Part Four: Moving day

You’ve sorted and decluttered. You’ve asked your friends, consulted the CPUC and conducted interviews to find a quality mover. You’ve even found a plumber to disconnect and drain your clothes washer and bolt down the drum inside.

It’s nearly moving day. What are some practical final steps to help minimize frustration and ensure the day flows smoothly?

Pre-moving day final tasks

“People don’t realize in most (Bay Area) cities, technically, your moving truck should have a moving permit from the city,” says Gayle Grace of All Things Home Organizing in Oakland. “When you have a permit, it means that you have the right of way to the front of your house.” While the process might mean standing in line, in the end, the city will “give you a ‘No Parking’ sign so that your movers can park without being ticketed.”

“Believe me,” Grace notes, “If you live on a street where parking is tough, having a ... permit will really save you.”

And it’s not just a permit you should be looking for from the city. Check with the Public Works Department to find out whether any street improvements are scheduled for the same day. Grace also suggests consulting your neighbors to be sure they’re not planning improvement projects that might interfere with your move. Such steps might seem like overkill, but knowing the moving truck will be unimpeded can eliminate at least one potential stressor from your experience.

In addition, Grace advises “discussing in advance whether you need the movers to bring wardrobe boxes or blankets for covering things. If it (will be) raining, you’ll want to make sure they have plenty of plastic to cover everything.”

Moreover, placing runners to protect your carpets is a common-sense step, experts agree. But there are other tasks — just as simple — that might not easily come to mind.

“Pack yourself an overnight bag that’s good for a whole weekend,” advises Breeze Carlile, president of It’s A Breeze Moving in Oakland. “You need to have it ... ready and put in a corner labeled with blue painter’s tape that reads ‘Don’t Touch.’” The overnight bag should contain essentials for the next night or two, such as medications, toiletries and a change of clothing.

From the kitchen, you might also want to pack what Carlile terms