What To Expect When The Movers Come

YAY! You just got orders and your mind is racing trying to think of everything that needs to be done. Before you get too excited, don’t pack a single item! Sure, do some purging, but don’t start taking apart furniture and packing just yet. You’ll need to decide if you're doing a DITY move or a partial move. Many families choose to have military movers take over the literal heavy lifting so they can focus on their travels. If a partial is what you’re planning, you’ll need to prepare for the craziness that may come with packing and moving day! 

To help you prep, we made a list of some things to keep in mind before the military movers come:

1. Don't pack anything! 

Often times, movers don't want you to pack anything. You can take pictures off the wall and place things in piles, but they prefer you to let them pack. The entire process is done by the movers, so you won't need to stress over wrapping, packing and boxing anything. If you have sentimental items that you plan to move yourself, put them in a designated "DO NOT PACK" room or in your vehicle to avoid them being packed on the moving truck. 

2. Realize that it will likely be hard to watch the movers pack your belongings.

A very challenging aspect of having movers pack your stuff is having to stand back and watch. You can't pack anything because they are responsible if anything breaks. It isn't their stuff, so they may not handle it with as much care as you would. This is a hard reality, but you can always ask them to be gentle. Don't be afraid to speak up if something is making you uncomfortable.  

3. Plan to oversee packing day.

Depending on the amount of household goods that you have, the movers may be able to pack majority of it in one day. Not only will they pack it all, but they have to label all boxes and make an inventory sheet, too! The bigger your house and family is, the longer it will take to pack. If you have children or pets, it may be smart to plan for a sitter or drop them off with friends/family. This way they aren't in the way of the movers and you can focus on overseeing your goods be packed. 

4. Loading day could actually be separate from packing day.

Sometimes you may know in advance if loading and packing day could be separate. It is helpful to know this because you can opt to have them leave a mattress out to sleep on if it is going to take more than one day. Often times, they will do a walk through before hand and let you know if they think it will be a one or two day process. Plan for packing and loading to take up to two days and factor it into your travel plans. 

5. Rank plays a role for weight allowance.

Your orders will show your rank and how much total weight you can move to your new location. As your rank increases, so does the allotted amount of weight. If your weight exceeds the moving allowance, you will receive a bill at the time of delivery. This is why it's important to purge your household goods ahead of time to lighten your load. Your "pro gear" will not be factored into the allotted weight allowance. 

6. They will inventory everything, but so should you. 

One of the most important parts of the moving day is the inventory documentation. It's timely and slightly annoying, but it protects both you and the moving company. Often times movers want to be done and get on with their day, so you may have to slow them down and ensure that EVERY item is marked on the inventory sheet. Don't let them leave with having a signed copy of it in your hands for your personal records. It is also helpful to have date-stamped pictures. That way, if the movers claim your mattress was ripped before they touch it, you can prove otherwise. Take photos for your own inventory record. 

A few final tips to help the process go smoothly:

-Create your own inventory list.

-Try to keep calm and relax as much as possible. 

-Keep water on hand.

-Keep the broom and vacuum out to clean as each room is individually packed. 

Lastly, breathe! You will get through this! It can be tough, but you're almost done and soon you'll be on your way to your new home!