How To Treat Your Movers – Tips For The Best Experience
Moving with Professional Movers: Tips and Tricks to a Happy Moving Day
As the big moving day approaches, it’s natural to feel a little anxious about your move. However, your moving day can be a positive experience with a little preparation and some useful day-of tips!
Before Your Movers Come
In the weeks leading up to your move, there are a number of things you can do to make your moving experience fast, and hassle free. Here are a few ideas to simplify the moving process and bring peace of mind.
Purge and Clean
The less you have to move, the more money and time you save. Go through your house and discard or donate broken and unwanted items to help your move be more organized. Also remember to remove batteries from appliances, empty the fridge, empty drawers, and cupboards, and drain fuel from appliances like your lawnmower.
Create an Inventory and Moving Plan
Taking inventory is useful for organizing and makes unpacking much easier. If you aren’t sure where to start, there are many moving apps that can help you make an inventory, like Sortly. In addition, create a moving plan. This plan outlines the order of the rooms to be packed and any additional expectations you have for your movers.
Create a “No Pack” Zone
A “no pack” zone is, ideally, an entire room that is for things that will not be placed on the moving truck. Some items to include in your “no pack” zone are important documents, valuables, electronic devices, luggage needed for the trip to your new home, and your essentials box. Your essentials box contains everything you need immediately when you arrive at your new home. This is to ensure that if unpacking everything is delayed, you can still live comfortably until you get settled. Your essentials box should include:
- Toilet Paper
- Sheets
- Medications and hygiene materials
- Paper plates, cups, and plastic utensils
- Essential tools
Pre-Pack Small Items
Small decorations, desk supplies, and other miscellaneous items should be pre-packed in storage bags and boxes. This easy process helps speed up the move and decreases the likelihood of losing smaller items in the shuffle.
Measure Doors and Prepare Furniture
Consider measuring doorways to determine which furniture should be disassembled. You can even take apart some larger pieces in advance. If you do, place small hardware in a bag and tape it to the side of the furniture. This makes it easier to find when you are ready to reassemble. However, if you do not want to disassemble the furniture, labeling pieces that will need to be dismantled is still useful for the movers.
Make Arrangements for Items the Movers Cannot Move
There’s a handful of items that cannot be loaded onto the moving truck for safety reasons. This list can be found with your moving company. Some examples of items that cannot be moved are:
- Pets
- Plants
- Perishable food
- Hazardous materials (Propane tanks, charcoal, antifreeze, pesticides, etc.)
Make arrangements ahead of time with specialty movers for pets and plants and dispose of any items that cannot be taken.
Additional Tips for Pre-Move Preparation
Consider having on hand extra tape, markers, labels, and boxes. You may also consider having an extra dolly available if you have many heavy items and wish to speed up the moving process. Be sure to label this dolly so that it does not accidentally get mixed up among the movers’ supplies. It is also recommended taking out cash ahead of time to tip your movers. This will save you the last-minute trip to an ATM while your movers wait. Finally, watch the weather. You can prepare for inclement weather by gathering newspapers or old rugs to protect your floors from any mud.
It’s Moving Day!
Finally, the big day has arrived and now you are feeling more prepared and ready to go! Here are a few essential tips for making this day go as smoothly as possible.
Start it Out Right
Be punctual. Your movers have time constraints, so starting at the arranged time is essential for a stress-free experience. If you’re unable to be present at the start time, arrange for someone else to be there in your place to oversee the move and explain expectations. Some companies may charge a late fee if you aren’t there when they arrive, so punctuality will also save your budget!
When your movers arrive, be friendly and polite to establish a positive tone. Introduce your movers to any family members present and give them a brief tour of the house. Ask them if they have any questions or concerns to establish open communication.
Help During Loading and Unloading
The best thing you can do to help your movers is to stay available and out of the way. Prop open doors where needed, especially those that may require a key code. If possible, arrange for any children and pets to be with a neighbor or relative during the move. This ensures their safety and allows for the full attention of everyone to be on the move.
Moving is a hot and hard job, so providing cold water or sodas is appreciated. Consider providing snacks or a light lunch. Some people may arrange for lunch instead of tipping. Do whatever you feel comfortable with financially. Designate a clean and easily accessible bathroom for your movers to use anytime. Depending on the weather, provide fans or space heaters where needed. Anything you provide your movers will show your appreciation for their efforts.
Tipping
On average, a four-hour move yields a tip of $10 per mover. A full day move (8 hours) is around $20 per person. $40 each is fair for a move of 12 hours or more. However, tipping is completely up to you and depends on how you feel about their performance.
Moving seems like a daunting challenge, but it doesn’t have to be a stressful experience. Staying positive and going into your move feeling prepared is already the greatest way you can ensure a smooth process. Happy moving!
About Amazing Spaces Storage Centers
Amazing Spaces is Houston, Spring, and The Woodlands areas premier provider of self-storage and moving supplies. Amazing Spaces aims to provide everyone with the most remarkable storage experience possible. The properties offer highly secured storage spaces, fully climatized units, and a customer service experience unlike any other.
Amazing Spaces will be opening its 6thproperty in the Springwoods ~ Exxon Campus neighborhood in 2018. Learn more about Amazing Spaces and Discover all the Amazing Differences at Amazing Spaces Storage Centers by visiting AmazingSpaces.net.
Steve Smith
It’s great that you elaborated that it is a good idea to prepare your furniture ahead of time to ensure an efficient moving process. My workmate informed me yesterday that he needed to move his other furniture to his mother’s house because of their new set of a couch. He asked if I could help him move things with him. I’m grateful for your advice about how a moving service can help us transfer the furniture hassle-free. I’ll tell him that it will be much better to hire one.