Preparing for the Moving Company

The packers are coming today!! I'm nervous and excited! We had a really great moving experience when we left Fort Stewart and came here, so I'm hoping that this move is equally successful.

Before marrying my husband, I had never moved in my life. Actually, that's a lie. Back when I was a baby, we moved a few times, I believe. After my parents bought their house when I was around three though, I never left. Even for college, I lived at home. I never had any idea how much work it was to move. 

Even when a moving company is involved, there is a ton of work that goes into moving your belongings. There are certain things you have to do before the packers/mover arrive and certain things that they won't transport for you. Hopefully these tips from Allied Van Lines can help military wives, old and new when it comes time to PCS, or anyone else who is moving.

How to Prepare Your Belongings for the Moving Company

Moving Day is almost here! Moving on your own can be stressful, which is why many people decide to hire a moving company to pack and ship their belongings. But if you’ve decided to hire a moving company, don’t expect the movers to show up and simply do all the work for you – it takes a little preparation before they arrive.

It’s important to understand that a moving company cannot pack or transport everything you own. While movers can transport numerous items – even rare or hard-to-transport items like custom artwork, vehicles, etc. – there are some they will not take and some they do not recommend you ship:

• Hazardous materials. A moving company cannot move hazardous materials such as explosives, compressed gases, flammable liquids and solids, oxidizers, poisons, corrosives and radioactive materials. You may not think you have any such items, but they’re more common than you might think. Common examples include lighter fluid, nail polish remover, propane cylinders, matches, gasoline, paints, paint thinners and automotive repair chemicals. Instead of attempting to transport them yourself – a potentially dangerous act – it’s a good idea to simply re-purchase these items once arriving at your new location.
• Valuables. It’s typically a good idea to keep certain items with you in order to protect them, or in case you have need of them. For example, don’t ship valuables, family photos, heirlooms, important personal papers (like wills and deeds) or jewelry – essentially, anything that is irreplaceable or highly special to you. Instead, keep them with you as you travel to your new home.
• Other items. A moving company typically will not transport firearms or perishable food items, including wine. They also will not move your pets for you. Furthermore, most moving companies recommend you keep any necessary prescription drugs with you at all times.

In addition to understanding exactly which items the moving company will not pack and transport, you need to prepare your other belongings for packing and shipment. Consider this checklist when making your preparations:

• Unplug all of your electronics.
• Remove all items affixed to the wall or ceiling – such as ceiling fans, light fixtures, drapery rods, etc. – that you want taken with you.
• Empty lawn mowers and other gasoline-powered engines of oil and gas.
• Drain your garden hose of as much water as possible and connect the two ends together.
• Bring anything from your attic or overhead storage area to the floor level.
• Empty and defrost your refrigerator and freezer.
• Strip beds and wash sheets for packing.
• Bring rugs to the cleaners and leave in packaging for transport.

By preparing before your moving company even arrives, your move will be off to a smooth start. Have fun and good luck!

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David Shapiro is a relocation specialist working with Allied Van Lines, realtors and other relocation service providers. He lives in Arizona and enjoys hiking, golfing, baseball and biking.

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