Garages tend to collect the items that do not have an obvious place inside the house: tools, paint, lawn equipment, seasonal decorations, storage boxes, sports gear, and supplies you may not have touched in years.
Before moving day, go through the garage before you start packing. Some items should be donated or discarded, some need special preparation, and certain chemicals or fuels may not be allowed on the moving truck at all.
Use these four steps to sort your garage, prepare equipment, pack what is coming with you, and deal with anything that should stay behind.
1. Service Your Vehicle
If you’re lucky enough to be able to have a moving company pack your car into a semi-truck, that’s great. If you’re planning on moving your vehicle (or vehicles) yourself, make sure they’re in good shape. Now is the time to catch up on your car or truck’s required maintenance schedule. Have the engine tuned, the oil changed, and the vehicle checked by a professional for safety.
Whether you’re moving across town or the country, the last thing you want to have to deal with in your new home is a broken-down vehicle.
2. Dispose of Chemicals
Not only is moving household chemicals dangerous, but it’s also illegal in many jurisdictions.
Paint cans, paint thinner, spray paint, and every other household chemical can be a health and safety hazard in a move. Not only are these items dangerous, but the dangers of a move also make it far more likely that they will be exposed to extremes of heat and possible damage, leading to safety and fire hazards. Even if you have dry chemicals (like lawn fertilizer), bags and tubs can be easily damaged, releasing dangerous and possibly toxic chemicals on to your household goods.
Be sure to dispose of the items correctly, and if in doubt call your garbage disposal service to find out how to get rid of these items safely.
3. Take a Garage Inventory
‘Out of sight, out of mind’ is an adage for a reason. Items stored in your garage are often forgotten. Unless you have a meticulous labeling system, the simple fact that you don’t use things stored in your garage often can lead to a great deal of confusion.
Before you begin loading boxes onto a moving truck, make sure you’ve opened boxes you’ve stored in your garage and verify the contents.
4. Dispose of Items You No Longer Need or Want
The garage is often the last resting place for things before you finally get rid of them. A move is a perfect time to dispose of items that are just taking up space.
Your move can be a fresh start, and there’s no better way to start over then to lighten your load. Salvation Army, Goodwill, and the Society of St. Vincent de Paul are great places to donate items you no longer need. Your gently-used items can make a real difference in the lives of the less fortunate, and you can get a tax write-off to boot, so set aside your unwanted items and you might help someone in need.
Follow these four tips, and packing your garage will be a snap!
What garage items should not go on a moving truck?
Do not assume that paint, gasoline, propane cylinders, pesticides, solvents, aerosols, pool chemicals, fertilizer, or other hazardous materials can be loaded onto a moving truck. Moving companies commonly restrict flammable, corrosive, explosive, or toxic materials. Ask your mover for its non-allowables list before packing, then follow local disposal or recycling rules for anything the mover cannot transport.
