Seven Things to Do Before the Professional Movers Arrive

To ensure your move goes as smooth as possible, follow these seven steps to prepare for professional movers!

Get Rid of Useless Items
Really consider the items that you never use, and whether you want them packed up. It doesn’t make much sense to spend the extra time and money to move them with you, if they’ll just be creating clutter in your new home. Set these items aside and either sell, donate, or throw away.

Dispose of Certain Items
There are some items that professional packers will not box up and move for you, for safety reasons:
Hazardous Items: corrosive, explosive, or flammable materials, such as weapons, ammunition, chemicals, oils, cleaning fluids, & paint.
Perishables: frozen, fresh, or refrigerated foods.
Plants: plants are very fragile, consider donating them to a friend, hospital, nursing home, or school.

Take Inventory of Your Things
Keeping a detailed list will allow you to check the delivered goods against what you originally had packed in case of a damaged or missing item. It will also make filing a claim with your insurance company or a damage claim with your mover a lot easier.

No Pack Room
Designate a room with all the items that you will be moving yourself, and let the movers know before they start working. You can tape a piece of paper to the door labeled “do not pack” so that they won’t forget.

Essential Boxes
Your belongings will take time to arrive and unpack, so use a few boxes to pack essential items you’ll need to survive a day or two without your stuff. Things to put inside the box can include: prescription medicine, food, bottled water, kitchen utensils, towels, bed sheets, spare, toiletries, books, games, and tools.

Take Photos
Having “before” photos of all your stuff will make filing a damage or insurance claim easier, should you need to. Items to take photos of can include art, antiques, electronics, and other valuable items.

Be a Good Host
• Show your movers around and let them know your expectations
• Provide them with water, snacks, and show them where the bathroom is
• Tip them if you enjoyed your experience and they performed their job well
• Have a way to communicate with you should any questions arise and you are not there