It’s important to note in advance items that most professional movers will not move. You must leave your home completely empty at closing and personal property left in the home can cause major issues at closing. Never assume it’s ok to leave something. For example, paint. Most buyers want it so they can do touch ups. But, since it’s not easy to dispose of, it’s important to check with the buyers before leaving it because I’ve seen other buyers who insisted that the sellers come back and remove it. Here are the most common items that can not be moved:
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- Plants. It’s actually illegal to move plants accross states, but most movers won’t even take them on short distance moves. Potted plants are usually very heavy and hard for homeowners to move themselves so plan ahead.
- Hazardous materials. You may not stop to consider them as hazardous, but paint, aerosol cans, paint thinner, batteries, fire extinguishers and other such items. Most movers will give you a list of prohibited items but a good rule of thumb is that if you can’t legally dispose of it in your trash can, you probably can’t move it. Here are two links about hazardous material disposal in Travis County and Williamson County.
- Perishable food. It just makes sense; movers won’t move anything that will spoil, such as perishable food, frozen food or open containers. It’s best to consume what you can before the move and/or move your frozen food in a cooler yourself.
- Explosives & Flammable Materials Movers won’t move ammunition, black powder, primers, propellants, or even souvenir explosives you may have collected. Discard appropriately any kerosene, charcoal, lighter fluid, paint remover and the like before the move.
- Corrosives. Items such as muriatic acid and other pool chemicals, nitric acid and batteries with acid, are items that movers won’t move.
- Power Equipment with Fuel. Motorcycles, lawn mowers, weed eaters, and anything else with fuel can not be moved by your movers. To be safe, drain all feul several days before you move.
