In addition to a moving company doing the heavy lifting on your behalf, they can also pack your belongings for an additional fee. It's a great way to save time and effort that can be focused on other aspects of your move. However, a little preparation can go a long way towards making the packing process smoother for everyone. Here are a few preparation pointers to consider.
Get Rid of Unwanted Items
Whether it's the waffle iron you got last Christmas but never made a single waffle with or those shake weights you bought on a whim but never used, those unused and unwanted items can quickly get in the way of your packing and moving efforts. One of the first things you should do before your movers arrive is figure out what you don't need around the house anymore.
Getting rid of those unused and unwanted items can help speed up the packing process, making the overall move go faster and smoother. Since you'll likely be paying for your shipment based on its total weight, selling, donating or just giving away the stuff you don't need or want to keep around can also make your move a bit more affordable.
Part With Those Non-Allowables
Professional packers are willing to pack up just about anything - except what's on their list of non-allowable goods. These range from flammable and corrosive materials such as aerosol cans, batteries and cleaning fluids to perishable items such as frozen or fresh foods. Houseplants are often listed as non-allowable goods because they're too fragile to move without significant damage.
Before the packing crew arrives, make sure you get their list of non-allowable goods. As you go through the list, you'll want to either dispose of those items or find alternate ways of transporting them to your new home. For example, you'll have to move ammunition in your own vehicle according to DOT and state guidelines.
Create a Detailed Inventory
After taking care of the items you don't need or can't have packed, you'll want to account for the items you do intend on having packed by the pros. This is where an itemized checklist comes in handy. Creating a detailed inventory of the stuff you're having packed and shipped makes it easier to keep track of those items throughout the shipping process, plus it makes it easier to replace those items in the event they're lost in transit.
There are plenty of ways you can make your inventory list. You can write each item down on paper or create a computer spreadsheet that's easier to update. You can also use mobile moving apps that offer easy-to-use inventorying tools.
Prep Your Household Appliances
Large appliances like stoves, refrigerators and washers can also use a bit of prep work before they're ready to be packed up and moved. Here's what you'll want to do to get your appliances ready for packing:
Create a No-Pack Zone
Another thing you'll want to do before your movers arrive is set aside an area for all the items you don't want them to pack. You can easily create a no-pack zone by cordoning off a portion of your room or even devoting an entire room to the task, complete with signage that clearly tells movers not to bother with packing those particular items.