So you’ve done all your research to find the right moving company for your needs and budget, and you’ve decided on Big League Movers. Good move. However, what you do now before the truck arrives is just as important. That’s why we’ve provided you with moving tips and some of our favorite moving and packing resources to help make your experience as painless as possible.
MOVING TIPS FROM THE EXPERTS
PREPARATION
- Use the move as an opportunity to clear out old belongings. Have a yard sale or a carport sale with anything you don’t need or want. Or give your local charity shop a boost. Either way, you can purge some items and even make some money!
- Think about the space in your new home before you move, and start to imagine the best way to arrange your furniture in it. You can even make sketches or use online home-styling tools. This will make moving in much easier and help you feel more at home.
- Take any staples out of boxes before you pack them. Stray staples can scratch floors and surfaces, as they’ll probably move in transit.
- Buy LOTS of packing tape. It’s great for strengthening boxes, will prevent accidental opening in transit, and can be easily opened when you want to with a knife. Go the whole hog and buy a tape gun. It makes taping much easier, and it’s fun, too!
- Plan where your movers can park to load and unload. The further they have to walk, the longer it will take. Clear your driveway of any vehicles, basketball goals, or clutter. Having the shortest route possible to the truck will cut down on your move cost.
- Teach your kids your new address and phone number as soon as you have it.
- Don’t use any special cleaning/maintenance products such as wax or oils on antique furniture for a couple of weeks before your move. They can make the wood softer for a few weeks and leave it more likely to get damaged.
- Unplug your TV a day before your move so that it will settle down to room temperature. If you unplug it just before you move it may retain heat when wrapped or packed; this can actually cause internal damage.
- Write down instructions for any systems in your home such as central heating, air conditioning, etc., and make sure the people moving in know any alarm codes. If you have brochures, guarantees, or any paperwork relating to systems or appliances you’re leaving behind, make sure to leave them somewhere obvious. This will make their move much easier, and keep them from bothering you during yours! Also, call the previous owner of your new home and ask them to do the same.
- If your new home has an alarm system, ask for the code before you move.
- Try to get a good night’s sleep before your moving day. It’s going to be a long day!
PACKING
- Packing starts out being fun but can soon get boring and tedious. Make yourself feel better about it by setting deadlines (i.e. a week to pack up the garage, etc.) and keeping to them. No time to pack? No worries. Our team at Big League Movers can handle the packing for you. Just give us a call to provide a packing estimate.
- Under packing is almost as bad as over packing and the contents of under packed boxes are MUCH more likely to be damaged. Make sure you fill boxes with a mix of heavy and light.
- Don’t leave all your packing to the last day. You’ll be up all night and still not get it done right. But don’t beat yourself up if you don’t get everything done. If you’re pushed for time, it doesn’t matter if you just box up non-fragile items quickly or even just stuff them in bags. If this happens to you, do make sure you ask your movers to take extra care or just transport these last-minute packed things yourself. Pack your fragile items first. This way, your best boxes and packing materials go towards your most valuable items, and it ensures your fragile items will be packed in advance.
- Don’t use foam ‘peanuts’ to pack a computer – they can generate static electricity and cause damage.
- Try not to wrap fragile items in newspaper, as the print will come off on them. You’ll just have to wash everything before you can put it away. And, newsprint doesn’t generally come off well in a dishwasher so chances are you’ll be washing them by hand. If you don’t want to buy wrapping materials, save up magazines for a few weeks beforehand.
- Don’t use newspaper to wrap lampshades – chances are you will not be able to get the newsprint off again!
- Get one of your movers to do a last walk-around of your old house with you before you leave. A fresh pair of eyes can often spot things you’ve left behind.
- If you’re in the habit of hanging clothes or stuff behind bedroom doors, remember to check them as well. This is one of the most common places people forget things.
- Write OPEN FIRST on boxes of essential items and DO NOT MOVE on boxes you’re not planning on taking with you!
MOVING
- It’s easier to clean your new home before you move in. If you can’t do it yourself, consider hiring professionals to whiz around for a couple of hours before the moving truck arrives.
- You don’t need to take drawers out of chests of drawers for the move – even if they can’t be locked. You can use masking tape to hold in drawers that do not lock. Masking tape is specifically made not to leave residue, unlike duct, electrical, or box tape.
- If you’re carrying heavy boxes, bend with the knees and not with your back!
- Before your movers arrive, try to make sure that all boxes, containers, etc. are stacked neatly in the room (ideally around the walls) and leave the movers room to maneuver. This will speed up the process.
- Make sure someone is at your new home to meet the movers and to tell them where to unload stuff.
- If you’re moving with kids, let them loose on their new bedrooms with a couple of boxes of stuff they can unpack to keep them occupied. You may also want to give them fun jobs to do. Anything to keep the kids out of the movers’ way will allow the movers to work at full speed and keep your kids safe from accidents.
- Give your movers your cell phone number. This way, they can get the answers to any questions they may have and get back to work as quickly as possible.
- Big League Movers has a two-hour minimum and charges in half-hour increments. Ask your Crew Leader what time they marked as their start time and make the best use of your time with the 30-minute increments in mind.
AFTER THE MOVE
- Tipping. It’s a nice touch to tip your movers all individually if they’ve been really helpful. Otherwise tip the Crew Leader and he will sort them all out. Just like any service, a tip is not expected but definitely appreciated. We are often asked what the standard tipping rate is; $5 to $10 per hour/ per mover is a good ballpark figure.
- Give electrical items a chance to get to room temperature before you plug them in.
- Expect to feel a bit ‘blue’ for a couple of days after the move. It happens all the time and doesn’t mean you hate your new home – just that the move and the thought of unpacking has taken its toll on you a bit. Although “move day” is over, the whole moving process is not. It generally takes a few months for everything to be in order. Keep this in mind, and don’t stress out.
- Call your friends and family to let them know you’ve moved safely.
- Keep your kids occupied and give them lots of attention. They’ll probably feel unsettled by the move too. Make time to have some fun!
- If you feel up to it, throw a housewarming party!
Big League Movers is here to help! If you have any questions after you get settled in your new place, or just need a recommendation on a good restaurant or nice park in the area, give us a call at 888-677-6553.
MOVING RESOURCES
United States Postal Service Change of Address Form
Our Clients Feedback
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We just had an excellent moving experience with the team of Jay, Devon, Eric, and Leo! They arrived right at the expected time and were extremely professional throughout the move. They went above and beyond in carefully setting up our furniture and ensuring that everything was in the place that... read moreWe just had an excellent moving experience with the team of Jay, Devon, Eric, and Leo! They arrived right at the expected time and were extremely professional throughout the move. They went above and beyond in carefully setting up our furniture and ensuring that everything was in the place that we wanted. Will definitely go with Big League Movers again for a future move and highly recommend for everyone in the Memphis area! read less
Partha Ryali4 weeks agoThis is our second time using Big League Movers, and we won’t ever use another moving company. Both times our movers have been personable, great listeners, efficient, and careful with our belongings. This move specifically, Erek, Martin, and Toothpick (😎) were speedy and without complaints, despite the difficult stuff and... read moreThis is our second time using Big League Movers, and we won’t ever use another moving company. Both times our movers have been personable, great listeners, efficient, and careful with our belongings. This move specifically, Erek, Martin, and Toothpick (😎) were speedy and without complaints, despite the difficult stuff and untypical things they had to load. They moved things around multiple times when we couldn’t figure out where we wanted them, they helped us load our own cars with stuff we never asked them to help with, and they made good conversation the entire time making it a comfortable and light process. I really appreciate the movers today, and I’m thankful for Big League Movers! read less
Samantha Ailene4 weeks agoBest moving experience of my life! I wanna give a shout out to G. Dixon, T. Mac, M. Houston, & J. Taylor for being so quick, efficient, considerate, and friendly. I never imagined having a good moving experience, but now I know that with the right company, amazing crew, and... read moreBest moving experience of my life! I wanna give a shout out to G. Dixon, T. Mac, M. Houston, & J. Taylor for being so quick, efficient, considerate, and friendly. I never imagined having a good moving experience, but now I know that with the right company, amazing crew, and lots of water, moving doesn’t have to be a dreadful time. I highly recommend this company to anyone and everyone! Don’t hesitate to book them. They care about your belongings as much as you do. 80 million stars ⭐️ read less
Caitlin Smith1 month agoErek & Terrance were ideal movers. The men worked fast, continuously, and yet showed the utmost patience while unpacking the truck and meticulously delivering bins & furniture to the rooms on the packing stickers
I’ve moved across the United States twice, and many times within TN. These movers were outstanding professionals-... read moreErek & Terrance were ideal movers. The men worked fast, continuously, and yet showed the utmost patience while unpacking the truck and meticulously delivering bins & furniture to the rooms on the packing stickers
I’ve moved across the United States twice, and many times within TN. These movers were outstanding professionals- careful & efficient.
Also, the process from the initial quote to the completion of the move was clear and reliable. I highly recommend Big League Movers! read lessP D1 month ago -
M. Houston, M. Lou Stamps, & T. Walker did excellent work. They were timely, organized, adaptable & customer friendly. Thoroughly pleased with the quality work they provided. Definitely made the moving experience a lot less stressful. Will for sure recommend them to anyone looking to make a big move a... read moreM. Houston, M. Lou Stamps, & T. Walker did excellent work. They were timely, organized, adaptable & customer friendly. Thoroughly pleased with the quality work they provided. Definitely made the moving experience a lot less stressful. Will for sure recommend them to anyone looking to make a big move a minor transition. read less
Dewayne Austin1 month agoWe had a very positive experience with our crew. Tommie, Terry, Cory, and Thomas W each took a professional approach to their jobs. Tommie led the way for the foursome, both as a player-manager as well as communication liaison for BLM. Each member of our crew served as a brand... read moreWe had a very positive experience with our crew. Tommie, Terry, Cory, and Thomas W each took a professional approach to their jobs. Tommie led the way for the foursome, both as a player-manager as well as communication liaison for BLM. Each member of our crew served as a brand ambassador, looking to out perform the others (being the "hardest working guy in the room, while still understanding both the team dynamic and that our satisfaction was the end goal. Our furniture was handled with care and each man demonstrated his problem-solving skills when unforeseen wrinkles arose. Kat checked in within us regularly to ensure satisfaction.
We also had a positive with the packing entity of the company, Good to Go. Lisa, Tom & Caleb were each a pleasure to have in our home and we were pleased with the job they did. Lauren M was thorough to make sure things would go and went as planned.
I recommend Big League Movers & Good to Go and easily use them again. read lessTeddy Gorman1 month agoYesterday I had a move with Big League Movers. Although there were some mix up on times, my service was nothing less than exceptional. The job was definitely bigger than I originally thought but my movers B. Malone & L. Jointer were amazing & got the it done. They were... read moreYesterday I had a move with Big League Movers. Although there were some mix up on times, my service was nothing less than exceptional. The job was definitely bigger than I originally thought but my movers B. Malone & L. Jointer were amazing & got the it done. They were super nice and got the job done perfectly. Kept me up to date on everything regarding my move. Prices here are pretty reasonable as well. I would HIGHLY recommend booking with this company. Also wouldn’t hurt to ask for those guys specifically 😉 read less
Ashli Johnson1 month agoAmazing moving company! So many touch points leading up to the move. Day of, the crew stopped by the store on the way to our house and surprisingly called and asked if we needed anything. After getting to our home, they asked us to walk through the house to ensure... read moreAmazing moving company! So many touch points leading up to the move. Day of, the crew stopped by the store on the way to our house and surprisingly called and asked if we needed anything. After getting to our home, they asked us to walk through the house to ensure they knew everything to put on there truck. They then immediately got to work! We were so surprised by how quickly they loaded everything in the truck. After driving to our new house, we had a system in place where they took the items from the truck and we showed them which room it would go to. They were super professional, set everything up and were very kind! When we got our final invoice it was almost half price of what was quoted! So impressed! Would 10 out of 10 recommend! read less
Bennie Walker1 month ago -
One of the best decision I have every made. I hope not to every need to move again but by chance I do they will be one of the first people I call. George and his crew were exceptional professionals. They were respectful to me and my belongings. They... read moreOne of the best decision I have every made. I hope not to every need to move again but by chance I do they will be one of the first people I call. George and his crew were exceptional professionals. They were respectful to me and my belongings. They came in and went right to work and it didn't take all day. They got my new home set up and ready to go. They are an asset to your company and I will be referring friends and family. read less
Bridget Love2 months agoI had booked another moving company and due to Covid they had to cancel. I contacted them late Saturday afternoon and they responded within 30 minutes. The price and the fact that they were able to get me scheduled for a move on a Monday in such a short notice... read moreI had booked another moving company and due to Covid they had to cancel. I contacted them late Saturday afternoon and they responded within 30 minutes. The price and the fact that they were able to get me scheduled for a move on a Monday in such a short notice is amazing. The 3 young men that they sent were so professional and they made sure our items were protected. They were also fast and polite. Hopefully this will be our last move, but if it’s not I will call them again and I will definitely recommend them to anyone who is moving. read less
Angela Brown3 months ago -
Would highly recommend them to anyone who needs them
DeAngelo was Very respectful and friendly
Get the job done in a timely manner and very efficient he did a great job
5stars from us 🤗🤗Lala Grant5 months agoAs a whole, they provided amazing and professional service which made my moving process very easy and smooth. A gentleman by the name Derrick I believe went out of his way to give me extended information which helped me through the process. I thoroughly recommend anyone seeking high quality moving... read moreAs a whole, they provided amazing and professional service which made my moving process very easy and smooth. A gentleman by the name Derrick I believe went out of his way to give me extended information which helped me through the process. I thoroughly recommend anyone seeking high quality moving service looking into this company. 10/10 read less
Trevor Kowalsky5 months agoWe had such a great experience using Big League Movers. Jody was so helpful getting everything set up and we really recommend calling him to set up your move. The guys were there on time and got everything loaded up quickly and moved it to our new house with no... read moreWe had such a great experience using Big League Movers. Jody was so helpful getting everything set up and we really recommend calling him to set up your move. The guys were there on time and got everything loaded up quickly and moved it to our new house with no issues. They even connected our washer & dryer and put my bed together for me which I was really grateful for. Thank you Jody and all the guys at Big League! read less
Brittany Harris5 months ago