Moving Tips & Guides

Our Most Useful Moving Tips in One Place

This guide brings together the moving tips our Roanoke crews share most often, from the first planning steps to the first night in your new home. Each section links to a full article when you want more detail. Bookmark this page and come back as your moving day gets closer.

• How Long Does a Cross-Country Move Take?
• What to Look for in Long Distance Movers
• How to Pack for a Long Distance Move
• When Is the Best Time of Year to Move?

Moving Tips for Planning Your Move

Start Earlier Than You Think

Most moves feel rushed because planning starts too late. Begin six to eight weeks ahead if you can. That gives you time to compare movers, sort your belongings and pack without long late nights.

Make a Simple Moving Binder

Keep your estimate, receipts, lease or closing documents, school records and new utility account details in one folder or one note on your phone. When questions come up, everything is in one place.

Choose Your Date Wisely

Summer, weekends and the last days of the month are the busiest times for movers. If your schedule is flexible, a weekday in the middle of the month often means more available dates. Our article When Is the Best Time of Year to Move? explains the pros and cons of each season.

Measure Before You Move

Measure large furniture and the doorways, stairways and rooms in your new home. Knowing what fits ahead of time saves effort on moving day and helps you decide what to sell or donate.

Moving Tips for Sorting and Decluttering

Every item you move costs time and money, so sorting is one of the most valuable moving tips we can give.

• Go room by room. Sort into keep, sell, donate and recycle piles.
• Start with storage areas. Attics, basements, garages and closets take the longest, so do them first.
• Use the one-year rule. If you have not used something in a year and it has no sentimental value, consider letting it go.
• Schedule donation pickups early. Local charities can book up, especially at the end of the month.
• Use up food. Plan meals around your pantry and freezer during the last few weeks.

Packing Moving Tips

Gather the Right Supplies

Use sturdy boxes in small, medium and large sizes, packing paper, bubble wrap, strong packing tape and markers. Specialty boxes such as wardrobe boxes, dish packs and picture boxes make packing faster and safer.

Pack Heavy Items in Small Boxes

Books, tools and canned food go in small boxes. Light items like pillows, linens and lampshades go in large boxes. Boxes that are too heavy are hard to carry and more likely to break.

Wrap Fragile Items One by One

Wrap each dish and glass separately, stand plates on edge and fill empty space with crumpled paper. Mark fragile boxes on several sides.

Label Every Box

Write the room and a short list of contents on the top and one side of each box. Number your boxes and keep a simple list so you know if anything is missing.

Pack an Essentials Bag

Keep medications, documents, chargers, toiletries, a change of clothes, basic tools, snacks and bedding for the first night with you, not on the truck.

For room-by-room advice, read How to Pack for a Long Distance Move. If you would rather not pack at all, our moving services include full and partial packing.

Moving Tips for Choosing a Mover

The mover you choose shapes your whole moving day. These checks help you find a company you can trust:

1. Check the USDOT number on the FMCSA Protect Your Move site.
2. Get written estimates and compare what each one includes.
3. Ask who will do the move, the company’s own crew or another mover.
4. Read recent reviews on more than one site, and read how the company replies to problems.
5. Ask how your belongings are protected and what happens if something is damaged.

Our full guide is What to Look for in Long Distance Movers, and you can read our own customer feedback on the reviews page.

Moving Tips for Moving Day

• Be ready when the crew arrives. Finish packing the night before and keep a clear path to the door.
• Do a walkthrough. Show the crew lead what is going, what is staying and what is fragile.
• Keep valuables with you. Jewelry, cash, important papers and medications should ride in your car.
• Protect pets and kids. A quiet room, a friend’s house or a sitter keeps everyone safe while doors are open.
• Check every room before you leave. Look in closets, cabinets, the attic, the garage and behind doors.
• Be at the new home first if you can. That way you can direct where furniture and boxes go.

Moving Tips for Long Distance Moves

Long moves need more planning than local ones. Book your movers six to eight weeks ahead, confirm your pickup date and delivery window in writing, and plan where you will stay while your belongings are on the road. Pack an extra bag with a few days of clothes and essentials. Our article How Long Does a Cross-Country Move Take? explains timing in detail, and our long distance movers page describes how we handle moves across Virginia and to other states.

Local Moving Tips for the Roanoke Valley

• Plan for hills. Many homes in Roanoke, Salem and Roanoke County have steep driveways and long front steps. Tell your movers in advance.
• Check parking downtown. Narrow streets and limited parking can slow a move, so plan where the truck will stand.
• Watch the weather. Summer storms and winter ice can change plans quickly, so keep in touch with your mover.
• Mind college calendars. Move-in and move-out weeks at nearby colleges fill apartment elevators and moving schedules.
• Think about lake and rural homes. Smith Mountain Lake and rural properties can have gravel drives and tight turns, so share photos with your mover.

Learn more about our local moving company and the towns on our service areas page.

Moving Tips for Seniors and Their Families

Downsizing is personal and often emotional. Start early, focus on one room at a time and ask family members which heirlooms they would like before the move. A floor plan of the new home helps decide which furniture fits. Choose movers who work at a patient pace and will set up beds and favorite chairs first, so the new home feels familiar on the first night. See our moving services for seniors.

Moving Tips for College Students

Pack light, bring only what fits your room and check your school’s move-in rules for times, elevators and parking. Label boxes with your name and room number. Share large items with roommates when you can, and book help early for move-in and move-out weeks. Our college moving services help students and parents across the region.

Moving Tips for Businesses

Plan an office move at least two months ahead. Make a floor plan for the new space, label every item by room or department and back up computer files before the move. Tell clients and vendors your new address, and schedule the move after hours or on a weekend to keep downtime short. Our commercial movers plan moves around your business hours.

Moving Tips for Families With Kids and Pets

Children handle a move better when they feel included. Talk about the new home early, show them photos or the new neighborhood, and let them pack a small box of favorite things that opens first. Keep bedtime and meal routines as normal as you can in the last week. On moving day, a relative, friend or sitter gives younger kids a calm place away from open doors and heavy furniture.

Pets notice change too. Keep dogs and cats in a closed, quiet room or with a friend while the crew works, and move them yourself in your own car. Pack food, water, bowls, leashes, litter, toys and any medications where you can reach them. Update microchip records and tags with your new address, and find a local veterinarian before you need one.

Moving Tips for Apartment Moves

• Read your lease. Check move-out notice periods, cleaning rules and how to get your deposit back.
• Book the elevator. Many buildings require a reservation and padding in the elevator on moving day.
• Ask about move-in hours. Some complexes only allow moves at certain times or on certain days.
• Plan the truck spot. Ask the property manager where a moving truck can park, and how long it can stay.
• Protect shared spaces. Hallways, stairwells and doors need care, and some buildings ask for a certificate of insurance from your mover.
• Take photos. Photograph the empty apartment before you return the keys.

Moving Tips for Saving Money

• Move less. Sorting and donating before the move is the biggest saving.
• Pick a less busy date. Weekdays and the middle of the month are usually easier to book.
• Pack the easy items yourself. Leave fragile and awkward items to the pros.
• Be ready on time. Packed boxes and a clear path keep the crew moving.
• Get a written estimate. Knowing what is included helps you avoid surprises.

After the Move: Settling In

• Update your address with the US Postal Service, your bank, insurance and subscriptions.
• Update your driver’s license and vehicle registration if you moved to a new state.
• Unpack the kitchen, bathroom and bedrooms first, then work through the rest.
• Check smoke detectors, find the water shutoff and the breaker panel.
• Recycle boxes and packing paper, or pass them on to a neighbor who is moving.

Moving Tips for Heavy and Fragile Items

Some belongings need more planning than a standard box. Tell your movers about them when you request a quote, so the right crew, materials and equipment arrive on moving day.

• Appliances: defrost and dry refrigerators and freezers at least a day ahead, and disconnect washers and dryers if you can.
• Mirrors and artwork: tape an X across glass with painter’s tape, wrap in paper and padding and pack on edge in picture boxes.
• Electronics: photograph cable connections, use original boxes when you have them and label every cord.
• Furniture: remove glass tops and shelves, and keep screws in labeled bags taped to the piece.
• Exercise equipment: fold or take apart treadmills and benches if the manual allows it.

Moving Tips for Your First Night

The first night in a new home is easier when a few basics are ready. Make the beds before you unpack anything else. Put towels, soap and toilet paper in the bathroom. Keep a box with a kettle or coffee maker, a few plates and snacks in the kitchen. Plug in phone chargers and a lamp in each bedroom. Check that doors lock and that you know where the water shutoff and breaker panel are. Tomorrow you can start unpacking room by room, beginning with the kitchen and the rooms you use most.

Moving is a big job, but with good planning and the right help it can be a smooth one. We hope these moving tips make your next move easier, whether you are moving across the street in Roanoke or across the country.

Moving Tips for Utilities and Services

Two to three weeks before your move, call your electric, water, gas, internet and trash providers. Ask them to stop service at your old home the day after you move out and start service at the new home the day before you arrive, so you are never without power or water. If you are moving within the Roanoke Valley, some providers can simply transfer your account. Remember smaller services too: lawn care, cleaning, gym memberships, newspaper and meal delivery. Write each confirmation number in your moving binder so you can follow up quickly if something is missed.

Finally, keep a short list of every company you contacted and the date each service starts or ends. When the new bills arrive, compare them with your notes and call right away if anything looks wrong. A few minutes of follow-up now can prevent late fees, double charges and service gaps after the move.

Moving Tips Checklist

1. Eight weeks out: set your budget, research movers and start sorting.
2. Six weeks out: book your mover and gather packing supplies.
3. Four weeks out: pack rooms you use least and schedule utilities.
4. Two weeks out: change your address and confirm details with your mover.
5. One week out: finish packing and prepare your essentials bag.
6. Moving day: walk through with the crew and check every room.
7. First week: unpack essentials and update your address everywhere.

Moving Tips FAQs

What is the most important moving tip?

Start early. Early planning gives you more dates to choose from, more time to sort and pack, and a calmer moving day.

How far in advance should I book movers?

Two to four weeks for most local moves, and six to eight weeks for summer, month-end and long distance moves.

What should I pack first?

Pack the rooms and items you use least, such as guest rooms, storage areas, books and seasonal items.

What should I not pack in the moving truck?

Keep valuables, medications and important documents with you. Movers also cannot carry hazardous items such as gasoline, propane, paint and chemicals.

How much does a local move cost in Roanoke?

Local moves with Collegiate Movers start from $350. Your estimate depends on home size, distance, access and services.

Need Help With Your Move?

Collegiate Movers has helped families, students, seniors and businesses move across Southwest Virginia since 1999. Licensed and insured, USDOT 861003. Call (540) 992-1414, Monday to Saturday from 7am to 7pm, or request your free quote online.