Getting ready to move house? You have taken care of the other parts of the house moving process like deciding on your moving day and hiring movers for the move. Have you also thought about how you will actually get your stuff ready for the movers on moving day?
Unless you hired a full-service mover, you should not expect the mover to do the packing for you. Full-service movers take care of everything associated with your move such as providing packing supplies, packing your things, disassembling furniture, loading the moving truck, unpacking in your new home, and more explains Leenan Homes.
Did you know that what you do before moving day can significantly influence the efficiency of the moving company? If you did not hire a full-service mover, you must do all that work yourself. If you don’t take enough time to plan and prepare, you are going to have problems on moving day.
To make sure you get the best service from your movers, you should know what they need you to do to make their work easier. Following the steps below will not only help your movers, but it will also help you avoid stress on moving and any potential errors that can end up costing you money.
How to prepare for movers
Follow these 12 steps to have your home ready for movers on moving day:
Dispose of unwanted items
You don’t want to clutter your new home with junk from your current home. You also don’t want to increase your and the movers’ work by packing and loading unused stuff. As you pack your stuff, separate unwanted items into three piles: donate, sell, or trash.
Do an inventory of your belongings Without a system for keeping tabs on your belongings, you will lose items or have trouble finding them later. As you pack, have a notebook with you and list each item under the correct header before you put it into the box. You may also want to take pictures to record the condition of some items.
Secure your mover’s list of prohibited items All movers have a list of items they will not move. Some of these are items people commonly have in their homes. Ask your mover for the list of prohibited items so you can dispose of them properly before moving day.
Disassemble furniture, if necessary Will your furniture or other large items fit in the doors of your new home? If not, you may need to disassemble them. If the large item is something you cannot disassemble, the other option could be to temporarily remove the door in your new home.
Disconnect your appliances Movers will move your appliances, but they will not disconnect them. Before the movers arrive, you should disconnect your washer, dryer, refrigerator, and any appliances you will be taking with you. The refrigeration should be unplugged at least 24 hours earlier. Also, make sure you empty its contents.
Empty gas and oil from various tools and equipment If an item contains gasoline or anything flammable, movers won’t move them. Empty oil and gas from the lawn-mover and gas-powered tools. If you have a barbecue, disconnect and remove it from the propane. You need to move the propane yourself or have a specialist do it.
Pack your belongings properly
How you pack boxes is important for ease of moving them and safety. Wrap sharp and pointy objects to keep them from piercing the box and injuring someone. Always pack boxes with heavy items at the bottom. To prevent injuries, boxes should not be heavier than 50 lbs.
Label boxes clearly Use labels like FRAGILE,” “THIS END UP,” “TOP LOAD ONLY,” or “LOAD LAST” to tell movers how to handle boxes. To help movers know where everything should go, color-code the labels on your boxes. Label boxes on top and their sides.
Let your movers know where to park
The moving truck should be as close to your front door as possible. There should be no obstacles between the truck and the doorway. Before the movers arrive, have the designated parking spot ready. You may need to make the arrangements early if the parking area is shared.
Designate pathways inside the home Designate specific routes in the home as the pathway for moving stuff. This is for everyone’s safety and to make moving easier. To prevent injuries, make sure your chosen pathways are kept free of debris, boxes, and any tripping hazards at all times.
Keep small children and pets out of the way Having small children and pets around while trying to move stuff out of the house is a recipe for disaster. Before moving day, arrange for a babysitter for children and restrict pets in their crates or leashes to keep them out of trouble.
Have cash on hand for tipping Lastly, it is a good idea to have cash on hand for tipping your movers. This is not mandatory but encouraged, especially if they do a good job. How much you tip movers depends on you, but the standard rule is 5% of your moving fee.
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