You’ve found your new place (congrats!) and now it’s time to book your move. Maybe you’ve never used professional movers or maybe you have, but it’s been a few years. Either way, we want to share expert information that our movers want you to know before your big day. You can always expect us to show up on your move day ready to hustle, but if we all start your move on the same page, we’ll arrive as strangers and leave as friends.
Here are the top 7 things your best moving-day buddies want you to know before the big move:
1. Carry Important Items With You
We encourage you to carry any expensive jewelry, cash, medicine and important papers (such as your passport) with you. Why? We never want to be at risk for misplacing any of your valuables and cause panic. As a matter of fact, it’s standard practice for our crews to alert our customers if they see cash or jewelry lying around. Here’s a true story – one of our customers couldn’t find her passport after her move and had to cancel her trip to Europe – turns out it was at the bottom of a box in labeled to go in her garage. Bottom line – we will all have more peace of mind when you keep expensive or irreplaceable possessions with you during your move.
2. Be Ready to Go (Like Really Ready to Go)
This one sounds easy but gets tricky as “ready to go” tends to be subjective. “Ready to go” for our movers means that when they arrive, your items will are already boxed, sealed and labeled. If you’re still tossing items in boxes and looking for the packing tape while the movers are trying to load the truck, just know that your move will take longer. If you realize at the last minute that you’re not ready, don’t panic! We can always add packing services to your move, just realize that it will be a separate cost.
3. Don’t Leave Drawers Full of Belongings
Please empty your desk and dresser drawers before moving day. It’s natural to think that your drawers are technically like “boxes” themselves, but moving heavy furniture is hard enough when it’s empty, so imagine how much heavier a dresser is when the drawers are full! Keeping all your clothes in your dresser means it needs to be double-wrapped to ensure the full drawers do not slide open during transit. If items like jewelry or clothing are left inside the dresser, they often shift around and can break, rip, or slide into the space behind the drawers. (And trust us, you don’t want to have to dismantle your dresser drawers just to find your favorite cologne or socks after a long day of moving!)
When thinking about desks, please understand that some items will shift around during transit—like you’re on an airplane—so it’s better to pack them safely within boxes. Just try not to pack more than 20 to 25 pounds in each small box. And don’t forget to label your boxes! This is especially important when you’re packing fragile items that your movers need to handle with care.
4. You Don’t Have to Tip — but It’s Nice!
Tipping is appreciated, but not required! If you think your moving company went above and beyond to give you a smooth move by handling your home and its belongings with respect, go ahead and tip 10-15% of your total. But again, you are not obligated. Movers will appreciate a cold beverage and a respectful attitude on moving day just as much!
If it isn't in your budget to tip, but you loved their service, consider leaving your mover a great review on Google or Yelp. Make sure you mention your crew leader by name, this helps them get future requests!
5. Make Sure Kids and Pets Are Out of Harm’s Way
Keep your children and pets in a safe area during the move. You know how hard it is to move quickly around little ones who are crawling or walking nearby. It’s even harder when you’re carrying large furniture that you can’t always see over. Safety is important to movers, so just make sure they can move around easily without stepping on anyone while loading the truck.
6. Reserve That Elevator
If you live in an apartment, try to reserve an elevator for your move day. Sharing the elevator with all your boxes and furniture isn’t the best way to become friendly with your new neighbors. Plus, your move will be delayed if the movers have to wait for the elevators to become clear and available. Save yourself money and stress, and talk to your front office about your options.
7. What To Do While Movers Are Moving
The best thing that you can do while moving crews are working hard to get your things loaded and unloaded is to stay nearby so that you are available to answer any questions, but not hovering or slowing them down in any way. After all, you are most likely paying them by the hour! Do whatever you can to ensure that they can keep moving as quickly as possible. Keep the doorways and pathways to and from the truck as clear as possible. Check each room before they get to them for readiness, making sure boxes are taped up and secured. Then check the room again as it is emptied to ensure nothing is left behind.
Wrapping Up
Overall, it’s important to remove any obstacles that could keep your movers from getting the job done quickly, efficiently, and safely. Now that you’re aware of some ways to make your move go smoothly, feel free to contact us with any questions you have.
Happy moving!