Moving Made Smooth, Inc. would like to keep the, "Whoops, I never thought about that." out of your move.

Do you know if the appliances you're moving are empty and ready to be installed in your new home? By 'empty' we are referring to draining the water from washing machines and by 'ready to be installed' we mean whether or not your appliance has the correct plug for your new home's outlets.
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When a washing machine is not drained it will be heavier and could leak while traveling with your other household items. To prevent this, we suggest draining the washing machine 48 hours before your move. To do so, first unplug the machine. Next, check if the appliance has a water pump filter. This is usually found on the back of the washer, behind a small flap. After opening the flap, you will see a small hose. Now place a bucket beneath the hose and remove the stopper. The water will drain slowly from this area. When the water pump filter has finished draining, remove the main drainage pipe from the wall. Hold the hose above the level of the washer until you have a bucket ready to catch the water. Caution: water drains quickly from this pipe. Whenever a bucket is full, elevate the hose and empty the bucket. Continue this process until the washer is empty.

The electrical mishaps for appliances began in 2000 when building codes changed from a 3 prong appliance outlet to a 4 prong. This can potentially cause problems when moving to anew residence, a "whoops" that is probably best solved by an electrician or appliance expert. I must add, your mover is not responsible for making appliances compatible with your new home.

Ayla P.R. Representative with Moving Made Smooth, Inc. 

When you purchase a new washer and dryer, it is a good idea to ask the installer to keep the washer/dryer locks. These locks prevent the drum from moving during transport. Otherwise, the moving parts in the appliance can be damaged. If you did not keep the locking metal pins/plastic tabs, then you can look for the part number in your appliance's owner's manual, see if the store you purchased the appliances from can provide you with some, or check out the helpful links below.

Moving Made Smooth, Inc. recommends ordering the parts necessary to lock your appliances at...
If you need a copy of your owner's manual:
http://www.appliance411.com/service/ownersmanual.shtml
If you know the part number (found in the owner's manual) or the make and model: http://www.repairclinic.com/Shop-For-Parts? TLSID=1587&SearchText=&Ref=373032&gclid=CjwKEAjwl7ieBRCK2rCtqcCS7jESJA CZKQFKg877Zqj4hSvYV9MXXKfObDa7SVS4G-ztOELBEjEg1BoCUoDw_wcB
Or purchase a set of locking bolts:
http://www.appliancepartspros.com/whirlpool-shipping-bolt-kit-w10289554a-ap4926830.html_

Be sure to secure or take off the doors of your refrigerator and remove all the items it contains. This will prevent a messy clean-up when the appliance arrives at your new home. We suggest having this done prior to the day of your move. Also be sure to unplug the fridge 48 hours in advance of your move to ensure that the freezer has defrosted. This will prevent melt water from leaking out of the appliance and ruining other items in your moving vehicle.

There is an old saying about being a "fly on the wall." Imagine yourself as if you were your belongings loaded into your rental vehicle. The truck is bouncing so the furniture is rubbing against each other. There is also a large pot hole coming up. Now the entire load is going to feel the effects. Those plastic containers could split, crack, flex, or break. Now imagine all the items that are above, below, and beside it. Every item around this container will topple or shift. This is the reason why Moving Made Smooth, Inc. strongly suggests against the use of plastic containers.

The truck is now moving toward road construction, one with drops and weird angles in the road. The truck bounces and sways. Any furniture without a moving blanket will be subjected to the friction of all the surrounding items in the truck.

We don't like thinking about what would happen to your furniture without moving blankets so why would you? Moving Made Smooth, Inc. vehemently recommends the use of moving blankets. For more information please take a look at the Packing Supplies page.

Ayla P.R. Representative with Moving Made Smooth, Inc.

Imagine your moving day without considering the contents of your garage. Keep in mind the time it will take for the movers to pack it or the space available on the truck. It may be more cost effective for some items if you purchased a new one when you move into your next home. So, please remember to pack up your desired belongings from the garage prior to your moving day and select what to pack wisely.

This link below will take you to a site that describes some of the chemicals and other items that should not be packed for or put into your rental truck.
http://moving.about.com/od/packingtipsandtricks/a/not__to_pack.htm

Federal law forbids you to ship hazardous materials in your household goods, boxes, or luggage without informing your mover (we strongly suggest you don't pack them). A violation can result in 5 years imprisonment and penalties of $250,000 or more (49 U.S.C. 5124). Your load is also subject to loss or damage due to fire, explosion, or contamination.
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Moving Made Smooth, Inc. has also provided some useful links below on how to properly pack the items found in your garage.
http://moving.about.com/od/packingtipsandtricks/a/packing_garage.htm http://www.mymovingreviews.com/move/packing-a-garage