How do moving companies safely move furniture in the rain?

Have you ever wondered what happens when you plan for a moving day, with everything that is involved in it (here’s a moving day checklist!), just to find out it’s going to be raining that day? It’s not like you can move the date when you’ve already made the arrangements with the schools, the office, your utility companies, and your moving crew.

The fact is that sometimes rainy days happen and the show must go on. That is why it’s important to be prepared ahead of time that in the event of rain, moving companies know how to safely move your furniture regardless. Take a look at what you can count on from the moving company when it comes to inclement weather.

Pack extra well

The good news is that you can move on a rainy moving day but you will have to be prepared for some additional steps in the process. You’ll need to not only ensure that all items are sealed in their containers, but you’ll have to be carefully prep both the home you are leaving and the home you are moving into in order to avoid accidents. The first step is to make sure everything is packed extra well.

For wood furniture, you can use heavy furniture blankets to protect it from getting wet. If you have large artwork, you’ll want to wrap it in plenty of plastic wrapping to avoid moisture getting to it. If you have bulky items that aren’t going into a container, make sure you cover them in a large trash bag to avoid rain getting to them.

Your local moving company should have everything from plastic covers to mattress pads for you to rent for the process. Everything going into cardboard boxes should be sealed well with packing tape and checked for any possible openings where rain could get access. You may want to avoid having anything outside of containers in order to avoid any possibility of the items getting rained on.

Prepping the moving space

The home you are moving out of was probably going to need some protection to avoid any issues on moving day, such as coverings on the edges where the walls meet in order to avoid damage or a room where the pets can stay in order to stay out of the way of the movers. When it comes to a rainy moving day, you’ll have to also consider how to avoid slip and falls, as well as tracking in mud and water.

The first step would be to line your entryway and porch with towels to help with tracking in water or mud since everyone would step on that before entering the house. Next, make sure everyone is in all-weather shoes or boots to avoid slips while carrying boxes. Lastly, have the movers show you that the moving truck has no leaks so that if small leaks are causing water dripping through, you can duct tape them to ensure your belongings will not be affected.

Your new home will need some attention to. Make sure to lay down rugs or towels in front of the front door to avoid tracking in anything that might cause a slip. Your utilities should be set up in advance which means that you’ll be able to warm up or cool off the space during the moving process.

They’ll work in an assembly line

Lastly, your moving team will likely work in an assembly line on a rainy day to help things get done a bit faster during this rainy day, as well as to help protect your floors. One person will stand on the inside and another will stay on the outside, avoiding any shoes tracking in through the house. This can also work well for moving into the new house so that moisture and mud can stay outside the home.

Tips for Overseeing a Move In or Move Out

When you're moving, you will likely be overseeing both a move in and a move-out. Hiring The Professional Moving Specialists will go a long way to making the move in and move out easier, but you will still need to be in charge of overseeing both. 

You want to do everything within your power to remain in control and ensure efficiency during your move. Proper planning will help and here are some of the best tips you can use for overseeing a move in or a move-out.

1. Arrive Early and Prepared

If you're not currently living in your old home, you want to arrive for the move out before the movers do. It's good to arrive prepared and ready to start the day when the movers arrive. 

You'll want to be there to start planning everything, help direct the mover to the correct parking spot, and avoid getting charged for movers waiting for you.

2. Know What You’re Taking With You

When moving out, you want to know what you'll be taking in your vehicle. Valuables, paperwork, and other items you don't want the movers packing should be separated to help you remember what you plan to move in your own vehicle.

You can block off a corner of a room or dedicate a specific room to the items you plan to move yourself. Make sure you pack these items ahead of time and you know what's going with you and what's going with the movers.

3. Have a Furniture Floor Plan Ready

During a move in, you want to have a furniture floor plan ready for the movers. This will help them bring in heavy furniture items, put them in the right place, and leave them there. If they have to rearrange furniture, you could get charged extra for their time. 

In fact, some moving companies will only arrange furniture once. If you want to avoid having to arrange the furniture yourself, create a floor plan ahead of time for the movers to follow.

4. Inform Movers of All Fragile Items

While fragile items should be well marked, it's also a good idea to separate these items and inform movers they are fragile. The more you communicate with the movers, the easier it will be for them to ensure your things are properly packed into their truck.

5. Be Prepared with Waters

Movers appreciate the small gesture of offering them water or sports drink. They work hard and need to stay hydrated. Especially in the summer, have a few bottles of water or sports drinks ready for the movers when they arrive. 

Let them know where they are and that they can help themselves when they are thirsty. This will help save a little bit of time, as well, as they won't have to ask or go to the truck in search of their own drink. 

When you're moving into a new home and/or out of an old home, you want to stay on top of the moving process. With these five tips, you'll be better prepared to oversee moving in and moving out when hiring movers for a residential move.

What it Means to be a Full Service Moving Company

When you start searching for the right moving company for your needs, you may encounter different types of movers. Some moving companies specialize in moving very heavy items, such as pianos, while others are known as full service moving companies.

Understanding what a full-service moving company is will help you to make the right decision for your needs. Let's look at what a full service moving company provides.

Is Full Service Really Full Service?

As the name implies, a full service moving company will handle everything you need from the beginning to the end of the move. If you don't want to take on the physical tasks of moving or you simply cannot handle it, hiring a full service moving company makes sense. Some of the things a full service moving company will handle include:

• Packing

• Loading

• Driving the truck

• Unloading

• Unpacking

In addition, your full service moving company will help with planning, ensuring you get an accurate estimate and more.

Packing and Unpacking

Not all moving companies offer packing and unpacking services. However, a full service moving company will offer both services to ensure you don't have to do much of anything during the move. 

Your full service moving company in Chicago will supply all the necessary packing materials and supplies. They will pack up all the items you ask them to pack and use the proper boxes and materials to ensure everything is fully protected. Once the items arrive at the new location, they will take the boxes to the specified rooms and unpack them for you.

Loading and Unloading

Most moving companies, whether full service or not, will load the truck and unload it for you. Full service moving companies gain a bit of an edge because they packed everything, so they know exactly how to load it into the truck in the best possible manner. 

Furniture Disassembly and Assembly

If you have any furniture items that come apart, your full service moving company in Chicago will disassemble and reassemble the furniture for you. This is a service you may not find with all moving companies and even some full-service companies don't provide disassembly and assembly of furniture.

Transportation, Disposal, and More!

Along with packing, unpacking, loading, unloading and handling your furniture disassembly and assembly, a full service moving company will provide all the transportation, dispose of materials, and handle even more. 

A professional driver will take the truck from point A to point B. Once everything is unloaded and has been unpacked, any materials needing to be disposed of will be handled by the movers. Your full-service movers may also provide additional services, depending on your specific needs.

Hiring full-service movers for your residential move or commercial move in Chicago means you won't have to lift a finger. From the planning to the estimate to final delivery, The Professional Moving Specialists will handle everything for you. Even if you need storage, we will provide the right facilities for your specific needs.

How to Best Utilize Your Time During a Full-Service Move

When you hire movers to do your packing and unpacking, along with loading and transporting your items, it's known as a full-service move. This type of move will save you time, but what do you do with all that time?

There are still several tasks that must be done. From making sure your utilities are turned on at your new home to cleaning up your old home before turning in your keys, you have plenty to do.

If you're planning to hire The Professional Moving Specialists for a full-service move, here are some of the ways you can utilize the time you will gain back.

Create a Moving Inventory

Before the movers arrive to pack up your belongings, you'll want to create a moving inventory. This is a great way to see what you own and to make sure all your items make it to your new home.

An itemized checklist will ensure you know what was packed and what gets unpacked. You want to be very specific with this inventory and consider taking pictures of anything expensive.

Figure Out What You want to Pack

You may not want movers packing every single item you own. Whether you want to pack your most expensive items or you prefer to pack your clothing on your own, make sure you figure this out ahead of time.

If you're moving a long distance, make sure you set aside a change of clothes and other items you may need. Also, consider packing important documents yourself instead of having movers handle these items.

If possible, designate a room or an area clearly marked for the items you will pack. This area can also be designated as the items you will take in your vehicle with you.

Triple Check Everything

Once the movers start to pack up your items and load them into the truck, you can start triple checking everything. Check cabinets, corners, closets, and other areas to ensure you don't leave anything behind. 

Remove Flammable Items from Your Home

Movers will likely not touch anything flammable, hazardous, or corrosive. You want to remove these items and pack them yourself. These items include:

• Batteries

• Cleaning Fluids

• Gasoline

• Kerosene

• Fireworks

• Firearms

• Nail Polish

• Aerosol Cans

• Propane Tanks

• Fertilizer

Make sure these items are separated or disposed of properly before your movers arrive.

Keep the Kids and Pets Busy

While movers are at your home packing up, you want to keep the kids and pets out of their way. You can keep them busy in the back yard or have one parent take the kids and pets to a local playground. 

Not only will keeping them out of the way help movers work faster, but it will also keep your pets and kids safe. If necessary, you can even consider hiring a sitter for the pets or kids during the time the movers are packing up.

Disassemble Ahead of Time

Some movers will disassemble furniture, while others may not. It can save you a little bit of money if you disassemble items before the movers arrive. This is a good use of your time when you hire full-service movers.

There are many things you will still need to do, even when you hire full-service movers. Make sure you fully understand what your residential movers are willing to do for you and what you will still need to handle on your own.