What Moving Companies Can and Won’t Move

You’ve decided to use professional movers for your next big move. You might be packing your household inventory up to get ready for them right now, or maybe you’re investigating professional packing services. In either case, you should be aware that professional movers have certain limitations. Some items found around your household could be hazardous, dangerous, or a serious liability for professional movers to relocate, and as a result many companies won’t do it.

At All My Sons Moving & Storage, our team wants you, your belongings, and our movers to stay safe during your move so there are items we have decided not to take chances with. While every moving company is different, there are some generally prohibited items that most companies will refuse to move. If you are unsure about an item, then ask your moving company about it before you decide to pack it.

Before they begin your move, your professional movers will probably let you know ahead of time what items they are not willing to move. Some of these items are dangerous to move and could damage your other belongings or harm movers who work with them. Other items might just pose too much of a liability to move.

Perishable Food

If you are moving locally and have perishable food you want to take with you, then you will likely need to transport it in insulated bags or coolers yourself. Your moving company does not have the ability to keep your food cool during transit, and it will likely spoil before it reaches your destination.

Your moving company might still move non-perishable food items that can safely remain in a truck for several hours to several days. Ask your movers about your pantry goods before moving day so you have time to make contingency plans in case they don’t.

Plants

Your houseplant will not do well in a hot truck for several hours. Plants also can carry pests and insects that could wreak havoc on the local ecosystem of the place where you’re moving. If you’re a plant enthusiast, then you will need to come up with an alternative plan to get your houseplants safely to your destination because most moving companies will not move them.

Pets

Of course you want to take your beloved pet with you on your move, but most moving companies are not equipped to be able to move your pet. For obvious reasons, a pet can’t go in the back of a moving truck. There’s no ventilation, food, or water. If you are moving with a pet then you will probably need to transport them yourself.

Fortunately for pet owners who cannot transport their pets themselves, there are a number of pet transportation services available around the country.

Flammable Items

Gasoline, lighter fluid, motor oil, and propane tanks are too dangerous to transport in a regular moving truck. Highly flammable items like these could catch fire in the event of an accident, endangering both your other belongings and the lives of your movers. Legally speaking, a vehicle transporting flammable liquids must comply with federal hazardous material regulations. So, your professional movers will decline to carry these items.

Explosives

Fireworks and contents under pressure like oxygen tanks or fire extinguishers run the risk of exploding during transport. These items are too dangerous to pack into your moving truck.

If you are moving across state lines, the transportation of your fireworks could even be illegal depending on local regulations. Best to leave your 4^th of July stash behind when you make your move.

Firearms and Ammunition

While regulations regarding the transport of firearms and ammunition might vary by state, a number of moving companies will refuse to transport even unloaded guns. The item is just too much of a safety risk for movers.

Valuable Jewelry

Items like jewelry might be a no-go for your movers. Ask your moving company about your jewelry before you pack it. Sometimes moving high-value items like jewelry are just too much of a liability for your movers.

These are the items your movers are commonly trained and equipped to handle. If you have items that require special care, you can ask your movers about those items before moving day to find out what precautions your movers might make to ensure they are transported safely.

Household Furniture

Your bed frame, couch, dresser, and bookshelves should all be safe to move. Bulkier items might require special care during your move, but most moving companies are up for the heavy lifting.

Books

Pack your books into smaller boxes so that they can be easily lifted, and your movers should have no problem getting your books on your truck.

Kitchen Knives

Watch out, knives are sharp! Properly packed knives are safe to move, and most moving companies will be able to handle them.

Pack your knives in their designated knife block, with knife guards, or in the absence of those items, wrap the blades with packing paper and cardboard. Label your boxes containing knives so that you and your movers know to unpack those items with care.

Appliances

Fridges and freezers should be defrosted and dried before you attempt to move them, but once that’s done, they should be ready to go. Your professional movers will come equipped with special dollies to move your biggest appliances, so getting your fridge, freezer, washer, and dryer to your new home should be no sweat.

File Boxes

Cardboard file boxes can be stacked on a dolly and moved into your moving truck together. File cabinets are also safe to move, provided they are not overloaded.

Musical Instruments

While large instruments like pianos pose a unique challenge for movers, they are typically safe to move. Ask your moving company ahead of time about your large musical instruments like pianos.

Your piano may require re-tuning after it is moved due to changes in temperature and atmosphere conditions while it is moving.

Now that you have an idea of what moving companies can and will not move, you can pack with confidence and better understand what you might need to move yourself or properly dispose of before your move.

When you’re ready to make your move, contact All My Sons Moving & Storage to help with all the heavy lifting. We offer local moving services for our customers going across town and long-distance moving services for our customers traveling from city to city. Customers who want to skip out on the headache of packing their belongings can also choose professional packing services and have all their items boxed up by experts. Call your local All My Sons Moving & Storage location or get a quote online to get started on your move.