Should You Feed Professional Movers?
It can surprise people how many questions there are surrounding the moving process.
At first glance, it seems so very simple. You figure out the date you need to be out of the house, then discern when you’ll be allowed to move into your new home. You pack your stuff, call a moving company, and then go where you need to go.
Not so fast. Here’s one piece of minutiae you may not have thought of right off the bat: should you feed your movers?
There’s not really a short answer to this question, since so much depends on both the situation and your own personal preference.
A Cold Drink is a Good Thing
Here’s one thing we would recommend though, no matter what the situation. Make sure to provide the movers with something to drink: water, soda, or sports drinks, it doesn’t really matter.
But giving them something refreshing will help the move go quicker, as well as making them appreciative. You can skip out on doing this of course. Unless you signed a very odd contract, everything we are about to recommend in this blog post is optional.
It’s really just nice to show the movers a bit of kindness. You’re entrusting them with many of your belongings. Even if it is just for a brief period of time, you still want them to feel good towards you.
Providing Food is Nice if the Move Takes Longer than Four or Five Hours
Past that basic note of kindness, the etiquette surrounding movers and refreshments becomes even less clear. To keep things simple, we’d recommend providing food if the move takes longer than four or five hours.
At that point, even if the movers start early, you’re likely running into lunchtime. Letting the movers go off to lunch is fine, and they may very well need the break. But they are likely to get the job done more quickly if they stay on-site.
That said, there’s no need to think hard about the meal. No need to run to the kitchen and whip something up. Something cheap and easy should do the trick. Pizza is a great option. Sandwiches are also good.
Alcohol and Moving Do Not Mix Well
The only thing we would strongly recommend not giving movers is alcohol. The reasons for this should be obvious, but in case they aren’t, here’s the reasoning: the movers are going to be moving your precious belongings. Alcohol might make them a little less sharp and a little less careful. Therefore, alcohol is not a good idea.
Hopefully this article helped you decide how to provide refreshments for the people who will be moving you into a new home.
