If you are moving soon, here are some tips for choosing the right moving company such as Men on the Move. Also, the professionals at Men on the Move can move you into your new home easily and quickly, contact us today!
- As soon as your house hits the market you’ll start getting promotional cards in the mail and phone calls. Look through them for interesting deals. Research some of the names and see how they fare on consumer review services.
- Get recommendations from friends and family. Anyone who’s used a moving company will have strong opinions about whether they were good or not. Some of the best companies just get business through word of mouth.
- Get several in-home estimates. No company will be able to tell you an accurate figure of how much it will cost to move your stuff over the phone. A salesperson from the moving company will walk through your home, making note of large furniture, breakable items like china and how much furniture needs to be broken down for moving purposes. Don’t forget to show them the attic, garage, and basement where many items get stored.
- If you’re working with a Realtor, ask if they have any discounts or coupons with moving companies.
- Pack your own stuff, especially if your moving date is a few weeks down the road. Having a moving company pack your items will double the price. Even tackling a few boxes every weekend is worth saving the money.
- Most moving companies will offer a few options for insurance to cover items that are broken, damaged or lost. You pay a certain amount, usually $4 to $9 for every $1,000 of your items’ value. Movers aren’t perfect so insurance is probably a good way to go. But check with your own insurance policies to see if you already have coverage for moving damages.
- Don’t plan your move for a holiday weekend like Memorial Day or Labor Day. The rates go up on three-day holiday weekends, especially those that fall at the end of the month.
- Once you get a few estimates, figure out who your favorite is and ask if they can tweak their estimate to compete with the others. A mover may bring down the price to match estimates from similar firms.
Washington Post
As seen in the Detroit News on 5/8/2009. We have a similar moving timeline on our website.
Moving, and all its attendant chores may be inevitable. But the accompanying sense of chaos, while common, is avoidable. The following schedule outlines the essential tasks and leaves ample time to tend to the details.
Six weeks before: Ask friends what movers they recommend, and get quotes from three licensed companies. On-site estimates tend to be more accurate, whether pricing is by weight and distance or a flat or hourly rate. Ask if the quote is binding or nonbinding, what charges could arise and what insurance is included. Request a copy of the signed contract.
- Dedicate a three-ring binder to move-related paperwork, such as to-do lists, contracts, receipts, checklists and phone numbers.
Five weeks before: Conduct a room-by-room survey to determine what belongings you plan to keep, sell and donate.
- Have valuable items such as artwork and antiques appraised in case they get damaged. Photograph or videotape them, and upload the images to your computer. Also, save them to a compact disc or memory stick.
Four weeks before: Stock up on moving supplies, including boxes, box cutters, tape (packing, masking, and blue painters), wrapping material and labels.
Three weeks before: Pack infrequently used items, such as out-of-season clothing, holiday decorations, books, and special-occasion dishware. Number the boxes, and keep track of the contents on a master inventory list.
- Color-code each room, and mark boxes and furniture with coordinating stickers to ensure the movers will know at a glance where everything should go.
- Request that your utilities, including phone and Internet service, be disconnected the day after you leave and installed in your new home the day before you arrive.
Two weeks before: Before you pack the bulk of your belongings, think about whether you’d like to do so by room or by category (such as sports equipment and formal dinnerware).
- Complete a change-of-address form online ( www.usps.com) or at the post office. Update newspaper and magazine subscriptions, and notify banks and credit card companies.
One week before: Print an information sheet for the movers with the old and new addresses, directions and your cell phone number.
- Box your remaining items, setting aside sufficient clothing and day-to-day necessities for the week ahead.
Moving day
Walk through your home before movers arrive to verify everything is packed and afterward to make sure nothing was left behind.
- Arrange for someone to be at your new home when the movers arrive to oversee them and answer questions.
- Inspect for damages, photographing relevant objects before signing the release.
- Start to settle in. Test faucets, toilets, utilities, phones, smoke detectors and security systems. Turn on the water heater if necessary. Begin to unpack, discarding anything that no longer serves you.
