Last weekend, I had the unusual opportunity to help friends move. By unusual, I simply mean that I haven’t been asked to help someone move in around eight years. Now, eight years ago, it seemed like I was moving someone every other weekend…but I’m a bit older and out of practice now. Needless to say, Sunday was a very sore day for me!

I thought I’d capture some of my “lessons learned” from countless experiences as a moving volunteer. I’ve found the following factors determine the success of a moving day:

• All packing must be done prior to move day! No exceptions.
• Plan for 4-5 hours max. Ideally, start at 7:00 or 8:00 and end no later than 1:00. That’s about how long you can expect a squad of healthy guys to put forth significant effort. After lunch, productivity usually plummets.
• Did I say lunch!? Food is critical on move day. Donuts/coffee in the AM, pizza/cold drinks in the PM.
• Designate a “truck loader” – this person must currently or formerly be an obsessive Tetris addict. He/she will stay in the truck and determine how best to pack everything in.
• Prioritize what absolutely must get moved (i.e., furniture you can’t move yourself). If your volunteer crew can’t finish, what’s left can be handled by you.
• For an apartment, about 5-6 strong, capable guys is sufficient. For a townhouse, up that to at least 8. If you don’t have that, it’ll be a rough day with possible injuries…
• No non-workers (i.e., kids, the lazy, or those who may risk serious injury) allowed! Everyone is welcome during the housewarming party, but these folks will only get in the way of a productive move.
• At the destination home, one of the individual’s “in charge” should do nothing except direct traffic. Nothing is worse than holding that 2-ton sofa while someone finds out where it’s going.

I’m going to add a couple more, just for fun:

• If you have extremely, ridiculously, usually large/heavy items that require disassembly or a professional weightlifter to move, WARN PEOPLE! Ah-hem…for example, a piano. There’s a reason there are professional piano movers: They’re HEAVY! (and expensive)
• Absolutely, under no conditions whatsoever, are SANDALS to be worn on move day. Sneakers or boots (steel-toed preferred) only.
• Try your best to keep all “unmentionable” garments…well, unmentioned. Though there’s few things funnier than seeing a guy pick up an open drawer and suddenly realize he’s carrying the happy couple’s private indulgences, it’s probably in everyone’s best interest to pack these delicates and keep them private.

Just some collected thoughts from a veteran volunteer.