How to get your home ready for the movers and packers

Preparing Your Home for the Movers and Packers
It's a good idea to take some time to get your home prepared for your MoveBuilder movers and packers before moving day.  In fact, I think you'll find that a little pre-move organization actually does more than make life easier on your moving help…you'll likely save time and money in the process.  Am I right that saving either of these precious commodities sounds pretty good when you're smack in the middle of moving?

If you've visited movebuilder.com, you know that MoveBuilder moving estimates are based not on the amount of time it takes the movers and packers to pack and load your items, but on the amount of space your shipment occupies in the moving trailer (or number of ReloCubes you use).  That simply means that in order to save money, you want to avoid moving more than you need.  My advice?  If there is anything you don't want, haven't used in the last year, or won't use at your new home, leave it behind.  That may mean a garage sale, a trip to Goodwill or a drive to the city dump is in store.

I recommend starting with what I'll call the "purging process".  At least 60 days before your move, begin gradually going through rooms, closets, drawers, the garage etc. to separate the things you want to move from the things you want to get rid of.  Two months out may sound extreme, but I think you'll find it will help you keep from being in a stressful rush when it's crunch time.  In my experience, when people are in a rush, they either trash the stuff they actually need, or move stuff they don't.  Now you've got plenty of time to make wise decisions.

You'll also want to determine if you have furniture or appliances that require disassembly or special preparation for moving.  The movers and packers normally won't prepare these items (other than the disassembly of standard beds and dressers/mirrors).  Consider things like the washer, dryer, refrigerator, piano, water bed, etc.  If you kept your user manuals, read about preparation for moving or disassembly, if you didn't, you may be able to find a copy here:  http://homeappliance.manualsonline.com/.

If you aren't able to prepare them on your own, let us know and we can arrange a third party service to do the work for you.

Then, think about the structure of your house.  Will the movers have difficulty getting large furniture or appliances through doorways?  If so, you'll want to take steps ahead of time to resolve any potential issues.  That may mean taking doors off hinges, removing door frames, removing legs from furniture etc. 

What to expect from MoveBuilder movers and packers

Once you're successfully through with the purging and preparation process, it will be time for the movers and packers to get to work.  I think it's noteworthy (especially considering you're putting all of your belongings in someone else's care) to mention that all MoveBuilder movers are pre-qualified and have mastered MoveBuilder's rigorous training requirements.  So you can expect experienced movers to pack and load your belongings.

Normally the packing process will begin one to two days before your move day— depending on the size of your home. The packers are responsible for placing all non-furniture items in boxes.  Keep in mind that everything that isn't furniture goes in a box— even the awkwardly shaped items.  Your packers can actually "build" boxes to fit any sized item. 

The supplies needed to pack your items, including boxes, news print and box tape, are included in your price.  During the estimate and reservation process, your MoveBuilder representative will estimate the amount of supplies needed for your move— that's one of the reasons we ask such a long list of questions.   If you have any unusually shaped, or large non-furniture items, or if you think of things later that you forgot on the original estimate, make sure to advise your MoveBuilder so they can better estimate the number of boxes you'll need before the packers arrive.

Once the packing job is complete, the movers will come on moving day to start loading the moving trailer or ReloCube. They'll start by wrapping all of your furniture in paper padding— the material used for overseas military moves. They'll also do minor disassembly of standard beds and dressers/mirrors.  Once everything is wrapped, they'll begin loading it into the trailer or ReloCube. You'll notice that they tie the shipment off as it's being loaded.  Of course, this is to lessen shifting of your belongings while they're in transit. Then, once everything is loaded, they'll install the bulkhead— a divider wall that goes up after your goods are loaded.

So that's how it works.  If you've ever moved on your own before, you know that to get the packing and loading process right, it takes a lot of skill, patience and experience. I think you'll find exactly that from your MoveBuilder movers and packers. 

Any questions? Let us know!