Moving your home isn’t as simple as hiring a moving company and “presto” everything is done.
No matter how good the moving company, there are going to be some action you need to take so the movers can properly do their job.
Here are 16 things to do before the movers arrive to help your relocation be as smooth and cost-effective as possible:
- Get Rid Of Items You’re Not Moving
- Pack Your Items & Label Boxes
- Clean Your Home & Dust Your Furniture
- Gather All Your Small Valuables, Jewelry etc. & Move Them Yourself
- Clear Pathways Inside The Home
- Plan For Where The Moving Truck Will Park
- Hire Babysitters & Pet Sitters For Move Day
- Take Pictures & Inventory All Your Items
- Create Boxes For “Last Load Items”
- Disconnect Your Appliances & Unplug Refrigerator
- Dispose of Hazardous Materials
- Empty Gas & Oil From Lawnmower and Other Gas Powered Tools
- Disconnect & Remove The Propane From Barbeque
- Know The Weather
- Be Present On Moving Day
- Know Where Everything Goes In The New Home & Clearly Convey To Movers
1. Get Rid Of Items You’re Not Moving
It’s assumed that everything still in your home will be moved to the new location. If you still have items in your home you don’t want to be moved, make sure you set them all aside in one location and convey to the movers that they won’t be moving that stuff.
Here are 7 Ways To Get Rid Of Your Old Furniture Before Moving
2. Pack Your Items & Label Boxes
It’s super important if you want to keep the costs of moving low, that you properly label your boxes with their intended destination. That way, movers know exactly where things go and don’t have to handle items more than once. The more disorganized you are, and the more movers are spinning circles, the more your cost will be.
3. Clean Your Home & Dust Your Furniture
Let’s not drag the dust from your old home to your new home. Let’s also be kind to the movers and not have them breathe in all your dirt and dust. Do a quick wipe down of all your furniture before moving so you can really reap the benefits of a new beginning. And when you move into your new home, make sure you do your own deep clean of your home and know what to clean when moving into a new house.
4. Gather All Your Small Valuables, Jewelry etc. & Move Them Yourself
Even before you hire a moving company, it’s super important to gather all jewelry, cash, small electronics, and other valuable items and put them in a safe place. During the sale of a home, there will be many people coming in and out of your home and you don’t want anything to go missing.
Movers have no liability when it comes to items like jewelry, cash, etc. It’s your responsibility to make sure all your valuables are gathered up and taken with you.
5. Clear Pathways Inside The Home
One of the first things movers will do when they show up, is to begin to pad and protect your home. Make sure you’ve provided adequate space for movers to haul your items out of your home. Also, make sure your staircase is clear and free from any items that are in the way.
6. Plan For Where The Moving Truck Will Park
Make sure you’ve planned where the moving truck is going to park. Move any vehicle that may be in the way or in the garage.
If you live in an apartment, ask your manager if there are any requirements of you and the movers for moving day. You may need to request space for the truck or time for elevator use.
7. Hire Babysitters & Pet Sitters For Move Day
The last thing you want is kids or animals running around getting in the way of the movers. This is very unsafe for everyone involved in the move. Make sure you’ve lined up a babysitter or pet sitter for move day. As your family or friends if you want to save on the costs.
8. Take Pictures & Inventory All Your Items
It’s very easy nowadays to quickly take some pictures of your items and their conditions pre-move. Doing so will give you the assuredness that you did, in fact, have that item or there wasn’t damage before the move.
It’s also a good idea to take pictures of your electronic components like your TV and Cable so you can put everything back together at your new home.
9. Create Boxes For “Last Load Items”
These kinds of boxes are the everyday boxes that you might need access to. Whatever you feel you need access to, but don’t have enough room to move in your own car, create a dedicated area for these items in your home and tell your movers.
These items are usually for your first night. Here are some popular items to put in this box:
- Toiletries
- Shower Curtain
- Towels
- First Aid Kit
- Toilet Paper
- Cleaners
- Dish Soap & Sponge
- Dish Towels
- Garbage bags
- Portable tool kit
10. Disconnect Your Appliances & Unplug Refrigerator
Most moving companies won’t disconnect or reconnect your washer, dryer, refrigerator, or other major appliances you’ll be taking with you. They simply don’t have liability if something isn’t properly connected or disconnected. Make sure either you or a professional disconnects these items prior to the movers showing up.
Make sure you unplug your refrigerator at least 24 hours before the movers arrive. Also, place a towel inside your freezer to soak up any moisture. Remove the towel after it’s defrosted.
11. Dispose of Hazardous Materials
Movers won’t move hazardous materials. Make sure you properly dispose of hazardous materials you don’t need anymore or can’t move to your new place.
12. Empty Gas & Oil From Lawnmower and Other Gas Powered Tools
Movers won’t move any items that still have gasoline or any flammable items. Make sure you empty the gas and oil from these items. Not only are they flammable and highly dangerous, but they can leak onto your furniture or other items in the moving truck.
13. Disconnect & Remove The Propane From Barbeque
Movers won’t move the propane in their moving trucks, you’ll have to either move it yourself, give it away, or have it moved by a professional who handles these kinds of items.
Failing to disconnect the propane from the barbeque and moving it is one of the most dangerous things you can do during a move.
14. Know The Weather
If it’s going to be raining or snowing, make sure you plan for it. Your movers will likely protect your floors and carpets when they show up, but just in case have some cleaning supplies handy.
Not all movers will protect your floors and carpets so ask your moving company how they will do that. It’s a good idea to get some plastic carpet mask and install it at your new place prior to the movers’ arrival.
If it’s been snowing, make sure the movers have a clear path and put down a layer of sand or salt to prevent slipping.
Depending on how bad the weather is, the movers might take an assembly line approach to keep movers from tracking in mud.
In any case, if there’s going to be some weather on moving day, make sure you have handy enough towels and blankets to protect your flooring.
15. Be Present On Moving Day
The absolute most important thing you can do is be present on moving day. You aren’t expected to do any of the moving, but the movers will likely have questions for you about where to put things in the new home, what’s going, what’s not, etc. Being present on moving day will help everything go smoothly when the movers have any questions for you.
16. Know Where Everything Goes In The New Home & Clearly Convey To Movers
If you really want to be organized and have the move go smoothly, you can create a simple floor plan of the new home and place all the furniture in the drawing. You can then make copies and hand them out to the moving company.
Movers may still have questions for certain items, but the floor plan gives them an idea of the obvious ones like the sofa, dining room table, etc.
