There are several ways to ensure your moving day is successful and hassle-free. Regardless of your profession, there are chances that your work requires you to interact with people reasonably regularly.
Whether your customers, co-workers, or providers, there are likely some things you wish they knew, which would ensure smooth and productive interaction.
The out of state moving companies you are looking to hire also feel the same way. The mover hopes you should know some of the important things about your move.
Below are ten things your moving companies wish you could know that will reduce the stress of moving day for everyone involved.
Understanding your Moving Company’s Policy on Helping
Helping your mover should be normal and should even be a plus since you are paying them, right? However, each company has a different policy regarding helping. They committed to protecting you, the movers’ crew, as well as your belongings from unnecessary injuries and damage.
If you are planning an out-of-state move where you pay by the hour, you will save money by doing any task that will speed up the process.
But note, this doesn’t apply when moving to another state since interstate movers charge based on weight and miles and not time.
You should also note that your help may not be considered help, after all. You may be blocking the movers from performing their jobs efficiently, and this may also increase your moving cost.
It is always the best move to sort out help issues during the search for movers, but almost certainly, moving companies don’t allow customers on the moving truck so stay away from it.
Complete Packing before Moving Day
Do you have your movers pack for you? They will when you hire them for a full-service move through long distance moving companies. If you decide not to add the extra expense to your moving cost, ensure you complete your part of the process before your mover shows up.
A lot of customers do more than they could when it comes to self-packing their belongings.
Though they may be perfect at handling it, professional movers often show a sign of displeasure when they enter a home that is not yet ready to be moved.
Understandably, you may be busy, following up on a packing schedule that starts well before the moving day is the best.
Designate 30 minutes or one hour per day, and begin with the things that you barely use. Or, follow our packing tips to have control over your move.
Packing of basements and attics requires logic since they usually hold seasonal clothes, toys, and holiday items that may no longer have much importance.
If you are paying an hourly rate, it will be more costly to have your moving crew wait around while you conclude the packing process.
Label the Moving Boxes with their Decided Destination
Labeling each moving box with the destination room will ensure efficient unloading of your boxes by the movers. This will also save you the stress of directing them on where to place each box.
This will be more helpful when you are paying by the hour.
Your movers need you to inform them where each box will be heading to, so if any item also requires safe handling due to its fragility, inform them.
They must know well ahead of time, label it, mark it, say it, and do it even before they arrive.
Ensure Easy Access for the Movers in and out of the Homes
Make sure there is easy access for your movers, especially if you live in a multi-level building. You may need to book elevators as well as loading docks for them in advance if they need to use them.
Overlooking this could lead to unavailability on the moving day, which may cause additional costs that you could have avoided.
Ensure there are clear, walkable paths inside your home or apartment that leads straight to and from each room.
Movers don’t often pack out one room at a time but select and choose each item from different rooms as required because they will build tiers and fill empty truck spaces. Giving them clear access will enable them to work efficiently and prevent accidents and avoidable damage from trips and falls.
Keep Children and Pets away
You need to keep your adorable kids and pets away from getting in the way of your movers. The moving process will be slow down if you have kids and pets running all around the place while your movers are working. It is also dangerous for them all.
Serious trouble could arise from tripping on a cat or toddler while carrying heavy furniture down a flight of stairs.
Send your kids and pets to a friend or relative’s home if possible for the day. If not possible, you or your partner should take them out for a fun day while one of you stays behind to be with the movers.
You can also designate a bedroom for them to relax away from the movers till they are done for the day.
Clear out your Drawers, Desks, and Armoires
Having items stored in your drawers, armoires, and desks will make the item heavier and also pose a danger to your movers as the contents may shift.
This is why most movers refuse to move furniture or filing cabinets that are still packed with items.
Although leaving all the items in the drawers is recommended by some packing experts as they consider it to simplify packing. However, that is only effective when you manage to keep the drawers secure by wrapping them tightly in plastic.
Don’t leave the Site
Although movers are always happy and efficient when customers don’t get in their way, your input will be needed all through the process. Hence, there is a need for one adult to be present at all times.
It can be so boring watching movers work. Even though you may sit in a comfortable chair with air conditioning, you will need to let go of that guilty pleasure until the job is done.
If you need to run out for a while and trust your movers, let them know you are leaving when you will return and exchange phone numbers if there is a need to contact each other.
Prepare Payment
If you agree to pay cash, make sure you have it ready because your movers have had a long day working, and you don’t want them to get into fighting after doing such laborious work.
Although they take credit card payment, cash is still a considerable option, especially for local moves.
Ensure you have enough money with you if your exact moving cost is beyond the estimated price. You may need to give the company your credit card information to make credit card payments during booking.
They may not charge your card until completion of the move, but in case there is a problem on a moving day, and it seems they are likely to not be paid, they may keep your belongings until they do.
Don’t perform any Surprises on your Movers
On a moving day, the movers arrive and ready to go, you have a little interaction, then the awkward conversation started like this:
Customer: Oh, we just purchased 3 dressers, a Jacuzzi that can contain 12 people, and a well-furnished summer home 100 miles away. We need you to move them too, will that be a problem?
Moving foremen: Yes, it will be a problem.
These are considered great surprises, and movers may react to them with great shock and derision, unless they are aware of it in advance, in which it will no longer be a surprise.
Tipping
Tipping is generally not a requirement but an appreciated gesture. There are no solid rules for tipping your movers.
In general, tipping is best to give at $25 to $50 per mover or 10 percent to fifteen percent of the overall move cost.
This is based on the duration of work, the number of difficult staircases they maneuver through, and how satisfied you are with their service.
Giving snacks and drinks all through the day is also a great idea as this will keep your moving crew energized and work quickly and efficiently.
Conclusion
Always remember these etiquettes as your moving day draws closer, and make sure you contact your interstate moving companies with all of your concerned questions.