How to Prepare for a Full-Service Move: The Ultimate Guide to a Flawless Relocation

You’ve made the smartest decision possible for your upcoming move: hiring a full-service moving company. No more wrestling with furniture, no more panicking over bubble wrap, and no more 2 AM packing marathons. But here’s what most people don’t realize: even the most comprehensive full-service move benefits from strategic preparation on your end. This guide reveals the insider preparation steps that separate good moves from exceptional ones.

Insight From Our Team:

“Full service is the ‘Sit back and relax’ version of moving. So long as the crew knows what  stays with the house, they will pack up, transport, and unpack everything for you!”

Chris Ortiz – Moving Logistics Coordinator

What “Full-Service” Really Means (And Why It’s Worth Every Penny)

Let’s be crystal clear about what you’re getting. A true full-service move isn’t just about loading boxes; it’s a comprehensive relocation solution that handles every physical aspect of your move from start to finish.

Professional Packing

Our trained crew arrives with commercial-grade boxes, protective materials, and specialized equipment. We pack everything, from your everyday dishes to your most delicate heirlooms, using industry-standard techniques.

Strategic Loading & Transport

Items are loaded using proven methods that maximize space and minimize damage. Your possessions travel in our well-maintained fleet, driven by experienced professionals who navigate everything from Seattle high-rises to Bainbridge Island ferry schedules with ease.

Placement & Unpacking

At your new home, we place furniture exactly where you want it and unpack boxes room by room, leaving you ready to settle in immediately.

The bottom line: You’re paying for expertise, efficiency, and peace of mind. Our job is to make your move look effortless. Your job is to help us execute your vision flawlessly.

The 5 Essential Prep Steps That Guarantee a Perfect Full-Service Move

1. Create Your Sacred “No-Pack Zone” (Non-Negotiable Priority #1)

This single step prevents 90% of moving-day panic attacks. Your No-Pack Zone is a clearly designated area, a spare bathroom, a large closet, or a corner of your master bedroom, that remains completely off-limits to the moving crew.

How to Set It Up:

• Mark it with bright, impossible-to-miss signage (“DO NOT PACK – OWNER’S ITEMS”)
• Use colored tape across the doorway if needed
• Brief the crew chief about this zone the moment they arrive

What Goes in Your No-Pack Zone:

• Critical documents (passports, birth certificates, closing papers, moving contracts)
• Financial essentials (wallets, checkbook, credit cards)
• Technology lifelines (phone chargers, laptop, tablets)
• Medical necessities (prescription medications, first-aid kit)
• Daily essentials (change of clothes, toiletries, towels)
• Valuables (jewelry, important heirlooms, irreplaceable items)
• Pet supplies (food, bowls, leashes, medications)
• Keys & access (house keys, car keys, garage door openers)

Pro Tip: Your car can serve as an excellent secondary No-Pack Zone. Load it the night before with transition essentials.

2. Let Us Handle Your Furniture. That’s What You’re Paying For

Here’s the beautiful truth about full-service moving: you don’t need to prepare your furniture at all. Seriously. That dresser with clothes still in the drawers? Is that bookshelf loaded with books? Those nightstands covered in lamps and picture frames? We’ve got it.

We Handle All Surface Items

Those lamps, décor pieces, plants, and personal items on your dressers, desks, and nightstands? We’ll carefully pack them using appropriate materials. You don’t need to clear a single surface; that’s literally what you’re paying us to do efficiently and safely.

We Empty and Pack Drawer Contents

While some moving companies require you to empty drawers, our full-service approach means we handle this for you. We’ll carefully remove drawer contents, pack them properly, and label everything so you know exactly where items are. The only exception is if you specifically want to handle certain personal items yourself (which should go in your No-Pack Zone).

We Protect and Move Everything

We’ll wrap your furniture in protective materials, use specialized equipment for heavy pieces, and handle every aspect of the physical work. You don’t need to move anything, stage anything, or prepare anything.

Your Only Job: Communication

The single most valuable thing you can do regarding furniture isn’t physical preparation; it’s clear communication:

Tell Us Where Things Go

Use sticky notes to mark where each major furniture piece should go in your new home. “Master Bedroom,” “Home Office,” “Kids Room #2”, these simple labels are worth their weight in gold during unloading.

Point Out What Stays

If furniture or fixtures are staying with the property (a workbench in the garage, window treatments, certain appliances), just let our crew chief know during the initial walkthrough. A simple “STAYS WITH HOUSE” note works perfectly.

Share Your Vision

During our initial walkthrough, tell us about any concerns, tight doorways, delicate finishes, or furniture that needs to be disassembled. We’ll handle the execution; we just need to understand your priorities.

The Bottom Line

Full-service means full-service. We don’t expect you to stage, prepare, or organize your furniture. We expect you to point, communicate, and then relax while we handle everything else. That’s the entire point of hiring professionals.

3. Consolidate and Communicate About High-Value Items

We move fine art for the Bainbridge Island Museum of Art. We have a trained pianist on staff for piano assessments. We offer custom crating for antiques and heirlooms. Handling delicate items is our specialty, but communication makes the difference between good care and exceptional care.

Identify Your VIPs (Very Important Possessions)

Fine art, antiques, musical instruments (especially pianos), delicate electronics, crystal, china, and collectibles.

Gather Them Strategically

If possible, consolidate these items in one area or clearly label them. This allows for a focused conversation with the crew chief about special handling.

Ask About Custom Crating

For truly irreplaceable items, original artwork, antique furniture, and valuable sculptures, our custom crating service provides museum-quality protection. Ask about it specifically when booking.

Document Everything

Take photos or videos of high-value items before the move for insurance purposes.

4. Clarify What Stays and What Goes (Prevent Costly Confusion)

One of the most common moving-day complications? Confusion about what’s being moved versus what stays with the property.

Items That Often Cause Confusion:

• Window treatments (curtains, blinds, shutters)
• Appliances (washer, dryer, refrigerator, especially if staying for new owners)
• Outdoor items (patio furniture, grills, planters)
• Garage and basement items (workbenches, shelving systems, tools)
• Mounted items (TVs, mirrors, artwork)

5. Prepare Your New Home for Arrival (Often Overlooked, Always Important)

Here’s where most people miss out on the true value of full-service moving. Preparing your new home for arrival isn’t something you need to handle alone; it’s an integral part of our move management service that we actively help coordinate.

How We Help You Prepare Your Destination:

Pre-Move Site Assessment

During your initial consultation, we can visit your new home (or review floor plans and photos) to identify potential challenges before moving day. We’ll measure doorways, assess staircase clearances, and identify the optimal path for large furniture. The pre-move assessment may involve extra charges.

Building Coordination

Moving into a condo or apartment? We’ll provide all the information and guidance you need to make this process as smooth as possible. We can help you understand what’s required by your building management, such as reserving elevator times, arranging loading dock access, submitting insurance certificates, and handling move-in fees and documentation, so you’re fully prepared, and the move goes seamlessly.

Floor Plan Development

We recommend having a clear vision of where you want your major furniture pieces and belongings to go before move-in day. Knowing your preferred room layouts and furniture placement in advance helps our team work efficiently and ensures everything is positioned exactly where you need it. This preparation saves time on moving day and eliminates the hassle of rearranging heavy items after they’ve been unloaded.

Parking and Access Management

We coordinate parking logistics so our truck can position close to your entrance. For urban Seattle and Tacoma locations, we’ll advise you on reserving street parking, securing loading zone permits, or coordinating with building security. 

Access Preparation

We don’t create a formal checklist, but we can obviously collect all the necessary information, keys, access codes, garage door openers, gate remotes, and building entry credentials to ensure a smooth move. If you’re closing on your new home the same day, we can obviously coordinate the timing so we’re ready to start unloading as soon as you take possession.

Your Full-Service Moving Day: What to Expect

Morning (Arrival & Walkthrough)

The crew chief introduces the team, conducts a home walkthrough with you, and confirms the plan. This is when you point out your No-Pack Zone, discuss fragile items, and review what stays versus what goes. The walkthrough typically takes 10-15 minutes.

Packing Phase

Our team systematically packs room by room, using appropriate materials for each item type. Everything is labeled by room and contents. 

Loading Phase

Furniture is wrapped, protected, and strategically loaded. Heavy items go in first, fragile items are secured separately, and everything is arranged to prevent shifting.

Transport

For local Kitsap County and King County moves, transport is typically direct. For the Bainbridge Island moves, we typically recommend customers to drive around due to efficiency. 

Unloading & Placement

At your new home, we place furniture according to your floor plan and your on-site direction. Boxes go to their labeled rooms. We can assemble beds and basic furniture if requested.

Final Walkthrough

Before we leave, we do a final check to ensure everything is accounted for and placed correctly.

FAQ’s About Full-Service Moves

How much preparation do I actually need to do for a full-service move?

The beauty of full-service is that physical preparation is minimal. Your focus should be on communication and organization, creating your No-Pack Zone, identifying high-value items, and clarifying what stays versus what goes. 

How do you handle truly irreplaceable items like fine art or antiques?

For high-value or extremely fragile items, we offer custom crating services that provide museum-quality protection. We build wooden crates specifically sized for your items, with internal padding and support, the same level of protection used by galleries and museums.

What’s the best way to ensure furniture ends up in the right rooms at my new home?

Label each major furniture piece with a sticky note indicating its destination room, and provide our crew chief with a simple floor plan of your new home. During unloading, you can also be present to direct placement in real-time.

Is full-service moving worth the cost compared to doing it myself?

Consider the total cost: truck rental, gas, equipment rental, packing materials, potential time off work, physical strain, injury risk, and the value of your time. Full-service moving eliminates all of these concerns while providing professional expertise, proper insurance coverage, and guaranteed protection for your belongings.

Your Next Step: Experience the Best Full-Service Moving in Western Washington

You’ve made the decision to invest in a full-service move. Now it’s time to partner with a company that has the expertise, equipment, and local knowledge to execute it flawlessly. Whether you’re moving across Bainbridge Island, relocating from Gig Harbor to Seattle, or navigating a complex commercial move in Kitsap County, our full-service moving solutions are designed to eliminate stress and deliver exceptional results.

As a three-time “Best of Bainbridge Island” award winner, family-owned business, and trusted partner to organizations like the Bainbridge Island Museum of Art, we’ve built our reputation on one simple principle: treating your belongings with the same care we’d give our own.

Ready to experience Full-Service Moving with Suseyi Pro?

Contact us today for a free, detailed estimate. Let’s discuss your specific needs, answer your questions, and create a customized moving plan that transforms your relocation from a dreaded task into a seamless transition.