Published by Chris Townsend
Last updated Dec, 27 2025
Advice For Moving Last Minute | Three Movers
Almost any time you move, it’s a fairly hectic and stressful undertaking, but when you have to move unexpectedly or at the last minute, the pressure gets ramped up. But don’t worry, you can still make the process easier on yourself as long as you have a plan and stay organized! You may have to cut some corners because of the time crunch, but if you follow these tips, even a last minute shifting won’t seem as daunting as it did before.
Get Organized
Even if it’s a last minute move, try to make a checklist of what needs to be done. While a checklist is a good idea any time you move, it’s especially important for a last minute move to keep you organized. If you can schedule your packing duties and break it up into manageable chunks—even throughout the day—things tend to go much smoother. Every little bit of progress helps and you don’t have to get everything done at once, even if you’re pressed for time. If you need some help getting started with a packing schedule, take a look at our comprehensive moving checklist to help you determine what needs to be done, and when.
Take It One Room At A Time
Since you’ve got so much to take care of with a rushed move, it’s a good approach to break everything down into smaller tasks, including how you approach packing your belongings. If you go one room at a time, the task won’t seem as overwhelming and you’ll be able to see some progress as you tick rooms of your “to be packed” list. It’s best to start with the rooms don’t use that much like a spare bedroom, garage, or office.
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Get Rid of the Excess
This is another standard tip that applies doubly when you’re relocating at the last minute. If you’ve lived in your current home for a few years, you no doubt have some things to get rid of. Over time, we all accumulate things we don’t use and end up storing in a closet or garage until we’re faced with the task of moving. Take stock of those items and determine what you’ll really need and use in your new home—and get rid of everything else. Every item you dispose of, sell, or donate is one less thing you need to pack and move.
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Pack Items Together
Since you’ll need to get packing in a hurry, try to pack items together when possible. Some smaller items can easily fit inside of things like trash cans, laundry baskets, drawers, or anything else that allows for space inside of an item or piece of furniture. Not only does this approach save space, but it also reduces the need for extra boxes.
Daily Use Items
Don’t forget to separate the items you use on a daily basis, such as bathroom products, medications, and anything else you use regularly. You’ll want to keep these items with you as you move since you’ll need access to them readily. It can be a real hassle to have to dig through a bunch of boxes to find your toothpaste if you’ve got a long day or two of driving ahead of you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Start by locking in essentials first: housing access, utilities, and transportation. Then prioritize packing only what you truly need in the first week and leave non-essentials behind. Focus on speed, not perfection. Use suitcases, laundry baskets, and trash bags to save time. For urgent timelines, booking same day movers can stabilize logistics when packing and loading must happen within 24 to 72 hours.
Pack room by room, starting with items you use least. Skip sorting for donation or resale until after the move. Keep clothes on hangers, bundle cords with tape, and label boxes by destination room only. A studio to 1-bedroom can often be packed in one long day, while larger homes may require 2 to 3 days. If time is extremely limited, a packing and unpacking service can cut packing time by more than half.
Yes, last minute movers typically cost more due to limited availability and compressed scheduling. Local moves under 50 miles often see a 10 to 25 percent premium, especially on weekends or month-end dates. Costs rise further with stairs, elevators, long carries, or specialty items like safes. Pricing is usually hourly for local moves and weight-based for longer distances. Using movers by the hour can help control costs for smaller, urgent moves.
Pack essentials first: medications, chargers, toiletries, work items, and a few days of clothing. Next, secure fragile items like electronics and glassware. Leave bulky furniture and décor for last, as movers handle these fastest. This approach reduces stress and avoids delays during loading. For apartments or tight access buildings, coordinating with apartment movers helps manage elevators, parking limits, and loading windows efficiently.
Reduce volume immediately. Sell or give away furniture, use free boxes from grocery or liquor stores, and move only essentials. Enlist help from friends for loading, but plan carefully to avoid damage. For very small moves, hiring a truck with labor for 2 to 3 hours may still be cheaper than renting equipment yourself. Comparing options through local moving companies can reveal budget-friendly solutions even on short notice.
Yes, many professional movers handle moves booked 1 to 5 days out, especially for local or intrastate relocations. Crew size may increase to offset limited prep time, commonly 3 to 4 movers instead of 2. Expect tighter loading windows and fewer scheduling choices. Interstate moves are more restricted due to FMCSA regulations, but expedited options exist through a long distance moving service when availability allows.
Avoid overpacking, underestimating loading time, and forgetting building rules like elevator reservations or parking permits. Do not mix essentials with non-essentials, and never leave labeling until the truck is loaded. Traffic patterns, weather, and access delays matter more when time is compressed. Planning for these factors early reduces costly delays. Reviewing a detailed moving checklist helps prevent common last minute oversights.
