Items that Moving Companies will Refuse to Relocate

When it comes to relocation, there are several common items that moving companies will refuse to relocate. It is crucial to familiarise yourself with these items. First of all, it will be easier to organise a safe and efficient move. Furthermore, you will avoid any unpleasant situations that may occur. With that in mind, the goal of this article is to cover what those items are and why they are not popular when it comes to moving a household or office.

Common Items Moving Companies Will Refuse to Relocate

According to removal industry statistics, the most common items that moving companies will refuse to relocate are:

• Hazardous materials
• Explosives
• Fuel-based power equipment
• Corrosive items
• Flammable items
• Plants
• Perishable food
• Valuables
• Special category items

Let’s see why movers won’t deal with these items!

Hazardous Materials

Most of these items are linked with safety. Everyone views safety differently; something you might think is perfectly safe could be categorised as hazardous. For example, paint or paint thinners, batteries, fire extinguishers, and aerosol cans.

Flammable, hazardous, corrosive, or explosive items are on the list of items moving companies refuse to relocate. Movers are usually required to provide a list of items they won’t move. However, as a general rule of thumb, anything that you cannot dispose of in a regular rubbish bin or ship to another location will probably fall under this category.

Explosives

It goes without saying, but moving companies will refuse to relocate any type of explosives. Even if you have collected some souvenirs, movers will not move them. Items like primer, ammunition, and black powder are out of the question.

Fuel-Based Power Equipment

When using the relocation cost calculator, people usually count all their belongings to calculate the price. However, for fuel-based power equipment, you should think twice. Movers will only move power equipment if there is no fuel in them. If you wish to have movers transport a motorcycle or a lawnmower, make sure to remove the fuel or run the machines to empty the tanks. However, that must be done at least 24 hours before the relocation.

Corrosive Items

Corrosive items such as various types of acids or batteries also fall under the category of items moving companies refuse to relocate. If you wish to move batteries, you must ensure they are the unspillable gel-type.

Flammable Items

Items like charcoal, kerosene, paint remover, and lighter fluid are out of the question. The safety of people could be seriously jeopardised during the move. It is highly advised that all flammable items should be safely discarded before the relocation.

Plants

Why would movers refuse to move plants? This may surprise many people, but it is true. There are a couple of reasons why movers will not relocate plants.

Moving plants is not only something that movers will refuse to do over long distances, but it is also against the law without permission. First of all, all plants have their region of origin. Furthermore, you need permission to move a plant more than 150 miles from its place of origin. Otherwise, it is illegal. Plants may harbour parasites or pests. Moving them too far can introduce new parasites to other locations, endangering ecosystems.

If you have plants and cannot move them, give them to friends or family willing to take them.

Perishable Food

Movers will also refuse to move any food that can spoil. Perishable food, frozen food, or open containers are not something you should try to relocate.

When moving, it is wise to think about how to prepare food for the journey. Eat or discard anything you cannot bring with you. Nevertheless, everyone should learn how to prepare food for relocation. Health and safety are at stake.

Valuables

Moving valuables with a removal company is generally not advisable. While a company might not refuse to relocate valuables, there are other issues. Items can get damaged during relocation, and in the worst-case scenario, there might be theft.

Even though valuables like cash and jewellery are not necessarily refused by movers, it is not advisable to pack them in a moving truck. Keeping cash, jewellery, or important documents in a moving van is against common sense. Valuables should stay close to family members with their other personal possessions.

Special Category Items

When organising a move, many people use an online moving quote calculator. It is the best way to estimate the cost of the move. However, always check if there are any special items moving companies refuse to relocate. These may not be on the regular list but still fall under this category. If you fail to check, you might get an incorrect estimate.

In most cases, this category includes heavy items or those requiring disassembly. For example, cars, pianos, pool tables, or jacuzzis. This is why there are many specialised services that deal with these specific situations.

Items Relocation Made Easy

Hopefully, this article clarifies everything about common items moving companies refuse to relocate. Knowing this information makes the entire relocation process easier and helps avoid unpleasant situations. We also suggest checking online for more information, as these categories might differ from company to company.