Advisor
Overview
We know a lot about moving.
The Advisor section is here to help you get smart about your move. But, it’s just a beginning. We know you’ll have many questions along the way and we’re here to help.
We asked ourselves what people most often ask us as professional movers and then collected the simple, straightforward answers here for your convenience.
If you have a question not covered here, feel free to ask one of our relocation specialists over the phone or by email. They’re experienced and ready to help make your move more than a success…they’ll help make your move day a happy day.
Moving Tips For Families
Tips to make moving as a family fun and easy
Stay Organized!
Color code boxes so movers know which room to bring them to in advance.
Create an “Essentials” pack with a change of clothes, toothbrushes and toiletries, medications, and your
child’s favorite small toys or games to make your first night easy without searching through boxes.
Keep like items together to make unpacking a breeze.
Keep important documents – birth certificates, licenses, insurance policies – in one easily accessible place.
Get Everyone Involved!
Give family members unique colored stickers or labels to identify their own boxes and make a game of packing up individual rooms.
Make children feel secure about moving by making a special focus on safely moving their special possessions, such as stuffed animals and security blankets.
Plan a fun outing in your new area, ahead of time if possible, to introduce your family to the fun and happy environment you’re moving to.
Plan Ahead – Relax On Moving Day!
Work with your moving company in advance to make a clear, easy to understand plan with all the details of your move.
If possible, have a babysitter, friend or family member watch your children and pets during the move so you can focus without worrying about them too.
Pick a moving company you can trust so you can let them worry about the details instead!
How to Save Money
Move on an “off” day–movers are always busiest at the beginning and end of the month. Weekends are also busier than weekdays. If you have flexibility, a mid-week, mid-month move can save you hundreds of dollars.
Don’t take “iffy” items–Moving is a good opportunity to clean house. Really scrutinize your goods to make sure you want to bring them along. Reducing your cubic footage reduces your price. You’d be surprised how much it will cost to take your broken desk or old office chair to your new apartment. It might be worth leaving behind.
Book well in advance–If you have the luxury, book your movers early. Moving companies price their moves based on availability. If you lock in your reservation early you’ll have more leverage for negotiation.
Pack yourself–While it is wonderful to have professionals pack up your household for you, you can also do it yourself. On this website we offer a number of packing tips and sell all the materials you’ll need. Our relocation specialists can help you estimate the number and types of boxes you’ll need and deliver them a few days before the move.
Choosing a Mover
Ask friends and family
Your friends and family, or even the management at your new building, are the best place to start your research. Who did they use to move? Was the experience positive? Was the pricing fair? Beyond immediate contacts, be sure to read reviews online. See what other people have to say about the companies you are considering.
Make sure the mover cares about the details
Moving is a details business. Make sure the moving company you choose to work with truly understands your move in advance. If they don’t ask a lot of questions or offer to send an on-site estimator (for larger moves), they might change the terms of the agreement on move day when they encounter “unexpected surprises.”
Will they send a representative to your home?
The mover often needs to view your household contents to accurately assess your moving cost. Moving companies base their fees on several factors: weight, volume, number of rooms, degree of difficulty involved, and the time and labor the move will require. An in-home visit can help the mover accurately assess the situation.
When it comes to pricing: if it looks too good to be true, it probably is
When comparing prices, try to compare apples to apples. Some movers charge by the hour and some offer a binding estimate or all-inclusive price based on inventory. It’s up to you which style is more comfortable, just make sure a “lower” bid is actually lower. Stay away from a company that only gives you non-binding estimates. There is a chance the quoted price will increase significantly when your move is over. Insist on one guaranteed price, in advance and in writing.
Check their credibility
Be a detective. Is their website informative and accurate? Is their address a real address? Make sure they are actual movers and not a broker looking for a cut of the deal. Is the company licensed and insured? Ask for the mover’s Department of Transport (DOT) number. Cut-rate movers will almost always lack permits, workers compensation, and licenses established by law to protect the consumer from fraud and liability. Licenses have to be purchased, approved and renewed. They ensure that you will be covered by basic insurance and that you will have a clear grievance process if a dispute arises.
Professionalism is important
Do they sound and act professional when you speak to them? Trust your instincts. Go with the company that you have a good feel for; that you feel you could trust with your personal belongings. After all, you’re inviting them into your home.
What kind of training do their people undergo?
Experts are able to use their experience to anticipate and head-off potential problems. A good company will train their workers intensively in driving, packing, and, most importantly, customer service.
Local moving companies are best for moving within your city
Make sure the company you are dealing with for a local move is based in your city. If they are out-of-state, they are not subject to operating under State laws and you’ll be unprotected.
Further information is available at an excellent website maintained by the U.S. Department of Transportation at: www.protectyourmove.gov.
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