What Your Mover Won't Move

By Scott Boone

Image courtesy of Free Stock Photos

People hire movers to help them relocate their home or business.  As such, there are a great many things the typical homeowner or business owner wishes to transport from Point A to Point B.  This is all well and good, provided that the business or homeowner understands the limitations that professional movers are under.  What I mean by that is there are a number of things that a mover won’t move.  This is due to regulation, jurisdiction or restrictions imposed on moving companies.  Below are a number of reasons you need to talk to your moving company before you sign the contract.

Too Big to Move

Over the years, I have had individuals ask me to move some items that were too big for me to handle.  These have included pianos, floor safes and a life-size bronze statue.  Most moving companies are not equipped to deal with objects that weigh more than 500 lbs as a rule.  If you want to move something that big, you need to hire a company that has the equipment designed to handle these behemoths.  The same goes for moving such items as classic cars, motorcycles, boats and the like.  There are specialized companies that make their living moving bulky items.

Too Dangerous to Move

Image courtesy of Wikimedia

While many people understand why movers won’t move hazardous material, the problem is that most people haven’t got a clue as to what is considered hazardous.  Movers are prohibited from moving everything from insecticide and acid, to paint and propane tanks.  Other items on the do not move list include cleaning solvents,  aerosol cans, motor oil, pool chemicals, batteries, liquid bleach, weed killer, fertilizer, charcoal lighter fluid, gasoline, kerosene, lamp oil, and nail polish remover.  That’s right, if you think you can hand your mover a box full of nail polish, think again.  The active ingredients in nail polish remover is highly flammable.  Another thing many people don’t realize is that it is against the law to throw many of these items away.  The proper way to dispose of hazardous material is to contact city hall to find out where their hazardous waste disposal center is located. 

Dive, Dive, Dive!

If you are a scuba diver, you will need to make other arrangements to move your tanks.  That’s because scuba tanks contain highly compressed air.  The same air tanks that allow you to breathe underwater can explode if they are jostled, or if they take a tumble.  I have seen aftermath reports where scuba a scuba tank that was dropped took off like a rocket that proceeded to fly through a garage wall only to embed itself in a neighbor’s cinder-block wall.  The bottom line is don’t put your mover in danger by handing him anything that can go boom.  This also includes loaded firearms, propane tanks, spear guns, or CO2 cartridges.

Do You Have a Green Thumb?

Image courtesy of Wikipedia

If you like to garden and are planning on moving out of state, you need to check with your State Plant

Regulatory Office first.  This agency regulates the interstate transportation of plants, including flowering and non-flowering vegetation, as well as vegetables.  One of the biggest problems that state and national parks, not to mention commercial growers and farmers face is the introduction of alien plants and insects.  Invasive species are taken seriously by state regulators, so it’s best to touch base with them before you wind up being fined for transporting prohibited plants.

Besides, the worst place to put plants for a long haul is in the back of a truck.  Plants need light which is absent in a moving truck.  Additionally, they don’t like temperature fluctuations which typically occur in a moving truck.  If you want more info on the dos and don’ts of moving plants, read my previous blog, “TheABCs of Moving Your Plants.” 

Comestibles

While moving companies will be more than happy to move your refrigerator, don’t ask them to move your food.  Just as it is a bad idea to move perishable plants in the back of a truck, it is also a mistake to move perishable comestibles via moving van.  While we have no trouble moving non-perishable foods, such as canned goods, and packaged food such as rice and pasta, the stuff in your fridge will need to either be loaded into a big cooler that you can pack in your car, or you need to give it away to friends, neighbors or the local food bank. 

Your Most Precious Possessions

While movers can be entrusted to move art objects and other collectibles, provided you tell them about it ahead of time, when it comes to moving your most precious possessions, you really should make an effort to move these items on your own.  This includes such things as family heirlooms, keepsakes, important documents and personal jewelry.  You should also move on your own such things as laptop computers, camera equipment, sterling silver, stocks and bonds. It’s not so much that movers can’t be trusted to move these items, it’s more that they don’t want the responsibility should these things become lost or damaged during the move.  Also, you need to bear in mind that while movers carry insurance to cover anything that gets damaged or destroyed during a move, the insurance company will only pay you the current market value of the item, not the amount you paid for it.

Here Kitty!

Image courtesy of Flickr

Last but not least, movers will not move pets or livestock.  While we will move your fish tank, you need to transport your fish separately.  We also don’t want to be responsible for dealing cats, dogs, hamsters, snakes or any other pets before, during or after the move.  The last thing we want to do is trip over a pet or accidentally let one out of the house on moving day.  This means you need to arrange to have your pets somewhere other than in your house by the time the movers arrive.  This will make for a safe, stress-free move for both you, your pets and the movers.

When it comes to determining what your mover will and won’t move, the best policy is to ask the owner or manager of the moving company what they will and won’t move before you sign the contract.  Also make sure you inform them of any unusual or over sized item you wish to transport.  This way neither you nor they will have any surprises come moving day.

With over 4,000 moves, Scott's Discount Movers  has handled moves of all sizes, including local and cross country. If you are looking to move your home or office, you can depend on Scott's Discount Movers to provide a stress-free relocation.