To avoid confusion we suggest you prepare a list of questions to ask your moving company
representative. For example:
- How much experience does your crew have?
- Does your moving company sub-contract the work out or does it have its own crew (employees)? Which is better?
- Does your moving company carry worker's compensation and cargo insurance?
- Does your company have a valid Public Utilities Commission number? (It authorizes moving companies to move furniture in the state of California.)
- Is your moving company a member of the Better Business Bureau (BBB.org) or the California Moving and Storage Association (CMSA)?
- What are your company's prices for packing my belongings?
- What method of payment does your moving company accept?
What to Move
People assume that if a
moving company only moves the larger items their overall cost will be less. But what they don't factor in is their time and effort and the gas it takes to make 20 or 30 small trips to their new residence or office. In reality, smaller items only add 25% to 35% to the cost of the move. What’s your time worth?
How Estimates are Calculated
Moving companies perform estimates in one of two ways: on the telephone or in person. Small moves—residences with two bedrooms can generally be handled over the telephone. This is called a virtual estimate. However, a moving company representative should come to your home if there are
three or more bedrooms. Estimates for industrial and office moves may also require a physical inspection depending on the equipment to be moved, the number of employees, the size of the space, etc.
A physical survey will help the mover determine:
- How many men will be needed?
- How many trucks and dollies will be required?
- If there are any stairs, elevators or bad driveways that might hinder the move?
Also make certain you understand what the moving company expects of you.
- Will you be packed?
- Will the other house be ready to move furniture into?
- Are you clear on what’s moving?
Sometimes a move will require more then one delivery to the final destination. Labeling your boxes for a designated room will help our crews load your belongings in the appropriate order for unloading (i.e., last item loaded is the first item off the truck).
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