What Items Will Movers Not Move? A Southeast Michigan Moving Guide
When hiring professional movers, most furniture and household belongings can be transported without a problem. However, there are certain items moving companies may not be able to move because of safety concerns, weight limits, legal restrictions, or the specialized equipment required.
If you're preparing for a move in Southeast Michigan, knowing what your movers can and cannot transport ahead of time can prevent delays and surprises on moving day.
At On Demand Moving, we handle everything from standard residential furniture to heavy appliances, commercial equipment, upright pianos, and other specialty items. However, there are also some items we do not move.
If you're planning a household relocation, you can learn more about our local moving services
Hazardous and Flammable Materials
Movers generally cannot transport hazardous or highly flammable materials inside a moving truck.
These may include:
Gasoline
Propane tanks
Lighter fluid
Fireworks
Paint thinner
Kerosene
Certain chemicals and solvents
Gas-powered equipment with fuel still inside
Other highly flammable liquids
The enclosed cargo area of a moving truck can become extremely hot, especially during the summer, which makes transporting flammable materials dangerous.
If you are moving a lawn mower, snow blower, generator, or other gas-powered equipment, make sure the fuel is removed before moving day.
Proper preparation is one of the easiest ways to keep your move running efficiently. Check out our How to Prepare for Moving Day in Southeast Michigan for more ways to get ready.
Propane Tanks and Grills
Outdoor grills themselves can usually be moved, but propane tanks should be disconnected and transported separately.
Before your movers arrive:
Disconnect the propane tank
Clean excessive grease from the grill
Make sure the grill is cool and ready to transport
Secure or remove loose components
This allows the grill itself to be transported more safely.
Perishable and Refrigerated Food
Food is another category customers should prepare ahead of time.
Dry, sealed pantry items can generally be packed into boxes like other household belongings. Refrigerated or frozen foods are different.
For a local move, we recommend transporting refrigerated and frozen food yourself using coolers when possible.
This keeps food from spoiling and prevents leaking packages from damaging other belongings inside the moving truck.
Pets
Pets should never be transported inside the cargo area of a moving truck.
Dogs, cats, birds, reptiles, fish, and other animals should travel separately with the customer.
Before moving day, make arrangements for your pets and keep necessities such as food, water, medication, leashes, and carriers somewhere easily accessible.
Important Documents, Cash and Valuables
There are also certain items that may technically be movable but are better kept with you.
We recommend personally transporting things such as:
Birth certificates
Passports
Social Security cards
Vehicle titles
Financial documents
Medication
Cash
Jewelry
Family heirlooms
Small irreplaceable keepsakes
Laptops and important hard drives
Keep these items together in a bag or container that will stay with you throughout the move.
Do Movers Move Heavy Items?
Yes. Heavy doesn't automatically mean an item cannot be moved.
At On Demand Moving, we regularly handle a variety of heavy and oversized items.
These can include:
Heavy household appliances
Commercial refrigerators
Oversized tables
Commercial machinery
Medical equipment
Exercise equipment
Upright pianos
Gun safes under 600 pounds
The important part is letting us know about heavy items before moving day.
Photos, approximate weight, measurements, stairs, doorway sizes, and tight turns can help us determine the appropriate crew and equipment before we arrive.
This is especially important if you're only hiring movers for loading or unloading. Learn more about our labor-only moving services if you already have your own U-Haul, trailer, POD, U-Box, or storage container.
You can also read Labor-Only Moving: When You Only Need Help Loading or Unloading.
Items On Demand Moving Does Not Move
Although we handle many heavy and specialty items, there are certain items that fall outside of our moving guidelines.
On Demand Moving does not move:
Pool tables
Items weighing 600 pounds or more
Grand pianos
Baby grand pianos
Other non-upright pianos
Gun safes weighing 600 pounds or more
If you're unsure how much an item weighs, send us a picture along with the brand, model number, or other identifying information when available.
In many cases, we can help determine the approximate weight before scheduling the move.
Do Movers Move Gun Safes?
On Demand Moving can move gun safes weighing under 600 pounds, depending on the stairs, access, dimensions, and overall conditions of the move.
Because safes can vary significantly in weight, customers should tell us about the safe during the quoting process rather than waiting until moving day.
Helpful information includes:
Approximate weight
Height and width
Stairs
Tight turns
Doorway dimensions
Location inside the home
We also recommend removing firearms, ammunition, and other contents before the safe is moved.
We do not move gun safes weighing 600 pounds or more.
Do Movers Move Pianos?
We move upright pianos when the weight, access, stairs, and overall moving conditions allow the piano to be transported safely.
However, we do not move:
Grand pianos
Baby grand pianos
Other non-upright piano styles
Let us know about your upright piano during the quoting process so we can evaluate the access and determine the appropriate crew.
Do Movers Move Refrigerators, Washers and Dryers?
Yes. Standard household appliances are common items for professional movers.
On Demand Moving can handle:
Refrigerators
Freezers
Washers
Dryers
Ranges
Other household appliances
Commercial refrigerators
Depending on the appliance, customers may need to disconnect water, gas, or other utility connections before the moving crew arrives.
For more information, read our Do Movers Move Appliances? Refrigerators, Washers, Dryers & More
What About Commercial or Medical Equipment?
Not every moving company is willing to handle equipment outside of normal household furniture, but On Demand Moving can handle many commercial and specialty items weighing under our 600-pound limit.
This may include:
Commercial machinery
Commercial refrigerators
Medical equipment
Office equipment
Oversized tables
Heavy exercise equipment
These jobs are evaluated individually.
Providing pictures, measurements, and approximate weight beforehand allows us to determine whether we can safely complete the move and what crew size may be necessary.
What Should You Do If You're Unsure About an Item?
Ask before moving day.
One of the easiest things you can do is send your moving company a picture of the item.
For especially large or heavy items, include:
Approximate weight
Dimensions
Make and model
Number of stairs
Pictures of the item
Pictures of the path the item must travel through
It's much easier to plan for a 500-pound safe, commercial refrigerator, upright piano, or piece of machinery when the moving company knows about it ahead of time.
Heavy Item Moving Throughout Southeast Michigan
On Demand Moving provides professional moving help for homes, apartments, businesses, storage units, and specialty-item moves throughout Southeast Michigan.
We're based in Tecumseh and regularly help customers looking for movers in Tecumseh, MI and movers in Adrian, MI.
We also provide moving services for customers looking for movers in Ann Arbor, MI, movers in Jackson, MI, and movers in Ypsilanti, MI, along with surrounding Southeast Michigan communities.
If you're not sure whether we service your location, view our Southeast Michigan service areas.
Get a Moving Quote
If you're planning a move and have an unusually heavy, oversized, or specialty item, let us know when requesting your quote.
Send pictures, dimensions, and approximate weight whenever possible so we can determine the appropriate crew and equipment before moving day.
Contact On Demand Moving today for a personalized moving quote in Southeast Michigan.
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