Working with Professional Movers Maryland

Using professional movers can seem like a dream come true. Movers come to your house, pack your belongings, and move them to your new home for you. What could be better? But a smooth move requires you to be prepared as well.

Here are some tips to help you get ready for the big day when dealing with professional movers.

Selecting the right professional movers
With so many options in moving companies, it can be very daunting when choosing with whom to work. Take your time with this important decision. Interview any potential professional movers; you probably want to interview a minimum of three. Be sure to find out the following.

• How long has the company been in business?
• Does the moving company have references? Follow up and actually call the references.
• Does the company have any complaints lodged against it?
• Are these professional movers able/willing to move everything? Will they move the piano and the pool table?

Check with your friends, neighbors, and even real estate agent for recommendations for professional movers.

How to prepare for the big day
If you want your move to go smoothly, there is a lot of prep that you need to do. Even if the professional movers are packing all of your belongings, you still need to prepare so that the move is fast and efficient. This can save you money.

• Know the price before hand. Get the cost of the move in writing before the moving begins. Stories of professional movers holding people’s possessions at ransom are frightening and true.
• Save money and time by packing as much as you can beforehand. While this may seem obvious, you can really waste time and money if the professional movers show up and you are still packing boxes. If the movers aren’t packing for you, have everything boxed, labeled and ready to go.
• If the professional movers are packing your belongings, remember to pack your valuables yourself. For example, don’t let the movers pack jewelry or a valuable coin collection. Be on the safe side and pack and transport these items yourself.
• Also, don’t leave valuables lying around. A camcorder, digital camera, or money can easily be pocketed. If you want to take pictures of the move or final pictures of your old house, keep the camera close to you.
• Have your appliances prepped. Professional movers typically are not allowed to unplug appliances. Unplug them, wrap up the cords and hoses, and have the refrigerator empty before the movers arrive.
• Keep like items near each other. If you want your son’s toys to arrive in the same box, make sure they are in one location and not spread throughout the house. Movers tend to pack by room, not by like items.
• If your movers are doing the packing, resist the temptation to start boxing. Very stringent methods of packing – you’re probably not going to be up to standards
• Clear doorways and paths to where truck will be loaded
• Get a list of items that cannot be shipped by your movers. Common non-allowables include hazardous materials (propane, aerosols, fertilizer for example) and perishables (frozen food, produce, plants).
• Be prepared to provide food and drink. Have lots of water bottles on hand for the movers, especially if the move is during the summer. Also, you’ll need to feed them, too. Pizza or fast food usually does the trick.
• Find out the tipping policy before moving day and have cash ready. Many professional moving companies expect you to tip the movers in addition to paying the moving fee. Plan on enough tip for all of the movers.

Plan ahead and you can help moving day to go more smoothly with your professional movers. Be sure to do the little things, like food and water, to keep the movers happy. You want to stay on good terms with them since they are moving everything you own.