Moving can be one of the most stressful events in our lives. However, by getting organized and planning ahead, you can prepare your family for a smooth move.
Picking the "right" moving company can make all the difference in the world.
Check with friends and neighbors to see
if they can recommend a mover.
Call your local Better Business Bureau
or consumer office to find out if a mover you're considering
has been hit with complaints.
Get the names of two or three movers from
the phonebook or companies you've seen around town.
Go to the companies' headquarters and
look around. Is the place clean and organized? Do the trucks
appear to be in good shape? You can tell a lot by
looking at a place, and you can make sure
it's really there.
- Moving Companies
- Whether this is your first or fifth move, moving to a new home or even a new town can be an exciting experience.
- Moving from one state to another? Your
mover must have authority from the U.S. Department of Transportation's
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Call the agency
at 800-832-5660 and opt for Menu No. 1.
- Call the AMSA's membership department
at 703-683-7410 to see if the mover is a member or to see
if a company is an agent for a van line.
Also, avoid moving at the end or beginning of the month
when the schedules of most moving companies are filled.
You can save time and money by planning your move for a
weekday instead of busier weekends. And remember the worst
time of the year to move is around three summer season holiday
weekends: Memorial Day, July Fourth, and Labor Day. They're
long weekends and they come at the end of the month.
- The Estimate:The cost of an interstate
move, according to the AMSA, is based on the weight of your
belongings and the distance they are shipped, plus the amount
of packing and other services you may need. Movers will
give you an estimate to help you anticipate the cost of
your move - but only after they've come to your house. Real
professionals will not give estimates over the phone,. They
will send someone to the home and find out what the customer's
needs are.
- The AMSA says you can help out the movers
by showing them every single item to be moved, including
stuff in the attic, basement, garage, closets, and even
under the beds.
There are different types of estimates:
- Binding estimates are written agreements
that guarantee the cost of the move based on the items
to be moved and the services listed on the mover's estimate
sheet.
- Non-binding estimates are not guaranteed.
They approximate the cost based on the mover's survey
of the items to be moved, with the final cost determined
after the shipment is weighed. There is no guarantee the
final cost will not be more than the estimate. Movers
determine weight by putting the van on a scale before
and after it is loaded.
Moving Company Types and links
Companies offering local and long distance
moving and truck rental services. Many offer additional moving
tools, including cost calculators, tip sheets, and moving
supplies. Book or get estimates online from some.
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