Professional Movers: How to Prepare Your Home and Belongings

Did you know that moving is one of the most stressful life events?

Recent research shows that moving to another state is more stressful than a divorce.

Professional movers can make your moving experience less stressful.

However, hiring professional moving services doesn’t mean you won’t lift a finger when relocating. You’ll need to prepare your home and belongings to make the relocation as seamless as possible.

How can you prepare before the professional movers arrive? Keep reading to learn some tips on what you should do to make your experience with the moving pros the best.

Declutter Your Home

You should start sorting out your belongings and determining what you need a month or two before the moving date. Starting the purging process early will give you enough time to donate or sell your unwanted items. Disposing of what you don’t need will also make packing more manageable and reduce the professional movers cost.

The best thing will be to throw away all the worn-out items you can’t reuse. You can donate the belongings in good shape if you don’t need or like them anymore. If you need some extra cash, you can sell the fancier items.

Find Out What Can’t Be Moved and Make a Plan

There are some items that state-to-state movers won’t transport for you. For example, they won’t move hazardous materials, food, plants, or pets.

You may have to find specialty movers or plan how you’ll move your plants and pets yourself. It might also be necessary to give your friends some hazardous materials and perishable foods. You can only make these arrangements if you know what the movers won’t carry in their trucks.

Make a Detailed Checklist of the Items You’re Moving

You should have an inventory list of the belongings you’ll be entrusting to the out-of-state moving companies. The list will make it easier for you to keep track of everything the movers pack and unpack.

Note down all the vital information about every item that the professionals load onto the moving truck. For example, you can note the number of items and the type. You should also note the serial number, brand, materials, the item’s condition, and other features.

This checklist will serve as proof in case your items are damaged or lost during moving. You can also take photos of the expensive items to prove that they are in good condition. You’ll need visual evidence if you have to file a claim for lost or damaged belongings.

Organize and Clean Your Belongings

Make sure you’re not dragging dust from your old home into your new apartment. So, clean and dry all your household items before moving day.

Cleaning and drying your items will make the professional moving and storage of your items safer. It will be one way of ensuring that nothing gets stained while in transit.

Remember to unplug, empty, and clean all your electrical appliances. You should also empty and clean your drawers, bookshelves, and cupboards. You’ll also need to remove and clean furniture covers and linen.

This will be an excellent time to engage professional cleaners to deep clean your home.

Do Your Part in Packing

This part will depend on the roles you’re entrusting to the professional moving companies. If you want them to pick up and transport your items, you need to pack all your belongings before the moving truck arrives.

Make sure you properly designate the boxes to protect your items. For example, you should label the boxes and clarify the handling instructions.

If you hire professional movers for full service, you won’t need to worry much about packing. Still, you can make the packing easier by pre-packing small items like decorations and office supplies.

You should also set aside the items you don’t want the movers to put in the truck. These may include valuables like family heirlooms, small electronic devices, personal documents, and jewelry. You can put these valuables in a separate locked room to avoid misunderstandings.

Prepare and Protect Your Home

Before the professional movers arrive, take measurements of your doorways and hallways. Ensure that large items and furniture can pass through.

If you foresee that your items will not fit through the corridors and staircases, you’ll need to determine the necessary actions. You may have to remove doors or disassemble your furniture. If you can’t do that on your own, you’ll be better prepared to direct the movers.

You should ensure that the movers have enough space to haul your belongings out of your old home. There should be no items in your entryways and corridors as these can get in the way of movers.

In addition to preparing your home, you’ll need to protect it before moving day. Your goal should be to leave it in its best condition. You can protect your home in the following ways:

• Covering floors and carpet with protective materials
• Placing doormats in the entrances
• Placing old rugs in the doorway to keep off rainwater and mud
• Covering the stairs with anti-slippery materials
• Using corner guards
• Covering the walls using old sheets

Plan To Handle Your Kids and Pets

Moving day will turn your home into a dangerous environment for your kids and furry friends. Your snoopy dog or crawling toddler may get underfoot when the movers carry heavy furniture and boxes.

Your pets may escape as the doors will be wide open. In addition, your kids and pets may get uncomfortable with the hectic activities in your home and the presence of strangers.

It would be a good idea to leave your animal companions and kids with a friend or relative. Alternatively, you can hire a babysitter to watch your kids in a separate quiet room. You may lock your pets in a cage.

This way, you will be able to concentrate on the moving activities. You will also minimize the risk that a mover will accidentally trip over your pets when carrying your fragile items.

Get Ready for Professional Movers

You’ll be making a wise decision by trusting professional movers to help you transition to your new home. While they can take care of everything, there are some things you can do before they arrive to facilitate efficient moving.

Are you looking to relocate to another state?

At State to State Moving Systems, we’ll offer you full moving solutions to make your relocation to a new state seamless. Contact us today to get a FREE moving quote.