20 Things You Need to Know Before Contacting Movers ( FULL VERSION )

8/7/2019 20 Things You Need to Know Before Contacting Movers ( FULL VERSION )

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/20-things-you-need-to-know-before-contacting-movers-full-version- 1/29



COPYRIGHT NOTICE

20 Things You Need To Know Before Contacting Movers

LEGAL NOTICE © 2011 BeAwareEarly.com. All rights reserved.

The Publisher has strived to be as accurate and complete as possible in the creation of this manual, notwithstanding the fact that he

does not warrant or represent at any time that the contents within are accurate due to the rapidly changing nature of the Internet.

While all attempts have been made to verify information provided in this publication, the Publisher assumes no responsibility for

errors, omissions, or contrary interpretation of the subject matter herein. Any perceived slights of specific persons, peoples, or

organizations are unintentional.

In practical advice books, like anything else in life, there are no guarantees of income made. Readers are cautioned to reply on their

own judgment about their individual circumstances to act accordingly.

This manual is not intended for use as a source of legal, business, accounting or financial advice. All readers are advised to seek

services of competent professionals in legal, business, accounting, and finance field.

You are encouraged to print this book for easy reading.

BeAwareEarly.com not affiliated with any brands or companies on this reports.

Each company holds its own copyright.



3

BeAwareEarly.com 20 Things You Need To Know Before Contacting Movers

Table of Contents

Introduction p. 5

Discussions on the 20 Things You Need To Know Before Contacting Movers

1. When to call a moving company? p. 6

2. What does a full service move consist of? p. 7

3. When somebody is moving, how is the customer charged by the movers? pp. 7-8

4. Does somebody have to be physically present for movers to move goods? p. 9

5. Can somebody have their goods moved to two separate locations? p. 10

6. Is it possible for a moving company to move items or furniture into a storage unit? pp. 10-11

7. Do moving services provide insurance to their customers? pp. 11-12

8. When are the moving / relocation fees supposed to be paid? pp. 12-13

9. What to do, if lease contract is about to expire? p. 13

10. Do I need a moving estimate? p. 14



4


11. How do they charge for shipments deliveries? pp. 14-15

12. What is a tariff? p. 15

13. When is the best time to move? p. 16

14. Which are the important points to consider when you decide to move? p. 16

15. How long does it take to move? p. 17

16. Is a moving company "DOT certified?" p. 18

17. Can we file complaints about the Movers service? pp. 18-19

18. How can we quantify the Movers Liability for loss and damage? pp. 19-20

19. What is the time frame of filed complaints to Movers? pp. 20-21

20. What are the Tips on finding a Good Moving Company? pp. 21-23

Points To Remember

The DOs: Things That Should Be Done When Moving pp. 23-25 The DONTs: Things Youre NOT Entitled To Do When Moving pp. 26-28

Recommendation p. 29



5


INTRODUCTION

Whenever you are shifting your stay from one location to another, it

involves lot of transportation. You need to shift all the requirements to

your new location within a matter of days or weeks depending on your

personal requirements. You need to plan ahead your moves even if you

are shifting to a nearby location within your town or city. Many people

create a mess out of their household objects and clothes while shifting

causing lot of hassles after the shifting. It is quite hard to sort out

various materials if they are taken to the new spot in a haphazard

manner. So, make your plans and arrangements in advance.

Certainly you and your family can handle all the aforesaid moving

and packing arrangements. All you need is to buy the necessarypackaging equipments from the right place. However, the entire affair

can be quite expensive and time consuming. Thus, you can save better if

you hire the services of experienced movers.



6


20 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE CONTACTING

MOVERS

1. When to call a moving company?

Calling a moving company the sooner the better. All movingcompanies, for their standard type of service, require alternate pickup

and delivery dates. It is wise to give your moving company from four to

six week's notice, if possible. The more time you can give, the more

likely we will be able to meet your preferred delivery schedule.



7


2. What does a full service move consist of?

Sometimes, a full service local move is an awesome choice if you

have the money to pay for it. In this case, you would hire a local moving

company in your area to not only do all the moving and heavy lifting,

but also to pack and prepare all of the boxes. For a larger local move,

the movers will often pack all of the boxes one day, then return and do

all of the moving the next day.

3. When somebody is moving, how is the customer charged

by the movers?

The first basis for any moving quote is how much is being moved.

For smaller moves this can often be conveyed by phone or email, but for

larger moves an onsite survey by the mover is recommended. The nextbasis for moving charges is how far the move is. Local moves, usually

same state and less than 100 miles, are usually charged by the hour.



8


Longer distance moves, usually over 100 miles or state to state are

normally charged for based upon the weight of the items being moved.

The mover will drive their truck onto a certified scale and get a "light

weight", then will load you furniture, then return to the scale for a

"heavy weight". The difference is how much your goods weigh. Other

factors that can cost additional for long distance moves include difficult

access (stairs, elevators, long carries, inability of the truck to get close to

the residence or other furniture location). In addition, if you have the

movers pack your boxes, which will be done at an additional cost. Some

movers will survey your goods and offer you a "binding" or "firm" price

to do your move. Be certain that the contract clearly outlines what

items and services will be included with the price.



9


4. Does somebody have to physically be present for movers

to move goods?

In most cases the shipper or representative of the shipper must be

present at the beginning of services. This is so that someone can

provide signatures authorizing the moving company to provide the

services as outlined within their freight bill or other shipping

documents. In addition, the moving company needs to get clear

instructions with regard to what services are needed. In addition,

normally someone needs to be present to receive the goods, and sign

for a receipt of the goods.



10


5. Can somebody have their goods moved to two separate locations?

Yes, it is possible to have your belongings relocated to multiple

locations. Most local moving companies charge by the hour so it will be

at the expense of the consumer if you need to have things relocated to

two different locations. Long distance movers normally charge a set fee

for additional delivery locations, in addition to the weight and mileage

charge for the actual move.

6. Is it possible for a moving company to move items or

furniture into a storage unit?

Most movers or relocation services WILL move your belongings to a

storage unit. Storage units do in fact count as actual locations. Some

moving companies also offer storage services as well as relocationservices. If you are willing to pay a little extra to store your goods in a

moving company storage, then they will store your items and furniture

wrapped in pads and protected.



11


If you decide to use self service storage, you have to provide your own

protection and usually move the goods in and out yourself. Be sure to

ask your moving company all your questions and I'm sure they will behappy to provide information.

7. Do moving services provide insurance to their customers?

Moving companies are moving companies not insurance companies,

and there for do not sell or offer insurance directly to the consumers.Instead, the mover is usually the insured party, and tariff rules allow

them to sell "valuation" to consumers. Valuation is a declaration on the

shipping document by the consumer of the maximum value that the

moving company can be held liable for damage to the consumers

goods, while in custody of the mover. Just like insurance, there arevarying levels of valuation coverage, with varying deductibles.



12


The higher levels of valuation coverage cost more than lesser levels of

valuation. Similarly, lower deductible coverage cost more than higher

deductible coverages. Regardless of whatever level of valuation theconsumer selects prior to services, there are many exclusions and

limitations to moving company liability.

8. When are the moving / relocation fees supposed to be paid?

Most of the time, moving company charges and fees are collect ondelivery. That is, when the truck arrives with the goods, most mover

contracts provide that the moving company receive payment before

release of the goods. There are some differences between the payment

requirements for local moving and long distance moving. For sure, on

long distance or interstate moves, the moving company will requirepayment before unloading.



13


There may be times on local moves which is normally charges by the

hour, moving companies will wait until the goods are unloaded to be

paid, but still many may require payment before unloading (they willestimate the time for unloading). Also, sometimes for large office moves

or business moves, the movers will require reservation of significant

amounts of trucks and personnel. Some moving companies may also

require the customer to pay an upfront reservation deposit.

9. What to do, if lease contract is about to expire?

You can get advice from your moving company agent who can

recommend you the types and cost estimates of moving services

available with them. If your pickup and delivery dates are critical due tosuch factors as lease expiration or real estate closing, you may choose

an extra-cost service which will enable us to accommodate a more

precise, reasonable schedule.



14


10. Do I need a moving estimate?

The Moving Company will suggest you a pre-move survey of your

household items to be transported. This survey is to determine an

appropriate cost and the space it will require in the van for moving your

household stuff. If the move is within the state, you must pay the total

charges as determined by the actual weight of your shipment, the

distance it travels, and the services that you authorize or which become

necessary to handle your shipment.

11. How do they charge for shipments deliveries?

Delivery charges for local shipments are generally calculated on an

hourly basis.



15


At the time for payment of transportation charges, the mover is

required to give you a freight bill identifying the service provided and

the charge for each service. It is customary for most movers to use acopy of the bill of lading as a freight bill; however, some movers use an

entirely separate document for this purpose.

12. What is a tariff?

The tariffs are published by each household goods mover and

include its various services. This is the list of rules, regulations, available

services and resulting charges used by all motor movers, which provide

interstate transportation of household goods. The tariffs are availablefor your inspection upon request.



16


13. When is the best time to move?

Most moving companies suggest you select a time other thansummer, the end of the month or the end-of-year holidays. The heaviest

demands are placed on vans, equipment and personnel during these

periods. However, you should move when it is most suitable for you.

14. Which are the important points to consider when you

decide to move?

The aspects involved in the decision may include: whether the move

must be made immediately, moving children during the school term,

separation of the family while the move is under way, and if the movecan be scheduled for a time when vans and trained personnel are more

readily available.



17


15. How long does it take to move?

The time span for a move depends on many factors, such as the

time of year, weather conditions, size of your shipment, The time

required to load and unload, and the direction and distance your

shipment is traveling. Because the furnishings of the average household

will not fill a van, it is often necessary for two or more shipments to be

loaded on the same van. Each shipment is carefully divided off from the

others. Nearly all moving companies have computer-assisted

dispatching system, pickup and delivery dates are scheduled according

to the origins and destinations of individual shipments on the van, as

well as shipment weight.



18


16. Is a moving company "DOT certified?"

The US Department of Transportation (DOT) issues certificate of

authority to all professional moving companies by the Federal

Government to move household goods amongst any of the 50 states.

17. Can we file complaints about the Movers service?

Yes! All movers are expected to respond promptly to complaints or

inquiries from their customers. Should you have a complaint or question

about your mover, you should first attempt to obtain a satisfactoryresponse from the mover's local agent, the sales representative who

handled the arrangements for your move, or the driver assigned to your

shipment.



19


If for any reason you are unable to obtain a satisfactory response

from one of these persons, you should then contact the mover's

principal office. When you make such a call, be sure to have availableyour copies of all the documents relating to the move. Particularly

important is the number assigned to your shipment by the mover.

18. How can we quantify the Movers Liability for loss and damage?

All moving companies are required to assume liability for the value

of the goods, which they transport. However, there are different levels

of liability, and consumers should be aware of the amount of protection

provided and the charges for each option.

Basically, most movers offer four different levels of liability underthe terms of their tariffs and pursuant to the Surface Transportation

Board's Released Rates Orders, which govern the moving industry.



20


The Four Levels of Liability are:

1. Released Value

2. Declared Value

3. Lump Sum Value

4. Full Value Protection

19. What is the time frame of filed complaint to Movers?

Should you move result in loss or damage to any of your property,

you have the right to file a claim with the mover to recover money for

such loss or damage.

You have nine months following either the date of delivery, or the

date on which the shipment should have been delivered, to file a claim.



21


However, you should file a claim as soon as possible. If you fail to file a

claim within 120 days following delivery and later bring a legal action

against the mover to recover the damages, you may not be able torecover your attorney fees even though you win the court action.

20. What are the Tips on finding a Good Moving Company?

1. The moving companys quote must be presented in writing, never

accept a verbal agreement as your given quote. Importantly, your

quote should also be provided only from a company who has

thoroughly estimated the job in person.

2. Check as to what types of payment the company will accept thatwould be more susceptible for you; whether it is cash, credit card, or

personal check, and when is payment required.



22


3. Establish if you will be given a confirmed delivery time. And if your

moving company will disassemble and reassemble items that require

this treatment.

4. When you are fairly certain of which moving company may be right

for your relocation needs, you should contact your local BBB or Better

Business Bureau to inquire of any past or present issues regarding

complaints and resolution.

5. It is also very important to check your selected companies DOT

number, a requirement for all moving companies. Interstate moving

companies are also required to publish their price list and have it

readily available upon request. They are also required participate in a

dispute resolution program in the event of loss or damage in transit.



23


6. All licensed movers are required to provide liability insurance. Be

sure that you understand the level of protection and the process

involved in the event of a claim. Forewarned is forearmed.

POINTS TO REMEMBER

The DOs: Things That Should Be Done When Moving

Packing Supplies, Labeling & Packing Tips

· Keep the following supplies handy for packing:

o Boxes,

o marking pen,

o bubble wrap,

o newspaper and tissue

o Tape and scissors

o Tape measure



24


· Use strong boxes and containers that can be secured tightly.

Purchase special boxes for dishes, wardrobe and other special

items.· Pack audio-video equipment in their original boxes.Label cables

and tighten transit screws. If removing screws, tape them to the

objects they are removed from.

· Avoid loading more than 50 pounds into one box.

· Label each box and indicate the following:

o (a) Which room it should go in

o (b) Whether it is fragile

o (c) If it should be loaded last so it will be unloaded first.

· Cushion contents with packing material such as bubble wrap,

newspaper or tissue. Save room by using towels and blankets to

wrap fragile items.



25


· Pack books tightly on end in small boxes. If musty smelling, sprinkle

talcum powder between the pages and wrap the book before

packing. Leave stored for a couple of months to eliminate the smell.· Have rugs and draperies cleaned before moving and leave them in

wrappings for the move.

· Pack medicines in a leak proof container.

· Carry all valuables with you.

· Check with your local U.S. Department of Agriculture forregulations regarding moving plants from one state to another.

Many states have restrictions on certain plants to prevent importing

bugs or pests that can destroy valuable cash crops.



26


The DONTs: Things Youre NOT Entitled To Do When Moving

What Things You Should Not Pack?

Not everything in your home should be packed

up in boxes to move to your new one. There are

some things movers wont transport or move foryou because rules and regulations forbid it.

There are some things you should not try moving yourself, and some

things you should not take with you at all for safety reasons. This

section will help guide you. Contact your mover with any specific

questions before you begin packing.

· Flammable, Corrosive or Explosive Items

· Perishables

· Irreplaceable Sentimental Items and Valuables

http://www.moversdirectory.com/packing_tips_valuables.html

http://www.moversdirectory.com/packing_tips_not_pack.html

http://www.moversdirectory.com/packing_tips_not_pack.html



27


What Items you should not Move

Do not pack Everything

Do Not pack Hazardous Materials

Dispose of hazardous materials, do not pack them up in

boxes for movers to take to your new home. It is

dangerous and illegal for movers to transport them. Give them away to

neighbors or call your local waste management center, recycling

company or The Environmental Protection Agency about how to safely

dispose of them.



28


Perishable Items

Plants, food and animals are perishable items, they easily

spoil, die or suffer damages if not specially cared for along

the way. Many movers refuse to accept any kind of

perishable items, but may make an exception if the move is

less than 150 miles and within a 24 hour drive away.



29


Recommendation

The best movers do not have to be expensive. To look for moving

experts that you can afford, check online as well as newspaper ads.

They are all over, and contact not just one, but several others more for

you to have comparison. Make a list of things you want them to do foryou. Things you should inquire about like the charges, how soon they

can finish job, how they pack your things, how they remove mirrors and

beds that are attached to walls and floors, and how they store your

things before the moving date.

Also remember that the best movers do it all at a very reasonable

price!

20 Things You Need to Know Before Contacting Movers ( FULL VERSION )

Documents

Transcript of 20 Things You Need to Know Before Contacting Movers ( FULL VERSION )