Yes — there are certain items movers won’t move, and you better get thoroughly acquainted with them before you start packing for your local relocation. You don’t want to have to rummage through your boxes to get that bleach bottle or jewelry box out. These are only some of the prohibited items. Let’s go through the rest.
Don’t Pack Hazardous Materials
Hazardous materials are all those things that can be dangerous to transport. These include anything that’s flammable, explosive, and corrosive. Professional local moving companies usually have strict policies regarding these materials, and you shouldn’t take them lightly — they exist for a good reason.
If local movers tell you not to pack your leftover paint and fire extinguishers, listen to them. Trying to smuggle those chemicals can lead to disastrous consequences, and you will be the one to blame. Here’s a list of some of the items to look out for when packing:
- Liquid bleach
- Car batteries
- Cleaning solvents
- Motor oil
- Loaded guns
- Pesticides
- Nail polish and nail polish remover
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Tips to Dispose of Hazardous Materials
You may move some of these household products yourself, but it’s best to avoid transporting them altogether. You never know what can go wrong. Consider giving these materials to your neighbors, family, and friends. If no one wants your kerosene cans and fireworks, you can always follow the advice of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on how to get rid of hazardous household waste.
Personal Items Movers Won’t Move
When hiring a company to help you with your local residential move to a new home, you need to think about your valuables carefully. Most of these companies don’t have a policy against transporting personal items, but they are not keen on doing so. However, you should know better than to shove your medical records, jewelry, and laptop in the moving van. These things should travel with you. Here are some valuables to set aside while packing:
- Cash
- Credit cards
- Jewelry
- Devices and gadgets
- Medicine
- Important documents
How to Get Your Valuables Ready for the Move
Even if you enlist the packing services of a professional local moving company, you should take care of the valuable things yourself. Before the movers arrive, make a list of all personal items you don’t want traveling in the back of the van, find them, pack them, and set them aside. These should travel in your car.
Leave Your Plants Behind When Moving: They Wouldn’t Survive Anyway
If you have a green thumb and an even greener home, prepare to pack and transport your philodendrons, hoyas, and ficuses across town yourself.
Professional companies will usually refuse to transport your plants, even if it’s only locally. The temperature in the van can get high, and there’s always a danger that something will crush them or they’ll fall over. No need to worry though — you can sell them online and buy fresh ones for your new home. Some house plants can get you quite a bit of money. You may also give them out for free to your friends and neighbors.
Your Pets Should Move With You
This should go without saying, but let’s say it anyway for emphasis — pets are not stuff, and they should travel with you. Even if your cat is the best-behaved fluff in the world that will stay put in their transporter, you mustn’t leave them in the cold (or hot) dark truck.
Moving companies don’t transport pets anyway, short or long distances. They don’t want to be responsible if anything happens to them along the way. So take your furry friend with you to your new home. If you’re traveling by plane, you may want to check out some tips on how to prepare them for the flight.
Perishable Items Have No Place in the Moving Truck
Food is not allowed in the moving truck. Even if you’re relocating within the same town, you should avoid transporting perishable things. They can spoil easily and even attract various pests that could damage your belongings. Movers are well aware of this and will not transport your frozen veggies, open cans of pineapple, and the like. Try to consume all the perishable food in your home before it’s time to pack everything up. Plan for your groceries in advance so that you don’t have to throw anything away.
Contact Your Movers Before You Start Packing
Before you dive into your stuff and start shoving it into bags and boxes frantically, call All In Moving. We can offer you some tips on where to start, how to best approach the heap in your wardrobe, etc. Apart from that, our agents will tell you all about the big no-nos we can’t transport.
When Requesting a Free Quote, Ask About the Items We Won’t Transport
If you’re considering hiring All In Movers for the job, you can always ask us to provide you with a list of prohibited things along with a free quote. This will allow you to compare prices and get a clear picture of what you’ll have to transport yourself. This way, you won’t have to worry about unpacking already sealed boxes, and you’ll get a better sense of how to organize your stuff.
