Be honest – moving is a pain in the neck. Packing, unpacking, collecting boxes, losing things, cleaning out closets, etc. Some say it’s more stressful than going through a divorce – even if you want to move! To lessen the stress and reduce problems, don’t rely on friends to make the move go smoothly. You need to find experienced moving companies to help you through.
Moving companies differ greatly. Large companies can help with long convoluted moves from country to country or cross-country, and smaller mom and pop companies can better handle things of a local nature, within a hundred miles or so.
The best way to start to eliminate possible issues is to only deal with companies that are willing to send out a representative to give you an estimate. No one can give you a good estimate if they don’t see your home. It’s impossible to tell someone “3 bedrooms, living room, and 2 baths will cost you…”. There’s a huge difference between bedrooms that are 10′ x 12′ and ones that are 20′ x 25′. Someone needs to do a walk through before they decide what you have and what you don’t.
Also make sure you know how many people you will be paying for. Many companies send out two workers only. Unless you live in a one bedroom apartment, two men can only move a few boxes or one piece of furniture at a time. If their truck isn’t literally at your front door, just loading the truck could take all day.
Read their contract thoroughly before signing it. You need to understand their level of insurance liability, refund policy, and what happens if they just don’t show up on time – which can cause major problems in long distance moves.
It’s important to ask very pointed questions as you interview them. You aren’t just looking for prices, you are looking for people who know what they are doing. Ask things like: what happens if it starts raining out during the move? Do you have waterproof pads to cover the furniture as it is removed from the truck? How do you handle expensive antiques and art work?
And finally, be wary of anyone who says they need to paid in cash only. This means they are probably unlicensed to do business and if you have a complaint, there’s not much you can do. Only use a company who takes credit cards.
Learn more about cross country movers. Stop by Harold Jacobs’s site where you can find out all about piano movers and what it can do for you.
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