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Clearly
mark and set aside items you don't want loaded.
This will remind you to tell the driver what not to load as
you conduct your preload walkthrough. Make
sure your important paperwork pertaining to the move doesn't
get packed and shipped with your household goods. |
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Pack
special items for the kids.
Have the kids pack a box of their
"special" items. Point this box out to the driver
so it's one of the first to be unloaded.
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You may
want to arrange for someone to take care of the
kids (and pets) while the movers are packing and
loading your items. Have the caregiver bring the
kids back home prior to the truck leaving as it
important for young children to understand where
their belongings are going. |
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Get
rid of trash and flammable items.
Eliminate as much trash as you can before moving day. Last
minute garbage will inevitably build up the day prior to and
the day of loading. Try making a deal with a neighbor to use
their trash container for your last minute debris.
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Many
items that are considered flammable are not going
to be loaded by the driver and crew. Understand
what these items are so that you are not stuck
with trying to get rid of them on day of loading.
See our list of non-transportable
items. If you are uncertain what items can't
be loaded, ask your estimator for a list. |
Because most household
cleaners can't be transported, they will be available for
you to use throughout the day.
Remove items from
inaccessible areas like crawl spaces or attics.
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Reserve
a parking space for the moving truck.
If you live in a congested area, recruit some
friends and park all of your vehicles one after another in a
space close to your home and do not move them until the
truck arrives. The closer the truck can get to your house,
the better your chances are of not incurring a long
carry charge. |
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Clear
walkways.
Make it safe and easy for your movers to get in and out of
your house by removing all obstructions:
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Move potted plants and
planters from front porch, walkways and driveways.
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Remove all door and floor
mats.
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Remove all rugs. The crew
will protect the floors with a specially designed floor
covering that does not slip.
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Remove low hanging items
such as wind chimes or hanging plants.
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Disconnect the spring on
the screen door so that it stays open during the loading
process.
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If you had the moving
company pack for you, work with them to keep walkways
clear for the driver and crew.
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Point
out special items.
Once the mover arrives, point out items that are most
special to you during the walkthrough. All your items will
be handled professionally, but take a moment to show them
which ones mean the most to you.
Point out the boxes you would like to
have unloaded first, if they are not going into storage.
These boxes may include kitchen and bathroom items, or your
children's toys.
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Take
care of your driver and crew members!
Consider the needs of your driver
and crew members! It is not necessary to prepare an
elaborate meal, as this is the last thing you will have time
for. Still, run out and get some breakfast rolls or cookies
and order pizza for lunch. It is a nice gesture and will be
warmly received.
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Keep water and pop
on hand for yourself and the crew. On very hot summer
days, provide Gatorade or some type of sports drink.
These men and women work hard, handling your most
important possessions. A cool drink can really help.
-
Advise the driver and crew where
to locate the drinks and food so that they do not have
to ask each time.
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Advise the driver and crew which
restroom you want them to use.
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Tipping
Should you? It is completely up to
you. Many individuals do tip the driver and let him disperse
the portion to the crew that they think is appropriate. You
decide! |
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Before
the driver leaves ...
Make sure you understand all the paperwork you are signing
before the driver departs. If there is something that is
confusing to you, ask your driver to explain it before you
sign it.
Provide the driver with your
destination contact information. Take down any information
the driver can provide such as his cell phone, pager and
satellite tracking information. If something changes, you
won't have to wait to be contacted.
Ask the driver if your shipment is the
last he/she will be loading. Find out when the last shipment
goes onto the trailer. This will give you an indication as
to when they will be departing for your new home. Ask the
driver about his/her plans for delivering your items.
Find out as many details as you can
prior to the driver leaving your residence.
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If the driver attempts to
give you a delivery date, keep in mind that it is
really only an estimate at the time of loading.
Many factors can change the schedule for the
driver, so try to remain flexible. Ask the driver
to call you with changes so that you can adjust
your plans accordingly. If you have a delivery
spread (a sequence of 2 or more days that your
shipment can be delivered on and still be
considered on time) understand that you can and
may be delivered on any one of those days.
Take one last sweep of the
house before the driver leaves. Look through all
closets, shelves, in the garage, attic, crawl
space, storage unit, under the stairs, on the
walls and any place else things may be hiding. You
do not want to find out, after the driver is on
the way, that something was left behind.
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You
did it!
You made it through loading day! Give
yourself a pat on the back to congratulate yourself on a job
well done. |
