Moving Tips & Advice

Helpful Advice for Your Next Move

Whether this is your first move or you simply haven't moved in years, a little preparation can make a big difference. This section is designed to answer common moving questions and share practical lessons we've learned from years of helping families move.

We'll continue adding new guides covering packing, preparing your home, moving day, long-distance moves, storage, furniture and other situations customers frequently encounter.

How to Prepare Your Home Before the Movers Arrive

Simple Steps That Can Save Time, Prevent Problems and Make Moving Day Easier

Moving day usually goes much more smoothly when the home is ready before the moving crew arrives. But one thing we've learned over the years is that people often underestimate just how much they actually have to move.

A customer may initially think, "You just need to move the big stuff. We'll take care of the boxes and smaller things ourselves." That's a perfectly reasonable plan.

But then, life happens.

Someone gets sick. Work becomes hectic. A family emergency comes up. Packing takes twice as long as expected. Or you simply reach the night before the move and realize there's a lot more left to do than you thought.

We've arrived at moves where customers are still packing boxes while we're carrying furniture out of the house. We've seen dishes still in cabinets, clothes still hanging in closets, pictures on the walls, televisions still mounted, lamps that haven't been prepared and garages filled with loose items.

That doesn't mean the move can't happen.

At Economy Moving and Trucking, we'll do our best to work with you when circumstances change. But it's important to understand that an unfinished move can change the amount of work involved.

A move that was originally described as furniture and a limited number of boxes may now include packing, taking things apart, gathering loose items or making additional trips. Depending on the situation, it could require additional time, additional help or even a return trip.

And when you're paying movers by the hour, time matters.

That's why one of the best things you can do if you realize you're falling behind is simply tell your moving company before moving day. Don't be embarrassed about it. We'd much rather know ahead of time that there's more work than expected. That gives us an opportunity to plan for it and, when necessary, revise the estimate before moving day so you have a better idea of what the move may cost. The goal is to avoid surprises when the final bill comes due.

"Packed" Means Ready to Walk Out the Door

One of the biggest misunderstandings we see on moving day is what it means to be packed.

When movers say your home should be packed before they arrive, we don't necessarily mean that every single thing you own has to be sealed inside a cardboard box. We mean that the things you're taking should be ready to move.

Here's a simple way to think about it:

If the movers walked into your house right now, could they pick it up and carry it to the truck?

If the answer is no, there's probably still some preparation to do.

Boxes should be packed and closed—not sitting open while you're deciding what else goes inside. Dishes shouldn't still be in the kitchen cabinets. Clothes that aren't being transported in wardrobe boxes shouldn't still be hanging in the closet. Pictures and decorations shouldn't still be hanging on the walls.

The same idea applies to furniture.

If you're able to safely disassemble a bed frame ahead of time, that's time the movers don't have to spend doing it. If a television is mounted on the wall, having it removed and ready for transportation can save time. Lamps should be unplugged and prepared, and small loose items should be packed rather than scattered across tables, shelves and countertops.

Then there's the garage.

Garages are one of the places where the amount of work left to do can surprise people. Tools, extension cords, lawn equipment, sports equipment, decorations, containers and dozens of small loose items may not look like much individually.

But somebody has to move every one of them.

Twenty small items that could have gone into two or three boxes can mean twenty separate trips between the house and the truck.

Multiply that throughout an entire home and those extra trips add up.

Don't Forget the Things You Don't See

Closets, cabinets, drawers, attics, basements, sheds and garages are easy to underestimate because much of what's inside them isn't visible when you're walking through the house.

A room can look completely packed while an entire closet is still full.

Before moving day, open every door. Check every cabinet. Look inside the closets. Walk through the garage. Check the attic, basement and outdoor storage areas.

Ask yourself one question:

"Is everything we're taking ready for the movers to pick up?"

If it is, you're in good shape.

Preparation Doesn't Mean You Have to Do Everything Yourself

There's an important distinction here.

We're not saying every customer has to take apart furniture, remove televisions or pack an entire house themselves.

If you've hired your moving company to provide those services, that's different. Packing, furniture preparation, disassembly and reassembly can all be part of a professionally planned move.

The important thing is that everyone knows the plan before moving day.

Problems usually happen when the customer thinks something is already included and the mover arrives expecting it to be finished—or when the amount of work turns out to be substantially different from what was originally discussed.

That's why communication before the move matters so much.

Moving With Pets

How to Make Moving Day Safer and Less Stressful for Everyone

Moving day can be confusing for pets. Their familiar home suddenly fills with unfamiliar people, furniture starts disappearing, boxes are everywhere, and doors that normally stay closed may remain open for hours.

After years of moving families, one of the simplest pieces of advice we can give pet owners is also one of the most important:

Before the movers arrive, have a plan for your pets.

Whenever possible, arrange for your dog, cat or other pet to spend moving day with a friend or family member, at a boarding facility, or somewhere else away from the activity. If that's not practical, designate a secure room that the movers will not need to enter and make sure everyone involved in the move knows the pet is inside.

Keep Pets Away From the Moving Activity

A pet wandering through the house can easily get underfoot while movers are carrying furniture, boxes or appliances.

A mover carrying a large piece of furniture may not be able to see what's directly in front of their feet. A dog or cat suddenly crossing the mover's path can cause a serious fall, potentially injuring the mover, the pet or someone nearby, while also risking damage to the furniture.

Remember That Doors May Stay Open

During a move, exterior doors often need to remain open for extended periods while the crew travels between the house and moving truck. That creates an opportunity for even a normally well-behaved pet to slip outside unnoticed.

With movers, homeowners and family members coming and going, it may be quite some time before anyone realizes the pet is missing.

Moving Day Can Be Stressful for Animals

Some pets barely notice the activity. Others become extremely anxious when unfamiliar people enter their home and begin moving furniture. Dogs may bark continuously, pace, hide or become protective. Cats may disappear into whatever hiding place they can find.

Separating pets from the activity isn't only about making the movers' job easier. It can make moving day much less stressful for the animal as well.

Your Movers Don't Know Your Dog

You may know that your dog is gentle and friendly. A moving crew meeting that dog for the first time doesn't have that history. An unfamiliar dog's size, barking, body language or temperament can understandably make someone cautious, especially while carrying heavy furniture through doorways or down staircases.

This isn't about labeling particular breeds as dangerous or deciding whether an animal is a good dog or a bad dog. It's simply about creating a safe working environment for everyone.

A Moving Story We'll Never Forget

We once moved a customer who had a cat that disappeared while we were loading her belongings. Everyone searched, but the cat was nowhere to be found.

The customer was understandably frantic. Eventually, however, we had to finish loading the truck and leave for her new home approximately 100 miles away, with no sign of the missing cat.

We arrived at the new home, unloaded the truck and began putting everything back together. That included reassembling the customer's bed.

Then the missing cat casually came strolling out of the new bedroom.

Apparently, sometime during the move, the cat had found a way into the underside of the box spring and hidden itself inside. The cat never made a sound.

We had carried the box spring out of the original house, loaded it onto the moving truck, driven approximately 100 miles, unloaded it, carried it into the new bedroom and reassembled the bed, with the cat apparently hiding inside the entire time.

After all of that, the cat simply emerged as though nothing unusual had happened.

Fortunately, this story had a happy ending. It also reinforced something we've remembered ever since:

Know exactly where your pets are before the moving process begins.

Prepare a Moving-Day Bag for Your Pet

Don't pack everything your pet needs somewhere deep inside the moving truck. Keep a separate pet bag with you containing several days of food, water, bowls, medications, a leash or harness, waste bags or litter supplies, veterinary information and a favorite toy or blanket.

For a long-distance move, think ahead about rest stops and pet-friendly overnight accommodations if they're needed.

Update Identification

Before moving day, check your pet's identification tag and microchip information. Make sure your current telephone number is associated with the pet, and update address information when appropriate.

Help Them Adjust to the New Home

Once you arrive, don't be surprised if your pet needs some time to adjust. For some animals, starting with one quiet room containing familiar bedding, food, water and toys can make the transition easier.

Allow them to become comfortable and gradually explore their new surroundings. Try to return to normal feeding, walking and sleeping routines as quickly as practical.

Advice From the Movers

Before the moving crew arrives, secure your pets or arrange for them to be somewhere else for the day.

It protects your pet, your movers and your belongings, and makes moving day easier for everyone.

The cat that traveled 100 miles inside a box spring got a happy ending. Not every missing-pet story does. Before your movers arrive, make knowing exactly where your pets are part of your moving-day checklist.

Planning a Move?

Economy Moving and Trucking provides careful local and long-distance moving services throughout Waxhaw, Charlotte, Indian Land, Fort Mill and surrounding communities.

Call or Text (980) 867-2320