Moving day itself is mostly carrying. The things that go wrong on it were almost always set in motion weeks earlier — a utility that was never transferred, an estimate nobody read, a lift that was never booked.
These are the ten that matter, roughly in the order they need doing.
1. Book surveys, not phone quotes
A mover operating within California must inspect your belongings visually before issuing a written estimate. Phone and internet estimates are prohibited, and the Bureau of Household Goods and Services warns that an estimate given that way may not be enforceable.
For interstate moves, federal rules require an estimate based on a physical survey — on-site or by video — unless you waive it in writing.
Get three. Make sure each one states clearly whether it is binding, non-binding, or not-to-exceed, because those three words determine what you can be charged on delivery day.
2. Confirm you are hiring who you think you are
Two free lookups, five minutes:
- Moving within California: the BHGS License Search. Movers must be licensed before operating.
- Moving across state lines: the USDOT number in FMCSA's registered mover database.
Ask directly whether the company performing the move is the company you are signing with, or a subcontractor.
3. Collect the paperwork you are owed
Movers are required to give you specific documents, and most people never notice they did not arrive.
For a California intrastate move booked three or more days in advance, you should receive a copy of the moving services agreement, the Important Notice About Your Move, and the Important Information For Persons Moving Household Goods (Within California) booklet.
For an interstate move: a written estimate signed by both parties, the mover's rights-and-responsibilities booklet, FMCSA's Ready to Move brochure, information about the arbitration programme, and written notice of how to access the mover's tariff.
If any of it has not appeared a fortnight out, ask.
4. Read the bill of lading before loading day
The bill of lading is the contract governing your shipment. On interstate moves the mover must issue it no later than three days before pickup, specifically so you have time to read it.
Read it then, not on the morning of the move with a crew waiting. Check the dates, the delivery spread, the valuation option recorded, and the total. Never sign a document with blank fields.
5. Decide what your belongings are covered for
Valuation is not insurance, and the default on interstate moves is Full Value Protection — the mover is liable for replacement value and must repair, replace or settle in cash.
The alternative, Released Value Protection, is free and caps liability at 60 cents per pound per article. A 25-pound television comes to $15. It only applies if you sign a statement electing it, so check which one your paperwork records.
Anything worth more than $100 per pound — jewellery, art, collections — must be listed on the shipping documents or the mover may limit its liability on it.
6. Transfer utilities with dates at both ends
Schedule disconnection at the old address for the day after you leave, and connection at the new one for the day before you arrive. Overlapping by a day costs very little and avoids arriving to a cold, dark house.
Electricity, gas, water, refuse, internet and any security monitoring. Internet is the one that routinely takes weeks, so start it first.
7. Change your address properly
A USPS forwarding order is a safety net, not an address change. It expires, and it tells nobody.
Update separately: bank and credit cards, insurers, employer and payroll, the DMV, your doctor and dentist, schools, subscriptions, and anywhere a card is stored for billing. Set the USPS forward anyway, to catch what you forget.
8. Sort the things that cannot go on the truck
Movers cannot carry hazardous materials, and this is discovered on the doorstep more often than it should be. Petrol and lighter fluid, propane tanks including empties, paint and solvents, aerosols, pool chemicals and bleach, fireworks and ammunition, fire extinguishers, nail polish remover, car batteries.
Also: perishable and frozen food, open containers, and in most cases houseplants on long-distance moves — California enforces agricultural inspection on plants entering the state.
Run down what you can, and take the rest to a household hazardous waste facility in the weeks beforehand.
9. Book access at both ends
The most avoidable delays on moving day are about space rather than belongings.
- Apartments and condos: reserve the service lift and the loading bay, and ask what hours moves are permitted. Many buildings also require a certificate of insurance from the mover — request it early, as it takes time to issue.
- HOA communities: check for restrictions on truck size, access hours and weekend moves.
- Street parking: a truck that cannot park near the door turns into a long carry, which costs time and money. In the City of Sacramento, temporary parking restrictions on a residential street are arranged through Public Works parking services — worth sorting in advance for narrow Midtown and East Sacramento streets.
10. Photograph everything, and pack an essentials bag
Walk the house with your phone and photograph anything valuable, drawers open, serial numbers visible. Photograph the backs of electronics before unplugging them. If you need to make a claim, this is the evidence — and you have nine months from delivery to file one, in writing.
Then pack a bag that stays with you: medication, documents, chargers, a change of clothes per person, toiletries, and whatever a child or pet needs. Jewellery, cash, passports and irreplaceable items travel with you, not on the truck.
The morning itself
Keep one room clear for the crew to stage boxes. Walk the house with the lead mover before they start and point out anything fragile, awkward or already damaged — damage should be noted on the inventory before loading, not after.
Then do a final walkthrough of every cupboard, the loft, the garage, behind doors, and the fridge. Confirm the delivery address and a phone number that will be answered. Check the inventory against what has gone on the truck before you sign it.
Sources: Bureau of Household Goods and Services — Household Movers Information · FMCSA, Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move