Packing for an Upcoming Move? Be Aware of Household Goods Restrictions

You are planning to relocate and have scheduled your move, and perhaps even hired a moving company to assist you with the process. As moving day draws nearer, your focus will shift to deciding which household items you’ll be taking with you to your new home, and which items you’ll need to sell, donate, or otherwise dispose of.

Contributing to a trouble-free move is thinking strategically about what you are packing and planning to move. The fact is, many moving companies have a list of prohibited items that they either won’t move, or don’t recommend transporting with furniture and other household items. These include:

• Hazardous materials (i.e. ammunition, chemicals, explosive or flammable materials, firearms, paints, pesticides, poisons and solvents)
• Perishable items (i.e. refrigerated or frozen foods, open pantry items, produce and plants)
• Personal or items of sentimental value (i.e. personal documents like passports, birth certificates, financial documents; computers and electronic devices; valuable jewelry; family photos)

It is important that you work directly with your moving company to determine which items will be restricted from going on the moving truck. On the King Companies website, you’ll find an overview of “Important Things to Know” which lists items that we are prohibited from transporting.

Next, take inventory of the items you are planning to move and make sure that none of the prohibited items are packed with your household goods. There is nothing worse than having your relocation delayed, or having damage occur during transit, due to the presence of restricted items such as hazardous materials. Note that any damages resulting from these items will be your responsibility, so be sure to read all of the terms and conditions provided by your moving company in advance of the move.

After taking inventory, make sure to properly dispose of any hazardous materials prior to your move. Always be considerate, and don’t leave them for the next resident to take care of. Depending on where you live, there should be hazardous waste disposal services in your area. You can Google “hazardous waste disposal” to find local resources.

Finally, perishable items like food and large plants can be thrown away or donated. Open or partially used pantry items and dry goods you want to save, as well as small plants, can transported with you. Don’t forget to keep all of your important personal and financial documents, keys, valuables including jewelry and small luxury items close by during your relocation. Packing those items and taking them with you in your car or inside your carry-on luggage if traveling by air, train or bus, is the safest option.

Keep in mind that what you pack, and how you pack it, is very important to ensuring a successful relocation. If you have questions or would like to learn more best practices when packing for your next move, the experts here at King Companies are standing by and ready to assist in planning our next relocation. Call us today at 800.854.3679.

About King Companies
As an agent of United Van Lines, King Companies has the resources and expertise to be your “go-to” resource for all relocation needs. Whether you are relocating your household, moving an office, or are in need of logistics services, we strive to ensure that your next move will be the best you will ever make. Call us today at 800-854-3679 to learn more.

We hope that you will consider King Companies for your future relocation needs. To learn more about our services, visit is at www.kingcompaniesusa.com. And, don’t forget to connect with us on Twitter, Facebook and Google+ for our latest news and updates!