How to Prepare for Movers – Things Every Professional Mover Would Like You to Know (and Do)

If you have ever gone through a relocation adventure, you certainly have at least a slight idea of how to prepare for movers adequately and why it is important. Although hiring a full-service relocation company means having experts taking charge of everything, there are still quite a few tasks you will need to arrange beforehand to ensure everything runs smoothly. Otherwise, don’t be surprised if challenges you haven’t planned for start popping up down the road.

mover-and-a-girl overlay
July 26, 2021 Posted in How-to

That’s why we are here, to round up all those things you’ve noticed or thought about, but weren’t sure how to organize them well. Learning how to make your team happy can only make your relocation experience better. So let’s get down to business!

Sort Through Your Household Items Way Before Moving Day

Avoiding moving stress and frustration is not impossible. However, there is stuff to do before relocating if you don’t want to end up in personal chaos on the big day, surrounded by a pile of unpacked boxes. How to prepare for movers to pack is not such a hard question if you know how to be well-organized. However, approaching crucial responsibilities without serious consideration will undoubtedly complicate the situation even more. Start sorting out your belongings as early as months before the move, so you can do it at your own pace and buy yourself time to think carefully about what you actually need and what you can leave behind.

Get ready to move GET A QUOTE

Get Rid of Unnecessary Items

You’re probably wondering: How should I prepare for a mover and declutter when there are so many things I’m attached to. It’s entirely natural to accumulate items over the years of living in one place, but you might not need all of them equally. That’s exactly the task you have now, to try to eliminate those you didn’t even know existed in some corner of your own home. If you’re not sure what to start with, there are Marie Kondo decluttering tips to help you out. Purging your home might save you a serious amount of money since the price of professional services is based on the size of the shipment. Do some research on where to donate toys your kids outgrew a long time ago or where to donate furniture you don’t want to bring to your new place, and your inventory list will be much lighter.

Leave Flammable Materials Behind Because Movers Won’t Move Them

While arranging your belongings, keep in mind there are items movers won’t move nor pack, so this might be a good moment to separate these from your possessions:

  • Batteries,
  • Nail polish and nail polish remover,
  • Cleaning fluids and liquid bleach,
  • Fireworks,
  • Perishable items,
  • Fertilizer,
  • Plants,
  • Gasoline,
  • Kerosene,
  • Propane tanks.

One of the best moving tips we can give you is to pack your valuables on your own and load them separately. When it comes to any kind of collector items, jewelry, artwork, and family heirlooms, we advise you to gather them in a timely manner, list them thoroughly, and protect them with the utmost care. If you are wondering what to pack before the movers come besides these, make sure you have all important documents sorted out, as well as expensive electronic devices like laptops, cameras, phones, etc.

Declutter your home list before cross-country moving
Organizing your household items will make the entire process a breeze

Create a Detailed Inventory List

Now that you know more about how to organize your move and what to do with your household items, creating a comprehensive inventory list will be a piece of cake. It’s crucial to document each item you’d like a long-distance moving company to handle for you and note down all specific details concerning their condition. Also, don’t forget to take a photo of each item as proof in case something happens. Once you’re sure you’ve got everything covered, double-check everything if possible, just in case.

A girl near a pile of boxes writing a list for a long-distance moving company
Making an accurate inventory list is important so you can compare their condition once the transition is over

Get the Right Insurance Plan for Your Inventory, Just in Case

Although professional companies are made of experienced and dedicated teams, you should be prepared to encounter unexpected circumstances when relocating to a new state and protect yourself on time with a fitting insurance plan. Every reliable moving company will offer you one before the move. Of course, your relocation specialists should provide you with the best possible professional packing, which will safeguard your household goods and prevent any potential damage from happening during the provision of any of the long-distance moving services you’ve booked.

A cross-country mover gesturing okay with his hand while providing cross-country moving services
With proper insurance coverage, your household is safe and secure

How to Prepare for Movers: Preparing Your Home

Whatever your reasons to move are, you’ll probably find yourself wondering how to prepare your home for movers properly. Although most damage usually arises due to moving furniture incorrectly, one of the common things people usually forget is to check the following out and protect their homes on time. Even if you’re planning a last-minute move, learn what to do to prevent issues. Also, don’t wait until the last minute to find out if you need to empty dressers for movers or what to do with appliances. Here’s our list to help you out:

  • Protect your floor and all the carpets with different types of coverings, like floor runners or large pieces of cardboard,
  • Use old blankets or any rugs you find at home to create a pathway,
  • Remove all decorative stuff from the walls and protect them from damage using cardboard and blankets, and cover the corners with soft fabrics, as well,
  • Be sure to cover the stairs with a non-slippery material,
  • Disconnect all appliances,
  • Empty gas from any gas-powered tools,
  • Empty all your desks – don’t leave anything in the drawers.

Take Measures Before Moving Houses

Considering the tasks awaiting, preparing for movers also means figuring out the easiest way out of your home. You certainly don’t want to wait for professionals to come only to find out your doors are too narrow for the bulky items to pass through. That’s why you should take measures of all the doorways and hallways before the pickup day and ensure there will be no difficulties during the move. With a clear path, navigating your relocation specialists will be easy and fast, so there won’t be any time wasted taking your stuff out and loading it into the truck.

Prepare a Plan for Access to Your Place

A stress-free relocation depends on so many factors, and access to your home is undoubtedly one of them. Just imagine what will happen if a truck can’t park close to your home due to parking restrictions, time limitations, or any other unplanned circumstance. Do not leave this to a pure chance because otherwise, you might end up having to pay a long-carry fee.

Set Up a No-Packing Zone

One of the smartest relocation hacks when it comes to knowing how to prepare for professional movers and move efficiently is to create a space that’s completely packing-free. Here, you can put all the things you want by your side and not on the truck. Consider this no-packing zone your safe zone, away from all the chaos and commotion going on. This way, you’ll also make the job easier for the pros because they won’t have to ask a thousand questions about the belongings located in this area.

A man measuring windows in the house before long-distance moving
Knowing how to protect your house is a vital preparatory step

Always Know Where Your Essentials Are

The last few nights in your old home, as well as the first ones in your new one, can be pretty challenging without moving essentials prepared in advance. View this box as your survival kit, a pile of things that will enable you to deal with your daily tasks smoothly – from making meals to handling small emergencies. When packing your essential box, think in terms of your entire family:

  • Toiletries,
  • Personal documents,
  • Favorite snacks and drinks (if relocating with pets, have them in mind, too),
  • A change of clothing and towels,
  • Trash bags,
  • First-aid kit.

Remember to label this one with a Do Not Pack sign and set it aside before a moving company shows up and loads your belongings into the truck. Once they’re in, you will hardly get to anything without ripping the boxes open, one by one.

If you want to learn how to make your relocation easier, check out the video below for more details on how to pack your essentials.

Make Sure the Kids and Pets Are Taken Care Of

Imagine the scenario: the big day is finally here, and while both you and the relocation specialists are marching in and out of the house, navigating through the piles, your kids and pets are running around without supervision. Now that you’re finally getting closer to the goal, the last thing you want is someone to get injured or your pets to sneak out during the process. And with kids being hyperactive and constantly asking for stuff, you’ll hardly have time to concentrate on the important matters. To avoid more chaos, we recommend hiring a babysitter or leaving your children with family members who will keep them occupied and safe.

Regarding your furry friends, if you don’t have a backyard or a terrace to keep them away, it’s best to place them in a carrier or a room that has already been packed. Of course, hiring a pet sitter is always a good option, too. It’s essential to know what to do while movers are moving your entire home, and it certainly shouldn’t entail entertaining your pets.

A baby peeking from the box before cross-country moving
Children and pets should be kept away from the house during the relocation process

Tip for a Job Well Done

A heartfelt thank you is a good way to show how much you appreciate the help, but if you’d like to be more generous and show the professionals how grateful you are for the job they did, tipping them is a great idea. Although there is no predetermined amount you should set aside, it is important to figure out how much you would like to tip them before the pickup day. There’s a standard of 10% to 15% that people calculate based on the size of the total price, but you should also consider the duration and the difficulty of the move.

A girl getting cash from her wallet for a tip for long-distance movers
There are no firm rules on tipping, but always express your gratuity for the job well-done

You’re Ready to Go

Now that you know making your team of helpers happy is actually easier than you thought, do everything in your power to facilitate the process, and we promise you it will be a shortcut to a successful transition. When both parties are ready and well-prepared, there’ll be no misunderstandings and no delays along the way. So what are you waiting for? Call your cross-country movers and schedule a moving date! It’s time to get ready.

Michael Vaughan

Moving through the Bay Area, Michael works as a freelance writer in the moving and transportation industry.

    From
    To

      From
      To

        From
        To

        Related posts

        Trico Long Distance Transportation, LLC is a BBB Accredited Moving andor Storage Company in Los Angeles, CA
        Get a Free Estimate 877 666 8464