Moving your home or office is a stressful event with many moving parts. Hiring a full-service moving company will help you make sure your items get to their destination in working order and within the right timeframe, but only if you are well prepared. That said, movers do their job every single day. Answer their questions, give them the directions they ask for, and then get out of the way and let them do their job without being micromanaged. You don’t want grumpy movers moving your great-aunt’s antique vanity table with revenge on their mind.
Answer their questions, give them the directions they ask for, and then get out of the way and let them do their job without being micromanaged. You don’t want grumpy movers moving your great-aunt’s antique vanity table with revenge on their mind.
I’ve been in the moving industry since 2002 and pretty much seen everything. Your moving company should go over every detail with you, but these are some things you might not hear – and you should.
1. Your Property Is Not Fully Insured
In general, moving companies have a certain amount of insurance known as basic liability coverage, but it may not be enough for expensive items or significant loss. Technically your items are covered to a certain amount – 60 cents per pound per item. A reputable moving company should give you clear information on how much insurance they have. If the policy feels insufficient, your homeowner policy may cover personal items. If you are moving a business or office, speak to your insurance broker to find out what your policies might cover, and what is available for specific coverage if you need it.
2. You Pay A Premium To Move In Summer
The ideal move for a business is usually to pack up Friday night at your old location and be ready to go on Monday morning at your new one. Families often like to move during the summer to avoid making their kids switch schools in the middle of the year. College kids are often moving into and out of dorms during summer. All of this means that if you expect to move during the summer and on the weekends, you’re going to pay a premium for the timing. If you can afford to move mid-week or off-season, you may be able to get a discount on your movers.
3. Your Movers Expect A Tip – Not Snacks
If your friends are helping you move, you can get away with pizza and beer. If you’ve hired professional movers, they expect a tip if they’ve done a good job. The going rate is somewhere around $3-$5 per mover per hour, and you should budget to include that in your payment. If you’re not sure whether your movers will expect a tip, ask the moving company about their policies.
4. Your Estimate Is Just That
When you get an estimate for your move over the phone, remember that it’s just an estimate. If the movers arrive and you have more to pack than they were expecting, or your pre-packing isn’t completed, or extra materials are necessary to keep your items safe, all of those things can affect your estimate. It’s always recommended to get an estimate in-person at your home to properly estimate the number and type of boxes, obtain an accurate quote, and ask any questions that you might have before the move date.
If you have questions, call the office immediately; once movers have your household items on their truck, you’re basically going to end up giving them whatever money they want in order to get your possessions back, after all.
5. You Need To Be Home And Be Ready To Move
For your move to go smoothly, you need to be home, and your packing needs to be done right. Your furniture needs to be empty and ready to be loaded, and your boxes need to be well packed, not too heavy, and not unbalanced. Even though you may have hired full-service movers, they still need your guidance. This is especially true at the destination, where they’ll need to know what boxes are going to what locations in the new building.
6. Inspecting Your Property As It Comes Off The Truck Helps Avoid Problems
If you notice any problems with boxes or furniture, report it to the head of the moving team immediately. Document the damage as thoroughly as possible, and if you can, get someone to sign off on the damage. Contact the head office immediately to let them know what’s going on and find out what they want you to do. Making sure that this happens before the movers leave helps eliminate potential confusion about when exactly any damage occurred.
Hiring full-service movers is the right choice if you want a smooth, professional move without damage, delays, or unnecessary heartache. But not all consumers realize how much they influence the outcome of a move. By making sure that they give the moving company all the information they need, follow the company’s directions, and ask all the right questions, they can help make the move completely effortless.
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