | The crew arrives sized and equipped for the actual job |
| Personal items | Keys, documents, medicine, valuables, and immediate necessities separated from the load | Essential items cannot disappear into the shipment |
| Carry route | Floors and doorways clear of loose items | The crew can protect the path and move safely |
| Destination plan | Furniture placement decided by room | Questions can be answered before an item is carried twice |
The Georgia Department of Public Safety Moving Guide says the estimator should see everything you want moved, including items in the basement, attic, and garage. If the inventory changed after the estimate, call before move day. A newly added storage unit, safe, or room of boxes changes the work and should not become a curbside surprise.
What should stay with you instead of going on the truck?
Georgia DPS specifically tells customers not to pack jewelry, money, important papers, medicines, or other valuable articles for shipment on the moving truck. Keep those items in a bag, locked room, or vehicle that the crew knows is not part of the load.
Build that group around what you need before the first boxes are opened:
- Identification, keys, closing or lease documents, and the moving paperwork.
- Medicine, medical devices, and anything needed for children or pets.
- Phones, chargers, wallets, jewelry, and irreplaceable records.
- A change of clothes, toiletries, towels, and basic bedding.
Do not rely on a sticky note attached to a box. Physically separate these items and point out the no-load area during the opening walkthrough.
Which items need to be removed before move day?
Hazardous materials cannot go on the truck. Premiere Movers flags propane tanks, gasoline and other fuel, paint and solvents, aerosols, ammunition, and similar items during the walkthrough. Resolve them before the crew arrives instead of leaving them beside the garage door.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency identifies paints, cleaners, oils, batteries, and pesticides as common household hazardous waste and recommends checking with the local environmental, health, or solid waste agency for disposal options. Keep products in their original labeled containers and never combine leftovers.
If you are unsure about an item, ask us before moving day. That gives you time to find the correct local disposal route instead of making a rushed decision while the truck is being loaded.
What access should be confirmed before the crew arrives?
The shortest route between the truck and the door matters on an hourly move. Confirm the practical route at both addresses:
- Reserve the freight elevator and loading area if a managed building requires them.
- Send property management requirements early enough for a certificate of insurance.
- Confirm gate codes, parking restrictions, and the person who can provide access.
- Tell us about stairs, tight turns, steep driveways, long carries, and oversized furniture.
- Make sure the crew can reach every room, closet, attic, garage, and storage area included in the move.
Premiere Movers handles certificate of insurance paperwork and elevator coordination as part of apartment and condo booking. We still need the building’s instructions before the date. A reserved truck and crew cannot create an elevator window after they arrive.
What paperwork should be ready on moving day?
Keep your signed written estimate accessible. For an intrastate Georgia move, the state guide says the estimate should state what is moving, the requested services, crew and vehicle size, and the mover’s liability for loss or damage. Read it before work begins and ask about anything that does not match the agreed job.
After the truck arrives and before loading, Georgia customers may ask the carrier to prepare an inventory and may accompany the mover while it is made. The federal FMCSA Moving Checklist, which governs interstate moves, gives the same practical advice: read the estimate, bill of lading, inventory, and other completed documents before signing, and stay available to answer questions.
The agency depends on where the move goes. Georgia DPS regulates a move that stays inside Georgia. FMCSA regulates a move that crosses a state line. The preparation is useful in either case, but your rights and paperwork come from the authority responsible for your route.
What should happen when the movers arrive?
Walk the home with the crew lead before anything is carried. Point out what goes, what stays, fragile pieces, existing damage, access limits, and any item that changed after the estimate. Confirm the destination address and how the crew can reach you during the move.
Then stay available. You do not need to lift anything, but someone with authority should be present at both ends to answer where an item goes or approve a necessary change. When loading is complete, walk every room, closet, cabinet, attic, garage, and outdoor area before the truck leaves.
If you are budgeting for a gratuity, keep it separate from the written moving charges and decide after that walkthrough. Our guide to tipping movers in Georgia explains the difference between a voluntary thank-you and the charges in your estimate.
That final walkthrough is the last line of the checklist because everything above makes it simple. The boxes are closed, the route is clear, the paperwork matches, and the crew can focus on the work you hired us to do.