Residential Moving Tips

• Be sure to ask if they are licensed and insured.
• Ask if they use full-time employees or temps. (Be cautious of those who use temps and day labor, they may not have proper insurance.)
• Ask what type of training their drivers and team members go through prior to servicing customers.
• Ask if they charge extra for large items such as pianos and big screen TVs.
• Ask if they will have a contact person on site or provide a contact number for the day of their move.
• Ask if they move nights and weekends and if they charge for that service.
• Ask what type of payment options they offer.
• Ask if they offer free estimates.
• Ask if they offer packing and unpacking services.
• Ask if your items will be insured during the move.
• Be sure you are clear on how they bill, either by the hour or by piece.
• Make reservations two to four weeks prior to your move day.

When packing your family’s home:

• Avoid mixing items from different rooms in the same box.
• Use wardrobe boxes to make closets easier to pack. Clothes in drawers can be placed in suitcases.
• For large appliances be sure to check your owner’s manuals to see if there are special instructions for moving.
• Never use printed newsprint to wrap fine china.
• Always stack dishes upwards when packing.
• Pack important and sentimental documents separately to be easily accessible including: children’s health records, passports, family records, insurance information and photo albums.
• Remember: the heavier the item, the smaller the box.
• Don’t use used boxes. You don’t know if the box will be strong enough to support your possessions.
• Never use duct tape – use packing tape.
• Always tape boxes. Don’t interlock the tops.

Two weeks prior to your move:

• Don’t forget to arrange to transfer school records.
• Make a “survival closet” of things for the last cleanup before you move out – broom, dust cloth, dust pan, mop.
• Remember to get snacks for move day.
• Schedule disconnect times for about a week before your move day.
• Cancel newspapers, cable, pest control, cleaning help, lawn services.
• Mail in your change of address forms about week before your move date.
• Clean your stove before you move out.
• The day before your move, defrost the fridge.
• Take time to say goodbye to friends and neighbors before your busy move day.
• Don’t use boxes without tops. No tops make it impossible to stack properly in the truck.
• Use custom-designed boxes when packing fine china and clothing.

Silverback Moving of Birmingham, Michigan is the premier option for your next home move!