Moving Day
Get a quote, coordinate the movers, and set up utilities — by phone, out loud.
Moving means a string of phone calls, and each one rewards being specific. With movers, give the details upfront — un piso de dos habitaciones sin ascensor — and pin down the price: ¿cuánto cobran por hora o es precio cerrado? and ¿el precio incluye el embalaje?. To turn on the power at your new place, the key phrase is quiero dar de alta la luz; for internet, necesito contratar internet, ¿qué tarifas tienen?. Ask about the hidden costs before they surprise you — surprise charges and delays are the real headaches of any move.
Below: the phrases that get you through the calls, the regional words for the everyday things that break on day one, and a way to rehearse the mover call out loud before you make it.
The warm-up pack
The calls that actually happen on moving day — the quote, the utilities, and the thing that's already broken.
01 · Start the quote call
Necesito una mudanza para el sábado 15.
I need a move for Saturday the 15th.
Giving the date immediately is what makes this call move fast — she's typing it into a spreadsheet before you finish the sentence.
02 · The detail that changes the price
Es un piso de dos habitaciones sin ascensor.
It's a two-bedroom apartment without an elevator.
Sin ascensor is the detail that quietly triggers a stair surcharge — always mention it upfront.
03 · Ask how they price it
¿Cuánto cobran por hora o es precio cerrado?
How much do you charge per hour or is it a flat rate?
Two very different pricing models exist, and companies don't always volunteer which one you're getting.
04 · Close the loophole
¿El precio incluye el embalaje de los muebles?
Does the price include wrapping the furniture?
Embalaje is often a separate line item — ask before moving day, not on it.
05 · Give the instruction
Cuidado con esa caja, es frágil.
Careful with that box, it's fragile.
Short and direct is exactly right here — movers are listening for instructions, not politeness.
06 · Direct traffic
Esta caja va a la cocina y esas al dormitorio.
This box goes to the kitchen and those to the bedroom.
Va a + room is the whole pattern — point and repeat it for every box.
07 · The call you make next
Quiero dar de alta la luz en mi nueva dirección.
I want to set up electricity at my new address.
Dar de alta is the fixed phrase for activating any utility — it doesn't translate word for word, so just learn it as a chunk.
08 · Check the timeline
¿Cuánto tarda en activarse el servicio?
How long does it take to activate the service?
Ask this before you commit to a move-in date — activation can lag behind your Saturday.
09 · The paperwork call
Necesito actualizar mi dirección en el banco.
I need to update my address at the bank.
The same sentence structure works for every institution — just swap en el banco for wherever you're calling.
10 · Something's already broken
El grifo de la cocina gotea, ¿a quién llamo?
The kitchen faucet drips, who do I call?
Gotea plus ¿a quién llamo? is the exact shape of every day-one home problem — swap the verb, keep the question.
11 · The neighbor situation
Los vecinos de arriba hacen mucho ruido por la noche.
The upstairs neighbors make a lot of noise at night.
Stating the fact plainly, without apologizing for complaining, is normal here — you're reporting, not accusing.
FLUENT
Finally, someone to talk to in Spanish.
Ten-minute spoken lessons. A teacher who answers back — and gently fixes what you got wrong.
First 10 lessons freeandbefluent.com/spanish/moving-dayRegional Spanish
Textbooks teach one word. Locals use several — pick your region's and stay consistent.
| English | Mexico | Argentina |
|---|---|---|
| watch out! (careful) | aguas | ojo |
| the tap / faucet | el grifo | la canilla |
| it's dripping / leaking | gotea | pierde |
| the couch | el sofá | el sillón |
Watch out
The part no phrase list can do
Isabella
Your conversation teacher for this pack
In the Moving Day pack, the final lesson is the call you've been putting off — and Isabella runs the moving company: direct, efficient, she's heard every excuse and knows every hidden cost. Your move is this Saturday, there are half-packed boxes around you, and you need a real quote today. You have to give her the apartment details, ask what's included and what costs extra, and lock in the date. Out loud. And she pushes back:
Blank mid-sentence and nothing bad happens — she waits. That's the practice, without unnecessary judgement.
Finish the 5 lessons and Moving Day is yours — earned, not given.
First 10 lessons free · 10-minute spoken lessons · your AI coaching team remembers you
Quick answers
Give the specifics, then ask how they price it: Necesito una mudanza para el sábado, es un piso de dos habitaciones sin ascensor, ¿cuánto cobran por hora o es precio cerrado?
Be direct — it's expected, not rude: ¿el precio incluye el embalaje? and ¿hay algún cargo extra por escaleras?. Getting it all upfront is exactly what avoids the surprise on the day.
For power: quiero dar de alta la luz en mi nueva dirección. For internet: necesito contratar internet, ¿qué tarifas tienen?. And check the timing: ¿cuánto tarda en activarse el servicio?
Necesito actualizar mi dirección en el banco, and to save a trip ask ¿puedo hacer el cambio de domicilio por internet?
El grifo de la cocina gotea, ¿a quién llamo? In Argentina you'd say la canilla instead of el grifo. Ask who handles building maintenance.
