Movers will transport your belongings for you, but
there's
still a lot to do before they arrive.
.Image Credit: B2M Productions/Photodisc/Getty Images
Moving into a new home can be an exciting life change,
but it comes with its
own set of stresses. Whether it's cross-country or
cross-town, a move requires
a lot of work to pack up your belongings, transport
them and lug them into your
new place. Professional movers can be a big help
because they do all of the
heavy lifting for you. You can even pay them extra
to pack and unpack your stuff!
However, preparation is the key to making sure your move
won't take longer
than it needs to and be even more stressful or expensive
(most of these guys
are paid by the hour, after all). Here are a few tips to
get the best out of your
experience with the pros.
5: Know What Can and Cannot Be Moved
For obvious reasons, most moving companies won't move
cash and other valuables for you.
Professional movers won't just move anything. Many moving
companies
have lists of items they will not transport for safety reasons, such
as
household chemicals, paints and liquids. They may also have a list of things
they won't move for liability reasons, like cash, important papers,
photographs,
pets,
food and medicine. If you plan on bringing these items with you, you'll
have to
pack them up and transport them yourself.
4: Have a Packing Plan
Before your moving day,
determine whether you or the movers will be responsible
for packing and
unpacking your belongings. If you're doing the packing, make
sure you use
plenty of newspaper, bubble wrap or blankets for padding. This
is important because if what you pack breaks during transport, the movers may
not be held liable for
it. Be sure to have enough boxes on hand and label them
with your name, room
destination and contents so it's easier to keep track of
where it all needs to
go in your new space.
Once everything's packed, try
to sort the boxes by weight to make loading easier for
the movers. Keep piles
of boxes away from the doorways so everyone can easily walk
around. Avoid
piling stuff on heavy furniture that will get loaded into the van first.
Moving Apps
There are several home moving checklist aps
that can help you organize your move
on your Apple and Android, or Blackberry
device.
3: Have Insurance
Regardless whether or not you
choose to use the moving company's insurance
services, make sure your
belongings are financially protected. Accidents can
and do happen, so it's best
to have a security blanket in case something breaks
or gets lost along the way.
Moving companies offer
different types of insurance coverage. Two popular
options are by the pound and comprehensive. Insurance by the pound is
options are by the pound and comprehensive. Insurance by the pound is
cheaper, but it doesn't cover much.
For example, if your antique dining
table gets scratched during the move and
needs to be repaired, this type
of coverage will only pay a certain amount
depending on how much the
table weighs. It may not cover all -- or even most of
-- the repair bill.
Comprehensive coverage is more expensive, but it will cover
all damages
and losses.
2: Have Drinks and Snacks
A few bottles of water can really help movers on a hot day.Image Credit: iStockphoto/Thinkstock
Professional movers often have
packed schedules. This is especially true during the
summer months, when more
people tend to switch residences. Movers often don't
have much time to take a
lunch break or make a quick trip to a convenience store
to grab a drink, so be
sure to have refreshments on hand. Go with portable food
options like energy
bars, and have a variety of beverages to offer thirsty workers.
If the weather's
hot, make sure you give a few bottles of water or sports drinks
to each worker
because they'll definitely need the extra hydration.
1: Have Cash for Tips
The movers have been schlepping
your stuff all day, and if you have a
long-distance move, the process is just beginning. They may have a long
drive ahead of them to your new house, or they might need to pack
drive ahead of them to your new house, or they might need to pack
several households'
belongings into a large semi trailer and make several
stops on a cross-country
trip. Any way you pack it, moving's a tough job,
so have some cash on hand to
show that you appreciate their hard work,
especially if they do a quick, thorough
job of taking care of your belongings.
How Much Should You Tip?
You should tip your movers $20 or more per
person for a full day's work.
If you're moving a long distance and the same
group handles your stuff the
whole way, you should pay $100 or more per person.
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