Repair & Improve

Moving Season Gears Up

Early planning key to getting there

by Tom Kraeutler

The average American will move 12 times in a lifetime and more than half of all moves are made between Memorial Day and Labor Day. But if you're one of the 21 million people moving this summer, you may already be behind the eight ball. 

Experts in the moving and storage industry say you’ll need to plan six to eight weeks in advance to book a reputable moving company.  However, finding a moving company trustworthy enough to care for all of your worldly possessions may not be easy.

In 1999, the 11th most common complaint recorded by the Better Business Bureau dealt with moving and storage companies, and those numbers dipped only slightly for 2000.  Top complaints include companies not meeting estimates, lost and/or damaged goods, and not making pick up and delivery times.

With an industry history like that, it pays to be careful when selecting a mover.  First and foremost, determine whether a mover is licensed and insured.  Movers should be registered with your state's Department of Transportation and interstate movers should be licensed with the Interstate Commerce Commission.

Next, get an estimate from at least three moving companies. While estimates can be completed online or over the phone, it may not be the best way to get an accurate assessment of costs.  Moving estimators need to poke around in your closets, look under your bed, and inventory everything in your kitchen cabinets. Make sure the estimator also checks the basement and attic. Leaving anything out of the estimate could seriously alter your bill at the end of the move.

Once the inspection is complete, make certain to get the estimate in writing. Verbal estimates are as good as the paper they’re printed on!

If a mover's estimate is much lower than the competition, it's probably too good to be true. “Low balling” an estimate is a technique dishonest movers may use to get your business.  Unfortunately, they’ll usually present a bill much higher than your estimate.

When getting estimates, keep in mind that there are usually two types: binding and non-binding.

With “non-binding” estimates, the moving cost is based on an estimated hourly rate and/or the estimated weight. The risk is that it can be difficult to know how heavy a house's contents might be or how long the contents might take to move. According to the American Moving and Storage Association (AMSA) of Alexandria, Virginia, there are no guarantees that the final cost won’t exceed the non-binding estimate.

“Binding” estimates are far better. While you may be charged a fee for a mover to bind an estimate, the ultimate cost of the move will be predetermined and final. With binding estimates, a mover is required to take a closer look at your home's contents, leaving the moving company financially responsible for the estimate’s accuracy.

Protecting Goods
When you secure a moving company, you'll need to consider what kind of insurance coverage to purchase. While moving companies are held accountable for the goods they transport, there are different levels to consider, according to the AMSA:

"Released Value" provides minimal protection. The mover assumes liability for no more than 60 cents per pound, not much if an expensive item is damaged.

"Declared Value" is only slightly better.  It’s also based on the total weight of the shipment, but at $1.25 per pound.

"Lump Sum Value" allows the customer to purchase additional coverage if the value of the shipment exceeds $1.25 per pound times the weight of the shipment.

"Full Value Protection" provides the best protection.  It costs more, but means that the customer will be reimbursed for any articles that are lost, damaged or destroyed at the current market replacement value, regardless of the age of the lost or damaged item.

So what do you do if something is lost, stolen or ruined during transit? Report the details on the driver's inventory sheet, or the bill of lading, before you sign it. The bill of lading is your final contract and will include all the important details of your move.

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