Be sure to be on hand during packing and pickup of your belongings. If you cannot be there, ask a friend or relative to stand in for you. The mover will issue you an inventory of all items. Make sure the inventory is correct and legible before you sign it.

If your friends are helping you move, have as much as possible packed ahead of time and ready to be loaded into a truck or van. Don't expect your friends to pack your belongings. Be sure to have plenty of beverages and snacks, and send out for food if the work goes into the lunch or dinner hour.

Keep children and pets out of the way of the movers -- whether they're your friends or professionals.
Houseplants are among the trickiest items to move. In the next section, we'll show you how to do it.
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