Moving day is when all the planning either pays off or falls apart. The cheap mover you booked turns up two hours late, the truck is too small and half the gear gets dropped.
It doesn’t have to be like that. We’ve been running moving days in Christchurch since 2017 and the best compliment we get is “that was easier than I expected”. If you want a moving day that runs to plan, give us a call for a free quote.
Here’s what a properly run moving day actually looks like.
The night before
The night before sets the tone for the whole day. Pack a first night box with the essentials like toothbrush, pyjamas, kettle, tea, phone charger, medications, and a change of clothes. Disassemble large furniture if your quote excludes it. Defrost the freezer and drain the washing machine. Charge your phone fully. Set the alarm 30 minutes earlier than usual, eat a good dinner, and get to bed at a normal hour.
On our end we confirm the crew, truck size, and arrival time, plan the loading order, check the weather forecast because Christchurch winters need rain plans, and pre load any packing materials onto the truck.
7 to 8 AM: The arrival window
Most movers give a 30 to 60 minute arrival window not a fixed time, because traffic, previous day jobs, and prep time all vary. When the crew arrives they should introduce themselves and check who’s in charge, walk through the entire home with you, identify any items needing special attention, confirm the inventory matches the quote, lay down floor protection in high traffic areas, and set up moving blankets and dollies near the truck.
Your job at this stage is to walk with them. Point out the fragile items, show them what needs to come off the truck first at the other end, and answer any questions about access at the new place. If the crew skips the walkthrough and starts grabbing boxes straight away, slow them down because the walkthrough catches problems before they happen.
8 to 10 AM: Packing and prep
If your quote includes packing, this is when it happens. The crew should pack one room at a time not jumping around, wrap fragile items individually, label every box by room and contents, use proper materials not just newspaper and bubble wrap, disassemble beds, tables, and large furniture, and keep screws and small parts in labelled bags taped to the furniture they belong to.
Your job is to stay accessible. Answer questions, don’t hover but don’t disappear either, and make tea or coffee for the crew. They’ll appreciate it and they’ll work harder for you.
10 AM to 12 PM: Loading the truck
This is where the real work shows. Good loading order goes disassembled furniture and large flat items first against the truck walls, heavy boxes next along the floor, medium boxes after that, light and soft items and fragile boxes on top, and last on first off priorities like mattresses and the kettle box stay accessible.
The truck should be loaded tight with no shifting space because loose loads break in transit. Watch whether the crew is protecting your floors and walls, whether they’re working as a team or stepping on each other, whether heavier items are going on the bottom, and whether fragile items are actually being wrapped rather than chucked in a box.
12 to 1 PM: Lunch break
Most full day moves include a short lunch break for the crew because it’s standard practice and a good sign the company runs properly. You should eat too because the day is far from done and you need fuel.
This is also a good time for a final walkthrough of the old place. Check every cupboard, every drawer, the garage, the shed, the loft. The number of times we’ve found customer belongings still in a cupboard after the crew has left is too high to count.
1 to 2:30 PM: Drive to the new place
For within Christchurch moves this is 15 to 45 minutes depending on suburbs. For longer moves to Rangiora, Rolleston, Akaroa, or further, this can be one to two hours.
Drive separately not in the moving truck, take the first night box with you, arrive at the new place before the truck if possible, confirm utilities are on, open windows briefly to air out the new place, and decide where the big furniture goes before the truck arrives.
2:30 to 4:30 PM: Unloading
Unloading is the reverse of loading. Good order goes first night essentials and items needed today like the kettle, mattresses, and towels first, then furniture placed in the correct rooms, then boxes into the labelled rooms not piled in the lounge.
The crew should carry boxes directly to the room labelled on the box, reassemble beds, tables, and furniture, position large items where you direct them because we move things once not three times, stack boxes neatly so you can access them, and pick up packaging waste before they leave.
4:30 to 5:30 PM: Final walkthrough and sign off
Don’t skip this. It’s the most important 15 minutes of the whole day.
Walk through every room with the crew leader and check all boxes are in the correct rooms, all furniture is positioned where you want it, beds are reassembled and usable, no items are missing, no new damage to floors, walls, or doorways, and no items are still on the truck. If anything is wrong, raise it now. Once you’ve signed off and the crew has left, fixing things gets complicated.
After the crew leaves
You’re tired, the kitchen is in boxes, nothing feels like home yet. Make the bed because sleep matters more than tidy shelves. Set up the bathroom essentials, find the kettle and have a cup of tea, plug in your phone charger somewhere you’ll find it in the morning, and don’t try to unpack everything tonight. Tomorrow is for unpacking. Tonight is for sleep.
Common surprises and how to handle them
A few things go wrong on most moves and they’re worth knowing about in advance.
If the truck can’t park close, the crew will use trolleys and you’ll get a slightly slower load. If something’s damaged, photograph it immediately, tell the crew leader, note it on the paperwork before signing, then contact the office within 24 hours. If something’s missing, check the truck twice before the crew leaves and the old house twice before locking up. If it turns up missing later, contact us within 48 hours. If the new place isn’t ready (utilities aren’t on, the keys are wrong, renovation isn’t done) have a Plan B. We offer storage solutions but it costs less to plan ahead than improvise on the day.
Tipping in Christchurch
Tipping isn’t standard in NZ moving but it’s appreciated. If the crew went above and beyond with heavy items, stairs, a long day, or genuinely friendly service, $20 to $50 per mover is generous and welcomed, and cash is best.
What makes a good moving crew
You won’t know for sure until moving day but there are signals. A good crew arrives in branded uniforms or at least matching tops, has a leader who introduces themselves clearly, carries proper equipment like dollies, blankets, and straps rather than just rope, talks to each other in clear calm language, takes their time on fragile items, and asks before moving something into a final position.
A worried crew shows up in random clothes, has no clear leader, uses rope instead of straps, argues openly about what to do, rushes through fragile items, and drops boxes onto the truck. Our crews work in branded uniforms and follow a standard process every move. You can read customer feedback about how that looks in practice.
Ready to book a move
If you want a moving day that runs like the timeline above, get a free quote from We Move. We’ve been doing this across Christchurch since 2017.
Testimonials
Feedback from our customers
They are so fast to reply and very good with timing. They moved all my normal house furnitures but also very big plants and wood panels etc. From Richmond to the country side.
They are super polite and efficient.
Highly recommend them
They have a high quality of:
- genuine quality work ethic (very difficult to find in NZ),
- punctuality,
- responsive communication in scheduling, billing,
- seriously amazing driving skills backing into a tight city townhome driveway
- and professionalism in getting the job done with care and quality.
There were no scratches, carpets were clean, no dings in the walls despite the house being of a mini doll house size. All of our items we moved were also in good condition / undamaged.
Jas is definitely wired to get things done properly. It will take him a long way in life. Thank you Jas and Manee. It was a pleasure working with the both of you.
Thanks Jas
We had a niggly move, from a 3 bedroom place in Ashburton, into a two bedroom apartment in central Christchurch with some tricky access and stair work (sorry crew) but they knocked it out in good time, at a good price, and with good care - 10/10 will be using them again next time we move.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a typical moving day take?
For a 3-bedroom home move within Christchurch, expect 6 to 8 hours from crew arrival to final sign off. Smaller homes take less. Longer distance moves or larger homes take more.
What time do movers arrive?
Most movers give a 30 to 60 minute window in the morning, usually between 7:00 and 9:00 AM. We confirm an exact arrival time the day before.
What should I do during the move?
Stay accessible but don’t hover. Answer questions, point out fragile items, make tea, and direct placement at the new home. Don’t try to lift things yourself.
Can I have friends help on the day?
You can but it’s usually more hindrance than help. The crew has a system. Untrained helpers slow them down and often pack things wrong. Let the crew do their job.
What if I’m not ready when the crew arrives?
Tell us as soon as you know. We can sometimes delay or split the day. If we arrive and you’re not ready, you’ll still be charged for crew time even if we’re not actively working.
Do I need to be there for the whole move?
Yes, at minimum at the start for the walkthrough and at the end for the sign off. Someone else can stand in if you can’t, but they need authority to make decisions on your behalf.