7 Ways to Make Your Move MOST Stressful
By Chris Clark, Sales Executive, Humboldt Moving & Storage
They say moving is right up there with divorce, death and taxes. On many occasions they are right, but they don’t have to be if you choose the right mover. Working in the moving industry for the past 12 years, I have seen people make the same mistakes time and time again. I hope by the end of this short report you will have a few tips on how to choose a reliable moving company, recognize why there are such differences between companies and reduce overall stress during the moving process.
The 7 Ways to Make Your Move the Most Stressful:
1. Pick the Cheapest moving company: Typically you will choose your moving company based on budget and comfort level with your sales person. Selecting whether to use a national van line or smaller local company is perfectly fine. If possible, get recommendations on moving companies and go with one who’s in your budget and who you feel you can trust.
2. Get your estimate on the Internet. If it’s online, it must be true! Most internet estimates are not even from moving companies, they are merely brokers who contract your move out. If you are moving out of state, always have a sales person come to your home to do an in home survey.
3. Cheaper, look what I am saving. The legal relocation companies perform their services based on a tariff. Moving out of state is performed by weight and miles. Stay away from companies that perform services based on cubic footage.
4. Who needs insurance? You’re moving it, it’s covered right?! With all the handling it takes to move your home, there is a real chance some damage may occur. When this happens a moving company’s standard liability is 60 cents per pound per article, which is minor coverage. Moving companies offer added valuation, not to be mistaken for insurance, which can be purchased for additional cost.
5. Packing, I’ll do it the day before they arrive. Decide on whether you want to do the packing or have the moving company perform that service for you. When packing your own home, give yourself ample time to finish the process as the moving company will charge for things they have to pack on moving day. Also use professional quality supplies for proper protection of your goods.
6. Try closing on two properties and move your home in One Day! When moving locally, remember that it is almost impossible to close on your property and move on the same day. Choose the mover that will accommodate you by loading your items the day before, holding them on the truck overnight (for a small fee) and delivering them the following day.
7. Delivery Spreads? I need my stuff tomorrow. Try to realize that moving a one bedroom apartment from the east coast across the country will have a minimum delivery spread of 7 days; a small shipment will typically take longer. The length of the delivery spread should be stated in your contract. The entire truck must be full on a long distance shipment, so it is likely that other shippers will have goods on the same truck as you.
