Five Things To Accomplish Before Your Professional Move
Having professionals handle your move can go a long way towards making the experience less stressful. You don't have to worry about lifting your heavy furniture into the moving truck or driving a large, unfamiliar vehicle. However, to ensure the process goes smoothly, there are a few things you'll want to do before your moving team arrives at your doorstep.
1. Get rid of trash.
Your movers won't know what's garbage and what you want to keep, and they'll likely keep everything rather than risk throwing away something you were trying to save. So, it's a good idea to go through your home and throw out anything you don't want or need before they arrive. Don't leave plastic bags of trash outside the trash can, or your movers may mistakenly assume they belong in the moving truck.
2. Pack up your personal items.
Chances are you don't want the movers packing your underwear or certain other unmentionables. To avoid embarrassment, pack these things up before they arrive. Stack the boxes somewhere obvious, and label them "private." This way, you'll remember what is in there and the movers will know not to open them.
3. Take photos of anything overly valuable.
If you have any antique furniture, valuable artwork, or similar items, take detailed photos of these items. Make sure you have a photo of each side/surface and that the photos are dated. This way, if anything becomes damaged during the move, you'll have proof of what it looked like before the damage, which will make it much easier to collect from your (or the moving company's) insurance company.
4. Pack your first-night box.
During the first night in your new home, you're going to need basics like hygiene items, pajamas, and perhaps a few cups and dishes. Before your movers arrive, go through the home and gather these first-night essentials into one box. This way you don't have to sort through everything to find what you need immediately upon arrival.
5. Clean your appliances.
Some moving companies will offer appliance cleaning as an add-on service, but unless you've specifically requested this, you should not assume they will clean out your fridge, oven, and other appliances. Transporting these items while dirty can attract insects and perpetuate molding, so give them a good cleaning before moving day arrives.
If you prepare by completing the tasks above, your moving team will be able to streamline their processes and have you into your new place sooner. For more information on organizing your move, check out a moving company's site like http://www.allenstransfer.com.