If you’re hiring professional movers and packers to handle your upcoming relocation, you’ve made an excellent choice. The pros will save you considerable time and stress throughout your move, but unfortunately, they can’t do everything for you.
Even when you opt for full packing services, your movers can’t or won’t pack and move certain items that present either a safety hazard or a significant monetary liability for the company. Read on to learn what those items are (they’re called non-allowables) and how you can handle their transport.
Perishable Food
There’s no way to keep perishable foods at the proper temperature in the back of a moving truck, so professional moving companies won’t transport them. If you keep plenty of food in your fridge, it’s a good idea to start eating through it about a week and a half before you move to cut down on unnecessary waste.
Your movers and packers can, however, transport unopened, non-perishable foods, so if you have a full pantry of unopened goods, don’t stress about finding a way to move that stuff. Alternatively, you can always donate any food you’re not keen on moving to your local food pantry.
Houseplants
Putting your live plants in the back of a moving truck can cause them extreme stress, and most professional moving companies won’t transport them anyway. Furthermore, if you’re making an interstate move, some states have strict regulations on the transport of outside plants since they can spread diseases, non-native insects, and other pests.
If you’re moving within Minnesota or the Minneapolis/St. Paul metro area, it’s best to pack and transport your houseplants in your personal vehicle. Make sure you wrap and secure them in plastic wrap to prevent damage during transport.
Anything Flammable
Chances are you have plenty of flammable materials in your house and given the safety risk they pose, your moving company will refuse to transport all of them. Some of these items might not even be on your radar, so it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with the list of non-allowables as soon as you know you’ll be moving.
Here are just a few of the most flammable items you probably have in your home that you’ll need to transport in your own vehicle:
● Aerosol sprays
● Ammonia
● Charcoal lighter fluid
● Matches
● Kerosene
● Paints and paint thinner
● Nail polish and nail polish remover
● Propane tanks
● Loaded guns, ammunition, and gun reloading supplies
Aside from firearms (if you own them), it may be in your best interest to get rid of these types of items and replace them when you’re settled in your new home. Transporting them in your personal vehicle can also put your safety at risk, so keep that in mind.
Potentially Hazardous Household Items
If you have potentially hazardous materials that may pose a safety threat to your movers or a threat to your other household items, those things cannot go in the back of the moving truck. What kinds of things are we talking about? A few of the most ones include:
● Car batteries
● Cleaning solvents
● Fire extinguishers
● Household batteries
● Pool chemicals
● Pesticides
● Scuba tanks or any other pressurized tanks
● Weed killer
● Liquid bleach
If you don’t want to move these things or simply don’t have the room in your vehicle, you can always donate them, give them to a friend, or take them to a hazardous waste collection area. If you’re set on moving them, you’ll have to find a way to fit them in your personal vehicle or ask someone you know to help you transport them.
Extremely Valuable Items
If you own items of great monetary or sentimental value, it’s in your best interest to find a way to transport those things on your own. Professional movers and packers can and will transport such items — and they can even build custom crates to house them — but keep in mind you’re taking on risk if you trust your valuables in the hands of someone else.
Family heirlooms, valuable jewelry, artwork, and anything else you can’t replace should go in your personal vehicle during your move. If you’re flying to your destination and can’t take your valuables with you, discuss your options for moving these types of items with your moving company. They can help you create a custom move plan that caters to your every need.
Important Documents
Your moving company can transport your personal documents, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they should. Most professional moving services prefer their clients to handle the transport of their highly sentimental or personal items, so it’s in your best interest to start planning for that early on.
If you can fit it inside your vehicle, consider getting a small filing cabinet to stow your personal documents before you move. That way, you’ll be able to keep everything organized and you can also lock the cabinet to shield your personal info from prying eyes.
Live Animals
No matter what kind of pet you have (unless it’s a chia pet), your moving company cannot transport it. Professional movers and packers will not put your furry friends, amphibians, reptiles, fish, bugs, feathered friends, or any other live being in the back of the moving truck. And no, they won’t transport your pet in the front of their vehicle, either.
Your pet is a potential liability for the moving company, and he or she is also a living creature that can experience tremendous stress from extended exposure to a less-than-optimal environment. That’s why it’s incredibly important for you to make alternate arrangements for transporting your pet well in advance of your move day.
If you can’t move your pet in your personal vehicle, consider hiring a dedicated pet relocation company to handle the transport for you. Never relocated with a pet before? Check out our top tips for moving with pets.
Ace Moving & Warehousing: Your One-Stop-Shop for Moving Services in Minneapolis & St. Paul
If you’re searching for an experienced professional moving company to help you tackle your upcoming relocation, look no further than Ace Moving & Warehousing! For over 60 years, we’ve helped Minneapolis and St. Paul residents with all of their moving needs, and when you need a team you can trust, we’re here for you too! We specialize in full packing services, custom crating, custom move plans, storage solutions, appliance moving, furniture moving, and much more.
Give us a call today at 763-755-2045, request a quote online, or send us a message to learn more about how we can help you make your move as easy as possible!