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Packing for a Move

5 Things Your Movers Might Not Touch

21 January 2015

Aaron Carroll

If you are planning a move, you might be more worried about making new friends than you are about reading through your contract with professional movers. However, failure to pay attention to the rules could cause a few surprises on moving day. Here are five things that your professional movers might not touch, and how you can avoid running into problems:

1: Weaponry

Are you a hobbyist or a collector? If you have your entire basement lined with rare Samurai Swords or guns, you might be on your own to transport those weapons. Believe it or not, it is against the law for moving companies to ship hazardous materials and weapons. If your moving company violates this rule, they could be subjected to fines and criminal penalties.

Fortunately, you won't have to live without your guns just because movers can't touch your things. You can have your weaponry shipped by an individual with a Federal Firearms License, who will check your ID when you ship and receive the product. These regulations are in place to keep people from transferring guns to other people who may not have the proper permits.

2: Personal Items

Your private life is your business, but you shouldn't expect professional movers to come in contact with your personal items. Because personal massagers, lingerie, and magazine collections can be covered with bodily fluids and germs, some moving companies might not be willing to pack these items.

Before your moving day, go through your home to gather objects that you wouldn't want another person to see or handle. Consider stashing these boxes in your carry-on bag or car trunk for the journey, instead of putting them on the moving truck. That way, if your friends and family members help you unpack, you won't be left trying to explain your penchant for erotica.

3: Pets

Pets have needs just like people, so they can't be loaded onto a moving truck with all of your furniture. During transport, moving truck cargo areas are not generally ventilated or climate controlled. If your pet were to be shoved in his kennel next to your mattresses, he might not be able to breathe or sustain his body warmth.

To keep your pet safe, most moving companies refuse to transport animals. If you can't part with your pet, consider letting them travel with you. You might be able to pack your animal in a kennel with you in the car, or use third-party pet transport services.  

4: Plants

That aloe plant might seem harmless enough, but it might actually be against the law for movers to load it onto the truck. Each state has specific laws regarding houseplants in order to preserve the local ecosystem. If you were to move a houseplant that contains potentially destructive pests, you could start an epidemic in a new area.

To avoid these types of problems, you should check the local regulations where you are moving. You might be required to have your plant fumigated before it can be transported, or have it inspected before and after your journey. Contact your moving company and the local Department of Agriculture to learn more about the rules in your area.   

5: Food

Food can spoil fast, which is why most moving companies will not transport any perishable items. If movers had to deal with piles of rotting, leaking fridge contents, it could attract pests or rodents along the way—opening the moving company up to liability.

In the weeks leading up to your move, try not to buy as many groceries. If you have food storage, contact the moving company to ask about the rules. You might be able to transport food storage as long as it is in leak-resistant, rodent-proof containers.

Packing smart might help you to avoid delays on moving day and get all of your things where they need to go. For more information, contact a local moving company, like Wheaton World Wide Moving.

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