FREQUENTLY ASKED

QUESTIONNS AND ANSWERS




1. Q: What’s the best way to get a good mover?

A: The best way to get a good mover is to use a mover who was referred by someone you know and can trust, who has used that same service several times before and is still satisfied with their service. Simply put use reputable movers. You can also consider movers who are members of (AMSA) American Moving and Storage Association. They use an arbitration program to help customers with any problem you may have with your movers, and for local and state move, you can check with your Local State Moving Association for referral of movers.

2. Q: How can I save on my move?

A: Saving on your move hourly, itemized, by weight, you load they drive, or any type of moving service is not just one particular thing you do, but it’s a collective number of things you have to do over a period of time before your move day. Saving starts with planning and early preparation long in advance of your move day (about 90 days) unless it’s and emergency move, or one or two items. Getting rid of all unwanted items however you can, sell, donate, give away, throw away, try not to move it unless you have to. Also selecting the right type of moving service for your particular move (hourly, itemized, you load they drive, flat rate/ set price) or which ever. These are some of the thing to help you save on your move.

3. Q: How can I know how much my move would really cost?

A: There may be no way you could find that out unless you call and check prices and these prices would just be estimates, not guaranteed prices, unless you get a written guaranteed price (fax, email, mail) or an estimator comes to your home. Different movers have different services they offer, and different price with each or similar service. Call around and compare prices and what kind of service each particular mover offer. Get promises in black and white (writing) fax, email, or regular mail and always try to budget for a little more than what ever price estimate you were quoted.

4. Q: If I had to move 1 item of furniture or a whole house which moving service is better for my move?

A: That would depend on several factors, some of which are. How much you can afford to spend? How much work you are willing to do (actual moving)? How soon you have to move? How prepared you are to move? How much stuff (furniture, bags, boxes, etc) you have to move? If you have a small move, one to eight items, or less, a flat rate (set price), or itemized mover should work best for you, you can still compare with an hourly rate. However, if you have a larger move, a full apartment or house, hourly movers could work best for you, but you have to be prepared long in advance with nothing to hold up the movers when they get to your place, or you can compare prices and services with a itemized mover or any other kind of moving services.

Ps. you load they supply transportation, truck, trailer, or crate, the customer is responsible to load and unload themselves, or hire movers. Paying by weight: this system is mostly used on long distance moves, or out of state moves. You are charged by the total weight of your furniture, call movers to get detail.

5. Q: What’s one thing to expect from all moving services?

A: They are all trying to compete for your business with all kinds of different price plans and services. But this can work to your advantage if you know how to be prepared and what questions to ask when you are calling movers.

6. Q: Are small family run moving services better or more reliable than big name movers?

A: Family run moving services may be a little more personal than big name movers, you may have close family members (father and son, or two brothers, etc) moving you. Big name movers has a name to protect, but can also hide behind their name when problems arise, because they may hire and use employees or contractors to do their moving. However, a lot of movers are good legitimate, fairly run moving services, both big and small movers, that would give you good service at reasonable, or competitive prices, with these movers you should not have much of a problem if you are well prepared. But it’s the fly by night rouge movers you have to be aware of, they have no conscience and will be glad to take your hard earned money for very poor service or sometimes no service at all if you pay before you move.

7. Q: Who can I file a complaint with if I have any problem with a moving service?

A: If you have a complaint against a mover who is a member of AMSA (American Moving and Storage Association) you can visit their site at www.moving.org for help with filing a complaint, and if you have a complaint against a mover (state to state, or long distance moving) who is not a member of AMSA, call the U.S. Department of Transportation (D.O.T) 1-888-368-7238, or write to the Federal Motor Carriers Safety Administration office of consumer affair, room # 600 at 400 Virginia Ave. SW Washington D.C. 20024, and for local in state move, call your state Public Utilities Commission office.

8. Q: What’s a good question to ask any mover I call for service?

A: Simply ask them, can I get a written (fax, email, mail) guaranteed price quote that would not change on move day, this could be difficult for some movers (if they charge hourly or by weight), biased on your moving conditions, and or inventory (the amount of items or item you are moving) if you can get a written guaranteed price from them and it suits you, these are movers you may want to consider using. Ps. Make sure you understand your contract/ agreement before signing it.

9. Q: Is there a difference between a delivery service and a moving service?

A: Yes, there is a difference. Delivery services usually don’t perform as much services as movers do, some may just deliver the merchandise to your front door, yard, garage, or maybe just inside you house/apartment door, delivery services from stores are usually cheaper than movers. You may still have to call movers to set up or move your furniture/ appliances within your place. Where as movers (not all) should set up and place any items they move, be sure to confirm this when you book or set up your move or delivery, know what kind of service you would be getting. Whenever you are buying large furniture or appliances you should always check, and try to determine if it will fit through, door, corridors, stairways, tight corners, and especially in elevators, before purchasing it. No fit appliances/ furniture happens quite often and it can ruin your day and may cost you another delivery or moving fee.

10. Q: What’s the best way to try and avoid getting stood up by movers?

A: Again as question and answer # 1 points out, try to use (if possible) a mover that was referred to you by someone you know, and can trust, who has used that service several time before and is still satisfied with their service. Also you should try to move a day or two before you deadline, incase your movers don’t show up, or even earlier if possible especially if you live in a area where there could be snow, ice, or any severe weather conditions, even traffic, at that time of year. You stand a better chance of getting another mover in two days, instead of two hours, if your mover did not show up. Ps. Try to move before your deadline date if at all possible.

11. Q: If I have to place my stuff in storage is it better to use a mover that does both moving and storage or get my own storage and get movers to move me?

A: Getting a mover to do both moving and storage in one shot is much less hassle than having to deal with separate moving and storage services. However, be aware of movers/ storage services, who charge a very low price to move you and take you to their storage and charge you a very high storage monthly fee, check contract and ask questions on any price you don’t understand. You can also check with a mover that does just moving, and check some storage facilities and compare prices, go with what you are comfortable with price and service. Also you should be aware that storage facilities that offer free or $ 1.00 for first month storage, you also have to pay an administration fee or some type of setup free in addition to insurance, which you should get and a lock, and if you stay any time past a month or thirty days your full storage rental fee immediately begins, so you should be out of your storage unit in 28 days to be sure. Move before your deadline date.

12. Q: How do I get rid of unwanted furniture and appliances?

A: One thing you should never do, don’t dump it at the side of the road, a dead end street, or by an abandoned building, or vacant lot (keep the U.S.A clean and beautiful), if you are caught your fines could be heavy, there are cameras in use everywhere now, including camera phones someone can call the police and have pictures to prove it, and this could be very embarrassing. The truth is you may have to pay to get rid of your unwanted large items. You can call for light hauling services, trash services, disposal services, or depending on if it’s in ok condition, you may be able to donate it to a charitable organization such as Goodwill, Salvation Army, or some local thrift store in you area, you may be even be able to take it to a consignment store (sell it). Call 411 info for you area or check your local phone books for these type of services. P.S. If you are moving out of an apartment or house, don’t leave old furniture appliance or trash behind unless arrangements have been made to do so, you may be billed/charged for it.

13. Q: How do piano movers charge?

A: If you are going to have a piano moved this is how some movers charge. Some may charge by the hour, other may charge a flat rate (set price) based on the degree of difficulty in moving the piano. Steps up or down at pickup/drop off, you may have to pay for that, up or down any hilly area or across grass, these conditions can determine your price. You should have all this information when you call in addition to what type of piano you are moving, grand, baby grand, upright, grand upright, spinet, or console piano, some may even require the height or the length of the piano, also address where you are moving piano from, and going to along with pickup and drop off conditions as stated above. Try to know all of this information before you call. (Keep this in mind) Trying to get rid of a piano could be very difficult and expensive, so before you accept a “free” or cheap piano from anyone, think about when it’s time to move it, or get rid of it. Expensive plus difficult.

14. Q: What’s the best way to prevent getting ripped off by movers?

A: By being an informed customer and being prepared, knowing how moving services operate, what to look for, what questions to ask, what’s a no no, and what’s acceptable or ok. These are thing that could help you avoid being ripped off by movers. Even though that’s no guarantee, they (rouge/ scam movers) devise knew tricks everyday, so you have to be on the look out. But again, the #1 way to avoid being ripped off is by using movers who was referred by someone you know and can trust, that used that service several times before, and is still satisfied with their service. This might be a bit difficult to do, but it’s the best way to avoid moving day headaches, and paying for a service you never get, also consider movers who are members of AMSA (American Moving and Storage Association).

15. Q: Why do most movers charge by the hour for local moves?

A: Movers may charge by the hour for local moves, because it’s the easiest way for them (movers) to make the most money, knowing that a lot of customers don’t know how to prepare to save time, which cost them money. Customers complain about high moving prices because they don’t quite understand how movers operate (no offense intended). Customers are vulnerable to hourly movers because they don’t know what to do to save time when they move on move day. Saving money starts long before your move day (90 days) and this is how your movers charge more for their service through their (movers) time. Time is money. Remember this, on hourly priced moves saving time equals to saving money.

16. Q: What is a 3-hour minimum moving charge?

A: If a mover is charging by the hour, you usually don’t pay for just one hour of service; they usually give you a 3-hour minimum move time. A 3-hour minimum is the least amount of time you would be charged for, when paying by the hour, which means, whether your move takes 45 minutes, or 3 hours, you pay for 3 hours (select the right type of mover for you particular move). You may also be charged a travel time charge in addition to your 3-hour minimum. Always find out what services your 3 hour minimum price or charge include, such as assemble and disassemble of large furniture, packing material (if applicable), quilted blankets, also what type of payment is expected, and when it is required.

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