What to Know About Moving Companies

Once you have decided to switch to a new home, you first need to access your moving requirements. Every moving situation is different due to the size, distance, and complexity of the move.

Once you've identified your requirements regarding the moving situation, it will help you understand what kind of help you need to hire and the estimated cost. Knowing what you need will help you guide towards the right services with appropriate budgeting.

After knowing your moving needs you need to start researching the moving companies that cater to your needs perfectly. You need to do some research to find out which company does quality work, ask around friends and family who have used the services before and look for online reviews.

Once you've shortlisted a few of them, cross-check them with the Better Business Bureau. If any of the companies have several complaints filed against them then cross them off and go with the best possible options. This will make sure that your chosen company has the professional capacity to handle your move efficiently.

There are many things involved in determining the cost of your moving like the weights of the item to be moved, moving distance, number of labor required for moving, packing services, etc. At least get 3 moving estimates beforehand. You can also invite a relocation consultant to your house to get estimates done. This will help them give you a clear quotation on your moving expenses.

Now, evaluate the breakdown of charges, compare services provided, and take note of any extra fees. Always remember that cheaper is not always better but it's about finding the best value of your spending. Ask the moving company whether their estimates are binding or nonbinding and never accept an estimate over the phone.

When you accept the estimates from the moving company, the next step involves briefing your movers so that you can make them understand everything that needs to be moved.

If they move something that's not needed, you may still be charged extra because the cost will increase if anything is added to the shipment that was not included in the original estimate.

You must also make the movers aware of the unusual circumstances that may arise during the day of moving beforehand. Like, parking the moving truck in a new place or the mover has to park the vehicle far away and manually carry things from a distance. Clear these things in advance to mitigate any dispute that may arise due to these situations.

Even though you have a homeowner or renters insurance, your things are only insured while they are at your house. The insurance company does not cover any damages that happen while moving things from the old place to the new one. Therefore to get covered for the long commute you might want to get yourself a relocation or moving insurance.

You can also check with your moving company what kind of valuation coverage and insurance they offer. This will also provide you financial protection in case of damage or an item lost while moving. Good moving companies should offer different levels of coverage for you to choose from. Having moving insurance is a great idea to take some mental pressure off during the relocation.

The legal contract between a mover and the customer is called a bill of landing. Make sure that you read it very carefully and ask any doubts you see then and there. Do not sign it until and unless you are satisfied with the things written in the agreement. Then hold on to the copy of the bill of landing until the service is complete and everything is settled between both parties. 

Just in case of any dispute down the line you'll want to have it handy to state your case. You just need to pay the amount that is stated in the bill of landing and this will protect you from surprise charges. Things to be included in the bill of landing are the mover name and address, accepted mode of payment, pickup time and payment details.

Of course, this may not suit everyone's moving schedule but if you have the option to move during the winter between October and April then you might get great prices or even seasonal discounts. Summer is the busiest time for the moving company and you may even have to book in advance to get your desired delivery date and pay a premium for the services.

While choosing between moving companies always remember to put your moving estimates lying around on the kitchen counter, dining table, or living room table. This way when the moving company comes for an estimate they will know that they have a competition.

Avoid changing delivery time and date. It will only be in your best interest to have a fixed delivery date because once you start changing other things get affected as well. When your shipment is picked up then you will be liable to pay for the storage cost when your scheduled delivery date is changed. You could easily save this money just by being organized.

There are other hidden costs that you might want to consider like moving a difficult item like a piano, artwork, television, or aquarium so you might want to get extra insurance for your high-priced belongings to be handled with care and protection. Some damages cannot be reversed so it is better to be organized well before.

Make sure you check every item for damages after the moving process is completed. If any item is missing or damaged during the process then movers are responsible for everything. If such things happen report it in the inventory sheet at the time of delivery. However hectic the moving process is, do not skip checking your belongings and their condition because once you accept it you can't claim it later.

You should verify that everything on the list has been delivered to your new location in perfect condition. Even though you've chosen the best possible moving company you can't predict the accident. Therefore it's better to be safe than sorry, so just make an effort to check right there and there.

There are many things that can go out of hand during the moving process. You can find hundreds of horror stories online of people never getting their stuff back to paying additional thousands of dollars for the stuff to reach your destination.

Therefore it is very essential to select a reputable and legit moving company. You may find it a little expensive than the average moving companies available on the internet but it sure will help prevent you from any scams. A little due diligence is a must before dealing with moving companies.

Content Sources:

• Howstuffworks
• Consumer Reports
• Forbes
• Moving.com