How to Prepare for Professional Packers

If you’ve hired a professional removal team to do the laborious packing for you, then that was a very wise decision.

Packing is arguably the most time-consuming task during a move and by having professionals do it for you, you’ll have plenty of time to devote to other important aspects of the relocation, such as spending more time with your children or saying a proper goodbye to your friends and neighbours.

However, despite the full-service move you’ve requested, you’re still not off the hook as far as moving preparations go and still need to complete a few important tasks before the removal team knocks on your door.

If you’re asking yourself, “What to do before the removal company arrives?”, then just read on to find out how to get ready for the arrival of your removal crew.

You may also like to read: Are Professional Packers Worth the Money? If you are still undecided about whether to hire professional packers then this guide tells you what they do, how much on average they cost, and explains how they will make your home move so much easier.

Get Rid Of Useless Stuff

The more items you have for moving, the more money you will have to pay for their packing and transportation.

The best solution in this case is to try and downsize considerably the number of your household belongings.

Make sure you have enough time to go through your personal effects one by one and decide the fate of each one.

Relocation experts say that if you haven’t used something for more than a year, then it’s probably time to let it go.

Once you’ve sorted out the items you will not be taking with you, separate them into 3 different piles – things to be sold (either online or through a car boot sale), things to be given away to family or friends, or donated to charity, and finally the worthless stuff that just needs to be thrown away.

You may also like to read: The Epic Guide to Decluttering for a Home Move. In this guide, we share tips on the easiest way to declutter each room of your home. We also suggest ways to emotionally detach yourself from your possessions which can be the hardest thing of all when decluttering.

Create A Moving Inventory

It’s important to create an itemised checklist that lists everything ready to be packed by the moving experts.

Mark the type of the item, its quantity, and its current condition, and leave an extra empty field for any comments you may have.

You can use your computer to compile the inventory faster and then print it out for easier access.

It is also worth taking photographs of any valuable items so that you record their condition before they are packed. This will be especially useful should the worst happen and you need to make an insurance claim.

Having made an inventory, when your things are delivered to your new home, you can easily check off the items against the detailed checklist and spot any problems right away.

If you do find out that some of your things are missing or damaged, then you should immediately contact your removal company, let them know of the unfortunate event, and request more information on what you should do next to file a damage claim.

You may also like to read: How to inventory your home when moving. In this guide, we explain in far more detail how to make an inventory of the things you will be moving to your new home.

Be Mindful Of Non-Allowable Goods

For safety reasons, your removal team won’t pack household items that are considered dangerous for transportation.

It’s your obligation to properly dispose of the hazardous ones (flammable and corrosive substances), use up the perishable ones (fresh or frozen foods), find adequate ways to transport the fragile ones (pets and plants), and keep the valuable ones with you.

Don’t forget to request from your removal company the list of items that are forbidden to be loaded onto the removal van.

You may also like to read: How to Pack and Move Things Your Removal Company Can’t. In this guide, we explain how to safely pack and move the items that your removal company cannot move for insurance purposes.

Pack An Essentials Box Beforehand

The useless and non-allowable items aside, there are still some essential things that you should pack before the arrival of the professional packers.

The idea of preparing a moving day essentials box is that you may need to spend the last day or night at your old home, or the first day at your new residence without having access to your convenient household goods.

This is why such a pre-packed moving box (or boxes for that matter) is also known as a survival kit – you’re going to have to literally survive until your effects join you once more.

Consider placing the following useful items into your box: medicine, kitchen utensils, non-perishable food, toiletries, entertaining games for your kids or pets, a set of small hand tools, and so on. Also, remember to take a change of clothes for each family member.

Ensure that this box is kept well away from the things that the packers have boxed up. This box must be kept with you and not loaded onto the removal lorry.

You may also like to read: How to Pack an Essentials Box. In this guide, we suggest things that you may like to include in your moving day essentials box.

Keep Your Children And Pets Safe

Your young children and pets should be kept out of harm’s way when the removal team does their work.

The best case scenario is for you to take care of your young children since you won’t be the one packing for a move.

However, if that is not possible, arrange for someone to look after your little ones and keep them away from the packing activities.

Pets should also be kept away for their own safety and well-being.

The upheaval, noise, and stress, as well as the possibility of doors being left open and them escaping, can be mitigated by having them looked after away from the home.

You may also like to read: 20 Tips for Moving Home With a Young Family. In this guide, we share some tips to make moving home with a young family less stressful and easier for all of you.

Get Additional Insurance

Consider purchasing additional moving insurance if some or most of your items have high monetary or sentimental value.

Why? Well, even though your professional packers and removers are experts who have been rigorously trained to take every care possible when packing, carrying, loading, and unloading your belongings, accidents do happen, accidents that may be beyond the control of your removal firm.

Discuss with your removal company the available options for getting adequate protection for your personal effects while the latter are in their possession.

You may also like to read: Do you Need Home Moving Insurance? Being underinsured is one of the most common home moving mistakes. In this guide, we tell you all you need to know about getting the right insurance cover for your home move.

Final Preparations Before Your Packers Arrive

Are you ready for your hired packing help? It’s time to take care of a couple more tasks before your professional packers arrive:

• Make sure your large kitchen appliances, such as refrigerators, freezers, washing machines, dishwashers, electric or gas cookers, microwave ovens, etc. are empty, clean, and unplugged from the main power.
• Be a good host and prepare some snacks and drinks for the professional packers to keep their energy elevated throughout the packing ordeal

Now that you know how to prepare for professional packers and movers, you’re definitely going to speed up the moving preparations by completing the following relocation tasks beforehand:

• downsizing your personal effects,
• compiling a moving inventory,
• using up or getting rid of items forbidden for transportation,
• packing a survival kit,
• keeping your children and pets away from the packing epicentre, and
• getting extra protection for your household items.

If you have any more questions or concerns about your home move you will find the answers in our home moving blog, be sure to check it out.