Moving Day Turkeys

By Scott Boone

Image courtesy of flickr

With Thanksgiving only a day away, I thought I would regale you with a few pet peeves that can all too easily spoil an otherwise flawless movie.  I refer to these as moving day turkeys, and they are a movable feast of infamous blips and blunders. 

Dress for Success

I was watching a TV series recently where they depicted a family moving into the neighborhood.  The thing that grabbed my attention right away was the fact that the single mom who was purportedly “moving in” was wearing a sundress and high heels.  Pull-lease!  Who in their right mind would get all dolled up on moving day?  I guarantee if you tried it, that cute-as-a-button sundress would be in tatters and those heels would leave any woman weeping.  Even with hired movers, the amount of energy and sweat expended on moving day is better accomplished in sensible shoes and jeans, rather than a dress.

When it comes to dressing for success on moving day, you want to avoid wearing baggy clothing since they can get hung up on boxes or other breakables.  Whatever you choose to wear, make sure you aren’t going to lose your mind if it gets torn or stained, since moving is a dirty job.  Also make sure the pockets are deep enough to hold your keys, wallet, and cell phone while you are down on hands and knees unloading boxes. And as for footwear, you aren’t looking for attraction; you’re looking for traction.  You want your most comfortable low heel, shoes with adequate soles that won’t slide out from under you on a wooden floor or concrete. 

Who Turned Out the Lights?

Image courtesy of wikimedia

On more than one occasion, my moving crew and I have had to unload a truck in the dark due to someone forgetting to have their utilities switched on before the move.  In the hustle and bustle of getting everything organized and packed for a move, it’s all too easy to neglect to contact the local utility company to initiate service at your new residence.  What’s even worse is if you move in on the weekend, since you won’t be able to get your power connected until the following week.  The way to avoid this problem is to schedule this task on your moving checklist to take place at least a week before you are scheduled to move.  While you’re at it, make sure you contact your existing utility company at the same time to tell them to turn off service at your current residence.  Also contact your cable company as well, or the people who move into your home when you leave will be in for an undeserved bonus.

There’s No Time Like the Present

Another major turkey is to wait until the last second to begin packing.  The last thing your movers want to see when they knock on your door is you scrambling to shove belongings into boxes.  Even a 1-bedroom apartment takes at least a week to pack away properly.  A 4-bedroom house can easily take a month. Delaying the inevitable can be a costly mistake since there is a higher probability of breakage, not to mention the fact that if your movers are being paid by the hour, you could wind up busting your budget by being a procrastinator.  Procrastinators usually wind up spending way more time in both the packing and unpacking process. They invariably neglect to take the time to properly label their boxes properly.  As a result, unpacking becomes a nightmare that can all too easily be avoided by taking the time to do it right.  Failing that, consider spending a little more money to have your movers do the packing and unpacking for you.

Another moving boo-boo is when people try to get us to move hazardous material.  While most folks realize that transporting gasoline is dangerous, they don’t understand that everything from cleaning solvents and paint thinner, to aerosol cans and nail polish remover are considered hazardous.  If you are unsure of what a mover won’t move, ask them to provide you with a list of non-allowed items.  Also, consider reading my previous post, “What Your Mover Won’t Move.” 

Fort Knox Calling

Image courtesy of Public Domain Pictures

While movers will do all they can to protect your possessions, they don’t drive an armored car.  Therefore, you should never entrust your valuables to them. That’s not to say that most movers aren’t trustworthy.  It’s just that anything can happen on the open road.  Unless you have taken out an insurance rider on art objects, family heirlooms, or collectibles, it’s best that you transport valuables and keepsakes yourself.  This also includes cash, credit cards, stocks & bonds, deeds, car titles, and legal documents. 

Speaking of insurance, don’t assume that your electronics and expensive furnishings are going to be covered in the event they get lost, damaged or destroyed.  Unless otherwise specified in the bill of lading, you are only entitled to receive Basic Limited Liability Protection, which offers a scant 60 cents per pound per article.  Unless you want to be paid peanuts should your $2,000 plasma TV wind up broken, or your antique desk ends up being gashed, you need to have your mover insure all your expensive items so that you will be appropriately compensated.

Water, Water!

Moving is a dirty job.  It’s also a thirsty job.  Another mistake to avoid making on moving day is to be callous about your mover’s needs.  A happy crew is a motivated crew.  The best way to motivate your moving crew is to show them a little common courtesy.  As soon as the truck pulls up and the movers are given access to your home, take a few minutes to show them where the bathroom and kitchen are located.  Better still, provide them with a pitcher of water and a few snacks, or even sandwiches or a pizza.  This will go a long way toward reinforcing morale.  While a tip for a job well done is a blessing to a crew, treating them with courtesy during the move is every bit as big of a motivator. Best of all, it’s one that will pay for itself, since a happy crew will always work more efficiently than an unhappy crew.

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.