Local Moving Companies in Farmers Branch and Dallas, TX - Moving FAQ

To help make your next move a little easier, Beltmann, among the best local moving companies in Farmers Branch answers several common FAQs

The Short List

• Declutter every room in your house.
• Hand or fold all clothes, packers won’t do this.
• Unplug, disconnect, remove ink cartridges from all electronics and appliances.
• Read the Moving Guides to see what you cannot ship.

Items the U.S. Department of Transportation says local moving companies arrive cannot transport. Make sure you dispose of them appropriately.

• Acids/Solvents/Anti-freeze/
• Alcohol/ Ammonia/ Bleach/ Cleaners/ Disinfectants
• Liquid Cleaners/ Petroleum Products/ Gasoline/ Kerosene/ Lighter Fluid
• Adhesives of any kind/ Aerosol Cans/ Ammunition
• Batteries/ Charcoal Briquettes/ Fire Extinguishers
• Lawn Chemicals/ Lighters/Matches/ Opened Fireworks
• Polishes/ Propane Tanks/Scuba Tanks/ Shellac & Varnishes/Paints/ welding tanks

One thing to keep in mind as you pack your old home, anything you don’t have room for in your new home will need to be put in storage. If you plan to do this, let the driver know so. These items can then be put in the truck where they are easy to reach when unloading at the storage unit.

In the Last Two Days Before Zero Hour, Take Care of the Following

Go through your home and remove everything from all the rooms in your home and don’t forget the curtains and blinds. The packers may not be as gentle as you are which could lead to damage.

Items You Should Keep Handy for Moving Day

• Dish soap, dish towels, and paper towels/Toilet paper
• Kitchen knife/ can opener/saucepan/Toaster
• Breakfast bars, protein bars/ Coffee, coffee filters and coffee maker
• First aid kit/Flashlight/candles/matches/ Garbage bags
• Mug, plate, fork, knife, spoon for each member of the family
• Cleaner (unopened)/ Salt and pepper/ Scissors or box cutter

What About My Valuables?

When it comes to moving, your valuables, anything worth $1,000 or more should be listed on a High-Value Item list. Anything you consider to be of exceptionally high value should be appraised and copies of the appraisal should be given to the driver and your choice of local moving companies. Doing so lets them know about these items. This will ensure extra care when they are being loaded into the truck.

Be sure you give a copy of your inventory to those who will be unloading. This lets them check each item off as it unpacked. If anything turns up missing or damaged, having a detailed list will make it easier to track or for the local moving companies to replace it. Personal safes should be left unlock and empties.

Items That Are NOT Covered By the North American Protection Policy

• Coin/Stamp/ Card Collections/ Currency/Money
• Appraisals/ Deeds// Legal Documents/ Manuscripts/ Passports
• Computer Backup Disks/ Software Licenses
• Jewelry/ Precious Stones/ Medications
• Negotiable Instruments/ Receipts/ Stocks/Bonds/ Tax Records

What Can We Do to Stay Within Budget?

Keep in mind the less our moving truck has to carry the less it will cost, so consider:

• Decluttering, if you don’t use it or its broken get rid of it.
• Use garages sales, family, friends, and charities to dispose of useable items.
• If it won’t fit in your new home, why ship it and pay for storage?
• Copy CDs/DVDs onto your computers and sell them.
• Don’t ship heavy garage/shop furniture.
• Use large planters to pack small things.
• Never ship things like lumber, wood, lawn and garden supplies, paints, any types of chemicals, or gasoline. Most are on the Do Not Ship list and the rest are just more dead weight.
• Heavy furniture like pool tables and pianos should be sold, offered as part of your home sale, or offered to the new owner.
• Any deposits you are owed should be collected before you move. Same for any club memberships or dues.
• Check to see if you can get a refund on any unused portion of your homeowners’ insurance or see if the balance can be transferred to your new house.

Are Any of My Moving Costs Tax Deductible?

Local moving companies say the best way to find this out is to talk to a tax consultant, but these are some of the most common deductions.

• Hotel expenses during the trip to your new home
• Shipping your car
• Moving your pets
• Packing, shipping/transportation, and unpacking

Any other deductions may be based on why you are moving, among these are:

• You are moving to start a new job.
• Your new job must be at least fifty miles away from your old home and closer to your new one.
• You will be employed full-time for at least 39 weeks during your first year in your new home.
• Self-employed must work at least 39 weeks of year one and a total of 72 weeks during the first two years.
• Moving because you are in the military or you are moving to another country because of work.

What Should I Do Before Moving Day?

• Clean and dry all appliances, water can freeze and cause serious damage.
• Clean and dry dishes to prevent mold and bacteria growth.
• Unhook and disconnect all appliances and electronics, mark cables for ease of reassembly.
• Backup your computer files onto discs, the cloud, or an external hard drive.
• Remove any CDs or DVDs from electronics to prevent warpage that can lead to damage.
• Remove ink/toner cartridges to prevent leaks (this type of damage is not covered).
• Hang and fold your clothes, the packers won’t do this.

What, if Any, Reservations Need to Be Made?

If you live in an apartment building, you should talk to the landlord or manager about:

• Reserving the freight elevator if there is one or the main one if not to make things easier for the movers.
• Make sure there is room in the parking lot as many local moving companies use a truck that measures 75 feet long.
• If parking permits are needed, you may need to be the one to secure them.

Any Last-Minute Things to Be Done for the Packers?

• Strip the walls of paintings, photos, mirrors, and window treatments.
• Remove bedding from all mattresses.
• Get rid of anything you don’t plan to ship so you are paying to ship these items.
• Remove loose items, liquids, and anything fragile from dresser drawers.
• Clean all perishables from fridge and freezer, your grill, garbage cans, and unhook garden hoses.
• Leave all boxes you have packed unsealed for the movers to verify you aren’t shipping anything you shouldn’t be.
• Pack your travel suitcases and keep them in a separate place to avoid the local moving companies putting them in boxes and on the truck.