Move Day Etiquette – How to Help Your Movers

When moving day rolls around, all of the preparations are out of the way and all that’s left to focus on is the logistics of the move. If you’ve hired professional movers, there are a few moving day etiquette norms that you should be aware of. That way, you’ll be able to maintain a smooth and productive move.

At Three Movers, our movers love to move quick and efficiently. While it may seem odd, it is certainly not a weird thing to want to help out your movers. This does not necessarily mean that you should be lifting anything though. Instead, there are other ways you can assist your mover on moving day to help get the job done faster. Being mover ready will do everyone, yourself included, a favor and even save you money in the process.

We’ve compiled a list of some simple, yet, important moving day etiquette to be aware of for your upcoming move. The following are basic actions you can take to make your moving day easier for everyone involved:

Finish Packing Before Moving Day

If you chose to pay for packing services, you can ignore this step. However, if you elected to handle the packing yourself, make sure that you finish before your movers show up. You will make their job considerably easier if your house is ready to go when the moving truck arrives. If your movers have to wait for you to finish packing up the last few boxes, you waste your movers time – time that you are paying for.

You should also organize and label your boxes carefully by room before your movers arrive. This will make it much easier for them to determine which ones have fragile items and may require extra care. It will also simplify the unloading process, helping them to figure out where the boxes should be placed in your new home. Additionally, don’t forget to mark clearly on the box THIS SIDE UP, with an arrow.

Bonus Tip: Don’t pack heavy items in large boxes. Even your professional movers will have a hard time moving a big box filled with hefty books. Split heavy items up into much smaller, more manageable boxes.

Prep your Appliances and Electronical Equipment

In addition to packing, another way you can help your movers is to get your appliances ready early, rather than trying to do it on moving day. This applies to all your appliances and anything electrical that can be unplugged prior to the move. While your movers can certainly disassemble your washing machine for you, you’ll save time, and money, doing it for them.

Make sure that all of your household appliances are disconnected before your movers arrive and prep them in advance. This means, defrosting your freezer, unplugging lamps, clocks, coffee makers, and anything else that needs to requires disconnection.

Bonus Tip: You can make things easier on yourself and the unpacking process by organizing and labelling all of your cords. Once disconnected, place them plastic bags and label them accordingly.

Empty Your Drawers

Not only do full drawers make the item heavier for your movers, it can also present danger related to shifting content and sliding drawers. Because of this, most professional movers simply won’t handle furniture, armoires, or filing cabinets that still have the contents inside.

While some packing experts recommend leaving everything in drawers to simplify packing, it only works if it is done in a way that safely secures everything inside. In most cases, this is done by wrapping the item tightly in plastic. To avoid any potential issues, empty out all of your drawers, desks, and armoires.

Know the Parking Situation

When you’re moving to a new place, it is crucial that you check with the right person about where you movers can park. If your new neighborhood has a shared driveway or HOA, there will most likely be specific rules in place about when and where moving companies can park their trucks to unload. Or, if you’re moving to a high-rise apartment building in the city, it probably has a designated parking and loading spot for a moving truck. You’ll also want to check with the local parking rules established by your city.

If you don’t find out this information well ahead of moving day, you run the risk of your movers ending up with a parking ticket, or even worse, towed. Research the parking regulations beforehand and be sure to let your moving company know all the details as early as possible.

Let Your Movers Do Their Job

Probably one of the best ways that you can help out your movers is to let them do their job. While you may thing that you know the best method for executing your move successfully, you hired experienced, professional movers for a reason. They are highly-trained and skilled in the proper, safe, and efficient way to move everything from your large appliances to your fragile items.

As tempting as it may be to help with the heavy lifting or provide advice, step aside. You will feel less stressed as a result and your movers won’t feel like they’re being micromanaged. After all, they are the experts.

Provide Refreshments

Whether you’ve enlisted friends for help or you’ve hired a professional moving company, make sure that you have plenty of water bottles. Undeniably, moving is hard, back-breaking work. Hauling hefty furniture pieces, awkward mattresses, and heavy boxes will make even the most physically fit people tire and break a sweat. Your movers will be very thirsty and it is common courtesy to, at least, offer them water.

Also, make sure that you arrive at your new home before your movers, allowing enough time to stock up the fridge with some waters. If you’re moving on a hot day, make sure that you have enough water, which may mean having an entire case. On the other hand, if you’re moving day falls during the winter, you may consider providing disposable cups and a hot beverage, such as coffee or hot cocoa. Providing snacks throughout the day is also recommended to keep your movers energized and performing fast and efficiently. They will be very appreciative!

Be Available

Although staying out of the way will make your movers job easier, they shouldn’t be left to completely do it all alone. Make sure that you stay nearby if they need you for anything or have a question. That way they can easily find you. Basic moving etiquette suggests that you should at least stay around the house. If you need to pop out for a short while, make sure that you tell your movers where they can find you. Don’t completely disappear on your movers.

Don’t Forget to Tip!

When you hire a professional moving company, it is customary that you tip each mover an appropriate amount. While tipping isn’t mandatory or even expected, it’s a nice way to thank your movers for their hard work and efficiency. The industry standard for tipping when it comes to a move is typically 10% to 15% of the total move, or around $25 to $50 per mover.

However, the actual amount that should tip your movers will depend on the overall cost of your move and how complicated it was. Also, how many hours did they work, how pleased are you with the service, and how many awkward staircases did they have to navigate? If you do plan to tip, make sure that you have enough cash on hand.

Looking for professional movers? You’ve come to the right place. Look no further than Three Movers for all your moving and storage needs. Call us at (888) 202-0036, or use our convenient online request form for your FREE, no-obligation moving quote.

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