Walk through the home one room at a time
Start in the rooms you use every day, then check closets, outdoor areas, the garage and any basement or attic space. Note the major furniture and roughly how many boxes each area will produce.
Mark what is moving, what stays and what you will carry yourself. For a downsizing move, decide which pieces belong in the next home before moving day. That gives the crew a clear inventory and gives you fewer placement decisions to make while unloading.
- Bedrooms: beds, dressers, wardrobes and mattress sizes.
- Living areas: sofas, tables, shelving and fragile components.
- Kitchen and dining: boxed contents, chairs and larger cabinets.
- Extra spaces: garage, patio, basement and household equipment.
Plan the pieces that take extra thought
A sectional sofa, a large bed frame or a dining cabinet may need preparation before it leaves the room. Send photos and dimensions, and describe removable parts, delicate finishes or previous damage.
Furniture disassembly and assembly can be included in the requested work. Keep any instructions available and identify hardware already removed. Very heavy, unusual or especially fragile belongings need individual review rather than an assumption that they fit an ordinary household load.
Choose what to pack yourself and where to get help
You may want to handle clothing and books but ask for help with a kitchen or selected breakables. You may need a larger packing scope before moving day. Tell us what is finished, what remains and which supplies you already have.
Packing and unpacking add billable time, and applicable materials are separate charges. Give a realistic picture of cupboards and shelves, not only the number of rooms. Photos can help explain a packed collection or a room with many loose items.
Prepare both homes for furniture movement
Describe the doors, stairs, landings and entrance used at pickup and delivery. Include the distance from the loading position to the house, especially when the front door is reached by steps or a longer path.
Keep routes clear of loose belongings, cords and obstacles. Make a separate plan for pets and children while carrying is underway. Tell us about delicate floors or tight clearance so those conditions are part of the handling discussion.
Think about the first evening in your new home
Keep a clearly identified essentials bag with the things you will need before the boxes are unpacked. Choose a room naming system and decide where the largest furniture belongs. A quick sketch can be enough.
If bed assembly or unpacking is a priority, include it in the scope before the move. Point out the boxes you want accessible first. A little preparation helps the unloading work support how you will actually use the home.
Connect the household plan to the right service
Choose movers with a truck when you need transportation and a crew together. Choose labor only when you have arranged the vehicle or need work within the property. The inventory and access help determine the crew and estimated hours.
Share key handover timing, a fixed move out deadline and any gap before the new home becomes available. IronAtlas does not provide storage. Dates and access need a workable arrangement before the move is confirmed.
Before you book
Do you handle a whole house move?
Yes. Residential moving can cover the agreed household inventory, from furniture and boxes to requested packing and placement. Include extra spaces and any unusual items so the crew, truck and preparation can be planned for the full home.
Can I pack some rooms and leave others for your crew?
Yes. Identify the rooms or items needing help and describe how much remains. Packing adds billable time and applicable materials. Keep the items you are handling clearly separate from the requested packing scope.
Should I empty dresser drawers?
Tell us about the furniture construction, contents, weight and carrying route. Preparation depends on the particular piece. Remove fragile or loose belongings that need separate packing, and ask about the remaining contents rather than assuming every dresser moves the same way.
Can beds be taken apart and assembled at the new home?
Include the bed type, photos and any instructions with your request. Disassembly and assembly can be included in the agreed work and estimated time. Mention attached storage, electronics or unusual construction early.
What should I do with important documents and daily essentials?
Keep the things you need during the move in a clearly marked bag or area outside the packing scope. Tell the crew what you will carry yourself. The same clear labeling helps distinguish items staying at the old home.
What if my closing or key collection time changes?
Contact us as soon as you know. Pickup and delivery access need to work together, and a timing change may require the move arrangements to be reviewed. Storage is not available through IronAtlas.
How do I prepare an heirloom or delicate cabinet?
Send photos, dimensions and details of glass, loose shelves or fragile parts. Include the access route at both homes. The protection and handling can then be reviewed for the actual piece rather than a general furniture category.
What happens if I add belongings after the estimate?
Send an updated list before moving day. Extra boxes, garage contents or another large piece can change the crew, vehicle or time needed. An estimate is most useful when it reflects the current household inventory.