Moving Countdown: 7 Days Out

This is the final week — the home stretch. The big decisions are behind you. Now it’s about three things: finishing the packing, getting the truck or container a clear spot close to your door, and setting aside what you’ll need in your hands on moving day. Take it day by day with the drop-downs below, and grab the printable checklist (PDF) so you can tick things off as you go.

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7 Days Before – Lock in the plan▼

Finish the loose ends and set up where the truck or container will go.

☐Finish packing everything but the essentials. By now only the things you use every day should still be out.

☐File any last address changes. Your bank, your subscriptions, the DMV — anything you put off, finish it this week.

☐Truck move? Request your parking permit now. A city parking permit or “No Parking” signs can take a few days to issue, so ask early — you’ll post them the day before. See the box above.

☐Container move? Confirm your drop date and clear the spot. Find out exactly when your container is coming, and make sure the drop spot is open and easy to reach. You’ll hold it with a parked car until it arrives. See the box above.

4-3 Days Before – Take things apart and use things up▼

Break down the big stuff and run down anything that can’t make the trip.

☐Take apart the big furniture. Beds, tables, and anything that comes apart travel safer and pack tighter broken down. Bag the screws and tape the bag to the piece.

☐Use up or give away the food. Eat down the fridge and freezer, and donate unopened cans — perishable food can’t go on the truck.

☐Get rid of what can’t ride along. Flammables, spray cans, propane, paint, and most chemicals aren’t allowed on a truck. Dispose of them properly now.

☐Start a “stays with me” pile. Set aside the papers, valuables, and medications you’ll carry yourself.

2 Days Before – Pack your essentials and prep the fridge▼

Get your own bag ready and the appliances move-ready.

☐Pack an essentials bag for each person. A few days of clothes, toiletries, medications, chargers, and important papers — what you’ll want the first night without opening a box.

☐Defrost and dry the fridge and freezer. Empty it, unplug it, and leave the doors open so it dries out. A fridge that travels wet can grow mildew inside.

☐Touch base on the arrival window. A quick call to confirm when they’ll arrive, that they have your address and how to get in, and that you’re ready to pay.

☐Charge everything and get some cash. Phones, power banks, and small bills for tipping the crew.

The Day Before – Final checks▼

Small things tonight make tomorrow easy.

☐Truck move? Post your parking signs. Put up the permit or “No Parking” signs tonight so the spot is clear and the truck can get close in the morning.

☐Set aside what stays with you. Essentials bags, valuables, documents, keys, and an “open first” box go in your own car — never on the truck.

☐Take a few photos. Snap how your electronics are wired and big furniture before it comes apart, so it’s easy to set back up.

☐Do a last walk-through, then rest. Closets, cabinets, the dishwasher, behind doors — then set your alarm and get a good night’s sleep. Moving day starts early.

Save the spot for the truck or container — it’s one of the few things this week that can cost you real money. The closer the truck or container is to your door, the faster and cheaper the move. A long walk between your door and the truck — movers call it a “long carry” — is one of the priciest surprise add-ons there is. How you save the spot depends on which kind of move you’re doing, because the two aren’t the same job:

Container move — hold the drop spot before it arrives. A container is dropped off ahead of move day and sits in place while you load it. So the spot has to be clear and held before it arrives. As soon as you know your drop date, clear that space and park a car there to hold it until the container lands. Most cities don’t regulate where a container sits, so holding the space with your own car is usually all it takes. Once the container is set down, it holds the spot itself.
Truck move — arrange move-day parking ahead of time. A rental or moving truck shows up on move day itself, so there’s nothing to hold for days. The job is making sure the truck can get close to the door on the day. In a city or an apartment area, ask your city early about a parking permit or temporary “No Parking” signs — they can take a few days to issue. Then post them the day before or the morning of. On a suburban driveway this is usually not needed.

This matters most in apartments and tight city streets, where open curb space disappears fast.

What Our Customers Think

Judy S.

Video transcript

With any storage facility, my concerns are, number one, safety and theft of my items — how well are they going to be cared for? Are they going to be damaged, shaken around, especially in a pod? Then also ease of access — it’s not like a roll-up-door storage locker where you can just go and get in; it has to be brought out. And I thought, boy, all that moving around, it’s going to be a wreck. And cost, and so on. And then, working with the people there — how easy is that going to be?

I was very pleased with the service. When I first packed up, I didn’t order enough pods, and here I am in the middle of moving, on a deadline — I have to fly out across the Pacific, so it’s not like I can wait around. I needed more pods. They delivered me more pods on the spot, and I packed them up.

Over the years — and I’ve been here quite a few years, because I moved from the mainland to Hawaii, and now from Hawaii to Panama — I’ve had these storage lockers for years. I went from four to three, three to two, and now two to one. Every time I’ve had to come here or contact them, they’re Johnny-on-the-spot, so accommodating. When I call in to make my payments, I almost feel like I work here now, because I know everybody so well. They’re very understanding and easy to work with.

I’ve had other storage lockers — this is the best experience I’ve ever had. That’s why I’ve been here so long. My kids are already saying they’re going to use Box-n-Go when they move. You don’t think your stuff’s going to be in storage that long, but it is. And with all the ins and outs of the pods, nothing has ever been damaged. Not one thing. So I’m very pleased. Very pleased.

If you’re going to be out of state, your stuff’s secure, it’s taken care of, it’s not deteriorating. We had a leather saddle in there for years — I said to my husband, it’s going to be full of mold, even your shoes get moldy when they’re locked up. We took it out — it’s perfect. It’s temperature controlled, all of it. I couldn’t be happier. I would definitely recommend them. I have recommended them.

Kelly N.

Video transcript

This was the first time I was renting storage. My first concerns were: where was the storage place, and was it safe? I’m putting all my valuables and keepsakes — things that are really important to me — so it was really important that they felt safe, that the company was a real company I trusted. Also the cost — how much was it going to be? I didn’t want to have to worry, while I’m out traveling, about being hit with all these fees on top of it, or weird things. So those were the main concerns.

What surprised me the most — there are so many things I could say, but I guess just how easy it was. I had no idea. The whole process was very easy. When I moved everything, the box came to me, I put everything in there — it was just so simple and affordable. And then even getting into my storage: because I decided to keep traveling a little bit longer, it was super easy just to drop in, take stuff out or put some in. It was just so easy. And I felt very safe. So it totally blew my expectations of what I thought storage would be, because it’s just been very pleasant.

I recommend them all the time to many people — mostly because I feel safe, I feel like my storage is in a safe place, and just because of how easy and affordable this whole process has been.

Janice H.

Video transcript

When I first called Box-n-Go, I spoke to Frank, and he was very thorough with the information I needed — sizes, prices and rates, the contract based on the number of months, any specials. I thought, wow, he’s giving me everything; I’m not really having to ask. I liked that a lot — the information was provided up front. I told him I’d take everything, look through it, do some research, and come back to him. But I pretty much knew everything he’d said made sense, and I felt really comfortable with him. He was oriented toward good customer service, just on point. I had nothing in my mind that said I wanted to look any further.

I did some searches and Box-n-Go came up. I’d talked to some other people before, but when I got to Box-n-Go I was just like, “You know what? I’ve made my decision.” I had no hesitation about going with anyone else.

The container came to my home, and it was exactly the size I thought it was — no surprises, no “this is too big, this is too small.” I put everything in it, it got picked up, everything was on schedule, exactly as Frank had said. I was definitely pleased.

I really liked working with Frank. He was my point person the whole time I had my storage. I’d call him, he remembered me, and he made every attempt to be on point with everything. When I’d come to the storage facility to check on things — take some out, put some in — he was always there, friendly. And there were the two Stans; customer service was great, the warehouse guys were great. Everyone was friendly, no one was rude, no one was lost or disappeared. They helped me move stuff in, they helped me move stuff out. It was great — even though I was taking my stuff out of storage.

I would recommend them to everyone. So kudos to Frank, the two Stans, the warehouse guys, and Box-n-Go in general.

Print it and check it off

This page is also a printable one-page checklist — the same days and items above, condensed so you can carry it around, tick things off by hand, and keep your momentum without a screen.

⬇ Download Printable Checklist (PDF)

Frequently Asked Questions

How early does the container arrive?

A container is dropped before move day so you have time to load it — often several days ahead. Find out your exact drop date when you book, and have the spot clear and held with a parked car by then.

What is a “long carry,” and why does it cost more?

It’s the distance the crew has to carry your things between your door and the truck. The farther the truck has to park, the longer every trip takes — and that time can be added to your bill. A close, clear spot is the cheapest insurance against it.

Do I need a parking permit?

For a container, usually not — most cities don’t regulate them, so a held spot is enough. For a moving truck in a city or apartment area, a permit or posted “No Parking” signs from the city can be well worth it.

What can’t I pack on the truck?

Anything hazardous — flammables, spray cans, propane, paint, and most chemicals — plus perishable food. Keep your medications, important papers, and valuables with you, not on the truck.

Continue your countdown

You’re in the final stretch. Here’s the rest of the countdown — step back to an earlier phase if you need to, or go straight to move day. Each phase has its own checklist you can work through at your own pace.