Quick answer: start four weeks before the move. Book the survey, separate documents and valuables, confirm lift and gate permissions, pack room by room, and keep a first-night box with medicines, chargers, bed linen and toiletries. A written checklist prevents most moving-day delays.
Four weeks before the move
- Book a survey or video inventory and ask for a written, itemised quote.
- Confirm your handover and possession dates with landlords or societies.
- Ask both buildings about lift slots, truck size, gate timing and parking.
- Start decluttering. Donate, sell or dispose of items you will not move.
- Collect school, medical, insurance and property documents in one folder.
Two weeks before
- Confirm the moving date, crew arrival time and vehicle type in writing.
- Arrange internet, electricity, gas and water connections at the new address.
- Inform your bank, employer, insurer and subscriptions about the address change.
- Book AC disconnection and reinstallation with a technician if needed.
- Buy or arrange essentials you will carry personally: medicines, chargers, toiletries and a few days of clothing.
One week before
- Defrost the refrigerator and clean it dry at least 24 hours before loading.
- Back up computers and photographs. Keep external drives with you.
- Pack a first-night box and label it clearly. Do not let it go into the truck last.
- Separate jewellery, cash, passports and irreplaceable documents. These should never travel in the moving vehicle.
- Photograph expensive furniture and electronics before dismantling, for your own records.
Moving day
Walk through each room with the supervisor before packing begins. Point out fragile items, wall-mounted fixtures and anything excluded from the quote. Check that cartons are labelled by room and that hardware from dismantled furniture is bagged and taped to the item. Read the inventory before signing. At unloading, note any visible damage on the delivery sheet and photograph it immediately.
The first-night box
Keep this box with you, not in the truck: medicines, phone chargers, a power bank, bed linen for each person, towels, toiletries, a change of clothes, basic utensils, tea or coffee, and a printed list of emergency contacts. Families moving with children or older parents should add comfort items and any regular medication.
Monsoon additions for Bihar and Jharkhand
Between June and September, add waterproof bags for documents and electronics, extra sheeting for cartons, and a realistic buffer in your delivery expectation. If your approach road floods, tell the supervisor before loading day. It is safer to shift the date or arrange a smaller vehicle than to expose goods to water.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Packing valuables into the moving truck because the box is “safe inside”.
- Assuming the quote includes unpacking, debris removal or storage.
- Forgetting to reserve a lift or gate slot at the destination.
- Leaving furniture dismantling to the last hour without labelled hardware.
- Not checking the inventory before the truck leaves.
If you would like a checklist tailored to your home size and route, share your details with our moving desk. We will include the survey findings in your written quote.
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Written by
Shri Shyam Editorial Desk
The editorial team at Shri Shyam Packers & Movers turns survey checklists, route notes and the questions our moving desks hear every week into practical guides for families and businesses in Bihar and Jharkhand. Content is reviewed for accuracy before publishing.
