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Things Your Mover Will Not Move

Preparing to move is stressful, to say the least. To help ensure the big day goes smoothly, you must know what not to pack. The following items are things your mover will not move. If you want to take any of them with you to your new home, you’ll need to transport them in your own vehicle. If this isn’t possible, plan to throw the items away and repurchase them after you settle in your new home.

Hazardous Items

Some of the “hazardous” items in your home are hidden in plain sight. You may not even consider some of them dangerous! But as a general rule of thumb, if the post office says they can’t ship it, odds are your movers will say they can’t move it. Here’s an incomplete list of the hazardous items you should pack in your own vehicle or dispose of before you move:

  • Guns and ammunition
  • Explosives, including fireworks
  • Kerosene, propane canisters, and gasoline
  • Charcoal briquettes
  • Matches and lighters
  • Oxygen canisters
  • Lighter fluid
  • Paint and paint thinner
  • Nail polish and nail polish remover
  • Car batteries
  • Acids, bleach, and other chemicals
  • Pesticides and fertilizer

Houseplants

If you’re moving locally, your mover may be willing to transport a few houseplants in the truck. Even so, you run the risk of plants falling over, making a mess, or otherwise getting damaged. You’re better off transporting your prized plants in your own car.

Sadly for long-distance moves, you may be required to leave your plant behind. Officials do everything they can to reduce the spread of insects, parasites, and plant diseases by restricting the movement of vegetation over state lines. In fact, it’s illegal to transport plants more than 150 miles without a special license, and many interstate moves under 150 miles still prove problematic. When in doubt, ask your mover for advice.

Equipment with Fuel

Going back to the hazardous items list, movers won’t transport equipment with fuel in the tank. If you want to load your motorcycle, lawn mower, edger, grill, or generator, you’ll have to empty the fuel tank first.

Perishable Food

Movers don’t want to be responsible for spoiled food, so they won’t transport anything perishable. While this obviously refers to frozen and refrigerated items, it also applies to any open containers, regardless of the expiration date. To be safe, only pack sealed boxes, cans, and jars. Throw the rest out or pack up a cooler in your car for particularly expensive or hard-to-replace items.

Pets

This should go without saying, but a mover will not pack your pet into a moving truck! The day you move, tuck your furry friend into a carrier and load him into the car for the safest transportation possible.

Valuables

Technically, movers are willing to transport your valuables, but you may feel better if you keep them in your own car. After all, while an insured moving company can reimburse you the value of your belongings in the rare instance that they get lost, damaged, or stolen, there’s no way to restore sentimental items. Consider loading a special box into your car with the following valuables:

  • Jewelry
  • Heirlooms and collectibles
  • Coin and stamp collections
  • Cash
  • Financial documents and personal records

Move with Georgetown Moving and Storage Company

If you have specific questions about other things your mover will not move, contact Georgetown Moving and Storage Company at (703) 889-8899. We’ll answer all your questions and help you prepare for your big upcoming move. We are based in the DC Metro area and provide local and long-distance moving and storage services throughout the eastern United States.

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