Moving day can be difficult and demanding. Regardless of whether you are hiring the best moving company, you may still have uncertainties about the right way to prepare for them. Of course, it won't be possible for you to cut every stressor that might get in your way.
It seems a wonderful idea to begin your moving preparations in advance and be diligent towards any minute details that might have a considerable impact on the entire moving process. Apart from choosing a new house, it would be equally important to create an effective budget and request quotes from several moving companies before you hire them. Even though you have hired a full-service mover, you might need to make multiple preparations to speed up the moving process as well as minimize the risk of damage and complications.
Moreover, if you know how to prepare for professional moves, you may save a considerable amount of time and prevent a major headache on a moving day.
Declutter your house
There must be a few items in your house that you don't use anymore, we suggest you purge these items. Also, you need to inform the movers that these items kept aside don't need to be moved. You may donate or sell these belongings as this would save your packing time and money otherwise needed if you had to ship them.
Identify items that can't be moved
You must find out the list of items the movers won’t transport for you and accordingly make some other arrangements.
- Hire a specialty mover to relocate your plants or pets. Of course, your plants or pets can’t be packed into the moving truck.
- You can either use or give perishable food to your friends or neighbors. Moreover, there isn't any need to move hazardous products as well, like paint, cleaning supplies, charcoal, fertilizers, motor oil, or explosive items.
- Professional movers will not ship a few items because of liability issues like important documents, cash, photographs, and medicines. You must pack them well and move them by yourself.
Purchase insurance
You must ensure all your items are financially secured, regardless of whether you have purchased insurance from a moving company or not. Accidents are unpredictable and they can happen anytime, it would be a worthwhile option to buy security coverage. Also, you may not have to bear a heavy loss if your valuables break or get lost in transit.
Moving company’s insurance
Mostly, there are two types of insurance options that are offered by a moving company, known as insurance by the pound and comprehensive insurance. Here’s what you need to know about them:
- Insurance by the pound isn't very costly, however, it will not offer you a broad coverage scope. For instance, if your antique dining table gets scratched during the relocation, the moving company will compensate only a specific amount for its repair, based on the weight of the furniture.
- Alternatively, comprehensive insurance offered by the moving company is expensive, however, it will compensate for all the damage that would take place in the transit.
Tip: You must buy an additional insurance plan if you need to move expensive items or items with huge sentimental value attached to them.
Prepare an inventory
It would be good to prepare an inventory of items that you must move to your new house. This will help you organize your belongings and will work as proof of items that you would be shipping to your new location. Also, this will assist you in identifying any damaged or lost items during transit. Another good idea for you would be to note down the serial number and brand name of each piece of electronics you are transporting to your new house.
Cleaning and organizing
You must ensure all your belongings that need to be packed into the moving boxes for relocation are clean well as in good condition. Of course, you might not want your heavy furniture, stained clothes, or even damaged appliances to spoil your delicate valuables.
Here are a few tips and tricks that will help you ensure a smooth cleaning and organizing process before the movers knock at your door:
- Make sure you disconnect, vacant, and clean any electrical appliances you need to move, for example, refrigerators or dishwashers. We suggest you take out the batteries from the electronic devices before you pack them into the moving truck.
- Clear your wardrobe, bookshelves, or drawers and prepare them well for the moving day.
- You should clear out fuel from items like a snowblower, land mower, or any other fuel-driven tools that you need to take with you.
- Don't forget to take off the cover from your bed, couch, cushions, linens, or any other furnishing items, and prepare your bedding separately for the move.
Pack all small items in advance
- Pack all small items in a sealed bag and prevent them from scattering or getting lost during the transit.
- Regardless of whether you have hired professional movers or not, we suggest you pack small valuables like a desk organizer, small decorative pieces, or sovereign by yourself.
Label your belongings
Don't forget to color code, label, or add instructions to the moving boxes or an item that you might want the movers to handle with extra care and find a place for it quickly.
Separate any items you have packed by yourself
Make sure you separate the belongings; you have packed them by yourself, and you must load them into the rental truck by yourself only. We recommend you add a no-entry label on the room where you have kept those items that you don’t want your movers to handle.
List of items you mustn’t entrust to the movers
- Confidential documents
- Essential’s box
- Valuable items like artwork, jewelry, artwork, or precious collections.
- Phone, laptop, tablet, camera, or other important electronic devices.
Take measurements of the doors
- You should measure the doors, steep corridors, narrow staircases, and tapered turns through which your heavy furniture needs to pass through. Make sure you have an escape route ready in case your furniture can't get through these areas.
- Identify an easy route and ensure the path is free from obstructions and save to move your heavy furniture.
- Another good idea would be to disassemble the furniture and keep the removed parts along with the component to which it belongs. You may wrap these parts with a moving blanket or stretch wrap and protect them from getting scratched or damaged.
- If you have movers to assist you, simply instruct them about the furniture pieces that must be disassembled before the moving day and how to take them apart easily.
Ensure your availability on a moving day
Make sure you are present in your house on moving day as you might need to monitor the process and provide relevant directions to the professional movers working at your house.
Hire a babysitter
You can hire a babysitter to take care of your baby on the moving day. However, if you want to save money, you can request your friends or relatives to handle your baby or pet during the moving day. This will assure you that they are in safe hands away from all the chaos of the move and you can concentrate on the other aspects that demand your attention.
Check the weather
Here are a few things you should consider as a precautionary measure according to the weather conditions:
- Ensure you wear suitable clothes according to the weather on a moving day. For example, you can wear light-colored cotton clothes in the hot months and furry coats in the cold months.
- Consider keeping your pets and kids inside the house, in rainy or chilly weather.
- You can use old rugs or newspapers to cover the floors and prevent them from getting muddy as well as dirty.
- Make sure you wrap all your belongings with a plastic wrap and protect them from getting wet in the rain.
Click sufficient pictures
It would be a fantastic idea to click photos of all your belongings before the professional movers reach your home. Apart from recording the good condition of your items, it will allow you to look at them and manage the same type of arrangement in your new house.
Protect your personal data
You must check every nook, corner of your house, and ensure you have securely locked your banking data or credit cards. Besides, you should secure your personal computer with a password and discard any irrelevant documents.
Final walkthrough
Look through your house for the final time before the movers arrive at the location and check if you have left any items behind. We suggest you walk through the basement, attic, and garage and run your eyes through the kitchen countertop as well as inside the bathroom.
Arrange snacks and drinks for the movers
Mostly, if you are moving during the summer months, professional movers would have a busy and hectic schedule. Here are a few tips for you:
- Get some refreshments ready for the movers as they will not have time to take lunch breaks or grab a drink from the nearby convenience store.
- Arrange for portable foods like energy bars and multiple beverages for them to quench their thirst amidst their busy schedules.
- If the weather is too hot, make sure you have got enough water and sports drinks to keep the moving crew hydrated.
Managing cash for tips
It would be a good gesture to tip your movers if you have liked their service at all. You may pay them a few extra dollars for lifting heavy items and moving up and down the stairs or through the narrow corridors. In a nutshell, a small appreciation from your side will make the movers happy and motivate them for their next assignment.
Are you prepared?
Overall, you need to protect your old house from damage and get a good resell value from prospective homebuyers. Moreover, if you were living in a rented house, maintaining a good condition will help you get back your security deposit. Perhaps, you can crack a good joke or an affectionate one that will help you minimize the tension and prevent stress from building up.