Relocation is a complex process with many steps and tasks you should handle if you wish everything goes smoothly. One of these steps is learning how to prepare for movers. This shouldn’t be very complicated – if done right, it can make the whole process much faster and more efficient.
Some of the most important things in the preparation process are organizing inventory you will relocate, protecting your floors, finding available parking for your helpers, and offering them food and drinks. Hiring a babysitter and deciding what to do with your pets is next. It is also essential to learn what items the professionals won’t move and avoid packing them.
What Do I Need to Do to Prepare for Movers?
Relocating across the world is always challenging, and going through this process without hiring an international moving company is nearly impossible. If you are trying to ensure you’ll have an efficient move and avoid unnecessary relocation stress, hiring professionals is a must. A team of trained professionals will definitely make the whole experience much more enjoyable – you just have to learn how to avoid relocation scams and find a trustworthy company. Once you find the right assistance, you can go through other steps and learn how to prepare for professionals’ arrival on the relocation date.
Learn How to Avoid Relocation Scams
Unfortunately, when hiring professionals, there is always a risk of becoming a victim of fraud. This is why it is essential that you learn how to recognize the signs of a scam and avoid it before it’s too late. These are some things you will have to look out for:
- Professionals will always offer you an in-home estimate and require a detailed inventory list before making any agreements,
- Everything about your deal will be in a contract – make sure you read it carefully (even the fine writing)
- Don’t agree on paying the full amount in advance – only a small deposit if necessary,
- Always check if the company has an official website,
- Look for the reviews and comments from previous clients (use various resources and forums, not only the reviews on the company’s website),
- Ask for a free quote and compare the potential prices with quotes from other companies – anything that seems unrealistically high or low should be suspicious,
- Ensure assistants are qualified and that they use quality equipment.
Request an In-Home Estimation and Get a Free Quote Before Moving
If you are trying to find out how to prepare for professional movers properly, you will have to request an in-home estimation. Professionals will come and estimate the household goods you wish to relocate – you only have to write an inventory list. This is why it is recommended that you declutter beforehand and get rid of belongings you don’t want to relocate.
Once you have a full list of belongings you wish to keep and relocate, you can decide what services you’ll need. For example, if you prefer professionals to pack fragile objects and you plan to deal with packing clothes on your own, you can require a partial packing service and save money. Professionals will also offer you a free quote, so you’ll know the potential expenses before the relocation time arrives.
Do I Have to Empty My Drawers for Movers?
This depends on the company’s policy, but in most cases, professionals will allow your personal belongings to stay inside the drawers as long as they are properly secured. You also have to make sure that the drawers don’t contain some of the objects professionals won’t move. For example, it is recommended that you take the jewelry and important documents needed for traveling out of the drawers, while keeping clothes inside shouldn’t be a problem.
How to Prepare for Movers to Pack?
If you plan to stay fully prepared and organized, you have to purge your house and decide what belongings you are going to relocate. Suppose you are having second thoughts about specific possessions and wonder if they’re suitable for moving overseas. You’ll have to decide what to do if you can’t move them.
You can toss some stuff away, while the others can be sold or donated. Before professionals arrive, you can also deal with packing some of the personal stuff, such as clothes, marking fragile objects and belongings of a higher value, and cleaning up the mess you make along the way.
You Should Know What Items Movers Won’t Move and Plan How to Handle Them
Should I pack before the movers come? Obviously, if you don’t require packing services, you’ll have to wrap and box everything on your own. Professionals will only move packed items, but first of all, you should learn what objects professionals won’t move.
These are usually some flammable chemicals that might spill during transportation and cause accidents. Professionals also won’t move living plants, pets, food, guns and ammunition, cash, and valuables. These are some stuff you should figure out how to move on your own – or how to get rid of.
Get Rid of Potentially Dangerous Items When Moving Internationally
One of the things people forget to do when relocating is to get rid of potentially dangerous and flammable stuff before the move. It isn’t recommended that you try relocating these objects on your own – if you bring them on a plane with you, you’re also putting everyone at risk – this is why these objects are banned on most flights. To avoid any potential problems, simply get rid of them and buy yourself new hair spray and cleaning supplies once you arrive at your new house.
Be Prepared for Potentially Bad Weather Conditions
No matter how well prepared you are and how trained and experienced your helpers are, the weather always plays a significant role, especially on relocation day. No matter if we’re talking about relocating during summer or winter, some unexpected weather changes can negatively affect the outcome of your move, and you should definitely be prepared to handle any situation that may arise during the process.
Tips For Relocating During Summer
For example, if you’re relocating in summer, which is the most popular period for relocations, you can expect higher temperatures (depending on your location). If the temperatures are extreme, you can expect that this can cause some problems for you and your team of assistants. They will have to rest more frequently, and you should prepare some drinks that they can use for refreshment.
Another cool relocation hack is to put some towels in your freezer and let your assistants use them to cool off. Try keeping the place air-conditioned and ensure that you and your helpers are not unnecessarily exposed to the sun.
Winter Relocation Tips and Tricks
Although most people choose to move during summer, relocating during winter is usually more affordable because you can find available assistants more easily. You can also have more options when it comes to choosing available dates. This is why relocating in winter has some advantages – unless the weather conditions are problematic.
Luckily, even if that’s the case, you can use some smart hacks to handle this process, no matter the heavy rain or snow. You just have to ensure that everyone stays safe and protects your belongings properly. Here are some tips you should follow if you move during winter:
- You have to ensure all the roads around your house are clear from snow and ice,
- Boxes should be waterproofed,
- You should cover the floors with plastic or old newspaper (especially fragile wooden floors) to protect them from water,
- Ensure that you put a dry towel at the entrance, so your helpers can wipe their feet before entering your house and change the towel with another one when it gets wet,
- Offer some warm tea to your helpers,
- Stay flexible for the potential change of relocation dates during extreme weather conditions.
How Do You Prepare for a Move-in Day? Protect Your Home
Wondering how to prepare your home for movers? Even if the weather conditions are good and there is no rain or snow, your house should be protected from potential damages during relocation. Your assistants will probably have to maneuver large furniture pieces around your house while taking them outside to the relocation truck – this is why you should protect the floors with blankets and ensure they don’t get scratched in the process.
You should protect door frames for the same reason. Professionals will probably have to carry heavy furniture from one room to another, and fragile door frames can end up damaged if they are not careful enough.
Ensure Your Pets Stay Out of the Way
No matter how cute and friendly your pets are, relocation day isn’t exactly the right time for them to play around your house. If they keep running around your assistants, they might end up disturbing their work or, even worse, get hurt by accident. In order to avoid any potential complications, you can simply ask a friend or a neighbor to take care of them until the professionals are done with their work.
Hire a Babysitter in Advance
Kids can also get nervous with a bunch of unknown people around the house, especially if they are young and can’t help you with the relocation process. You should also stay available to assist professionals with various tasks, so you won’t be able to focus on your little one. This is why it is highly recommended that you hire a babysitter for this date in advance.
Prepare Some Food and Drinks
As we already mentioned, keeping your assistants at their highest level of efficiency will require you to be considerate of their physical needs. Sure, they are your superheroes for the day, but still, they are just humans who will get very tired during hard labor. This is why you always need to have some food and drinks served – in case they require a little refreshment.
Depending on the weather and other circumstances, you can decide if they’ll need warm tea or cold lemonade, but in most cases, something plain and simple will be enough. Just remember to avoid offering them alcohol. What should you prepare for movers when it comes to food? You can serve something nice that everyone likes – sandwiches, pizzas, fruit, and chocolate desserts are common choices. This video might help you get some ideas about quick and simple snacks everyone will like.
Ensure You Have Some Cash If You Want to Tip Your Helpers
In case you’re relocating for the first time, you might forget about the tipping part. This is not a rule and an obligation, but most people choose to tip their helpers, especially if they are satisfied with the service. This is why it is recommended that you have some cash by your side, just in case you want to tip them.
Pack a Bag With Essentials Before the Professionals Arrive
Moving essentials are something you should box on your own – without relying on professional assistance. In fact, you should prepare the bag with essentials before your helpers arrive and keep it apart from the other belongings you want them to relocate. This bag should stay with you during the whole relocation process, assuming it will contain some of your most important personal items. It should be packed with stuff you’ll use as soon as you arrive at your new home.
If you wonder what to pack when moving abroad in your essentials bag, here are some ideas:
- Important documents (passports, visas, birth and marriage certificates, medical, school, and financial records, drivers’ licenses, insurance policies, social security cards, important contracts),
- Medicine,
- Valuables,
- Phone, laptop, and chargers,
- Toiletries,
- Fresh clothes and extra pair of shoes,
- Clean towels and bed sheets.
What Do Movers Hate?
Now that you’re done with your moving abroad checklist and know all the thing you should do before professionals arrive, here is the list of things you should avoid because professionals don’t like them:
- Not knowing what you are going to relocate,
- Carelessly packing stuff and mixing different categories,
- Not labeling your boxes,
- Telling them how to do their work,
- Asking them to relocate your dog, plants, or other not permitted stuff,
- Opening containers that are already packed,
- Letting your pets and children run wild around the house while your assistants try to do their job,
- Leaving your house during the relocation,
- Haggling about the price after professionals arrive.
Unless you’re relocating abroad alone, these are some rules you should follow; otherwise, you could compromise the work of your helpers. Your task is to do all the preparations, and once the professionals get there, you have to let them take care of everything and have faith that you have chosen a reliable company.
Now That You Know How to Prepare for Movers, Nothing Should Stop You From Hiring Them When Moving Abroad
Once you find enough reasons to move and decide that living overseas is the best choice for you, there should be no obstacle on your way. The best thing you can do to help yourself achieve all your goals and fulfill your dreams is to get professional relocation services and avoid all the potential relocation mistakes. Now you know that preparing for movers isn’t a very complicated process – it only takes a few simple steps, and they will take care of everything else.
