Each year, more than 40 million Americans move. The average person in the United States will move eleven times in their lives. Despite frequent moves, nearly all the world is still feeling intimidated by the process. It’s easy to understand why. You have delivered everything that people can lose, break or require an amount to return. The offices of the Better Business Bureau received thousands of complaints every year related surcharges, late deliveries and goods lost or ruined. You can minimize the potential for disaster if you plan ahead, choose your mover with care and understand both their rights and their responsibilities.
Choosing a Moving Company
There is a difference from heaven to earth between good and bad moving company. Make sure the company you are using is properly licensed either by the Department of Transportation United States, in cases of interstate moves. Get recommendations from friends or trusted real estate broker. Ask the company interstate moving a copy of its “Annual Performance Report, which contains information on the number of complaints filed against the company because of merchandise ruined or lost, how frecuancia make deliveries, and how often provide wrong estimated final cost of the move. Review the classification of the moving company with the Better Business Bureau.
Ask for written estimates from at least three removal companies. An estimate by telephone is more likely to be incorrect. To give you an accurate estimate, the appraiser has to do their belongings. Do not forget to show you everything, including the belongings in the closets, under beds or in the attic and make sure they know the situation of the stairs or elevator, just like any problem of access (eg if the truck can not park near your building or your home).
Binding and non binding estimates
A binding estimate is a guaranteed price. The final price of the move can not be higher than that of a binding estimate, unless you have required some additional service. Note that a moving company can charge for giving a binding estimate and the estimated binding usually slightly higher than non-binding.
Non-binding estimates reflecting the best projection of the appraiser of the cost of the move. No way, this imposes a limit on the final cost of the move. In cases of interstate moves, the final cost will be determined by the exact weight of your belongings. If you can not pay the additional percentage plus estimated at the time of delivery (most companies require payment for removal of cash or certified check), the moving company has the right to store their belongings and charge for the storage and for redelivery.
Do not assume that the cheapest estimate is the best offer. Try to investigate why a company can charge less than another. Is it because they use inferior quality equipment or poorly trained workers? Their prices are really low or are considering shorter working hours than the other company? Some moving companies have purposely estimated low. This is commonly known in English as “Low-Balling”. Attract customers with a low price that does not have any intention of charging. Beware a company that says their belongings weigh much less than what other companies have found, or that promise that you can finish the job in a much smaller number of hours (unless you get this low estimate is binding).
Service Order
Once you have chosen the company’s removal, they will send a service order. The order will include the estimated cost of moving, any special services you require, such as packaging or storage, and dates to find and deliver the move. Moving companies typically provide a range of possible dates, rather than a specific date. If you want your move comes in a specific day, the moving company can usually make arrangements for an additional charge. Never accept a verbal estimate of collection and delivery dates for the move, nor a promise like “as soon as possible.” If you are moving to another state, the moving company should provide a handout of the U.S. Department of Transportation entitled “Your rights and responsibilities during a move” ( “Your Rights & Responsibilities When You Move”). The service order is not a contract. You may cancel the order until a day before the move without making any payment.
Packing
If you find your own boxes and bags their own belongings, you could save much money. If you decide to pack their belongings might have more difficulty in winning the lawsuit if your belongings are damaged. However, according to a survey by Consumer Reports, a little over half the people who paid for the moving company pack your belongings damage reported, compared with only one third of those who package their own belongings. Ask the moving company about its policy of liability in cases of belongings packed by the customer. Pack the belongings of value or irreplaceable, such as jewelry, family photos and important documents separately and transpórtelas yourself. If the moving company packs his belongings, specify what you want packaged. Most moving companies do not let anything, including litter.
Bill of lading
During the packaging or while workers are moving the company getting the goods on the moving truck, they should write down each item on the bill of lading. By scoring each item, write the condition of it. Examine the inventory carefully and make sure to be very specific. So you do not agree with any description of the company, highlight it in the inventory. (For example, if the company described as a wooden chair “hatched,” perhaps should be clarified that only the legs are scratched. So, if the chair comes with a scratch on the seat or the back, it will be easier to the claim).
The bill of lading also includes most of the general information of the order of service, including the estimated price, acceptable methods of payment, special services and possible dates of delivery. The bill of lading is your contact, so read it carefully before signing.
Sure
Moving companies generally provide three types of insurance for their belongings in case of damage or loss: limited liability, assessment or evaluation and added value. The insurance of limited liability is the basic insurance required by law and does not cost you anything to the consumer. Under the limited liability insurance, the removal is responsible for sixty cents per pound of each individual item in an interstate move .. Therefore, if a worker drops a television ten pounds, the company might owe as little as six dollars, though the true price of the TV. With the added security of assessment, the amount you can charge is based on the present value of replacing the item, minus depreciation of it. The amount you pay for this type of insurance depends on how you have declared that their belongings are worth. For a higher price, the total value of the insurance covers the cost of replacing or repairing the item, without deducting for depreciation. Be sure to read the details of insurance, including any deductible or additional restrictions. Even if you pay insurance, usually have to make note on the bill of lading of any item of value (over $ 100 per pound).
Before buying an insurance company to move, should check their insurance policy covers their belongings foreclosure property during a move. Call your insurance company to find out how much it would charge to secure their belongings during a move and compare the options and prices offered by the removal company. If your employer is paying for the removal to investigate whether there is any type of insurance available through the company.
The weight of the load
Most moving companies will charge customers a fee based on weight of items and the distance run, plus the cost of packaging and special services. Some interstate moving companies charge based on the size of the articles (how much space in truck covers).
The vehicle is weighed before entering the cargo (the taraje) and after (gross weight) to determine the net weight of the load. You have the right to observe all stages of this process. If the weight seems too high, you have the right to ask to be weighed again before making the delivery, at no cost to you.
If the load weighs more the second time you weigh, you have to pay the higher rate. Some moving companies have minimum weight requirements, for example, 500 or 1000 pounds and the price you are charged the minimum weight, but despite its burden less.
Delivery
Make sure the removal company can contact you when they are ready to deliver the move. If you can not contact you, put their belongings in a storage location, you run up the tab. Expect to pay for the move on the arrival of the truck. Most companies do not move the truck unloaded without payment. In general, methods of payment accepted are: cash, travelers checks, money order or certified check, not personal. If you can not pager at least the estimated amount plus 10%, the company moves their belongings stored until you can pay and require him to pay for the storage and redelivery removal.
If the delivery is delayed a move interstate, federal laws require the removal company was notified by telephone, telegram or in person. If the mover does not deliver your belongings in time, you could recover the expenses incurred by the delay, such as hotel stays. Keep all receipts or vouchers. The U.S. Department of Transportation does not specifically regulate the complaints filed by delayed delivery of cargo. Therefore, the removal could cooperate with you and refund all costs or be forced to file a lawsuit. Some moving companies might require an advance payment of an option called “guaranteed” a fixed fee to be paid by the moving company for each day of delay of delivery. Find out in advance the policy of delayed removal of the company. You may not be able to recover any costs if the moving company can prove that the delay was due to circumstances beyond the control of the company, as a natural disaster.
As workers unloaded the truck, use your inventory list to make sure everything has arrived. Check the boxes and furniture to look for damage and open the boxes containing fragile items. If anything is missing or is damaged, take notes on your inventory list and the list of the driver. Do not sign the approval of the delivery until you have inspected everything. If you notice something broken after they have left the men of the move, contact the removal company and leave the article in the box with all packing materials.
Making a complaint
If something missing or damaged during the move, ask the company that a complaint form and fill it as soon as possible (it has nine months from the date of delivery to make a claim.
The removals company has 30 days to answer the complaint and have 120 days to reject it or make an extra money.
If you can not reach an agreement with the company moving into the claim, call the Illinois Commerce Commission at 217-782-6171. If the mover is a member of the American Movers Conference (Board of Moving Companies in the U.S.), this organization offers binding arbitration. You must contact them within 60 days from the date of the dispute. Initiate a lawsuit against the company at the Better Business Bureau, which can mediate or arbitrate it. In general, if you decide to file a lawsuit against the company, has two years to do so.
How to save money
Moving home can cost a lot. Some of these tips could help keep the cost of a removal under control:
1. Rates are negotiable. An interstate mover must publish their tariffs with the U.S. Department of Transportation, but may offer discounts of up to 50%. Most people move during the summer, so if you move during a slow season, some moving companies are willing to offer rebates.
2. Packing some or all of your belongings yourself. Find your own boxes, moving companies charge very high prices for their own.
3. Despite the things I pack, while carrying less and less expensive move. Check all your belongings and decide what they can sell, throw them away or donate.
4. Save your receipts or proof of payment together with any document of any additional expense of moving, it could be a tax deduction.
Moving home need not be a difficult and terrible. If you plan ahead, choose a good moving company, is considering either their insurance options and read all the documents in detail, will be on track to ensure a successful move.
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