A moving company handles the bulk of the heavy lifting on your move day, leaving you to concentrate on other important details. The right movers will make your relocation faster and easier, making it worth the money spent on their services. They can also help you avoid costly mistakes and potential damage to your belongings by providing a variety of add-on services like storage, auto transport, valuation services, and specialty packing.
Full service movers include their fee in the price of the move, which covers all labor and truck rental costs. Some movers might charge for extras such as fuel, insurance, and taxes. Ask your movers for an estimate that includes all charges, or ask them to itemize their fees to help you compare prices between companies.
It’s a good idea to get an in-person estimate from each moving company you are considering. Over the phone estimates are often inaccurate. During the estimate, movers will evaluate your belongings and give you an estimate that includes all charges. You may want to ask your movers about additional services they offer, such as clean up or recycling of boxes and other materials.
You’ll find that true full-service movers will not only pack everything in your home, they’ll unpack and reassemble furniture as well. Many of them will even take the time to dispose of unused boxes and other materials after they’re done with them. They’ll also leave your new home neat and tidy and make sure that all of your items go where they belong.
Some movers will even offer cleaning and trash removal services. This is a great way to get your old home ready for sale or to make your new home more livable before you move in.
Movers will not pack certain items, including firearms, fireworks, paint thinner, ammonia, scuba tanks, darkroom chemicals, and other toxic substances. If you have a lot of these items, you’ll need to find alternative transportation methods.
If your belongings are lost or damaged during transit, you’ll need to file a claim with your moving company. It’s best to contact your movers as soon as possible and file a claim within 30 days of your move. In addition to filing a claim, you should request a copy of your moving contract and read it carefully.
The best movers will provide full value protection, which provides reimbursement of 60 cents per pound for your possessions if they are lost or damaged. This coverage is a must, especially if your renters or homeowners’ policies don’t cover your items during transit. Make sure your movers offer this protection, and if they don’t, consider switching to a different company. You can also buy supplemental insurance to cover your belongings during a move. This is often cheaper than purchasing the coverage from your moving company. The right movers will be happy to discuss the options with you.
