Furniture Mving Companies – Selecting A Mover For The Smoothest Move
You have gotten that new job in another city, you’re retiring out-of-state, your family’s growing and it’s time to upgrade. All of these are great signs that life is going very well. Keep it going well by choosing the right mover to get you where you are going.
Tips about choosing a mover
— Select the type of mover you need, such as a relocation service, interstate moving company, local mover, pack-and-stack service, household shipper or trucking service.
— Ask your friends or neighbors who have moved recently for recommendations. A word-of-mouth referral is the best way to be assured the movers will do a good job.
— Ask prospective movers for references, and give them a call to see how satisfied their customers are.
— Get written estimates from a minimum of three movers prior to deciding.
— To minimize the hourly charges for a short move, try to do as much of the work yourself as you possibly can.
— Think about whether or not you would like the mover to pack and what other additional services you might need.
— Be aware of difference between binding and non-binding estimates. With a binding estimate, you know ahead of time what your move will cost. However, it also means you can’t add anything extra that you may have left off during the estimate. With a more open-ended non-binding estimate, there is no limit on what you can ship. Final charges could be higher or lower than the estimated cost, depending on the actual weight of the shipment.
— Notify the mover of any possible unusual situations, such as access or parking problems, on either end so your estimate could be more accurate. If the mover does not comprehend possible issues ahead of time, extra charges will likely apply.
— Verify that the mover is licensed and regulated. You can inquire from state agencies which regulate transportation services, or try looking in the phone book under a Public Utility Commission (PUC) or Department of Transportation (DOT).
— Spend a while talking to each moving company. If they take some time to understand your moving needs, it’s an excellent sign that they will offer outstanding service. If the company representatives are not friendly and helpful, call somebody else.
Things to avoid in choosing a mover
— Do not accept estimates over the telephone. Moving is a complicated business with many variables, and it’s not possible to give an accurate quote without seeing the property and the items to move.
— Don’t take everything with you to do away with at the other end. This will increase costs to your move that are avoidable. It’s suggested to get rid of unwanted things before you move so that you don’t have to find room for them later.
— If you are looking for movers on the internet, be sure you do not make use of a broker. As soon as a broker has your business, he sells the job to the highest bidder and is no longer responsible to you. With a broker, you will never know who is going to show up on moving day and they will generally charge you more than the broker led you to expect.
— Do not let a moving company bait you with low hourly rates. You’re paying for your things to be shipped professionally, not for the cheapest option. Remember-you get what you pay for.
Questions to ask potential movers
Make sure you get the answers to these questions before you choose your mover.
• Are there additional charges if the movers need to go up an extra flight of stairs even if I did not know about it when booking?
• What’s the estimated delivery time and how will the driver notify me?
• If I pack myself, what type of packing material is acceptable?
• How and when do I pay? Cash, credit card, check personal or certified?
• Will the movers disassemble everything and will they reassemble all items at the destination?
• Following the initial weigh in, will there be an additional weigh in to ascertain actual cost?
• If I’ve bought liability insurance and I need to make a claim, what is the process?
• Just how long has your company been operating? How much experience do your packers and drivers have? Do you offer storage and, if necessary, are you licensed for interstate transport?
Be assertive when asking questions. You have the right to be confident regarding your choice in movers.
Important documents for your move
Be sure these documents are provided by the mover before your move.
— A certificate of insurance displaying all necessary insurance liabilities.
— A written estimate.
— Proof of workers compensation coverage, which will protect you from liability in the event someone is hurt.
— A bill of lading-the legal contract between you and the mover that defines the services the carrier agrees to provide.
— An inventory of your things. The driver will present the inventory to you for your signature after the van is loaded and again when the shipment gets to your new home.
Moving could be a stressful time, but keep in mind, many millions of people have moved before you. Make the most of the wisdom acquired by following these steps to have the simplest move possible.
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