Relocating and need your moving day explained?

Whether it’s your first time or you last packed a box so long ago you’ve forgotten the chaos, moving day has a way of reminding you pretty quickly that it’s not an easy experience.

It sits somewhere between the thrill of a fresh start and the kind of stress that makes you question every decision you’ve ever made. You’ve signed the paperwork, lived among cardboard for weeks, and now the day is finally here.

So, the question on everyone’s lips is the same: what to expect on moving day, and what actually happens when the removal van rolls up?

If you are planning to move with R.H. Pardy Moving & Storage, a trusted Christchurch-based removals company with over 100 years of experience, every stage of the process is carefully managed so you can focus on the new chapter ahead.

This guide tells you exactly what to expect, from the moment our crew arrives at your door to that familiar moment when you’re standing in your new home, completely surrounded by boxes, desperately searching for the one with the kettle in it.

We’ll also explain how R.H. Pardy’s services, expertise, and professional approach make a real difference on the day.

It’s an honest, down-to-earth guide you will actually find helpful.

A Quick snapshot of each stage so you know exactly what’s coming.

• The Night Before – Final checks, packing essentials, and preparing for a smooth start
• Morning Arrival – Professional crew walkthrough, plan confirmation, and setup
• Loading Process – Careful handling, protection measures, and structured packing order
• Transit Stage – Travel to your new home and coordinate with completion times
• Unloading & Placement – Room-by-room delivery, reassembly, and positioning
• End of Day Checks – Final walkthrough, debris removal, and issue reporting
• Delays & Storage – Flexible solutions if timelines change unexpectedly
• Moving Day Tips – Practical advice to keep everything running smoothly
• Why Choose R.H. Pardy – Trusted expertise, full-service support, and proven reliability

A clear, structured plan like this helps take the stress out of moving day.

The Night Before: Final Preparations

Before we even discuss what to expect on moving day itself, it’s worth touching on the evening before. The best moving days begin with good preparation.

R.H. Pardy recommends the following the night before your move:

• Ensure all boxes (packed by you) are sealed and clearly labelled with the destination room
• Keep essential items (phone chargers, medications, documents, a kettle) in a clearly marked ‘first night’ bag
• Confirm your completion or tenancy start time with your solicitor or landlord
• Charge your phone, you’ll be making a lot of calls
• Get a good night’s sleep, moving day is a physical and emotional journey

If you’ve opted for R.H. Pardy’s professional packing service, our team will have already taken care of wrapping, boxing, labelling and protecting your belongings, which often happens the day before the move itself.

That means on moving day morning, your job is simply to be ready.

Early Morning: The Team Arrives

On the morning of your move, the R.H. Pardy crew will arrive at your property at an agreed time, typically between 8:00am and 9:00am, traffic allowing, depending on the size and complexity of your move.

Our experienced team will introduce themselves, carry out a quick walkthrough of your home, and confirm the loading plan.

This is your opportunity to point out any fragile or high-value items, confirm which items are going into storage if applicable, and raise any last-minute questions or concerns you may have about the day.

You can expect our crew to be:

• Professional and courteous, our team is trained to a high standard and regularly undergoes rigorous refresher training
• Properly equipped,  with specialist protective blankets, straps, trolleys, and vehicle ramps to handle your belongings safely
• Protecting your belongings, R.H. Pardy provides cover for your consignment in transit. MoveProtect is a contractual liability solution that allows you to declare a Maximum Replacement Value for your goods. This determines our liability for loss or damage while your belongings are in our care.

As a member of the British Association of Removers (BAR), R.H. Pardy operates to the highest standards in the industry.

This means you’re protected by an independent code of practice and have access to the Furniture & Home Improvements Ombudsman should any dispute arise.

The Loading Process: How Your Belongings Are Handled

Loading is where much of moving day’s heavy lifting, literally, takes place.

For many customers wondering what to expect on moving day, this stage is often the most visually impressive: watching trained professionals efficiently and carefully move a whole home’s worth of possessions into a removal van.

Staff at RH Pardy have been fully trained to handle heavy and awkward items of furniture; after all, for them, it is all in a day’s work.

Protecting Your Property

Before any items leave your home, the R.H. Pardy team will lay protective floor runners and doorway covers to prevent damage to carpets, skirting boards, and walls.

Large furniture pieces are wrapped in padded blankets before being moved, a step that many DIY movers overlook entirely.

A nice summer move can mean carpets get a little dusty, but factor in a winter move, and it is an entirely different situation. Your home can very quickly become a mess.

If you are moving in the winter months, be sure to read our article entitled Moving House in Winter: A Survival Guide for Dorset Movers for tips and advice.

Loading Order Matters

There is nothing random when it comes to an RH Pary move!

Items are loaded in a specific order, heavy and large furniture first, with smaller boxes and fragile items positioned strategically towards the front of the van.

This isn’t just about fitting everything in; it’s about ensuring nothing shifts or gets damaged in transit.

The Government’s guide to moving house notes that moving day is one of the most stressful days in adult life, but expert loading by a professional team significantly reduces that stress, as you’re not responsible for any of the heavy lifting.

How Long Does Loading Take?

Loading times will vary based on the volume of your possessions and the accessibility of your property.

As a rough guide:

• A 1–2-bedroom property typically takes 1–3 hours to load
• A 3–4-bedroom family home may take 3–5 hours
• Larger or more complex properties may require a multi-day move or additional vehicles

R.H. Pardy carries out a detailed pre-move survey either in-person or via a video call to calculate the exact volume of your move, ensuring the right size vehicle and crew are allocated.

A pre-move survey means that you’ll never be left waiting for a second vehicle because we underestimated the job.

It is also another opportunity to discuss anything you are unsure of with our friendly surveyor so that there are no nasty surprises when move day arrives.

Mid-Move: The Transit Stage

Once loading is complete, it’s time to head to your new home.

This is often the quietest part of moving day for you; the crew are driving, and you’ll likely be following behind or already at the new property.

If you’re completing on a property purchase, you’ll be waiting for the solicitors to confirm that funds have transferred and keys are released, something that can sometimes happen at different times throughout the day.

R.H. Pardy is well used to working around legal completion timelines, and our team will remain in contact with you throughout.

For those moving locally across Dorset and the surrounding areas, including Bournemouth, Poole, Ringwood, Lymington, and the New Forest, transit times are usually short.

For longer national or international moves, transit may span multiple days, during which your belongings are secured in our vehicles or transferred to our secure containerised storage facility.

Arriving at Your New Home: Unloading and Placement

Once you’re at the new property with keys in hand, the R.H. Pardy team will get straight to work.

This is the moment that many customers find most satisfying, seeing their new home take shape.

Room-by-Room Direction

You or a designated family member will direct the crew as to where each item should go.

This is why clear labelling on your boxes beforehand is so valuable; it allows unloading to happen smoothly and quickly without constant interruption.

The team will reassemble any furniture they dismantled during the loading process (such as bed frames, dining tables, and wardrobes), and place items exactly where you want them.

Don’t be shy, our team is there to help, and repositioning a sofa is far easier on moving day than it is a week later.

Fragile Items and Valuables

Items packed by the R.H. Pardy team using our professional packing service, including china, glass, artwork, and electronics, will be individually unwrapped and checked as part of the unloading process.

Any damage to items packed by our team is covered by MoveProtect, which is another reason many customers choose the full packing service.

Make the moving crew aware as soon as possible if you find any damage.

Large and Awkward Items

Don’t worry about overly large items to be moved.

Pianos, gym equipment, large American-style fridge freezers, pool tables, all are handled regularly by the R.H. Pardy team.

If you have anything unusual or particularly heavy, flag it during your pre-move survey so we can plan the best approach for your new property’s layout and access.

Once the Van is Empty: End of Moving Day

When the last box has been unloaded and the last piece of furniture is in place, the crew will carry out a final walkthrough with you to confirm everything has arrived and nothing has been left behind.

They’ll remove any protective coverings, packaging debris, and packing materials used during transit and take it away with them.

This is also the time to raise any concerns immediately.

While rare, if anything has been damaged or misplaced, it’s important to flag it before the crew departs so it can be formally noted.

As a BAR-registered company, R.H. Pardy operates under a clear and fair complaints process should anything need to be addressed.

Most R.H. Pardy customers report that moving day finishes sooner than expected, which is a testament to the team’s efficiency and experience.

What If There Are Delays? Storage Solutions with R.H. Pardy

Unfortunately, though often it is no one’s fault, not every move goes entirely to plan.

Completion chains can collapse, tenancy dates can shift, or you may simply need time between leaving one property and entering another.

This is exactly why R.H. Pardy’s storage solutions exist.

Our containerised storage facility in Christchurch, Dorset, is monitored by a Redcare alarm system and CCTV, providing safe, secure storage for both short- and long-term requirements.

If your plans change on the day, there is no need to panic; our team can adapt, placing your belongings into storage until you’re ready for them to be delivered.

For students, we also offer a dedicated student storage service that provides flexible, affordable storage during term breaks and transitions between accommodation.

Top Tips: What to Do on Moving Day

To round off our guide on what to expect on moving day, here are the most practical tips for making your move with R.H. Pardy as smooth as possible:

• Be present and available. The crew will have questions, and you’ll want to be on hand to guide placement in your new home.
• Keep a ‘moving day essentials’ bag with you. Include keys, ID, phone charger, snacks, drinks, and anything you’ll need in the first few hours.
• Make the crew a cup of tea. It’s not compulsory, but it goes a long way, and our customers frequently praise the team’s cheerful attitude throughout long days.
• Take meter readings. Do this at both properties, your old home and your new one, as soon as possible.
• Confirm broadband and utilities. Check with your provider that your broadband switchover date is aligned with moving day.
• Don’t forget the BAR moving checklist. The British Association of Removers offers a comprehensive checklist to help customers prepare.

Why Choose R.H. Pardy Moving & Storage?

Founded in 1924, R.H. Pardy Moving & Storage has been helping families, individuals, and businesses move for over a century.

Based in Christchurch, Dorset, the company covers a wide area across the south of England, from Bournemouth to Wimborne and far beyond.

We are one of the region’s most trusted names in removals.

With a 4.8-star rating from over 160 Google reviews, full BAR membership, and a suite of services including house removals, European removals, professional packing, storage, and MoveProtect cover.

R.H. Pardy is equipped to handle any move, large or small, local or international.

R.H. Pardy is also a proud partner of the Dorset Children’s Foundation, donating to the charity for every customer Google review received.

Choosing R.H. Pardy isn’t just a smart choice for your move; it’s a choice that supports the local community.

Ready to Book Your Move? Get a Free Quote Today

Now that you know what to expect on moving day, the next step is getting the ball rolling.

R.H. Pardy offers every customer a complimentary moving survey, either in-person or via video, so we can provide the most accurate, obligation-free quote possible.

📞 Call us on 01425 508 267 or 01202 152 120

📧 Email us at sales@pardyremovals.com

🌐 Or complete our quick quote form HERE.

Let R.H. Pardy take the stress out of your move — just as we’ve been doing for over 100 years.

Moving Day Frequently Asked Questions

1. How far in advance should I book a removal company?

As a general rule, aim to book your removal company at least 4–6 weeks before your intended moving date and even earlier if you’re planning to move during peak periods like summer, school holidays, or at the end of the month when completions tend to cluster. The best removal companies fill up quickly, so don’t leave it until contracts are exchanged to start making calls.

2. How much does it cost to hire a removal company?

Costs vary depending on the volume of your belongings, the distance of your move, and the services you need. A local move for a 2-bedroom property might start from around £300–£600, while a larger 4-bedroom move or a long-distance relocation could run into the thousands. Getting at least three quotes is always advisable, and make sure each one includes a proper survey rather than a rough estimate over the phone.

3. Should I pack myself or use a professional packing service?

This comes down to budget and peace of mind. Professional packing is quicker, safer, and means your belongings are covered by the removal company’s insurance. DIY packing saves money but puts the responsibility and the liability on you. A middle-ground option for many people is having the removal company pack fragile items like china and glassware while handling everything else themselves.

4. What happens if my completion is delayed on moving day?

Delays on moving day are more common than most people expect, particularly in chain transactions where multiple completions are happening simultaneously. A good removal company will be experienced in managing this, whether that means waiting in the van, placing your belongings into short-term storage, or rescheduling delivery to your new property. It’s worth discussing the company’s policy on delays before you book.

5. What if I have to move quickly?

RH Pardy can react quickly if necessary to get your move booked in, even if it is at the last minute. Just call, and we will do our utmost to accommodate your last-minute move.