What can movers not move?

Moving companies will be able to transport unopened non-perishable products, such as canned goods, soups, rice, pasta, and basically anything else that's left in the pantry.

Moving companies

may refuse to move live plants, especially those moving from one state to another, as pests can easily adhere to indoor plants and go unnoticed. This means that indoor plants have the potential to carry local pests to different states, which can be harmful to the environment. While moving a potted plant is unlikely to cause an ecological disaster or damage due to movement, most moving companies prefer to avoid the risk.

If you have household plants, pesticides, or other organic matter that you can't leave behind, take it with you in your car when you move. If you've ever moved in the past, you probably already know that moving can be time-consuming and difficult. While the best moving companies can arrange pet transportation services on your behalf, most moving companies don't have the necessary facilities to transport pets. However, not all items that moving companies don't move pose a safety hazard. Moving companies won't move perishable products, including frozen foods, because they don't want to run the risk of having the items damaging your shipment.

Moving some indoor plants may conflict with the recommendations of the National Plant Board, so most moving companies also refuse to move live plants. Most moving companies can carry your essential belongings, such as furniture, electronics, clothes, appliances, and more. However, they may refuse to move certain items that pose a safety risk, such as pressurized cylinders, flammable materials, corrosive liquids (such as bleach and ammonia), plants, animals and Plus. Moving companies will not move any items that could catch fire or explode during the transportation process.

For example, moving companies won't move spray cans because they can explode in an accident and harm the driver. Moving companies will not move high-value objects or some living beings, such as plants and pets. You can't move aerosol cans, hazardous materials, electronic waste, cleaning products, pets, or plants in a moving truck. To avoid liability-related risks, some moving companies may refuse to move items such as expensive jewelry, firearms and alcoholic beverages.

Ask the company that rents or delivers your moving truck what items you can't safely load before the move-in date arrives. No, moving companies won't move everything. If an item could damage the moving company during loading or transportation, you'll have to leave it there when you move or move it on your own. You'll also need to make arrangements to buy the plants, animals, and valuables you want to move with, as moving companies won't accept them.

Mayflower recommends that you read the following information before packing so that you can separate these prohibited items from the rest of your belongings. If you have questions about a particular item, contact your Mayflower moving coordinator for clarification. See how to properly pack and move indoor plants. Most families carry their pets in the car and plan ahead for stops at pet-friendly hotels.

Check out our tips for moving with pets for useful tips on the best way to bring your four-legged family members to your new home. Perishable foods are another big problem when you're moving. United suggests that you review our full list of disallowed items before packing so that you can separate these prohibited items from the rest of your belongings. If you have questions about a particular item, contact your United moving coordinator for clarification.

Flammable, explosive or toxic items, such as gasoline, fireworks and chemicals, pose serious safety risks and are strictly prohibited. Hazardous materials must be moved by you or your family, as removers will not take them away. While it's legal to carry weapons across state lines, the rules governing handguns, rifles, and shotguns vary greatly from one state to another. Ask your moving company about their gun policy.

Moving companies won't carry ammunition, so have a backup plan if you need to transport ammo. Alcoholic beverage laws vary considerably from state to state. Some don't care how much you contribute for personal consumption, while others do. Liquor bottles are also fragile and can easily break unless properly packaged. Transporting alcohol over long distances also poses other problems.

Extreme heat or cold can damage wine and spirits and make them undrinkable. If you leave them, the movers will have to double-wrap the drawers to ensure they don't open with all the additional weight. For example, while many moving companies require that you throw away cleaning products before loading your shipment, some moving companies may be willing to transport these items if they don't contain harsh chemicals. Understanding what moving companies carry will help you organize the packaging and make your move as simple as possible.

Most moving companies also have experience moving less common items, such as pool tables, hot tubs and motorcycles. Many professional interstate moving companies have a special inventory page for high-value items, such as jewelry, precious metals, and expensive electronics. People moving cross-country often have a checklist for moves with dangerous items they can't move, and they're likely to refuse to pack them too. For example, while it's not illegal to carry an unloaded firearm across state lines, some moving companies still refuse to move these items because they don't want to risk injury.

Once you've removed everything that the moving company doesn't take, you'll need to prepare the items you're going to move. If that's not an option, many moving companies have relationships with companies that specialize in transporting animals across the country and around the world. Request a quote for pet removals. Moving is a big task.

If you're using removals to make the move more manageable, you need to know what objects moving companies won't move.

Irene Mccravy
Irene Mccravy

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