Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How: A Moving Resource Guide

As many people have likely told you-or as you’ve discovered for yourself-moves come with a lot of stress. You have countless tasks to accomplish and hundreds of items to pack and transport to a new home. Even if moving day is months away, you still feel stressed and frustrated at all the things you need to do beforehand.

When is the best time to move? Do you need to take special precautions as you pack and load the moving truck? What’s the best way to organize your belongings?

No matter what moving-related questions you’ve asked yourself, you deserve answers. Below, we provide them. In this resource guide, we’ll answer several questions people like you have about moving. Read on to discover how you can make this move successful before it’s even begun.

1. How Soon Should I Book My Moving Van?

As you plan your upcoming move, the first thing you should do is reserve your moving van or truck. Depending on when you move and how close to moving day you book your rental, you may end up paying a high price just to use a moving vehicle.

However, if you call your moving truck rental company in advance, you’ll save more money. Typically, you’ll want to reserve your rental truck about a month before your move to get the best deal. If you’re moving during the busier times of the year, you may want to give the company more notice to guarantee that you’ll have a truck on moving day.

From May to August, book your moving truck a month or more ahead of time. These months are the busiest for moves, and a moving company might not have the right size of truck you need for your move. During the offseason, which runs from September to April, you can usually give the rental company about two weeks’ notice.

2. Should I Invest in Movers Insurance?

You may also want to invest in movers insurance when you book your rental truck. If the company you chose doesn’t offer this option, talk to your auto or home insurance providers and see what policies they offer.

A movers insurance plan ensures that if any items that are lost, damaged, or stolen during your move, you can get them replaced.

3. Are There Items I Can’t Move in a Moving Truck?

Some items can’t be moved in a moving truck, depending on the rental company’s and the state’s policies. These items include flammables, fireworks, matches, cleaning liquids, chemicals, ammunition, pesticides, paints, paint thinners, varnishes, propane tanks, and fuel.

Talk to your rental company to learn more about which items you can and can’t transport in their moving truck. You can also check your state’s transportation laws for items like weapons and firearms if you own any.

4. Do Certain Items Need Special Attention or Care Before I Load Them in the Truck?

Some items may need special care before you load them into your truck. These items include:

• Mattresses
• Dressers
• Chairs
• Tables
• Couches
• Bed frames
• Appliances
• Tools
• Garden equipment

Most pieces of furniture should be covered with plastic wrap or bubble wrap to protect them from damage. Other items, like appliances, should be emptied, cleaned, and dried before you load them in the moving truck.

If you own tools and garden equipment, cover any dangerous edges to prevent others from getting injured.

5. What Should I Do If My Moving Date Changes?

If your moving date changes and you’ve already reserved your moving truck, contact the rental company immediately. See if you can move the reservation to another day and ask if there are any fees you’ll have to pay for doing so. If you have to cancel your reservation, you may have to pay a cancellation fee depending on the truck’s size and how close the cancellation is to your move date.

6. How Can I Ensure All of My Belongings Arrive at My New Home?

As you pack up your home, make an inventory of all your items. Keep that inventory somewhere you can easily access it. You can also store a digital copy on your phone or another electronic device.

You can also use a labeling system on your moving boxes to keep track of your possessions. On top of each box, write the name of the room that box belongs in, as well as the contents of that box.

7. Should I Move My Houseplants?

If you own any plants, don’t take them with you when you move. The heat and lack of moisture on long trips could cause them to wither and die. However, some plants, like cacti, can withstand harsher temperatures and may be safe for shorter travel distances.

Now that you’re equipped with this thorough resource guide, you can approach any move with confidence. Use the information found above to make your next move go as smoothly as possible. Remember to start packing and organizing your belongings in advance so you have little to worry about on moving day.