Finding The Right Moving Company

Getting ready for the big move?  Who hasn’t heard the stories about furniture being scratched or damaged, personal items being lost or misplaced, undependable movers, etc.?  There are plenty of reliable moving companies who you can hire to ensure a smooth, relatively stress-free move.   Here are a few tips to help you find them, what to look for, and how to get a fair price.

How To Find A Mover
Begin planning your move six-to-eight weeks before the moving date, suggests the Better Business Bureau.   Word of mouth is usually the best way to find anything so first ask your friends and acquaintances if they have ever been highly satisfied with a company they’ve used for past moves.  You can always look in the Yellow Pages or on the Web as there are plenty of sites that offer online quotes.  Once you find a few movers to investigate:

• Contact the Better Business Bureau to review the moving companies’ records and see if there are any complaints on file.
• Contact each mover to request information about charges and services, their time record, and you may wish to ask for references.
• Ask the mover about any additional charges such as if there is a fee for hooking up appliances or carrying items up more flights of stairs.
• You can always confirm the status of the mover’s licensure by contact US Dot, State DOT, or ICC.
• As the liability amount for lost or damaged goods has a cap for moving companies, you may wish to check your homeowners insurance to see if there is any coverage for this.

Get Estimates
Any reputable mover will provide you with a written estimate of moving expenses and services.  They will either offer you a binding agreement, which in effect is a guaranteed price for the move, or a non-binding agreement, whereby the company provides a quote for services upfront and submits final charges upon completion of the move.  Make sure you take the time to show the mover everything you intend to move from furniture to the contents of your attic to your children’s playground set.  Go over any additional services you may need such as packing and unpacking including if you are considering having the movers disassemble and reassemble furniture, for instance.  It is wise to get three bids.  Now, you are ready to compare movers and make a decision based on your needs and budget.

Note:  To confirm regulations when moving within your state, contact your local or state government.  When you move to another state, charges are determined by the weight and volume of the load and the distance it is to be shipped.  This is the formula used: Weight of van empty - weight of van after loaded = net weight of shipment.

Taking An Inventory
Your inventory record is an important document as it is your proof of all personal items that were shipped in the move.  If an item is damaged or lost, you will need to present your inventory record for reimbursement for any losses.  If you have requested packing services from the mover, the mover representatives will take an inventory of all household and personal goods intended to be shipped before the packing begins.  Review the completed inventory for legibility and accuracy.  Double-check that all items are accounted for and numbered correctly.  You can save money by packing some of your personal belongings yourself, but be aware that movers do not usually accept liability for damage to items that were packed by the owner.

Moving Day Preparations
There are a few things you can do to make moving day easier for both your family and the movers.

• Provide the movers with a basic layout of where you want your furniture and boxes to go in the new house.
• Let the movers know how many flights of stairs there are in your new home.
• Inform the movers of any potential obstacles that may need to be addressed such as low-hanging cables or tree branches or parking in your new or old neighborhoods, and any street detours en route.
• Have the measurements handy of all doorways in both your current and new home.
• Make sure you have a thorough understanding of the contract before you sign it and the driver departs.
• Hand the driver destination contact information.
• Make sure you and your mover exchange cell phone numbers and that you provide the mover with emergency contact information as backup.  If your driver has a pager or satellite tracking information, you may wish to get that information, also.
• Ask the driver to contact you if the estimated time of delivery changes.

Protecting Yourself In Case
A reputable moving company will hand you a brochure describing their services, a copy of a consumer booklet entitled Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move and information about the mover’s participation in a Dispute Settlement Program.  Movers are required by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) to do so as well as offer shippers neutral arbitration as a means of settling any disputes that may arise concerning loss or damage on household goods shipments.

Since you’ve done your homework, organized the move, and chose a mover with a proven track record, you’ll have more peace of mind when your movers load everything you own into the moving van and take off for your new home.

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