Working with professional movers doesn’t mean the homeowner can escape the entire process. Homeowners will still need to prep the house for the moving company before they arrive to pack them up. Realtor.com® recently highlighted several of the items homeowners should do before the moving company arrives, including:
Protect your floors.
To help avoid damage to the house, remove anything fragile that could be in the path as furniture and boxes get moved. “Lightbulbs, fixtures, pictures, mirrors, wall hangings should be removed from the main areas where furniture will be moved,” Pat Byrne, operations manager of Moving Ahead Moving & Storage, a Long Island–based moving company, told realtor.com®.
Notify the movers about any hardwood flooring. “If you have hardwood floors or tile in any rooms, let your movers know ahead of time so they can prepare the right materials—and make sure your contract includes hardwood floor protection,” Miranda Benson, marketing coordinator at Dolly, a San Francisco–based moving company, told realtor.com®.
Make a clear path.
Make the movers’ job easier and think ahead to a variety of potential obstacles on moving day. For example, consider the parking situation outside your home. Where can the movers leave their truck when packing up? “If you live in an apartment building or if there is limited parking in your area, ask the movers if they will handle the logistics or if you need to do so,” suggests Ali Wenzke, author of The Art of Happy Moving. You may even need the local city government to get involved to get appropriate signage and allowances. Also, ensure that the driveway and front access points of the home are clear of any debris, such as kids’ toys, or anything that could pose a slip hazard, Byrne says.
Be available.
Don’t supervise the mover by hovering as they pack you up, but be readily available to answer any questions. Alert the movers to anything special they should know that could impact how they move out your furniture and boxes.
“There are little things about your house that you only learn from living there: The hallway closet door never stays closed, the third step down has a slight bend, a pack of hornets tends to congregate around the back door, so use the front—these are all valuable things that make your movers’ lives easier,” Benson told realtor.com®. “On top of that, being available to answer questions, whether that’s in person or via phone, can make your move much smoother.”
Read more moving preparation tips at realtor.com®.
Source: “6 Surprising Things You Never Knew You Had to Do Before the Movers Arrive,” realtor.com® (Aug. 5, 2019)
