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Before officially moving to a new home, it is important to review and sort through all the items that you have accumulated over the years. Familiarizing yourself with your possessions will make it easy for you to decide on which item to take or dispose of. Whether you’ll be hiring a mover or moving houses DIY style, you must realize that there are various things that you cannot take with you when moving.

Perishables

A day or two before the move, it is important that all the items in your fridge are already consumed. It would be a bad idea to pack and carry perishables like meat, dairy, or eggs when you move, even if it is in the same city or state.

If you are moving with children, choose to bring cookies, fruits, and other easy-to-eat food for them.

Live Plants

If you are hiring a regular moving company, it is important that you know that plants aren’t included in their list of movable items. While there are special movers that specialize in moving potted plants or trees to different cities or states, it could cost a lot of money and special permits should be acquired. You should just consider leaving your plants, selling them, or giving them away.

Hazardous, Explosive and Combustible Goods

Charcoal, gas, bleach, paint, pool chemicals, car batteries, aerosols, guns, and ammunition are just some of the items that movers just won’t take. These items would are not only dangerous to handle, but could cause a lot of damage to the mover’s property or personnel. In cases of weapons and ammunition, these items should only be handled by the licensed owner, as these items may require special permits or registration in some states.

Liquids

A large volume of liquids is usually prohibited for transport by movers. This is because liquids can cause severe damage to other items being moved. But in terms of numerous wine bottles, special arrangements can be made with a mover as long as they are properly packed and labeled.

Cleaning Supplies

Bleach and other home cleansers, when coupled with other chemicals in the moving truck, can release hazardous odors and possibly start fires. The temperature in the rear of a moving truck can rise quickly, so keep that in mind. Chemicals may become dangerous or even lethal gasses as a result of such high temperatures.

Valuables

When dealing with valuables, it is not a good idea to pack them together with furniture and other personal belongings. Valuables such as jewelry, luxury bags, designer shoes, art, antiques, genuine fur, and money should be personally handled by the owner. The same thing must be done with all important and legal documents, credit and debit cards, family heirlooms, personal photos, and prescribed medication too.

Expensive paintings and antiques can be transported accordingly via a trusted mover. Don’t forget the insurance to cover any damage or loss during the move.

Damaged and Unused Furniture

Moving is time-consuming and expensive, despite being exhilarating and potentially life-changing. Get rid of whatever you don’t need and you’ll lighten your load considerably. Don’t pack old clutter that you’ve been holding onto for a long time. You’ll feel better at the end of your relocation the lighter the move was.

Pack Wisely

When packing for the big move, avoid putting the whole house in boxes. Don’t forget to segregate all your belongings and get rid of any broken, useless (to you), and outgrown items. These should be sold, donated, or given away weeks before you actually start packing.

Once you have made an inventory of all your belongings, show the list to your mover. Make a list of all the items that they refused to transport and move. This way, you can decide on whether to look for an exceptional mover or just dispose of the items accordingly.

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Written by Margarita Hakobyan
Margarita Hakobyan is the founder and CEO of MoversCorp.com. She has published more than 300 articles about moving, storage, and home organizing, making her a moving specialist since she began writing about the moving industry in 2005. Follow her on LinkedIn and Twitter.