Stress-free London moving

The Removal Day Checklist

Hour-by-hour — exactly how a Blue Sky move day runs, from the crew pulling up at 07:00 to the final sign-off at the new home.

← Pack first: Packing Checklist Get my fixed quote →

Part of a series

The day-of companion to our 8-week Moving House Checklist and Packing Checklist.

Step 01

Night before

Last admin, early night

Finish the 'first night' box: kettle, mugs, tea, phone chargers, toiletries, medication, bedding, change of clothes.
Charge phones, power banks and the camera you'll use for meter readings and condition photos.
Put passports, jewellery, wills and hard drives into your personal travel bag — these never go on the van.
Confirm crew arrival time, parking arrangement and contact number with your move manager.
Strip beds if you're not moving the linen separately, and bag bedding by room.

Step 02

07:00 – Crew arrival

Walk-through and brief

Greet the crew, offer a quick site tour and point out anything fragile or 'do not load'.
Identify any items needing extra protection — antiques, art, glass-top tables, pianos.
Confirm where the van will park and whether a parking suspension or cones are in place.
Hand over the inventory sheet and agree the loading order with the lead mover.

Step 03

08:00 – Loading

Stay out of the way, stay reachable

Let the crew work — clear staircases, hallways and the front path of children, pets and obstacles.
Keep the kitchen running for tea, coffee and water — it makes a real difference on a long load day.
Pull aside any 'last on, first off' items (kettle box, vacuum, cleaning kit) so they ride at the back.
Final room check: top of wardrobes, under beds, behind doors, loft, garden shed, side return.

Step 04

Departure

Lock up the old property

Take final gas, electric and water meter readings and photograph each one with a date stamp.
Walk the property with the crew lead and sign the loading inventory.
Switch off the boiler, fridge/freezer and any electrics the buyer doesn't need running.
Leave manuals, spare keys, warranties and the parking permit in a kitchen-counter envelope.
Lock all windows and doors, post keys back to the agent or leave them as agreed.

Step 05

Travel & arrival

Meet the van at the new home

Travel ahead of the van so you can open up and direct unloading from the moment they arrive.
Lay floor protection in hallways and on carpeted stairs before the first box comes in.
Take meter readings and photograph them at the new property too.
Walk the crew lead through the rooms with your box-labelling system so everything lands in the right place.

Step 06

Unloading

Place it once, not three times

Direct each large piece of furniture to its final position — moving a wardrobe twice is what hurts on day two.
Reassemble beds first so there's somewhere to sleep regardless of what time you finish.
Tick boxes off the inventory as they come in. Flag any damage or shortages on the job sheet now, not tomorrow.
Keep fragile and 'open first' boxes in one defined corner so they're easy to find.

Step 07

Sign-off

Before the crew leaves

Final inventory check with the crew lead — every box and item ticked off.
Note any damage on the job sheet, photograph it, and email a copy to your move manager.
Confirm any return collection of crates or boxes for the following week.
Sign the completion sheet, settle any agreed extras, and tip the crew if they've done well.

FAQ

Move-day questions, answered

What time should the removals crew arrive on move day?+

For a standard London house move we arrive 07:00–08:00 so loading is complete before lunchtime and you can hand keys to the agent by mid-afternoon. Flat and smaller moves can start later.

Do I need to be at the property the whole time?+

Yes for the walk-through, loading sign-off and meter readings. Once loaded, one of you can travel ahead to open the new property while the other locks up the old one.

Should I tip the removals crew?+

It's appreciated but never expected. £20–£40 per crew member for a job well done is the London norm, or refreshments and lunch on a long day.

What if something gets damaged on move day?+

Flag it on the job sheet before the crew leaves and photograph it. We're fully insured (Goods in Transit and Public Liability) and your move manager handles the claim — no third-party broker.

Done properly, from week eight to move day.

Start with the full Moving House Checklist if you haven't yet.

House removals →Get a quote