Finding a Moving Company

Transcription

1 Finding a Mving Cmpany When it cmes time t make a big mve, it pays t take the time t find the right mver fr the jb. Whether it is acrss twn, acrss the cuntry, r acrss an cean, a little investigatin and sme well aimed questins can help ensure yur precius carg makes it there in ne piece! Pick Yur Mve: Befre yu call a mver t cme give yu an estimate, figure ut what type f mve yu are lking fr. First, yu will need t establish if this is a lcal mve r ne that crsses state lines as there are a lt mre laws that gvern interstate mves. Next, figure ut what level f mve yu want t d. There are fur types that mst mvers can help yu and each ptin differs n hw much effrt will be required by yu vs. hw much yu are willing t pay. Yu pack and lad, they drive Otherwise referred t as a Self Service mve, yu pack all yur wn stuff and lad it nt a trailer fr a prfessinal driver t transprt. Yu unlad yur wn items upn arrival. This is the cheapest f all yur ptins and a gd chice if yu d nt feel cmfrtable driving a large truck. Yu may als get a better deal if the cmpany can share the trailer space with thers ging the same way. Yu shuld nly pay fr the space yu use. They mve just the heavy stuff like furniture and appliances, yu pack and lad everything else This is a gd in-between ptin if yu have enugh family and friends t handle the bxed up items, but need smene else t mve the large stuff. This ptin can take a lt f the hassle and wrry ut f the mve. Yu pack, they lad and drive This is anther nice in-between ptin, bth in effrt and price. Yu handle and pack all yur wn stuff, but smebdy else des all the lifting, lading and driving. Mvers will charge by the bx and per large item such as appliances and pians. Sme cmpanies may include certain packing bxes as part f their price (like dish barrels r prtable wardrbes) s be sure t ask. They pack and mve everything! With prper preparatin, this can be the mst hassle free f all yur ptins. The mvers cme in and pack and mve all yur items and unlad and even unpack n the ther side, if yu s chse. This lw effrt ptin is als the mst expensive ne. Get a handle n yur stuff: There is n sense in getting an estimate if it is nt an accurate ne! Yu dn t want t get an estimate that is t high by accidently including items that wn t be cming alng. And yu especially dn t want t get an estimate that is t lw because yu frgt t mentin the stuff in the attic r that garden shed ut back. BBB serving N. Clrad & E. Wyming wync.bbb.rg Page 1

2 Faulty estimates are the mst cmmn cause f unhappy surprises n mving day. Take sme time t figure ut nw what is cming and what is staying s yu can get the best estimate pssible. D a walk thugh Walk all ver yur prperty and lk in every clset, cupbard and strage space and get an idea f what yu are taking, what yu will be giving away and what is ging t get tssed. This will give yu pretty gd idea f hw much yu have in general, a ttal that may surprise yu if yu have lived in ne place fr a while. Make a general list by rm f items t be tssed r given away fr yur wn reference. Clean it ut! If yu can, get as much f the stuff n that T G list ut f yur huse befre the estimatr shws up. This is nt a must, but it can really help the estimatr give yu the best estimate pssible. Keep in mind; yu are ging t have t d this step eventually anyway! Ding it nw will save yu truble dwn the line and get yu a better estimate nw. Research T get gd mvers, yu are ging t have t d sme research. Take gd ntes and keep yur findings rganized in a way that wrks fr yu (clr cded flders, fr example). A little wrk nw will g a lng way tward a happy mve. Yur gal is t get a list f 3 t 4 mvers t call fr actual walk-thrugh estimates. Get recmmendatins. Ask friends, family, cwrkers, and lcal real estate agents. Lk in the phne bk fr mving cmpanies that are lcal t yur area. Wrking with a lcal mver can ease r even avert many f the issues that can cme up during a mve. Check ut the ptins: Review the BBB Business Reliability Reprts fr mre infrmatin abut the mvers n yur list. D a quick check f their lcal ffice. It shuld be neat and clean in appearance, nt just sme empty warehuse. Find ut hw lng the cmpany has been in business. Yu want ne that s been arund a few years at least and ideally 10 r mre. The Estimatin Getting an accurate estimatin is the mst imprtant step fr keeping t yur budget. D everything reasnably pssible t help yur estimatr get it right! If the mving cmpany thinks there is substantially mre items t be mved than riginally specified, they can challenge that estimatin and ask fr mre mney befre any items are laded. Yu dn t have t pay the higher amunt, but yu als dn t want t have t find a new mver n Mving Day! D nt rely n phne estimatins! Fr a gd estimate, the estimatr MUST cme n site! Shw them everything The estimatr shuld be shwn everything that is ging t be mved, in the clsets, basement, garage, attic, strage shed and backyard. Specify special cnditins If the new hme has a lt f stairs, an elevatr, is far frm the curb, r has ther access issues, be sure the estimatr knws that at the time f the estimate. BBB serving N. Clrad & E. Wyming wync.bbb.rg Page 2

3 Have all f the fllwing infrmatin befre the estimatr leaves: Get the qute in writing Make sure it includes all the abve infrmatin including special items, special delivery cnditins and packing materials. Again, nbdy likes surprises n Mving Day! A written prmise that the mver will be ding the jb themselves and nt subcntracting the jb ut. Yu want t avid using a brker, wh will find smebdy else t actually d the mve. Fr mst lcal cmpanies, the estimatr that cmes t yur huse will als likely be there n Mving Day! Optins fr Additinal Insurance Mvers generally ffer a standard amunt per pund fr insurance cverage. If yu purchase additinal insurance frm yur mver, make sure yu get details and ttals fr that cverage. Fr interstate Mves: The estimate shuld describe the type and quantity f gds yu re shipping The distance t yur new hme When yur things will be picked up and delivered, Any additinal services (such as packing) and supplies the mving cmpany is prviding. A ask fr a written binding estimate r, even better, a binding nt-t-exceed estimate. These estimates will put a guaranteed cap n the ttal cst f yur mve. While these nnbinding estimates are legal (as lng as they re given fr free), there are legitimate reasns the csts may g up. Fr mves within the same state: Rules abut estimates vary: Fr mst mves, estimates are based n the amunt f time the mve will take as well as the cst f materials and transprtatin. If yu can t get a binding estimate, yu shuld still get a written estimate that specifies the fllwing: 1) Their hurly rates 2) Additinal csts fr supplies, tlls, driving time t and frm the mver s facilities 3) Any additinal fees based n weight, insurance, etc. Als make sure yu have the fllwing: The cmpany s full name and any ther names under which it des business. The cmpany s address, phne numbers, and and website addresses. Names and cntact infrmatin fr references. USDOT (U.S. Department f Transprtatin) and MC (mtr carrier) license numbers. The U.S. Department f Transprtatin bklet called Yur Rights and Respnsibilities When Yu Mve. Federal law requires any interstate mver t prvide yu with this fficial rule bk f the interstate mving industry. Call and ask if yu re nt sure abut anything in the estimate. Have the cmpany send yu a revised written estimate if necessary dn t just take smene s wrd fr anything. Get everything in writing! Review the estimates Once yu have gtten yur 3-4 estimates, sit dwn with all yur infrmatin and cnsider the fllwing: Dn t select a mver based n price alne. Ask yurself wh yu trusted and wh yu think yu wuld like t wrk with. Persnable is great, but trustwrthy and dependable are even better! Check ut the cntenders in mre detail. Make sure yu have the answers t all the questins frm the Research and The Estimatin sectins f this check list. Verify that yur mving cmpany has the license and insurance it needs t mve yu legally by checking ut the website f the Federal Mtr Carrier Safety Administratin (FMCSA). Check ut this great list frm t walk yu thrugh this nline prcess. BBB serving N. Clrad & E. Wyming wync.bbb.rg Page 3

4 Estimate Dcumentatin Yu will have a LOT f paper in yur hands by nw. Here is what yu shuld have and what it shuld say: The cmpany s name, address, and phne numbers. These shuld be the exact same nes the cmpany gave yu. The Bill f Service that includes: The written estimate f hurs, supplies, etc. The wrds Written Binding Estimate at the tp and is signed and dated by the cmpany representative that came t yur hme. An initial inventry list This is nt the final inventry list that the mver yu chse will give yu after they lad yur gds n Mving Day. This versin is usually dne electrnically (usually n a PDA) and specifies furniture, appliances and estimates n the ther gds per rm. These dcuments shuld be signed and dated by bth yu and the estimatr. They are nt cntracts at this pint and again, they shuld specify in writing that they are just estimates. Chse yur mver! After all f this research, yu shuld nw feel pretty safe placing everything yu wn int their hands and trucks! Cnfirm in writing the dates and details f yur mve Get a signed Bill f Lading (rhymes with shading ) This is the final and fficial mving cntract and will include everything abut the mve including csts and addresses. This is will als be the dcument checked by the DOT during the mve and the ne yu save fr yur end f year taxes. Mving Day! After all that preparatin, the big day is finally here! Just a few mre items and yu will be dne! Except fr all that unpacking. Get a written cpy f the mver s inventry list (created as the mver lads yur gds) Prvide the mvers with specific directins fr getting t yur new hme Get a number where yu can reach the mvers during the actual mve Red flags t watch ut fr: If yu have a bad feeling abut yur mver s tactics r charges, yu can stp the prcess at any pint; hwever, it is best t d s befre yur pssessins are laded n the truck. Specifically, watch ut fr cmpanies that: Dn t ffer r agree t an nsite inspectin f yur husehld gds. Over the phne r Internet estimates are nt ging t be accurate and may even be fraudulent. Didn t lk in every ne f yur clsets befre giving yu an estimate. Identify themselves as husehld-gds brkerage services that find a mving cmpany fr yu. They are nt regulated by the laws that mvers must fllw. Insist that their nly frm f acceptable payment is cash r a large depsit. Legitimate businesses rarely wrk this way. Have a Web site has n lcal address and n infrmatin abut licensing r insurance. Yu may be dealing with a brker wh is nt even in the same state. Claims all gds are cvered by their insurance. There are basic minimums that wuld likely be cvered, but it is dubtful everything wuld be cvered withut purchasing additinal insurance. BBB serving N. Clrad & E. Wyming wync.bbb.rg Page 4

5 Desn t prvide a free cpy f Yur Rights and Respnsibilities When Yu Mve, fr interstate mves. This is a bklet mvers are required by Federal regulatins t supply t interstate custmers. Wh s ffices and warehuse are in pr cnditin r nnexistent. Again, yu culd be dealing with a brker r even with a criminal rganizatin! Shw up n Mving Day with, a rental truck rather than a cmpany-wned and marked fleet truck It is likely yu just gt sub-cntracted ut. Or wrse. BBB serving N. Clrad & E. Wyming wync.bbb.rg Page 5