Why what you do before the truck arrives matters
What delays a move is rarely the lifting or the road. It is surprises at the new home: a key that does not turn, a lift that someone else booked, power that has not been switched on, a flat nobody cleaned so the crew must set furniture down on dirty floors, or a room too narrow for the big wardrobe. Each surprise means waiting, cost and stress. The good news is that most can be avoided with a few hours of preparation before the appointment.
We write this guide from what we see in apartment and villa moves in Jeddah. If you are still planning, read how long a move takes and the best time to move. Here we focus on the new home itself: what to check, what to prepare and what to decide before the crew arrives.
First: keys and access
Make sure you have every key and access card: the flat key, the building or villa door, the gate remote, any lift card. Try each key in its lock yourself. A wrong key or a stuck lock is surprisingly common. If a lock needs replacing, do it the day before, not on moving day. If you cannot be there yourself, leave a set with someone you trust to receive the crew.
Second: power, water and services
Switch on the breakers and check that lights and sockets work in every room, especially the bedroom, kitchen and bathrooms. Check that water reaches the taps and the heater and that drains do not leak. If the electricity meter is not yet in your name, arrange it ahead so you are not without power on moving night. This matters because we may need power for dismantling and assembly tools, and because the fridge and AC need stable power once installed.
Third: the air conditioning
In Jeddah the AC is the first thing you need. Test the existing units: do they cool, do they drip, do they need cleaning or servicing? If you are bringing your own units, decide their positions in advance and check there is a suitable breaker, a drain outlet and a place for the outdoor unit. For details read air conditioner removal and moving.
Fourth: cleaning before furniture
Putting furniture into a dirty flat means cleaning around and between pieces later, which is much harder. Clean floors, windows, bathrooms and kitchen before the furniture comes. If you use a cleaning company, book them at least a day before the move and make sure floors are dry so nobody walks over wet tiles. If there are pests or old smells, deal with them before you bring in wooden furniture and soft furnishings.
Fifth: repairs and painting come before furniture
If you will paint, replace flooring, hang doors or fit lighting, do it before the furniture. After furniture arrives painting is hard and pieces collect dust and spray. If that is not possible, leave the rooms to be painted empty and bring furniture in gradually after they dry. Do not move soft furnishings into a room where the paint smell is still strong.
Sixth: measure doors, corridors and the lift
In our view this is the most important step. Take a tape measure and record the width of the main door, room doors, corridors, the lift interior, the stairs and the ceiling height. Compare these with your largest pieces: wardrobe, big sofa, fridge, bed. If a piece is bigger than a door we need to know before moving day so we can dismantle it or bring it in from the facade with a winch. See hydraulic winch moving and high-rise and tower moving.
Seventh: lift booking and neighbours
In apartment buildings and towers moving may have set hours and a service lift. Ask management or neighbours days ahead: are there allowed hours, must the lift be booked, is there a deposit or notice? If street parking in front is limited, tell us so we can plan. Warn neighbours if the move will make noise during quiet hours.
Eighth: protecting floors and walls in the new home
New floors, marble or parquet can scratch from wheels and feet. We recommend covers or flat cardboard on main routes and covers on doors when needed. If the walls have fresh paint we guard corners. Protection reduces damage and avoids an argument with the landlord. See also our guide on documenting furniture condition before and after moving.
Ninth: a furniture plan, where each piece goes
Sketch each room and mark where the bed, wardrobe, sofas, tables and appliances go. If you can, mark spots with tape on the floor. When the crew knows where each piece goes they do not need to ask about every one and heavy pieces are not moved twice. Stick a label on each room door with its name, such as "children's room", matching the names on the cartons.
Tenth: sockets and connections for big appliances
Check where the fridge will stand and whether its socket is close, where the washing machine goes and whether there is a water inlet and drain, and the cooker position and gas supply if any. If you are fitting a new kitchen, make sure services are ready. These details are why appliances sometimes sit unused for a day. See our guide on moving electronics safely.
Eleventh: jobs that need technicians
Some things need technicians rather than a moving crew: heavy curtain rails, wall-mounting a TV, internet cabling, wall shelves and electrical changes. If you arrange them before the move, set dates so they do not collide with moving day. If not, book them right after, and remember that some need walls clear of furniture.
Twelfth: the first-night bag
Pack a small bag you carry yourself, not in the truck: a day or two of clothes, toiletries and medicine, phone chargers, important papers, cups, water and light snacks, and a spare torch. It stops you digging through hundreds of cartons on the first night. Families with children should add what the kids need and a few toys.
Thirteenth: where cartons go and the order of opening
Choose a room or corner to gather non-urgent cartons so they do not block corridors. Place kitchen, bathroom and main bedroom cartons first because they are needed soonest. Keep cartons marked "later" in a dedicated room, and leave a clear path from the door to each room so the crew does not get stuck.
Fourteenth: safety for children and the elderly
A new home may have unguarded stairs, balconies and openings. Check stair gates, balcony rails and windows before children roam among furniture and boxes. Keep children in a safe room or with an adult during loading. If an elderly relative is with you, prepare a comfortable seat away from the crew's traffic, and see moving with kids.
Common mistakes
- Not trying keys beforehand: waiting and embarrassment.
- Skipping door and lift measurements: a piece will not fit and the day slips.
- Leaving cleaning until after the furniture: double the work.
- Painting after furniture is in: dust and spray on pieces.
- No furniture plan: the crew becomes a stream of questions.
- Forgetting the first-night bag: hunting through boxes at night.
Price factors linked to preparation
Preparation may seem unrelated to price, but it is connected. A site that is not ready means waiting hours or a second trip, and a missing lift or narrow entrance means dismantling, effort and sometimes a winch. A ready site shortens the day and lowers cost. See furniture moving prices.
How to start
Send us photos of the new home, the dimensions of doors and lift, the floor of the flat and your date by WhatsApp, and we will reply with a short preparation list for your case. If you want someone to look at the place before the appointment, arrange it with us.
A week-long preparation timeline
Spread the tasks across the week instead of leaving them to the last night. Seven days before: get and test keys, confirm power and water, measure doors and lift. Five days before: start any painting or repairs and book AC and curtain technicians if needed. Three days before: clean the new home, tell management and neighbours the date and book the lift. Two days before: draw the furniture plan and label the rooms. The day before: check power, make sure floors are dry and corridors clear, and pack the first-night bag. On the morning: pass by to confirm everything is ready and the key is with whoever will receive the crew. A simple schedule like this turns moving day from a race into calm execution.
Villas and stand-alone houses
A detached house has extra preparation: a yard, a gate, parking, perhaps a roof and storerooms. Keep the yard clear so the truck can stand near the door and check that paving can take its weight. With several floors we need a clear route up the stairs and protection for marble steps. For more see villa moving in Jeddah and garden and outdoor furniture moving. In villas with many rooms and built-in cupboards, labelling doors precisely helps a lot.
If the new home is not ready on the day
Sometimes handover slips, painting is unfinished or power is missing. Do not force the crew to unload into an unfit space. You can postpone by a few days, move only part of the furniture to the ready rooms, or store the rest briefly. See furniture storage in Jeddah. Tell us as early as you can so we can reschedule the crew and truck; a late cancellation hurts other bookings and costs you more.
After arrival: the first hours
Once the crew has unloaded the main furniture, take a few minutes to walk through. Is each piece where it should be? Do lights and appliances work? Is anything missing or broken? Then prepare what you need tonight: the bed, the kitchen, the bathroom. Leave other cartons to be opened calmly over days. Do not try to finish everything in one day; tiredness causes errors and breakages.
Frequently asked questions about preparing a new home for a move
What is the most important thing to prepare before moving day?
Measuring doors and the lift, trying the keys, switching on power and water and cleaning the place. They remove most surprises.
Should I paint before the furniture goes in?
Yes. Painting afterwards exposes furniture to dust and spray. If you cannot, leave painted rooms empty until they dry.
Do I need to book the lift?
In apartment buildings and towers, ask management about moving rules and lift booking several days ahead.
Do I need a furniture plan?
Yes, it saves time and prevents moving heavy pieces twice. A simple sketch of each room is enough.
What goes in a first-night bag?
Clothes, medicine, chargers, toiletries, important papers, water and light food.
Can you check the new home first?
You can send photos and measurements for us to assess, and we may arrange a visit depending on the case.