Moving and Storage

The right moving company can take a lot of the hassle off your shoulders when it comes to relocating tasks; it will make packing your furniture and every other belonging you wish to take to your new home a very pleasant and comfortable experience.

Setting aside bout 6-8 weeks is generally enough time before moving to make sure everything is in good order. After getting a few company names either from friends or relatives who have moved recently, you can quickly set up interviews and check the background, prices and availability of specific moving companies, in order to make the most suitable choice when contracting their services.

Tips on Dealing with Moving Companies

There are several good options you should consider before deciding upon a single firm to work with. Interviewing a few different movers, establishing familiar relations and discussing the fees and prices are all a part of this process which needs to be given full attention if everything is to be handled properly:

• First of all, don’t just talk on the phone. Try to actually visit a few of the moving companies in order to see exactly who you’re dealing with.
• Whether you conduct your interviews over the phone or in person, try to get a written estimate on their services. NTE estimates would be best to make sure that the movers are not allowed to exceed the estimated price.
• Always do your research before hiring a company or a broker. The Better Business Bureau can provide you with information on whether the company you choose is insured, licensed and whether its overall background checks out.
• Extra care must be taken when you hire a moving broker, since consumer protection laws will be applied differently in such cases. Members of the AMSA Certified Mover Program will be your best choice by far here. They follow a very strict code of conduct which does not allow them to withhold information from their customers, exceed delay limits or ignore complaints.

The law states that any movers and moving brokers have to provide you with a booklet called “Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move”, which includes information geared to offer you protection as a consumer. You can also find a copy of the booklet on the www.protectyourmove.gov government website.

Upon selecting the moving company of your choice, it may be a good idea to ask about their experience with specific types of items and furniture – such as fragile items, large musical instruments, complex storage units, etc.

You could also consider asking them about recent references from clients they may have helped in the past, as well as questions regarding the presence of a supervisor at the moving site, or whether or not they have unlisted services and how much they charge for them. Also, you may want to inquire as to whether the packing price is included in the bid.

Managing Your Move

The first thing to do before the movers get to the site is to properly clean and either donate or sell any items you won’t be taking with you. A yard sale or an online auction site may be of great use. Also, in some cases, the movers themselves may be able to take some of the items or recommend a good charity that could use a donation. After all the unwanted items are gone, make a detailed list of all the things that will be included in the move.

As much as possible, try to use up any consumable goods that might not make the move – such as groceries or frozen foods – and try to avoid doing any shopping before moving, unless it’s to buy something absolutely necessary.

Next, call your phone and cable companies, as well as any other service providers you’ve made a contract with and either arrange for relocation or schedule a disconnect date, and make sure you also notify your landlord in writing in case you’re moving out of a rented apartment.

Don’t forget about transferring prescriptions, getting your children’s permanent school record, changing your insurance policies, dropping off your new contact details at the post office for the change of address, and notifying any friends or family that your mailing address will be changing.

During the final preparations, it is important to be as thorough as possible, and you should also make certain that all valuables, clothes and other belongings are accounted for, so you won’t have any unwanted surprises later on.