It’s not the moving season just yet but no time like the present to prepare for the upcoming moving season and be better able to deal with your next move.
Moving is a hassle and we all dislike it but there are some things one can do to be better prepared and armed against those villainous scam moving companies. It takes a rather devious and deceitful person to walk into your home, pack your things and then hijack your household goods but believe it or not these people exist.
It’s always best to try to meet your movers before they come to your home and start packing. If at all possible you should require an in home inspection and moving estimate so your moving company can be certain of the things needing to be moved and they can provide an accurate price quote. Misunderstandings and bad estimates are a great source of confusion and headaches for movers and moving companies so having an accurate listing of the items being moved is always best.
Find out f you are dealing with an actual moving company or if you are working with a moving broker. A broker is a middle person who often times gets in the way of communication with the actual movers. Try to work with actual moving companies so you get not only the best price but the best services as well.
You are about to move. You probably are excited about moving to a new place. You are also about to go through one of the most stressful experiences in your life: actual moving process.
You are going to entrust people whom you have never met with all of your personal belongings. How crazy is it?! Although it may sound scary, hiring a moving company instead of moving yourself is a smart choice. If you find the right movers, they actually may be able to take most of the stress associated with moving away from your shoulders.
There are no stupid questions: I bet you heard this numerous times from your teachers or professors. And this is not the time to be shy: these are the questions you have to ask the moving company you are planning on contracting to move you:
Are your movers licensed?
Are they insured?
Does your moving company charge by the piece, by hour, or give flat rates? (Hourly rate is the most common pricing structure for local moves; make sure they are real professionals and will work 60 minutes an hour with no unnecessary breaks. Flat rates, where allowed by state laws, work better for small moves. Make sure you provide a complete item list if you want a flat moving rate)
Do they have a minimum of hours? (Most of the movers will have a minimum which will range between 2 to 4 hours)
How do they charge after minimum hours: in 10, 15, 30 minute increments? In full-hour blocks? (15 minute increments is what you should be looking for)
Are there extra charges for large item moving, such as piano, TV sets, pools, spas? (It is pretty common to charge extra for unusual items)
When does the time start: when your mover leaves their facility, or just when they arrive at your location? (Look for a mover who charges from the time they start working at your place)
What additional charges there are? Do they charge for packing supplies? Gas? Arrival/destination charge?
Are moving rates higher on weekends and early/late in the day?
Is there a deposit required to secure a moving date and time?
What payment types does your moving company accept? (Credit cards, cash, money orders, checks, cashier’s checks?)
Do they have their own movers, or hire day labor? (Avoid moving companies that use day labor!)
What training do they undergo?
Are your items insured during the move? What is the insurance coverage?
What is the cancellation and rescheduling policy? (You should always be able to reschedule or cancel within 72 hours, preferably 48 or 24. There should be no cancellation or rescheduling fees of any sort)
Who will be your contact person on the day of the move?
Does your mover have any moving advice to make the whole process easier and smoother?
Can they provide references?
All these questions should help you get familiar with moving companies’ policies and give you an idea of what to expect on the move day. Also, it should help to eliminate shady movers from your potential mover list and contribute to your moving success.
About the AuthorMarty Paukstys is a moving expert operating a national household goods moving company. For more moving tips and information, please visit Milestone Relocation website.
Planning to make the big move? It can be quite a hectic job if you do not ensure that things go as planned, so it really pays to choose the right movers. There are many moving companies that will offer great services to you and your family, but you have to know what are the right questions to ask so you end up hiring the right ones. After all, they are in charge of your stuff so you want to make sure that they know how to transport your precious things to your new home with all the care in the world!First of all, you have to be realistic about the amount of money you are willing to spend for the movers. Moving is hard work and can take up a good amount of your expenses, so you still want value for money. Ask moving companies how many men will be assigned to your moving requirements in the event that you choose to hire them. Ask if the rate is for the trip, or for the number of trips it takes to transport all your things to the new place, or the number of hours it will take to bring everything to the new house. These are all very important questions that will factor in the budget of the moving.Second, ask if they will also assist in setting up the new home. Some moving companies also offer such a service, especially for people who do not have others to help them. Take note though that this particular service might cost extra. Usually, movers are just simply going to transport your stuff to the new place and one by one bring down the boxes to a safe and covered place. But there are also some movers who will readily assist in setting up some stuff in the proper rooms. To make the job easier, make sure you label the boxes according to whichever room you want its contents to go to.Third, inquire with the movers if there is a discount on boxes and moving peripherals. Some people buy their boxes at the grocery, but you might want to avail of the boxes provided by the moving companies since theirs are bigger and sturdier than other boxes. They usually add this to the cost of the moving, but you should also ask if you can purchase additional boxes. Some of these boxes are sturdy enough to be used several times, so you should ask the movers to keep them in the garage for further use. Label each box clearly, as doing so will cut the moving time since the movers will be more efficient in this way.The questions you need to ask the moving companies are not that hard – you just need to make sure you remember to ask the movers about them. There are some areas where you can save money in this particular situation, and it will really pay to do so. You want to make sure that you get the best moving company to handle the task of transporting all your precious belongings.
About the AuthorWhen you move to a new home, you will want to get the best movers you can find for your budget. Some simple questions will need to be answered by the moving companies to determine if they really are the best ones for the task.
