By Julie DeLong, A-1 Freeman Moving Group
With the right techniques, you can actually go on vacation and get your house moved at the same time, so you can come home to a mostly-set-up new house. Here's how it's done:
The key to this approach is that moving companies can and will pack up your entire house, even if you are away. They can even unpack into the new home including furniture assembly. If you must or want to be away during a move, it's easier than you think.
The first step is to hire a household goods moving company that you can trust. Research local moving companies with glowing reputations and packing/unpacking services. Get quotes, talk to the movers, do anything you need to be confident you're working with the right team.
When you're ready, hire your movers for a full pack-and-move service. They will be happy to explain how this works and help you build a schedule. Chances are, they will want to do an in-home estimate to give you an accurate quote.
There are some things that movers can't pack or move for reasons of safety, insurance, or both. There are some things you need special licenses or approval to move. These things include:
Before you leave for your vacation, make arrangements for any of these things to make their own way. Your movers will likely have helpful suggestions for how to ship or transport anything that they cannot, as a policy, move for you.
During your vacation, keep your cell on. Traditionally, people moving are on the road at about the same time as the moving truck and communication is key. If you are on vacation, a business trip, or are otherwise away during the move your movers will still need a way to contact you. So, make sure they have current contact information, keep your cell phone on and be ready to answer questions along the way.
Have a friend or colleague who lives in the area be your on-site decision maker. This is someone who can be present for packing, loading and unloading and who can handle anything that comes up as the movers pack and transport your things. Choose someone you trust to make decisions on your behalf that you'd agree with. This person will also be responsible for signing the origin and destination paperwork on your behalf.
Once the moving plans are all set, resolve to trust your professional movers. Don't worry about calling to check-in every five minutes. When you've hired a team to take care of a long process like moving for you, "no news" is good news. If you've done all the preliminaries correctly, then the move will take care of itself.
Interestingly, you don't even need to be home to unpack and arrange your home. Moving services sometimes offer an unpacking service including furniture assembly. With a few detailed instructions, you can set up an unpacking service that will put almost everything exactly where you would put it. Again, your designated contact will need to be on-site to sign paperwork.
Finally, you can come home from your vacation to a new home that is already unpacked and waiting for you. No piles of boxes and furniture to move. Instead, you can arrive with full suitcases and a phone full of travel photos to assembled beds, a dish-stocked kitchen, and clothes hanging in the closets.
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If you must be away during the move or prefer to avoid all the chaos of packing and unpacking, then with a little extra preparation, it's possible to hire a professional moving company to handle the entire process so you can come home to a fully moved household in the new location. For more on how moving services can flex to accommodate your moving needs, contact us today!
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