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Moving tips for a stress-free move.
 

Experience the smoothest relocation you've ever had by following this list of helpful moving tips.

Before you embark on your journey to your new home, review these helpful moving tips to ensure a successful relocation.

Appliances

Relocating appliances requires special care and pre-planning. Shut off all power before connecting and disconnecting or removing large appliances. Some large appliances including air conditioners, washers and dryers, and refrigerators require service prior to moving. Contact your local appliance store for appliance servicing.

Estimates

Moving companies are required to prepare a written estimate of all charges, including transportation, accessorial, and advanced charges. You and the moving company must sign the estimate of charges, and the moving company must provide you with a dated copy. Signing the estimate does not obligate you to that mover.

The inventory process

One of the most important elements of your relocation is the inventory process. Your driver will prepare a detailed inventory list of all the items you are moving, noting the existing condition of each item as it is loaded on the truck. It is your responsibility to understand and participate in the inventory process. Before you sign the inventory list, ask the driver to explain all notations, etc.

During delivery, check in all items as they are unloaded and note exceptions for any missing and/or damaged items. Should you need to file a claim, notations made on the inventory list are critical for settlement.

Items your moving company cannot move

As required by law, moving companies cannot transport potentially hazardous items. If you have any of the following items, dispose of them properly or arrange for them to receive alternative transportation.
  • All batteries
  • All household cleaning products ? specifically those that produce deadly gases or could spontaneously combust when mixed with other chemicals
  • Combustible liquids (e.g., antifreeze compounds, camphor oil, disinfectants, spot cleaners, etc.)
  • Corrosive liquids (e.g., acids, iron/steel rust-preventing compounds, etc.)
  • Explosives (e.g., small arms, ammunition, brick matches, dynamite, explosive flash bulbs, fireworks, souvenir explosives, spear guns with charged heads, cigarette loads, etc.)
  • Flammables (e.g., adhesives, aerosol cans, charcoal briquettes, cleaning fluids, weed killers, gasoline, enamel, hand-signal flares, kerosene, lacquer, leather dressing or bleach, lighter fluids, pocket charcoal camp stoves, lamps or torches, matches, paint, paint/varnish remover, petroleum products, polishes, propane tanks, shellac, liquid shoe polish, solvents, stains, turpentine, varnish, windshield solvent, wines, wood filler, rags soaked in flammable or corrosive substances, etc.)
  • Compressed gases (e.g., engine-starting fluids, fire extinguishers, welding gases, scuba diving tanks, etc.)

Handling valuable items during your home move

If your moving company is providing packing services, secure your valuables off the premises before the first packing day. In doing so, you ensure valuable items, which your moving company cannot ship under any circumstance, will not be mistakenly packed. Your moving company is not responsible for valuable items such as, but not limited to, the following:
  • Cash
  • Checks (personal or bank)
  • Coin collections
  • Collector's memorabilia
  • Credit cards
  • Fur coats
  • Jewelry and watches
  • Stamp collections
  • Valuable or rare documents (i.e., tax papers, bank loans, wills, etc.)
  • Wine

Stay available

Throughout the moving process, you should remain in contact with your moving company. Provide your moving company with your contact information for all phases of the move ? before the move, while your goods are in-transit, and for your new home.

During packing, loading, unloading, and unpacking, you ? or an individual designated by you ? should be present. If you have children, you may wish to hire a babysitter to ensure you're fully accessible at all times.

 
 
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