Relocating and using full service moving company--HELP!

[hentob]

We are relocating to another state next week. We are using professional packers and movers (paid by DH’s company) to move.

We had a representative come through about a month ago to measure items and talk to us about the move. He made it seem like we don’t pack a thing Nothing. Leave pictures on walls, silverware in drawers, china in cupboards, clothes in cabinets. Don’t do a thing

As the time is dwindling, I am getting nervous. I feel like I SHOULD be packing items. My house does not look like a home that is going to be emptied in a week. It is totally intact. Nothing readied. Nothing packed.

Can you please share your full service moving experience with me? Should I be doing something to get ready for this? Very weird.

 

[Magic Mom]

When you move with the military the movers do everything too. Don't pack a thing. Let them do it because if you pack it in boxes, they can't inventory it, and it will be more difficult to file a claim if something is broken or lost.

I do recommend having extra people at the house to keep tabs on what is being inventoried in each room as it is hard to keep track if you are by yourself.

 

[TwinsinCA]

We have moved to a new state 5 times. Each time we were moved by DH's new company. The packers came in and had the entire place packed in a day. Then they moved everything out in a day. They do this for a living. They are quick.

Let them pack it. If there is a box that is PBO (packed by owner) they might not be as willing to cover any breakage since it wasn't packed to their standards. So let them do what they need to do.

If there are things you will need before your belongings get to your new house (clothes, papers, toiletries, etc.), set them aside and let them know so they don't pack it. Because they will pack everything!

 

[lovepurple]

They will pack everything, and I mean everything. They even packed the garbage that we accidentally left in a trashcan in my daughter's room. And I was surprised at how quickly they packed everything up.

 

[hentob]

Because they will pack everything!

Wow. Just wow. We have so much stuff Like books and lego sets and toys. Dear God, so many toys.

Our attic alone seems un-packable

Thanks for the advice. Did it seem weird?

 

[hentob]

They will pack everything, and I mean everything. They even packed the garbage that we accidentally left in a trashcan in my daughter's room.

Oh my. Garbage

OK. I am trusting you guys I won't do a thing.

 

[hentob]

We have moved to a new state 5 times.

Off topic--Do you get used to moving? This is our first relo and I am so nervous. We also have twins. I hope the children adjust quickly.

 

[hentob]

What about things that are already in bins/totes (off season clothing)? Will they just leave them in our containers, or do they transfer them to their own packing materials?

 

[jen0610]

Use to work for a northAmerican Van Lines - and yes, you will want extra people there with eyes on what they are packing and how they are packing. Take picutes of any high priced valuable items to document their condition prior to being picked up.

As they pack, they should be noting the condition of the items - chip or dent or scratch here/there. Make sure if there is notes of these damages on the packing list, that you agree with it before signing the paperwork.

I have a very large collection of Precious Moment figures. I have every single original box that they came in. The last time we had movers do the packing, the company was told that if they weren't going to take the time to pack the figures back into the original boxes, then it would be done by me and they would only have to put the boxes in the large moving boxes. That was agreeable by both parites. They noted it on the packing list that the PM original boxes were packed by the shipper and that when the boxes were put into the moving boxes that the original boxes were unsmashed and in good condition.

 

[Ohiodislover]

They will pack everything, and I mean everything. They even packed the garbage that we accidentally left in a trashcan in my daughter's room. And I was surprised at how quickly they packed everything up.

This is what I was going to say. They do pack everything. When friends of ours moved, the movers packed the dirty ashtrays.

Hentob--I wouldn't be packing stuff, however I might be cleaning through things, and taking the opportunity to get rid of what is unwanted--old clothes, unwanted/broken toys. (When we moved a few years ago, I convinced each of my daughters to get rid of 2 garbage bags of stuffed animals)

 

[traviesojmt]

We have moved many times and have never packed a thing. It is great. There are a few things that I would recommend that you do. Take pictures of your furniture or anything that is valuable. Also, write down serial numbers for all of your electronics. Remember to remove anything out of the house that you do not want packed. They will pack it all. I usually have a room (like a small closet or bathroom) that I keep things I will still need but do not want packed. For example, cleaning supplies, brooms or anything I know I want to take with me. I them put a sign on the door that says "do not pack this room". We have been very fortunate during out moves. We have only had a few unimportant items broken and a couple of items lost. We did have movers who left some bed rails in a closet that wasn't noticed until after they left. So, before they leave, make sure you do a sweep of the house. I also, take down all curtains and have them folded.

 

[DMickey28]

I have moved many many times though only recently with a young child, so not much adjusting by him.

They do pack EVERYTHING. Pack what you want to take with you personally as anything you pack they probably won't be able to take.

Make sure garbage is empty, ashtrays empty, tooth paste covers on, hairspray covers on etc. My parents once unpacked a box way back in the 70's with ash in it from ashtrays ... ick.

 

[Magic Mom]

This is what I was going to say. They do pack everything. When friends of ours moved, the movers packed the dirty ashtrays.

Hentob--I wouldn't be packing stuff, however I might be cleaning through things, and taking the opportunity to get rid of what is unwanted--old clothes, unwanted/broken toys. (When we moved a few years ago, I convinced each of my daughters to get rid of 2 garbage bags of stuffed animals)

Yes yes yes....take the day to de-stash now. Because it is a royal pain to unpack junk that you don't really want. Old clothes, junk toys, the junk drawer in the kitchen, extra sets of pans or dishes you don't use. Get rid of it all. You will be thankful you did.

 

[hentob]

Hentob--I wouldn't be packing stuff, however I might be cleaning through things, and taking the opportunity to get rid of what is unwanted--old clothes, unwanted/broken toys.

We have been doing this. We don't want to take things we do not use with us. The children have been very emotional about getting rid of their unused items

 

[trip]

I have survived several military moves. I would make a list of things you are going to hand carry. (Important papers etc) When it is packing day, put everything you don't want packed in a spare bathroom and put a sign on the door- Don't Pack!



Items You Shouldn't Pack

Professional movers won't move these items and neither should you
The following items are examples of items that the moving companies, by federal law or internal policy, cannot transport.

Hazardous Materials
Items that are flammable, corrosive or explosive:


Aerosols
Ammonia
Ammunition
Car batteries
Charcoal
Charcoal lighter fluid
Chemistry sets
Cleaning solvents
Fertilizer
Fireworks
Gasoline
Kerosene
Lamp oil Liquid bleach
Loaded guns
Matches
Motor oil
Paint thinner
Nail polish remover
Paints
Pesticides
Poisons
Pool chemicals
Propane tanks
Sterno
Weed killer




Perishables
Food, plants or living things that may die or spoil in transit:


Frozen foods
Plants
Produce Refrigerated foods
Open or half used foods


Not recommended
Items of personal importance or sentimental value:


Stamp or coin collections
Deeds or wills
Moving documents
Family photographs Furs
Securities
Cash

 

[golfgal]

Anything YOU pack will not be covered by their insurance in the event of breakage so don't pack anything. Things like Christmas decorations that are already packed you can request that they repack. I know our decorations are packed to be stored, but not moved. Also, if you have any say, get the full replacement cost insurance vs the prorated one.

 

[hentob]

Also, write down serial numbers for all of your electronics.

Oooohhh--Very good suggestion!! Thank you!!

 

[TwinsinCA]

What about things that are already in bins/totes (off season clothing)? Will they just leave them in our containers, or do they transfer them to their own packing materials?

Those will be PBO boxes. We had LOTS of those bins or boxes packed by the previous movers that they just slapped their own sticker on and wrote PBO. They didn't repack things like that.

We did our 5 moves in a 9 year span. Only two of those moves were after we had kids. The girls were 6 months old the first time we moved with them and 2 the second, so they were too young to miss anything we left behind. I hope your kids do well in their new state!

 

[INDISMOM]

My summer job in college was working at a moving company as a packer. Yes, we packed everything. I remember the funniest things were "junk drawers." We would bascially just empty the stuff out on the packing paper and "roll" it up. Half the time it looked like a bunch of trash you were putting on the paper and into the box.

I remember one lady had dirty dishes in the dishwasher. I was packing the kitchen and told her that I would do her dishes last so that she would have time to run the dishwasher. She told me just to pack them dirty! I checked with the lead packer and she told the lady we would pack them dirty if she really wanted, but then she would have to sign a waiver so that if mice got into the truck we weren't responsible. She decided to run her dishwasher!

 

[SandrA9810]

a professional company isn't going to spend days like you would going through, putting like things together, deciding if it's good enough to keep, or other things that generally make it take months to pack up.
They get in there, get done, and leave. I'd make sure you have junk draws cleaned out of anything you don't want to unpack later. Like just do a really good deep cleaning. In the kitchen clean out each cabinet, make sure everything is clean and organized so it's all organized when you get to the new house.
Too many times i've had a stray dish or something pop up in a box that wasn't needed to be unpacked right away. And if it was in the kitchen with the rest, i wouldn't have had that issue.