You've decided to make moving day much easier and you hired professional packers. Maybe you've never hire someone to pack up your home before and you're not sure how to prepare. There are several things you may want to do before your packers arrive.
Let's look at some of the most important things you should do before packers arrive to box up your home.
Purge
The first thing you should do, and if possible before you hire packers, is purge anything you don't need, want, or desire. Go through all your belongings and get rid of anything you won't need or simply don't want at your new home.
Moving is a great time to take an inventory of what you own and donate, dispose of, recycle, or sell unwanted items. Along with helping you minimize your items and see what you have, purging will also help you save money as you'll have less to pack and move.
Take Out Anything You Prefer to Pack Yourself
You probably have items you don't want someone else handling. Maybe you don't want packers touching your prized jewelry or personal effects. Now is the time to separate all the valuables, mementos, paperwork, and other items you want to pack on your own.
Separate the Fragile
Maybe you have antiques, artwork, or other fragile items you want packers to know about. Before they arrive, separate these items to ensure they understand which items needs to be handled with extra care.
You can place all of these items into one room and label the room as fragile items or you can put them into to corner with a label. However you go about it, make sure you communicate to the packing crew which items are fragile and require special handling.
Create an Item Inventory
An inventory of all your possessions helps to protect you if something is damaged or lost. It will also help you to see what you own and what you may need in your new home. Make sure you take an inventory of all your possessions before the packing crew arrives.
Handle the Items Professional Packers Won't
There are some items professional packers won't pack for you. It's your responsibility to pack up these items or dispose of them and you should do this before the packing crew arrives.
Some of the items you will likely need to handle on your own include:
Hazardous item - Paint, flammable materials, weapons, chemicals, corrosive items, ammunition, chemicals, oils, etc.
Perishable Food
Plants
Anything else the packers have specifically said they won't pack
There are several things you may want to do before the packing crew arrives. Make sure you speak with them to find out if they require you to do anything specific before they arrive.
In addition to the list above, you may want to clean your home. Often, this is required at move out, anyway, so it may be a good idea to have the home clean when the packing crew arrives. Also, make sure you're a good host to your packers and movers.