So you’re moving and have hired a moving company to pack your things and move them for you. Now you need to know how to prepare for full-service movers and packers. Here are some helpful tips with detailed instructions to make your moving day go off without a hitch.
Get Rid of Stuff You Don’t Need
A transition to a new home is the perfect time to dispose of any extra stuff in your house or on your property that you don’t need to have packed up and moved to your new place. A few weeks before moving day, take a serious assessment of everything you have in the basement, yard, attic, garage, and everywhere else in your home and decide what’s worth keeping. Many things that you don’t need to keep can be donated or given away through a Buy Nothing group. Suggestions of what to give away: old clothing, shoes, toys, bikes, VHS tapes, and board games and video games you no longer play.
Pack Some Personal Items
Full-service movers can pack your entire house for you, but there will probably be a few things you want to pack before they arrive. This can include jewelry, other personal or intimate items, or stuff you need convenient access to, like toiletries and a change of clothes. You may also want to pack a few sandwiches, drinks, and snacks for yourself and your family, as kitchen access will be limited.
Pack the Stuff the Movers Aren’t Able to Pack
Your full-service movers can pack up most of your things, saving you a lot of time and trouble. But there are a few types of item that they aren’t able to handle. This includes firearms and sharp blades as well as anything flammable, toxic, or otherwise hazardous.
Check the Weather Forecast
You want moving day to go as smoothly as possible. Bad weather is no help. A quality moving company can handle a little rain without much difficulty, but if a serious storm is brewing, you may want to touch base with them. It may be in both of your interests to reschedule. And if the forecast calls for light rain or freezing temperatures, you can make sure that you and your family are prepared with the right clothing, umbrellas, etc. It’s also a good idea to have a few towels at the ready.
Make Arrangements for the Kids
While older children can help with your move, younger ones can make moving day a real challenge. They can get in the way, slow the moving process, or otherwise add to your stress. To make the day go smoother, take them to a friend, relative, or babysitter. If they’re old enough to stick around but not quite old enough to help much with the move, you may want to make sure they have a few things to keep them busy, such as a football, frisbee, books, homework, or tablets.
Board Your Pets
All the commotion of moving day, with strangers coming in and out of the house, and doors being left open for furniture to be removed, can pose a hazard for your pets. They can get in the way of the movers, get out of the house and get lost, or be otherwise stressed out by the experience. So, it’s a good idea to take them to a friend or relative’s house, or to pay to have them boarded somewhere.
Tell the Movers Where to Park
Think ahead as to where you want that big moving truck to be parked on moving day. It’s probably best to have a good space clear for them in your driveway. Be ready to coordinate with them and move cars around if necessary. The better the position of that truck, the smoother the moving process will be. If the truck needs to be in the street, you may want to talk to your neighbors beforehand, too. Some neighborhoods require permits for large trucks to be in the street for a certain length of time, so you will definitely want to acquire one before the big day if you think that may be the case.
Photograph and Inventory Your Belongings
A good full-service moving company will take great care of all your items, but even then the moving process can be a bit confusing. It may be a good idea to photograph and inventory your items before moving day. This helps you have a good grasp on the full extent of your belongings and anticipate where they will be placed in the new home. It will also help you later if items are missing. Are you missing an eighth lamp or did you only have seven? Now you have a photographic inventory to check back to. And the act of photographing and inventorying all these things can sometimes convince you that you can get rid of a few more things.
Tell the Movers Where Your Things Are Going
While full service movers can pack up and move all your things, they can’t guess where you want everything to go inside your new home. Talk to your family well before moving day to decide where everything will go. Then convey this to your mover. This will not only help moving day go more smoothly, it will also save you the trouble of having to move stuff all around in your new house to put them in the proper rooms.
Trust Your Move to Firefighting’s Finest
When it’s time to move, it’s time to call Firefighting’s Finest Moving & Storage. We are dedicated to providing efficient, safe, and professional commercial and home moving services as the moving partner you can rely on. Founded in 2001 by two off-duty firefighters, we’ve grown to serve not only the Dallas/Fort Worth area, but also Houston and Austin as well. A locally-owned-and-operated business, we exceed all state and federal requirements for a moving company and can handle all of your moving needs. Call 844-715-6625 or visit our website for an estimate.
