Before the crew arrives
Beds stripped, essentials box by the front door, kettle accessible, parking space defended. Ten minutes spent walking the house — checking every box is sealed and labelled — saves the crew an hour of questions.
The walk-round
A good crew lead starts with a walk-round: you point out fragiles, things that stay, and anything with a story ('that dresser's leg is loose'). This is the highest-value five minutes of the day — never skip it, never rush it.
While the van loads
Your job is decisions, not lifting: you're the person who answers 'is this coming?'. Keep kids and pets clear of the carry path, keep the tea coming if you're feeling generous, and do your final sweep — loft, shed, cupboard tops, behind every door — before the van doors shut.
Take meter photos, leave the keys where agreed, and say goodbye to the house if you need to. It's allowed.
At the new house
Stand where the boxes flow past and direct traffic by room label. Big furniture gets placed first — tell the crew where beds and sofas go before boxes wall them in. Before the crew leaves: inventory checked, beds rebuilt, and your signature only when you're actually happy.