Archive for the Moving Guides Category

Q & A for Movers

Some of the frequently asked questions about self service movers are:

Q: When is the trailer obtainable for loading and unloading?

A: Delivery of the trailer for loading and unloading is only obtainable Monday – Friday. On the other hand, if a trailer is delivered for loading on a Friday, pick-up of the loaded trailer is not to be done until the following Tuesday. You will have a total of 48 hours to load and unload your belongings.

Q: What happens to the rest of the trailer at that time and what is a Sealed Divider?

A: Your shipment is loaded initially into the front of the trailer and unloaded last. As your shipment is the only domestic commodities shipment on the trailer, the mover needs a Sealed Divider to divide your shipment from the rest of the commercial shipments. A Sealed Divider is a partition that you or the driver installs after your freight is loaded to protected and part your objects from other shipments on the trailer. Your shipment will not be moved throughout transportation.

Q: Where can self service movers transport the domestic shipment?

A: Self service movers can organize the move of your domestic objects to anywhere in the world.

Q: How and when the payment should be done for the move?

A: As per standard company rules most of the movers used to take the full payment in advance before the pick up of your loaded trailer from your origin. An advance deposit is taken by many movers at the time of booking of trailer.

Q: What are the available sizes of the trailers?

A: The trailers are 28’ to 53’ commercial trailers with inside magnitudes of 8 feet wide and 9 feet tall. Holds from 14,000 # to 24,000# of domestic commodities.

Q: Will there be any other domestic shipments on the trailers?

A: Your shipment will be the only shipment of domestic commodities on the trailer. With any room that is left on the trailer, after placing the Sealed Divider, the transporter will be loading commercial cargo behind your shipment.

Local Moving Hints

Even when you are about to experience a less complicated relocation procedure than say, moving long distance, moving household goods locally can take a toll on your sanity if you are not properly prepared for the project.

Preparing yourself mentally for the move

Preparing yourself mentally by understanding that with an effective relocation plan and uncluttered organization, you will avoid all the headaches and troubles related to moving is your first step to success. By taking under consideration the local moving hints we provide you on this page, you will count on a practical anchor to hold on to in order to keep things running smoothly.

The First Stage of Your Local Moving

During the first stage of your local moving, you must thoroughly verify the Local moving companies you are considering to hire. Divide the load in two areas:

1) the legal operating status of the company and
2) the prestige the company counts with.

Ask the company for licenses, insurance information, phone numbers, registration details (doing business as name, address, etc) and any other information of legal order that can help you verify the lawful nature in which those local moving companies do business.

Then, verify the information obtained by contacting the secretary of state, or any of the associations like the AMSA and the FMCSA. Ask the prospective moving companies in your area to provide you with references and make sure you check upon them!

Comparing Movers Will Save You Money

Once you have checked on the reliability of the local moving companies on your list, shop around for the best deal. Ask the companies to send you home a representative for an in-home estimate of the total moving cost.

While the local moving company representative is still with you, check for the different moving options that particular company can offer you and how much they would cost you and whether or not there are better quotes for different times of the year/month/week.

Most local long distance companies will quote different prices for different options. For instance, moving household goods through a truck rental moving company may result less expensive than hiring local movers and packers to do the job from beginning to end.

On the other hand, hiring a big moving truck might result more complicated and expensive than hiring the services of any of your local moving van lines. So consider the nature of your moving and the level of involvement you wish to have before you settle down for a specific contract with the moving companies in your area. These are truly handy local moving hints to keep in mind.

Like wise, study the shortest routes between your current and your new residences and specify to the local moving company you want them to use them. Remember, most local moving companies charge by the hour and the least time they will spend on the road or loading and unloading your household goods, the least you will pay in the end. In addition, pack efficiently by introducing similar items in the same box. Together with the previous local moving hints, take special care in loading last the first rooms you want to have unloaded from the moving truck. This too will safe everyone time and effort.

How to pick a mover

Choosing a professional relocation company is fundamental to the sound development of your relocation whether it local, across the country or international.

How to pick a mover that is reliable and competent requires researching various categories of information. Nonetheless, the work is worth the effort since your dear belongings will be in the hands of the movers you will choose.

Assess your household belongings

Before contacting any of the moving companies in your area, take a look around your home and decide what items will be coming with you and what ones will be left behind. This simple moving tip will allow you to clearly understand the nature of your relocation and the most suitable moving service for it.

Research

Look for moving companies in the Yellow Pages and the Internet, or call some real state agents, friends and relatives and ask them for the name of a relocation company they trust. Check up the company information through their Internet site and by calling the Secretary of State office of your area. In addition, call the company and ask them for their business license and insurance information as well as for their DOT and MC numbers, and DBA (doing business as) name, address and phone numbers. Confirm the information received with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA), the American Moving and Storage Association (AMSA), and the Better Business Bureau (BBB). In addition, ask the prospective relocation company for references and confirm their reputation through them.

Shop about

One of the important factors in how to pick a mover lays on the amount of services the company is able to offer, and the cost of those services. Companies offering a wider spectrum of services like auto transport, international relocation, packing, storage units, truck rentals, real state services, etc. are more likely to be more stable and therefore count with the licenses, permits and reputation you will be looking for. On the other side, a company that focuses on one kind of relocation service may be also the way to go for very particular moving projects like relocating with plants, or moving abroad.

Ask for in-home estimates of the total relocation cost as well as for explanations of the monthly dates and yearly season in which the relocation company rates may droop down. Talk to a competent representative about insurance coverage and policies covering loss and damage. You will also want to make sure you understand and agree with the contract you will be signing with them and with the extra costs policies regarding special services or any other financial fee you are to pay.

Make a decision

When trying to decide how to pick a mover properly, go with the moving company that seems more reliable and professional instead of settling for the lowest deal. A relocation company that suits your needs and covers you all across the board is a much better choice than a company that is trying to sale you their services by lowering their rates.

Moving Insurance Guide

Because no one can guarantee a hundred percent reliability in moving your belongings form your current home to the new one undamaged, not even yourself, you should make the pertinent arrangements for some kind of insurance benefit related to insurance on the move to cover your possessions.

Check for Moving Insurance First!

During the first personal contact you establish with the prospective relocation companies, introduce the subject of insurance policies, insurance plans and insurance coverage in the conversation.

Every professional relocation company will offer insurance plans to their customers according to the needs and wants communicated by them, or at least in accordance to the government’s regulations.

Check The Coverage Given to You By The Movers

Check the moving companies‘ terms for insurance coverage to determine the amount of liability of each one of the relocation companies you are considering. Identify in the document what kind of valuation method is utilized by that specific moving company: Declared value, Lump sum value, or Full value protection.

Likewise, read the contract carefully and find the section in which you are to quote the estimated value of your belongings. Should anything be confusing or unclear, ask the moving company representative to explain the item (s) you do not comprehend until you completely understand its meaning.

It is also prudent you talk to any of the insurance agents from your Homeowners Insurance Company and refresh the kind of coverage that particular policy offers over your personal property. The insurance benefit derived from this sort of insurance covers is generally about 10% of the value of your personal belongings. Although by no means a recommendable type of insurance plan for insurance on the move on its own, Home Owners insurance plans are an excellent addition to the insurance coverage offered by most relocation companies.

With the insurance plans information you have received from the relocation companies in mind, begin calculating the insurance quote pertinent to your possessions. Assess the items to be covered by the insurance policies and create an inventory of them that contains detailed individual and total information about what you are relocating, its weight, and its replacement value. It is advisable at this point that you take a couple of pictures of the items to be covered by insurance plans.

You need to have a good idea about he items you need to insure

Once you have a good idea of the items you wish to cover it should not pose a problem to insurance agents, companies or relocation companies to offer you a more definite insurance quote and information about their plans. A careful coverage will facilitate any insurance claims should you need to file one. However, from the time you file your insurance claims it may take anything form 30 days to 120 for the mover to reply.

Click here for an online insurance quote for your move!

Moving Your Pets

Moving Pets – Just as much as for any other family member moving is a stressful time for animal pets. If you want to be sure moving your pets will not dramatically affect your them and that it will be carried out as proficiently as possible, here are a few practical helpful moving with pets hints.

Moving With Pets – Plan Ahead

This is the fundamental factor to moving your pets, no matter if the relocation is to a nearby neighborhood or to a different country. Create a list of thins to do and follow it step by step. Do not leave anything for the last minute since it could cause great stress for you and your pet.

Maintain the daily routine

No matter how organized and diligent your moving shipping activities are, they may seem utterly chaotic to your pet. Offer it some relief by keeping its daily routine intact for as long as possible. During the day of the moving, consider placing your pet at a friend or relative’s home until the new home is completely ready for your pet to move in and continue its regular routine. Alternatively, pet kennels are a safe option. Remember, a scared or upset pet could attempt running away and get injured or lost in the process. Avoid these scenarios by keeping it safely away from the moving upheaval.

Plan a visit to the vet

Ask to see your pet’s vet well in advance before the day you are moving with your animal pets. Make sure all the vaccinations and permits are in order and that not further documentation and/or vaccination is necessary. Different states and countries may require a different set of documentation and vaccinations for the kind of pet you have. Have the vet perform a complete physical exam of your pet and ask him for referrals to other veterinarians in your new area of residence as well as for your pet’s records. In addition, double check with the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) for the names of veterinarians near your new home.

ID your pet properly

A very important step when moving your pets from current residence to new one is to replace the old ID tags for new ones where the new address and phone number are clearly stated. It is also advisable to keep resent pictures of the animal pets handy along with their records and legal documentation, especially when going through international moving experiences.

Keep your pet secure and comfortable

Make sure your pet is being transported safely by offering a comfortable, sturdy, isolated carrier and by making sure it will never remain under extreme weather conditions. If you are moving with pets abroad, talk to the airline about counter-to-counter options for transporting and moving your pets. Although a bit more expensive, it will safe you lots of stress. As a last resource, you may also as your vet for some tranquilizing drugs to help your pet with the moving shipping leg of the relocation.

Remember moving pets is easy when using the right service – Get a quote online and ask the moving company for additional information and tips in the subject!