Avoid costly surprises on move day. Here is a complete guide to what professional San Diego movers will and will not transport, and what you need to handle yourself.
By Discount Movers · Updated May 2025 · 5 min read
What We Will Move
The vast majority of household items can be safely moved by a professional moving company. Here is what is included in a standard move.
Sofas, beds, dressers, dining tables, desks, bookshelves, entertainment centers, and any standard household furniture. We disassemble and reassemble at no extra charge.
Any properly packed and sealed box. For fragile items, we recommend double-boxing and using adequate padding. Our crew handles boxes with care but proper packing is essential for delicate items.
Treadmills, weight benches, ellipticals, and stationary bikes. Some large pieces require disassembly. Let us know about specialty gym equipment when booking so we can plan accordingly.
Upright pianos, baby grands, and grand pianos. Piano moving requires specialized equipment and trained movers. Discount Movers handles all piano types. Call for a custom piano moving quote.
Framed art, mirrors, and wall hangings when properly wrapped. For extremely valuable pieces, ask about custom crating services which provide maximum protection during transport.
Refrigerators, washers, dryers, stoves, and dishwashers. Appliances should be emptied, defrosted, and cleaned before move day. Disconnect service lines in advance or ask about appliance disconnect services.
What We Cannot Move
For safety, legal, and practical reasons, professional movers cannot transport certain categories of items. Plan ahead for these.
Flammable liquids (gasoline, paint thinner, lighter fluid), explosives, corrosives, propane tanks, and any material classified as hazardous. These must be disposed of or transported by the owner.
Plants are generally not transported on long distance moves as they cannot survive in a sealed truck and some states have agricultural restrictions. For local San Diego moves, we can often accommodate plants, ask when booking.
Pets must travel with their owners. They cannot be placed in a moving truck for obvious safety and welfare reasons. Plan your pet transport separately, especially for long distance moves.
Fresh, refrigerated, and frozen food cannot be transported. Use up what you have before move day, donate non-perishables, or transport perishables in a cooler in your own vehicle.
Keep all medications with you personally, especially anything you need daily. Do not pack medications in boxes that will be loaded onto the truck.
Cash, jewelry, passports, birth certificates, financial documents, and items of extreme sentimental value should travel with you personally, never in a moving truck.
Specialty Items
Some items can be moved but require advance notice so we can bring the right equipment and plan appropriately.
All piano types require piano boards, padded straps, and experienced movers. Always mention a piano when booking so we bring proper equipment. Call for a custom piano moving quote.
Heavy safes require specialized equipment and additional crew. Always disclose safes when booking and tell us the approximate weight. Never try to move a heavy safe with a regular dolly.
Pool tables must be disassembled and the slate carefully wrapped. This is a specialty service. Ask about pool table moving when booking and we will arrange the right crew.
For original artwork worth thousands of dollars, ask about custom crating. We build custom wooden crates that provide maximum protection and are appropriate for high value pieces.
Hot tubs, large trampolines, and built-in outdoor kitchens may require specialty services. Describe all outdoor items when requesting your estimate so we can plan properly.
Large table saws, lathes, and heavy workshop machinery require special equipment and planning. Drain any fluids before the move and disclose heavy machinery when booking.
Call us and describe what you need moved. We will tell you exactly what we can do and give you a free estimate.
📞 Call (858) 490-0155