5 Tips For Preparing For Professional Movers

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 

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 

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.

The article has been written on behalf of: 

Jill Jaracz from http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/home/

5-tips-for-preparing-for-professional-movers.htm