10 Tips for Hiring a Professional Mover

 Imagine this scenario. You choose a moving company, set a date for pickup and delivery, and sign a contract with the moving companies. A few weeks later, you are standing in your new house and all your things are locked inside a truck out front. Moving companies have accumulated a ton of extra charges on your bill and are telling you that if you don't pay the fees, you won't get your things. People who you thought were going to carry the heavy stuff and make your moving day much easier are now holding their belongings hostage.

Make sure the company is legitimate 

Moving scams are quite rampant and you want to make sure that the company you work with is legitimate. Then check it out. Visit the business to see if it appears to be improving. Are the trucks clearly labeled? It is not good if they are not. You can find the company's motor carrier license information on the SaferSys website of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Enter the DOT number the company gave you to see if everything looks correct. For example, the address you got from the company must match the SaferSys website address. If you move to a different state, the mover must be licensed for interstate moves. There should also be a check with the household items.

2. Check your inventory to make sure nothing has been lost or damaged.

 Moving companies are responsible for loss or damage to goods caused by the carrier. If anything is missing or the boxes are damaged, this should be noted when you review the inventory sheet at the time of delivery. Moving is hectic and you may think you don't have time to check all the boxes when they arrive at your home. But you need to check your inventory sheet and make sure your things appear to be in good condition and that they are all there. At a minimum, you should verify that everything on the list has been delivered.

3. Respect your delivery date 

Once your shipment is collected, you may incur storage costs if the delivery date changes. So, make sure you can move into your new home on the scheduled date. Otherwise, you may end up having to put your things away overnight, costing you money that you could have saved if you had been more organized. There are other hidden costs to consider as well - moving a difficult item like a piano can cost more. You may also need to purchase additional insurance coverage for your high-priced artwork or hire special handlers for those items.

4. Move in during the winter 

If you have the option to move between October and April, you may be able to receive a better price. If your move is scheduled between June and September, the busiest time to move, be sure to call well in advance to get estimates and close a contract. When choosing between moving companies, remember to leave the budgets of each company on the kitchen counter or dining room table when the movers come through your house to evaluate your things. That way, moving companies know they have competition and are more likely to negotiate a deal with you.

5. Ask questions about the contract

 Make sure any contract you enter into covers fees and charges, the mover's liability for your possessions, pickup and delivery dates, and claims protection. Read the document carefully. Don't worry about keeping the mover waiting while you review the contract to make sure you understand everything that is included. Moving company scams are not uncommon, so you need to make sure that a moving company is rising before signing a contract. If something in the contract seems suspicious, trust your instincts, and ask questions. You don't want your moving company to hold your things hostage and force you to pay extra costs.

6. Pay close attention to the contract

 The mover will issue you a bill of lading, a legal contract between the client and the mover. Make sure you read it carefully and understand the agreement before signing it. Then be sure to save your copy of the bill of lading. If something goes wrong, you will want to have it on hand to present your case. And once you sign the bill of lading, you have to pay what you are supposed to pay. Look for the bill of lading to include the following: name and address of the mover, the type of payment method it accepts, the pick-up time, the minimum and maximum amounts to pay, and other details about the payment.

7. Get insurance

 If you have renters or homeowners insurance, your belongings are insured when they are at your home, but not when they are on the road between the houses. So for a long commute to work, you may want to consider purchasing moving or relocation insurance. Unless you pay carriers to pack your belongings, they are unlikely to be insured against breakage caused by improper packaging. If you want to guarantee coverage for broken items, you can always ask the mover to pack your belongings. There are several types of insurance packages to buy. The moving company is responsible for a certain dollar amount multiplied by the weight of the shipment, up to a certain amount.

8. Make sure the moving company is aware of everything that needs to move 

Make sure that the moving company is aware of everything that needs to move. And for that: the cost will increase if something is added to the shipment that was not included in the estimate. Also, make sure the move is aware of any special circumstances that may make the move difficult. For example, is there a chance that the moving truck will have a hard time parking in its new place? If the moving company has to park far away, they may charge you extra money for the walks they have to do to get your things to your new place.

 9. Get More

 Than One Estimate For interstate moves, charges are based on the weight of items to be moved, distance to be moved, packaging, and other services. Get two or three estimates well in advance of your move. You may even want to meet with a relocation advisor in person and have them come to your home. That way the consultant can see your belongings and make a solid estimate of how much it will cost to transport them. When you speak to moving companies, ask if their estimates are binding or non-binding. Do not accept a quote over the phone.

10. Research Companies 

First things first: do some informal research to see which moving companies do quality work. Email your friends to see if they have any recommendations or warnings about moving companies they have used in the past. If the companies you are interested in offer referrals, call those referrals. Once you've narrowed down your options, check with the Better Business Bureau about the moving companies you're considering. If one of those companies has had multiple complaints filed against it, then that is not the company you want to use. 

You can also get guidelines articles on house moving.