Making Moving Fun

Tips To Prepare For Your Full-Service Move

by Ethel Lee

If you've never experienced the joy of letting movers pack for you, then you're in for a treat. It could take you weeks to pack all the belongings in your home, but a moving crew should be able to get the job done in a day and do it better, too. Still, you can't leave every detail to the packing crew. Here are a few things you'll need to do yourself:

Prepare For The Packing Crew

When you hire a full-service mover, the packing crew comes in the day before the move and packs up everything they see in the rooms. They don't do any sorting. If it's in the room, it gets packed exactly as they found it. This is ideal in most instances, but other times it can be bad if you don't prepare ahead of time. For instance, be sure to empty your trash or the trash will show up a few days later in your new home and it may not smell so nice. Also, make sure there is no laundry in the washer and dryer or dishes in the dishwasher. However, you can leave all your clean clothes and dishes in drawers and let the packing crew deal with them.

Clean out your refrigerator at least a day in advance so it can dry out and air out before it is sealed for the move. Also, unplug your electronics so they are ready to go. Gather small items you don't want to get lost and place them in zip lock bags in drawers. This would include things such as remote controls, earbuds, and your phone charger. Have everything ready for the packing crew to wrap and place in boxes.

Separate Out Your Valuable Items

A full-service mover has experience handling valuables, so you don't have to worry about paintings and other expensive art pieces. However, you probably want to keep important documents, sentimental items, and valuable jewelry with you and transport it in your car. That way, you won't have to worry about it getting lost since it won't be separated from you. Things like medication, financial documents, cash, and identification should travel with you if possible. In addition, you want to pack some clothing and other travel items so your family will have extra supplies in case you get to your home ahead of the movers. Put everything you want to take in your car with you in a safe place with a sign that is marked for the packers not to take, or it will get packed up along with everything else.

Another tip to keep in mind is to know in advance what the packers won't handle and what won't be allowed on the moving truck. You don't want to be scrambling at the last minute to get rid of food, plants, and paint cans. While a full-service mover takes a lot of work, worry, and responsibility off you, there are still a few things you can do in advance so packing day and moving day go smoothly for everyone.

Contact a company like Bekins Van Lines Inc for more information. 

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