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Based on our experience assessment, professional movers frequently encounter forgotten items, but the most unnerving discoveries range from human remains to occult artifacts. These findings often occur during estate clear-outs or after a tenant's sudden departure. Understanding what movers might find can help homeowners prepare for a professional move and underscores the importance of clear communication with moving companies. The following accounts, gathered from seasoned moving professionals, detail some of the most disturbing discoveries on the job.
What is the most common type of unsettling find for movers? While personal items are typical, movers report that human remains, often in urns, are a surprisingly frequent and disconcerting discovery. In one instance in a densely packed Manhattan apartment, movers found a pristine urn containing ashes buried under hoarded items. The customer insisted the movers handle the transfer despite the team's unease. This highlights a critical step in moving preparation: personally securing and transporting irreplaceable or sensitive items like cremated remains to avoid potential damage or loss.
What unexpected items might be found in a commercial property? Movers clearing a former hair salon in Philadelphia encountered a scene that blurred the line between commercial and surreal. The team discovered multiple life-sized mannequin heads wrapped in plastic throughout the room. The realistic features and varied hairstyles created a profoundly disturbing atmosphere for the crew handling them. This type of find emphasizes the need for commercial movers to conduct a thorough pre-move walkthrough to anticipate and plan for unusual inventory, ensuring the safety and morale of their team.
How can a tenant's activities lead to extreme moving scenarios? In Patchogue, New York, movers encountered a scenario far beyond typical cleaning. They discovered an intact human skeleton inside a large, antique cauldron, accompanied by chicken bones and daggers. The previous tenant had been conducting voodoo ceremonies, reportedly for payment. This extreme case illustrates that movers must be prepared for anything. For homeowners, this serves as a reminder to understand the terms of your homeowners insurance policy regarding property cleanup after a tenant with unusual activities.
What role does taxidermy play in unnerving mover discoveries? In an otherwise sparse Atlantic City apartment, a moving team was startled by a fully preserved and posed taxidermy lemur. The animal was positioned on a bookshelf, baring its teeth and claws, and appeared so lifelike that it caused a mover to scream. Taxidermy pieces, especially of non-domestic animals, can be particularly shocking. When moving, it is advisable to clearly label boxes containing such items to prevent startling the moving crew and to ensure these fragile objects are handled with extra care.
Can a large collection of specific items create a disturbing environment? A moving crew in Fort Worth, Texas, entered a home with all windows covered to find over 300 voodoo dolls filling multiple rooms. The sheer volume and the occult nature of the collection were alarming, compounded by the crew's discovery of one doll bearing a striking resemblance to a team member. This situation required careful handling to maintain professionalism. It underscores why moving companies often include clauses in their contracts about hazardous or disturbing materials, protecting their employees from undue psychological stress.
Why might personal memorial items be particularly unsettling? A moving job in Westchester County, New York, took a morbid turn when the crew found a completed headstone in the backyard, bearing the homeowner's name and birth year with the death date left blank. While preparing for one's passing is prudent, encountering a personal tombstone is uniquely jarring. This discovery highlights the sensitive nature of estate moving, where movers often handle deeply personal effects. Families managing an estate move should consider separating such intensely personal items beforehand.
What defines an entire property as a creepy discovery? Some properties are disturbing not for a single item but for the cumulative effect. A house in London featured peeping holes in bedroom and bathroom walls, unsettling old medical textbooks, a chair hanging from the attic ceiling, old lab equipment, and demonic etchings on walls. A painting of a smeared face found in a wardrobe added to the chilling atmosphere. Such properties represent the ultimate challenge for moving and cleaning services, often requiring specialized cleanup crews before any moving can safely commence.
The key takeaway from these accounts is the importance of preparation and transparency. Homeowners and tenants should conduct a thorough pre-move decluttering, clearly communicate any unusual items to the moving company, and personally handle items of significant personal or sensitive value. For moving companies, these stories reinforce the need for detailed initial walkthroughs and clear contractual terms to protect their teams from unexpected and psychologically taxing situations.
