Moving can be a stressful experience. There are closets and cupboards to clear out, trips to goodwill and the dump, large items to sell (or a yard sale to host), cleaning to be done, and lots and lots of packing. Moving involves a lot of moving parts to make the experience run smoothly. Instead of the hassle of renting a moving truck and doing the job yourself, perhaps you may opt to relieve some of the stress by hiring a professional moving company.
Professional movers will take the load, quite literally, off your shoulders on moving day. They will lift all your belongings onto their moving truck and pack it safely. While having someone else do all the work on moving day is excellent, you aren’t entirely off the hook. There are seven things professional movers want you to know before they show up on moving day.
1. No More Packing
Moving day is not the time to finish or even start (yikes!), your packing. You should pack everything before the movers show up. There are lots of places to purchase moving boxes of all shapes and sizes, and if you’re savvy, you might even find free moving boxes on local online boards or from nearby stores.
2. Pack Kindly
When you are doing all the pre-moving day packing, be mindful of your movers. Although movers can typically carry heavy boxes than most people, don’t overpack boxes with weighty items. So no loading up all the books in your collection in one box. Your movers will appreciate thoughtfully packed boxes that won’t break their backs.
3. Label, Label, Label
Since you have done all your packing before your movers show up, they won’t have any idea what is in those boxes piled neatly in every room. Be sure to label each box with three tags: the destination, a brief listing of contents, and add FRAGILE to each with breakable items. Useful labels also make the process quicker, which your pocketbook will appreciate if you are paying your movers hourly.
4. Don’t Forget Your Drawers
Of course, you are going to remember to pack your kitchen and bathroom drawers, but don’t forget to unload your dressers, armoires, and other furniture cabinets. Full drawers and cabinets are bulkier and can pose a safety hazard.
5. Don’t Pack These
You know the importance of packing everything thoroughly before your movers show up, but there are some items that you should keep with you. Always carry cash, jewelry, family heirlooms, photos, or other valuables with you. Arrange for these items to stay with you and bonus points if you pack them away even before the movers show up.
6. Be Present
On the day of your move, make sure you are there to help answer questions your movers may have. Be available, but not in the way. It may mean sending kids and pets to a friend or family member’s house for the day so they won’t get lost or in the way during the chaos.
7. Tip Them
Lastly, consider tipping your movers. Depending on how pleased you are overall with the job your movers did, gratuity for a moving job is typically about 10% to 15% of the total cost. Also, offering drinks and snacks for them during the day of moving is a kind gesture that won’t go unnoticed while they are handling the possessions of your entire life.