If you’re planning a move, hiring movers is one way to ease the stress and burden of moving day. But what exactly do movers do?
Look for a licensed, insured company. A lack of credentials should raise flags, as should a truck not marked professionally. Additionally, consider whether a mover offers additional services, such as storage or furniture disassembly. If you hire movers for your move, they’ll ensure all your items are safely and securely boxed up. They may even wrap fragile or valuable items in blankets and linens before placing them into boxes.
Depending on the size of your home, it could take movers up to several hours to pack up your belongings. They may need to dismantle some furniture pieces as well. If you’re moving to a new house or office, the movers will transport your furniture and other equipment from your old place to your new space. They’ll also unpack your boxes and place your items in closets or cabinets for you.
Professional movers usually have well-maintained trucks and vans that can hold a lot of items. They’ll use smaller vehicles if they can’t fit your large items in their larger trucks, which will save you money.
Most movers work flexible schedules and can pick their own shifts. Some choose to work weekends or evenings, while others prefer weekdays. You may also find a few who are willing to relocate you during non-busy seasons, such as summer. This means your move won’t interfere with your family and personal life as much as it would during the winter.
You should start packing your items weeks or even months in advance of your move. This will give you less stress when moving day arrives, and it can reduce the number of things you have to haul with you on your drive to your new location. Ideally, you should start by packing off-season items like winter coats and books you won’t need again.
Full service movers will provide all packing materials needed for your move, including boxes, tape, and paper. They can also supply additional padding for your fragile items, such as bubble wrap. They’ll also provide the appropriate amount of furniture blankets and shipping supplies for long-distance moves.
If you have any items that aren’t suitable for packing, such as liquid laundry detergent or bleach, consider donating them to charity. If you’re not able to donate them, contact 1-800-Got-Junk or another junk removal service that will haul away your unwanted items for a small fee.
They’ll Move Your Items
Professional movers have the tools, trucks, and experience to pack and move your belongings. They work as a team to get the job done quickly and efficiently. The team leader directs the other movers to complete tasks such as loading, transporting, and unloading items from boxes. They take care to protect your possessions and keep the contents of your boxes organized. They also handle heavy items, such as your refrigerator and washer and dryer. They may also disassemble furniture pieces such as tables with removable legs, bookshelves, and entertainment systems to make them easier to transport.
A full service moving company will also offer packing and storage services. They’ll supply boxes and other packaging materials, as well as supplies like furniture blankets for additional padding. They’ll help you to inventory your items and can provide you with an accurate quote. This can be very helpful if you’re trying to budget your move.
Many movers also offer moving and storage insurance options to safeguard your possessions. Be sure to ask about the types of coverage offered and what is and isn’t included. You should also look for movers who are licensed and insured by the U.S. Department of Transportation for interstate moves or by the state for local moves.
There are some items movers won’t move for you, including firearms, ammunition, and explosives. Some movers won’t transport outdoor equipment such as lawn mowers or propane tanks, and others won’t carry hazardous chemicals such as cleaners, bleach, ammonia, and paint thinner. They also won’t move cash, medical and financial records, medicine, or personal items that you keep in a safe deposit box.
Most movers will wrap your furniture in protective blankets and wrap it in stretch film for extra protection. They’ll then load it onto their trucks, ensuring that heavier items are loaded first. They’ll also make a point of marking the sides and tops of your furniture with the contents and destination. Finally, they’ll dispose of any empty boxes or other trash. If you’re using a full-service moving company, they’ll also offer to unpack your items and set them up in your new home.
They’ll Store Your Items
If you have a lot of items that you want to move but don’t have room for them at your new house, you can ask your moving company to store them. This service is usually available for an extra charge, but it can save you some time and hassle. Movers will also pack your items safely and securely, so they will arrive at your destination in immaculate shape.
Movers are experienced in handling a variety of types of items. They will know how to protect delicate items from damage, maneuver heavy items down a flight of stairs, and pack them efficiently into a truck. They will also be able to give you a precise estimate of how long the process will take.
When your movers arrive, they will inventory your shipment as they load it. The inventory provides a detailed list of all the items being loaded for transport, including a description and the number of boxes. You should check it carefully to ensure everything is there and that the information is correct. If you want to add any special instructions, now is the time to do so.
The driver will sign the inventory as proof that it was received in good condition by the moving company. You should keep this document as a record of your move. If the shipment is being transported from one city to another, your mover will also prepare a bill of lading, which acts as a contract between you and the moving company for the transportation of your shipment.
It is important to give your movers enough notice of your move date. Ideally, you should schedule your move no later than six weeks from your actual moving date. This gives estimators sufficient time to visit your home and complete what is called a visual survey of your shipment. If you are unable to provide this amount of notice, then try to schedule your move as early in the month as possible.
Your movers will notify you of the delivery date that they are scheduled to deliver your shipment. They will not agree to any amended delivery dates once your shipment is in transit. If you need to amend the delivery date, then you should contact your mover directly.
They’ll Deliver Your Items
When moving day arrives, the movers will do the heavy lifting and carefully load your items onto their trucks. They may also crate or wrap furniture items for added protection. In addition, full-service movers will pack up the boxes for you. This can save you a lot of time and stress. If you’re a do-it-yourselfer, be sure to properly label all of your boxes and clearly mark them as fragile.
Your movers will prepare a bill of lading, which is your contract with the mover for their services. It will specify the dates of service, including what is known as a delivery window. The delivery window is a range of days during which your shipment will be delivered to its final destination. It is common for a delivery window to be several weeks long, especially if you are moving interstate.
A standard tractor-trailer that transports household goods can only hold about 25,000 pounds of freight at one time. This is why a typical moving company will try to fill their truck up as much as possible by combining multiple shipments traveling the same route. This way, they can get the most out of their time on the road and provide you with the best possible service.
Depending on your needs and the extent of your service package, movers will sometimes offer specialty services like disassembly and reassembly of large furniture pieces. They may also offer storage services for short or long periods of time. Many movers will even handle the connection or disconnection of gas and electrical appliances.
If you hire a full-service mover, they will inventory your belongings as they’re packing them up. Then, when your delivery date arrives, they’ll make a list of all of your items that have been packed. This list will include your box numbers and an itemized listing of the contents of each box. The movers will also give you a copy of this inventory.
If you’re moving interstate, the drivers of your mover’s truck will usually call ahead to let you know a general time frame for your delivery. If you’re not home during the designated time, your movers will either charge you a waiting fee or they’ll leave the shipment at a local warehouse to be delivered at another time.