Prepping for movers who also pack?

I hope you get the treatment you need!! Hugs!

As for movers and packing, we packed away some things ourselves, like valuables and breakables. We left everything else for the movers. We did not have the house looking like it is being lived in, but we didn't prep it fully for packing. We did not fully clear off shelves, especially with books. We just left those on the shelves. I think sometimes it is easier for packers to pick things off a shelf than to bend down to lift them off the floor into a box. Same for kitchen drawers. The boxes were labeled by the movers as "drawer 1", "drawer 2", etc. It sounds like you did a lot already.

I'm sorry for your health issues. Other than items that were valuable, important and we took with us, absolutely nothing else was touched. They pulled pictures off the walls and packed shelves. You're paying them to pack, don't stress! It looked like we had lived there as we had and then it was all in boxes. That's what they're used to! Oh my one tip is empty the trash as they will absolutely pack your bin with trash inside.

Oh, and take down anything "attached" to the house. Wall art needs to come off the walls, if you are taking curtains/blinds they need to be taken down too. Electronics that will be moved needs to be unplugged, hoses disconnected and that sort of thing.

I agree that anything of value or that you are bringing with you needs to be out of the home. Do not assume they can read notes or remember instructions. Be present the entire time they are there but stay out of their way. They most likely have a system that may not be the way you would do it, but they are experienced at packing the truck they way they like it.

Be sure you provide plenty of waters and sodas and healthy snacks and lunches. I try to always kill them with kindness so they will hopefully take care with my items. Tips for every member of the crew should be given as well.

In 17 moves, in my married life, I have found moving as an adventure at both ends. I hope you have good luck thinking this through.

One note, when you’re riding in the car with children, have them count motorcycles, that way when they are old enough to drive they will notice them.

StephDRebel sorry about the medical stuff!!! Hope things improve after your move.

Secure valuables, treasures, photos etc and a day's worth of toilet paper, and cleaning supplies for your arrival to your new home!
Dog food and bowls for the food and water... A pile of towels in the car too.


Also have something to do a quick dusting etc as your leave where you are.

Best of luck with the move!!

Sending hugs and good luck with the medical issues!

As someone who just went through a major move, it sounds to me like you've got it pretty well under control! There is lots of good advice above! Please don't strain and try to do any lifting and bending. I don't even have any medical issues but I had back pain issues for weeks after the move because I did too much bending and lifting. Let the movers do it.

We've been here 3 months and are still unpacking a few things, but we have things in the new house mostly in order. Some rooms we are deliberately going slow on unpacking because the space is differently configured than our old house (in a good way - we have more space). Also, DH & I both work full time AND we were gone 10 days in early October for a previously-scheduled family vacation. (Scheduled about a year ago before we even had any inkling we'd be moving.)

We packed a lot of things ourselves and then had movers pack the rest. The most important/irreplaceable and/or fragile items were packed by us and many of those went in our car. We only moved an hour away so we were able to do multiple trips in my small SUV with things like that. I second the idea of organizing some of the like things together ahead of time...but again, don't do that if it involves bending and/or lifting. One thing I did in that regard is to buy several large boxes of various large sized [Target/generic brand] ziplock bags, especially the jumbo size. The jumbo size ziploc bags were especially helpful in keeping things together (contents of desk drawers, kitchen drawers, bathroom/linen closet stuff, etc.)

Definitely make sure you get everything out of the house that is not moving with you like trash and boxes of stuff for donation. (One of our boxes that was clearly marked as "DONATION" ended up being moved on the moving truck...but it was 1 box, not a big deal, I just donated it in our new location instead.) We had great movers; however, only the crew leader and one of the others had a good command of the English language, so all instruction went through those two. (There was a lot of gesturing and pointing at times during the moving day if the crew leader was out of the room when there was a question, LOL.) But they were fast, efficient, clean, and polite/personable. They brought a cooler full of ice and water bottles (we were prepared to provide this but they showed up with it) - it was mid August, so hot & humid. DH tipped them well, with a little extra for the crew leader and the youngest/smallest guy (probably someone's brother LOL) who had to crawl into the attic and clear stuff out of that HOT space.

You will find everything...eventually. As long as you have the essentials with you already in your car (which it sounds like you do) you will be fine. I stressed a lot about stuff and basically broke down several times (I blame lack of sleep) where DH had to reassure me that things would be fine. And they are.

Hugs and best wishes on your medical issues. Take precious items with you. Have someone in each room watching movers. When I had to quickly move my mother, I hired movers, who charged per box. When we unpacked items, we found tupperware wrapped in newspaper.

17 moves in 32 years with the Air Force. I’ve seen it all and done it all. Leave everything where it is. I do organize and have everything put away so that it all gets packed together. Be prepared for non English speaking packers, but the crew chief will speak English. Some companies use day laborers who may not have packing experience (military moves don’t allow this though).

Pets should be elsewhere if at all possible. If not, put them in the “do not pack” room. The chaos freaks them out and many a pet has gone missing when doors are propped open of stepped on is the confusion.

Washing the bedding is a good idea. I’ll also do curtains and rugs if I can. I have them pack all the bedding in 1-2 boxes, including any dust ruffles, pillows, charging cords that we have by the nightstands, etc. Basically everything you need for that first night.

You’ll also want a “last box” (some people call it the “first box”). It’s basically what you need to make a simple meal and a cup of tea or coffee to start your day. I always add a kit that I have of plastic cups, plates, heavy plastic forks/spoons/knives, a real knife, cutting board, can opener, a small baking sheet, foil, a few zip bags, etc. Also a roll of paper towels, tp, and some hand soap (bar—I don’t pack liquids, as they can seep down an entire load and damage everything.)

I used a cooler for drinks for the crew and kept it stocked with water and Gatorade. Individually wrapped snacks are another good idea. We provided lunch, but with the military, the crew knows that we aren’t paying for the move and it’s expected for a military move.

Anything that you don’t want packed gets put into an empty room. Bonus if it locks. We usually used a bathtub. Be very careful to keep your purse, wallet, keys, important papers, medications, etc in there or your locked car.

Hide your toilet brushes and plungers. During our first move, those went into a box with the bath towels. I just threw them away and got new ones at the next house.

Rugs should be last on the truck and first off. That way you don’t have to move furniture to place them.

We left wall hangings up and them took them down if asked. Almost every company wanted them left in place so nothing got broken. They are usually one of the first things packed.

You can ask them not to mix rooms. A lot of times this happens at the end of the day with breakables and they are trying to fill space in a box. I used to care, but gave into it after the 10th move or so because they will do it anyway!

Keep all the hardware together from the beds, tables, bikes, etc. We use zip bags from the dollar store and tape them to the item if possible. Some companies will put them in a parts box, but that box often is hard to find in the chaos, even if it’s first off the truck. Have a small tool box with a power drill, screw drivers, box cutters, torque wrenches, etc.

If you are having them unpack, know that they will take things out of boxes and put them on any available surface. They don’t put them away for you.

Oh, Steph, that sounds really rough. I'm so sorry. And you ARE a go-getter, so it must be really hard slowing down. I am saying my most fervent atheist prayers that you will receive top notch med treatment and advice and that your issues can be well managed. ((( hugs )))

PLEASE go pamper yourself at a hotel tonight. And get a massage if you can.
Love and hugs to you, dear pea friend.

I hope this move goes smoothly, and you find answers and relief medically.