The Do's and Don'ts of Letting a Mover Pack for You

By Scott Boone

Image courtesy of Pixabay

Let’s be honest, nobody has too much time on their hands nowadays.  Whether you’re working full time, taking care of the family or are retired, your life is always a case of too many tasks and too little time.  That being said, one of the biggest sinkholes for time is packing everything you own when you need to move.  Unless you live in an efficiency apartment, we’re talking weeks, not days to organize, protect and pack your possessions.  What’s even worse is that the packing zone can be a danger zone as well.  You don’t know how many people I’ve met who were seriously injured when something they packed came tumbling down on them.  Back strain is another danger that can cause you to wind up in the doctor’s office. 

Who needs that, especially when movers like me are only too happy to pack and unpack your belongings for you.  Not only is this a terrific time saver, it can also eliminate the aches and pains that most people wind up with after loading and lifting a mountain of boxes.

Personal Protection

As soon as most movers show up, they’ll begin by protecting not only your possessions but your floors.  Then they’ll provide everything needed to quickly and efficiently pack your belongings.  This includes boxes, packing material, padding, and dollies.  Unlike homeowners who can only guess if that glassware or bone china has been properly padded, professional movers know exactly what needs to be done to prevent breakage.

Unlike novices, the pros also know how best to label boxes, so they can be efficiently unpacked when the job is done.  They’re also far more efficient than any homeowner since they have done this hundreds of times.  It isn’t uncommon for a team of two or more movers to split up to work on individual rooms.  Two professional movers can easily pack 100 boxes or more in a day.

If I’m Paying to Have My Belongings Packed, Do I Have to Stick Around?

Image from Scott's Discount Moving

While professional movers know how to pack, they don’t always know what to pack.  This means you need to stay put while they do their job.  It isn’t always intuitive to know what you want packed and what you want tossed.  You also need to be there to tell them about any items you intend to take with you in your vehicle.  Packers are not checkers, which means you need to double check your washer, dryer, and dishwasher to make sure nothing is left inside.

More importantly, you need to stick around to do the final walkthrough when the movers have completed their packing task.  With your movers in tow, you should do a walkthrough of your home, opening and closing every cupboard and drawer.  Open the closets and pantry, inspecting the shelves.  Take care when looking under the kitchen sink, as items can lodge in nooks and crannies.  Remember, anything left unpacked automatically shifts back to you to move once the truck pulls away.

What Your Movers Won’t Move

That being said, there are a number of items a mover will not move.  These include hazardous or flammable material.  While many people understand why movers refuse to move hazardous material, the problem is 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 is highly flammable.  Another thing many people don’t realize is that it’s 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 your hazardous waste disposal center is located. 

Some items are too big for the average mover to move.  If you own a pool table, hot tub, piano, floor safe or large sculpture, you most likely will have to hire a specialty mover to handle these items. 

Clear the Decks

Image courtesy of flickr

Another thing movers do not wish to deal with is clutter, kids, and pets.  Just because you’re paying movers to pack and transport your belongings, doesn’t mean they are willing to pick up your clothes off the floor.  After all, they’re movers, not maids.  Children and pets also need to be out of the way when your movers arrive.  Not only are they a distraction, they can pose a danger when hanging around men toting large boxes and appliances.

Other Considerations

·         Consider leaving a box of Ziploc bags on the counter.  These are great for stowing nuts, bolts, cords, and cables.  If you don’t, your movers will usually place these items in a parts box.

·         If you have 2 or more kids, you should consider labeling their bedroom doors with their names at both your current and new location.  This will help your movers know where to pack and unpack their things.

·         Be prepared to have a powwow with your moving coordinator prior to the move and your team leader on the day of the move. This is a great time to have your questions answered, address any special needs, and complete your moving checklist.

·          If you have items that are especially fragile or valuable, make sure you mention these to both your moving consultant and your team leader so that they can handle these with special care.

If you understand what to expect, having your movers pack and unpack your belongings can be a wonderful experience.  Not only will it save you time, energy and stress, but your chiropractor will thank you too.

With over 4,000 moves, Scott's Discount Movers have 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.