What Not to Pack When Moving

The benefit of working with the moving company is not having to worry about transporting your items. However, from liability, convenience, and peace of mind standpoint, there are several items that you should transport to your new home in your own vehicle. While you’re packing, place these items and boxes in a separate part of your house to ensure the movers don’t load them into the truck by accident. You can even ask your movers to load these items into your own car or vehicle for you.

The essentials for your first night

After a long day of moving, there is nothing worse than opening all your boxes to find your bed sheets, phone charger, and toilet paper. We highly recommend packing a first night box, full of things you will need to during the first few days in your new home. These items might include:

Clothes
Toiletries
Linens
Electronics & chargers
Keys

Hazardous items that are illegal to ship on a moving truck

For the safety of your shipment, there are several items that are illegal to move on our moving trucks. These items are flammable or combustible, so they cannot be moved on the truck as a safety precaution to prevent fires. Other items, such as cleaning agents and bleach, are both flammable and if they leak they could potentially ruin your furniture on the shipment. Be sure to discard these items before your move or move them in your own vehicle.

Aerosol cans regardless of content
Heating agents such as Sterno
Nail polish/remover
Fire extinguisher
Any type of gas in bottles or tanks including propane or oxygen (we can move lawnmowers etc. if the gas tank is empty)
Paints, varnishes, solvents, thinners and oils
Ammonia, bleach and other household cleaning agents
Chlorine granules or powder
Muriatic acid (also called hydrochloric acid)
Auto batteries
Charcoal/lighter fluid
Matches and lighters
Ammunition
Fireworks & flares
Fertilizer
Any other combustible product

Valuables, medication, and important documents

Although the crew is trustworthy and careful, we recommend transporting your small valuables and irreplaceable items as well as items that contain personal information in your own vehicle. Also remember to pack items that you may need during the course of your move, such as medication, closing documents, and laptops, to take on your own. Items that should not be moved on the truck include:

Valuable Jewelry
Cash, gift cards, and checkbooks
Guns and firearms
Valuable furs
Hard-to-replace documents such as birth & death certificates, marriage certificates, deeds and other important documents
Documents you may need for your closing
Laptops or computer hard drives
Social security cards
Insurance policies
Ashes
Passports
Stocks, bonds, and securities
Valuable collections such as wine or stamps or coins
Family photos and videos
Small heirlooms

Also, don’t forget, any items that are moved on the truck that exceed a value of $5,000 should be noted on a Declaration of Extraordinary Value form.

Perishable items

If you are doing a multi-day or long-distance move, there are many items that should not be moved on the truck because they may be ruined in transit due to temperature changes on the truck. These items include:

Frozen/refrigerated food
Plants and potted trees
Open non-perishable food items
Wine (click here for our blog on wine transport alternatives)

Transporting these items on your own will go a long way in preventing issues and ensuring you have a smooth relocation. If you ever have any questions about what can or cannot be moved, you can ask your relocation coordinator.