1. Watch out for a low-cost estimate.
A shady mover will offer you a lowball price quote. On the day of the move, he will stroll around your property and say, "Oh, some of these things ought to be packed." After that he will charge you an inflated amount to do it. Or perhaps he may tell you, "Gee, we're going to have to take your bed apart." And after that he will tack on another silly charge.
In order to avoid this from transpiring, make sure that you're as specific and straight up about every single box and furniture item. If you have time, request the moving companies to come to your house for an estimate. They might wish to do the walk-through over the phone, however, you might get screwed should you go down that path. If you have furniture pieces which needs to be disassembled and put back together, they ought to be part of your written price quote - and the company is in charge of bringing the proper wrenches and tools. And when you get your final invoice, analyze it closely for any odd charges.
2. Make wise selections.
Your biggest headache is getting hooked up with an unlicensed moving service. He not only is lacking in liability insurance, but also workers' compensation. If one of these people trips and falls down your steps moving a heavy piece, get out your checkbook, my friend.
3. Plan your move intelligently - if you can.
Late May through August is crammed with people aiming to move, so it's not an ideal time. The perfect time is around Christmas.
4. Look at specialty moving companies.
Anyone can move a piano or a snowmobile. But for those who have museum-quality artwork, call in the people with the white gloves.
5. Deal quickly with "untrustworthy" moving companies.
If your movers turn up and you have a negative perception about them - say they said something that was not right or they merely look a little rough - keep a few things in mind. It is a hard business of hard physical labor, therefore don't judge a book by its cover, so to speak. If it is a question of unacceptable behavior, get on the phone in 2 seconds with a manager. And take action before anything's on the truck.
6. Safeguard your items.
If you don't like the way the movers are working with your things, be strong. Say, "Hey, you're making me worried." Should they be tossing stuff around or are careless, you stop the job. Alert your estimator that you do not know what's happening, but he's going to have a claim for damage if things do not improve. He'll send a superior out there, immediately. No reputable mover wants a problem.
Remember the fact that the contents of boxes you pack yourself are not covered for damage or loss, therefore make sure you pack them as well as possible. With regards to valuables like jewellery or small electronics, you should move those by yourself. Let's just say, some things can get "misplaced."
7. Be mindful of the time.
Try not to get worried too much about it if it looks like they are "wasting time." Many individuals have an unrealistic expectation of the time it will require. People have complained that they paid for three movers, but they only see 2 guys moving items. Where's the 3rd? He's on the back of the van wrapping and packing. No crew would like to dog the job. They would like to get home, sit down, and have a beer.
8. Watch your own actions.
Some movers may possibly "punish" customers for rubbing them in the wrong way. If they think they've been mistreated and disrespected, they will want to get away from the bad client and get the move carried out quickly. They'll wind up putting a lot more boxes in the garage than there ought to be and quietly mumble, "Let them move 'em in the house themselves." As an added tweak, they'll turn the boxes so you are not able to see the labels to determine what is in them or where each goes. The worst thing you could do during a move is be dismissive, treat the crew like filth, and not allowing them to use your lavatory.
Once the workers gets there in the morning, let them know right off that you will get them lunch. Occasionally guys on the crew don't have the cash or the time. This tiny act could raise the whole spirit of the move. Additionally, be ready once the movers get there. Be entirely packed. Then, please stay out of the way.
9. Watch out for hidden overpriced expenses.
The shady moving service may start incorporating items that isn't on your quote. He'll impose a fee for each and every moving pad - pads are free of charge, by the way - and then $4 to tape the pads to the furniture. Or they might state particular items out of the blue need particular boxes. And you know what? They are $12 each.
10. Be cautious about cash-only dealings.
That is not a warning sign, that's a "run away!" Keep in mind: You can't halt cash. You can put a stop to a credit card.
11. Follow up with a complaint.
If you're unfortunate to have some thing go wrong during the move and the mover does not take care of the complaint, make a complaint with the Better Business Bureau. It'll bring down his rating and cause harm to his business. After that, take him to small-claims court. Absolutely no moving service in his right mind wants to stand before a judge who most likely has experienced two undesirable moves in his lifetime.
