No matter how complex, difficult, or dangerous a job is, it will be easy for you once you master it. You will know exactly what to do and how to do it safely and effectively. Movers know what mistakes to avoid and how things can go smoothly. They know what small details will make a big difference in the long run.
This is what professional moving companies do best when it comes to moving. They have the knowledge necessary to ensure a smooth and trouble-free transition. They know what they are doing. However, it may still be much safer and easier to move if you also know several important things:
- what preparations you need to make to increase the speed and efficiency of your move;
- what actions must be completed before the day of;
- what methods you can use to keep weight off;
- what steps should be taken to reduce the risk of property damage and personal injury.
Knowing all of this is sure to make your move a success and make the work of the moving companies easier, so they want to share the “secret” with you.
Here are the ten most important things you want to ensure are present that the moving company wants you to know to make the move day as easy as possible for everyone involved:
1. Be there! (But stay out of the way)
As explained above, your moving companies know the way. They are trained professionals with extensive experience and competent skills. You can be assured that your move will be done as safely, quickly, and efficiently as possible (as long as you have done your research carefully and found reliable moving partners to work with). Trying to steer them and tell them how to do their job will slow down things and create unnecessary pressure. All you have to do is give them all the information they need and stay away. The facilitators will do all the rest.
However, leaving without a sign is not a good idea: keep your distance and give your working assistants space to do their job, but stay close so they can contact you. Quickly, if they have any questions. You, as well, if you need clarification or advice. Remember: good communication is crucial to the success of your move and not only saves time, but it also avoids misunderstandings and mistakes. So, make sure you are there for the move!
2. Plan in advance.
You may be familiar with the adage: “It’s the details that make the difference.” This is especially true for moving. If you don’t pay special attention to detail, you can miss something important and ruin your day. Also, you need to think about everything in advance and prepare accordingly:
- Book a lift for your time when you move in or out of your upstairs apartment;
- Take care to avoid property damage: Floor, carpet, and stair coverings with non-slip protective materials (remember to install old carpets in high traffic areas – this will protect your floor from damage and dirt and it is helpful for moving companies while carrying heavy loads.)
- Furniture outside the building: folding the rails with old blankets; Protect door frames with foam pads; Use corner protection; removing paintings, mirrors, and clocks from the walls. Do it so that moving assistants can move your objects safely and easily; make sure there is enough free space in the rooms; remove the doors from their hinges (if necessary); removing barriers from halls and the entrance to your home; keep roads from the front door to the lorry free of debris, leaves and other potential hazards;
- Be aware of the specificity of pick-up and drop-off points (lots of stairs, long distances between the front door and the nearest parking space, etc.) and any physical restrictions that may prevent a van from entering. Tell your movers about these obstacles ahead of time so they can figure out how much time, how many workers, and how many trucks they need;
- Book convenient parking spaces for the mobile van, as close as possible to the doors of your new and old home;
- The recipe for a smooth transition? Plan out every detail and share your plans with your moving company. As simple as that.
3. Share your opinion
One of the most important things that moving companies want to know is that they can’t read your mind, you have to speak it! Tell your mobile company everything they need to know in advance:
- Where individual items and boxes should be placed: a separate room in your new home, storage unit, or another place;
- Where to park the mobile van: when you can stop on the lawn, when you want to park in a certain place on your driveway, et
- What insurance cover do you want? Ensure your valuables, ensure proper valuation, obtain full value protection and, if necessary, purchase additional moving insurance;
- Items that should not be loaded into the mobile truck: your first overnight box, personal electronics, valuables, documents, medicine, etc. (as well as any items you leave behind);
- When there are rules to follow: parking rules, parking time limit and transfer times, etc.
- What additional services do you need: packaging service for your most valuable items, furnishing for your large and heavy furniture, furniture construction and deconstruction service for goods that do not fit through the doors, etc.;
- How do they get to your home? What roads near you can be driven by mobile lorries, what are the obstacles faced by companies moving on the way to your house, etc.?
- Which of your products needs special care: delicate goods, valuables, fine goods, etc.?
- Any other relevant information or details that a driver should consider when moving.
4. It is all packed when your carriers arrive.
Mobile companies want you to know that the best way to move smoothly, quickly, efficiently, and without difficulty is them getting to work immediately when they arrive.
When your belongings are fully packed and ready to be loaded onto the truck when the movers arrive, they can get to work immediately and get the job done as quickly and efficiently as possible.
Proper packaging is a big challenge!
On the other hand, if you are still packing and moving companies have to wait for you to finish, your move will be delayed and you will have to pay for the extra time that the moving company spent on the home or you can pay so they can pack faster. You spend a lot of time, money, and nerves.
So, if you are not hiring a full-service moving company and want professional packing, make sure your whole house is full and ready to go before the mobile companies arrive.
5. Proper packing is the most important thing
Now that you know the importance of full packing on your move-in day, you need to understand that it is even more important that your belongings are packed properly. The safety of your belongings is paramount; after all, you want them to reach your new home safely, right?
Even if your entire home is full, you may need to repackage if your mobile company deems it necessary; you need to protect your favorites and pack them as safely and efficiently as possible:
- Do not pack heavy goods in large boxes, as the boxes will be too heavy (and more dangerous) to carry and may fail under their weight;
- Use proper removable boxes (clean and strong), reinforce with duct tape, line the floor with crumpled paper, pack old towels, or peanuts for extra protection, provide adequate padding between interior items, and make sure to fill in the blanks to avoid moving. during transport;
- Use special removable boxes to better protect your belongings: wardrobe boxes, tableware boxes, etc.
- Put an extra protective cover on top of the cardboard boxes and close a mobile vessel securely;
- Wrap individual items in wrapping paper or bubble wrap before boxing. Be especially careful with sensitive and fragile things;
- Put the heaviest items first and place the lightest ones at the top;
- Label the boxes with the contents, target area, and specific handling instructions.
Good to know: There are ways to make sure the right label makes your moving safer and faster – By labeling all boxes and household items with their destination location, your mover unloads faster and more efficiently and saves a lot of time. When you have that label marked as FRAGILE and write specific instructions for handling your vulnerable items, it will help protect them during the move.
6. Don’t use your furniture as portable boxes
No, this isn’t a big moving vessel that can withstand your weirdness and end up as you move in, it’s just your closet.
Another important thing mobile companies want to tell you is that it is dangerous and inappropriate to put things in drawers to make packing easier.
Anyway, the furniture is very bulky – it’s very heavy and it’s hard to leave goods on. Not only does this make the task of moving staff much more difficult, but it increases the risk of damaging your furniture (the heavier the piece, the more likely to fall, scratch or crack during transport), moving objects may be heavy, furniture may not move out of your home safely and your goods may fall and break during loading and unloading. In addition, a drawer can open when it is being lifted and items in it can fall and injure workers while on the move.
Therefore, it is highly recommended that you empty your furniture and pack it safely for moving. It is also useful to disassemble larger parts so that they can be moved more easily and safely.
7. Take care of your belongings
Even if you have already told your movers what not to move, it is easier to avoid confusion and mistakes if you keep goods that should not be loaded into the truck separately. So, make sure you have everything you need on the trip: your survival box, important electronic gadgets (phones, laptops, tablets, chargers), keys and tickets, important documents, jeweler, family heirlooms, favorite toys, etc., in a separate room and close to you so that only you and your family can have access. The last thing you want is to get them stolen or lose some of your valuables (or load your essential box into the moving truck accidentally)! And the last thing your moving company wants is to be accused of destroying your valuables.
By disposing of your valuables as you wish and carrying them yourself, you reduce the risk of loss and avoid conflict with your mover. However, if some of your valuables are too heavy or too big for you to move (for example, antique furniture), you have no choice but to trust them to the moving company; just buy appropriate moving insurance and contact professional staff. They have to be very careful with these particular things.
8. Inappropriate items are not allowed in the van.
Every professional moving company has a list of prohibited articles that cannot be loaded on the truck for safety reasons: hazardous materials (flammable, corrosive, or explosive); perishable food; pets and plants; etc. Your mobile companies want you to know what they are not going to move so that you do not spend time, effort, and packaging preparing these items for delivery (if you do prepare them, they are not going to be moved, so best avoid conflict ahead of time).
Make sure to obtain a copy of the mover’s list of non-allowable items and think of how you will deliver the items you were planning to bring to your new home. Use them before the day of the car or give them to your neighbors or friends.
9. Young children and pets do not have any business close to the moving company.
The move is not a child’s play and children should stay as far away from hardship as possible, especially on the day of the move. The selected professionals are trained to do their job with safety in mind, but they want you to know that it is your responsibility to keep yourself and your family safe from harm during peak moving hours.
Children and young pets cannot care for their safety and can be injured if they stay close and get in the way of those who move. Plus, they are likely to be intimidated and upset by the bizarre and frenzied activities that take place in your home.
Therefore, it is highly recommended to keep your small family members with a close friend, busy and in a safe place, away from the activity. This way, not only will your children and pets be safe and occupied but you can maintain their healthy lifestyle and avoid unnecessary stress.
10. Tips are a good motivator (and we appreciate your kindness)
A good tip will encourage a mobile company in a friendly and respectful manner – your designated experts will do everything possible to make your move as safe, smooth, and successful as possible. Be a good host and encourage your mobile company to do a great job:
- Keep the mood light and pleasant;
- Bring snacks and drinks throughout the day to help keep their energy levels high;
- Express your wishes with politeness and kindness;
- Don’t forget to get your carriers to work hard and professionally. After all, a generous tip is the best way to express your gratitude;
- Make a bathroom ready, with liquid soap and delicate towels.
As a reward, you will receive quality service and an enjoyable and interesting experience.
Good manners during the moving day require that you should be there to meet the movers of your house when they arrive, give them all the information they need, and let them get the job done. It also says you need to stay indoors so that you can answer any questions your mobile company has promptly and make quick decisions in case of unexpected changes. No tidying up is required, but it is common practice.
But that’s not all – there are many other important things you need to know and do to make your move easier and more successful (see above!). Small details make a big difference.
