Moving all of your possessions from your current home to your next home involves a lot of organization. If there’s one thing our professional movers know, it’s to expect the unexpected.
One of the best reasons to hire professional movers is that we do this every day. While many do-it-yourself moves go well, many others end up being unnecessarily stressful. Checklists are great, but when it comes to moving a house full of valuable and sentimental furniture and possessions, nothing beats experience.
For example if you move in the winter and it’s a snowy, messy day, are you prepared to protect your floors from water and salt damage at both ends? What about getting large items like appliances and furniture around hard-to-maneuver corners without marking walls? What if someone gets hurt? Do you know how to pack delicate items like lampshades, artwork, and glassware to protect them from potential breakage if the truck hits a bumpy road? What if the truck breaks down or gets into an accident halfway to your new home?
Professional moving companies have the resources and experience to anticipate and handle any number of unexpected situations. Training is the best way to prevent moving disasters. When you shop for a mover, find out if and how the drivers and movers are trained. Ask whether they have a “Plan B” in case of problems, and what you can do to be as prepared as possible when packing and when the move begins.
As tempting as is can be to save money and move yourself, think it through. Are you prepared for the consequences? Are you prepared to deal with the possibility of friends or family members not showing up on moving day? What if they get sick? What if they hurt themselves trying to move heavy items? Do you have a backup plan for extra items in case you misjudge the size of moving vehicle you need? What about plants? Hazardous liquids? Do you have items such as chain saws and lawnmowers with gas in them or grease on them?
There are specialty items that require an unusual level of care or special equipment to move; pianos, pool tables, grandfather clocks, artwork, antiques, etc. The money you save by not hiring a professional mover may end up being spent on repairs if these large and valuable pieces are not handled correctly. Even worse, one-of-a-kind and sentimental items may be lost forever.
All of these considerations and more are covered in the training that all TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® franchisees get and that all of our movers and drivers go through. Among the many things they learn is how to maneuver, wrap, pad, and load items from big-screen televisions to china cabinets filled with breakables.
If you do decide to move yourself, we have moving tips, a moving checklist, and advice about moving special items like pianos, for you on our website.
So when you’re planning your move, give some thought to what might happen along the way and make contingency plans. While you weigh your options, let us provide you a free moving quote. You may decide hiring a professional mover can offer tremendous peace-of-mind and be money well spent.