| Moving is often quoted as being one of the most | | | | not true. Some 400N Tariff movers WILL offer a |
| stressful experiences we ever go through in our lives. | | | | not-to-exceed estimate based on your accurate |
| The whole process of packing up our belongings, | | | | representation of the inventory. However, their |
| leaving our home and moving is bad enough - add to | | | | estimates are generally quite accurate. They're |
| that the fact that we have to entrust our | | | | professionals at this and have incentive not to scare |
| possessions in the hands of complete strangers and | | | | you with a high price.. |
| hope that our stuff arrives in good condition as when | | | | Q. Are you a broker or the actual mover? |
| we left it. | | | | A: Many movers that you find online are brokers |
| Most often, moving companies get their clients mainly | | | | ,They're effectively move coordinators. Although you |
| from Internet web sites that let you enter in your | | | | won't be dealing with the moving company directly, |
| basic moving information, and then send the | | | | brokers have direct contact with the moving |
| information to the moving companies. The moving | | | | companies, and drivers and generally detailed tracking |
| companies then compete for your business which in | | | | tools. We have had equal success with both brokers |
| most cases would be a good thing - for you. | | | | and moving companies. |
| As you see one important factor in moving is the | | | | Q. Do you offer temporary storage if I need it? How |
| estimate. Most consumers believe that only one | | | | much does it cost? What if I need it longer? Is there |
| estimate exists and that is the one who gives you an | | | | an additional cost if I need to get into it while it's in |
| estimated price which can however be double of the | | | | temporary storage? |
| amount or half of the amount. In fact there are | | | | A: Many carriers offer free temporary storage for a |
| actually three types of estimates that are common in | | | | month including the transportation to and from |
| the moving industry. You should be aware of all of | | | | storage while others charge. If the first month is |
| them; | | | | free, make sure you understand the costs for |
| Binding Not-To-Be-Exceeded - This true estimate is | | | | additional months and any hidden costs (like if you |
| the preferred and most favorable for the customer. | | | | need to get into your stuff while it's in storage). |
| A basic understanding of it means that even if your | | | | Q. Are all the players (packers, movers, etc) fully |
| actual weight exceeds the original written estimate, | | | | bonded and insured? |
| you still pay for only the amount of the estimate. But | | | | A: There are a surprising number of fly-by-night |
| if your actual weight is less than the estimate, then | | | | operations. Asking some basic questions about the |
| you pay less than the amount of the estimate. A | | | | company should help give you a sense of how long |
| binding-not-to-exceed estimate can only get lower, | | | | they've been around. |
| not higher. If you can you should definitely choose | | | | Q. What payment methods do you accept? |
| this option! | | | | A: While some moving companies accept credit card |
| Fixed Price Agreement - If you sign this you agree | | | | payment for the full cost of the move, many do not. |
| to pay the fixed amount of the binding written | | | | You should ask and not assume. |
| estimate whatever the actual weight in the end is. | | | | Q. What's your refund policy? |
| Risk to the costumer is that the moving company | | | | A: Many moving companies have very flexible refund |
| could overprice the estimate to get extra money for | | | | policies (e.g. fully refundable if you cancel within a |
| pounds that don't exist. The risk for the moving | | | | week or two). This should help alleviate any fear you |
| business is that the costumer could sneak in items | | | | have booking early with one company. |
| that were hidden and not included on the original | | | | Bad moves starts with moving companies trying to |
| estimate. However the risk to the company is almost | | | | beat each other's low bid to move your possessions |
| does not exist, because the truck driver has the right | | | | for you. Basic rules of competition that you would |
| to "challenge" the binding estimate on loading day, | | | | take advantage in most cases, but not in the moving |
| before actually loading, if he thinks that the estimate | | | | industry. At least let the low bid not be your priority |
| is too low. | | | | when choosing a moving company, because in the |
| Non-Binding Agreement - You agree to pay for the | | | | end you may get a double or triple than your |
| actual weight, not the estimate, based on a set price | | | | estimated quote. |
| per pound. The final bill could be higher or lower than | | | | Unfortunately The moving industry is rife with bad |
| the original written estimate, depending on the actual | | | | apples. At first the people at these moving |
| weight. | | | | companies are very nice to you. They give you a |
| There are two ways moving companies give you | | | | low-ball bid, and tell you that your things will be in |
| quotes, One is the In Home estimate were mostly | | | | good hands because "Our people are professionals" |
| done by local companies near you or if your | | | | or something. It's when the movers actually show up, |
| contacting one of the establish moving companies it | | | | and it's too late for you to save yourself where |
| will be done by one of their local agent, You can | | | | things start to go horribly wrong. |
| schedule a time for a representative from the Moving | | | | In local moves the big scam is to write an estimate, |
| Company to do a visual inspection and give a written | | | | give you a ton of paperwork with all kinds of fine |
| estimate with a "Not to Exceed Price". This person | | | | print and loopholes, show up late, work slow, and |
| will look at everything you are moving. For an | | | | then hold your stuff hostage on the truck at the |
| accurate estimate you will need to show him/her | | | | other end with demands for more money because |
| everything including attic, garage, storage area etc. | | | | you "had more stuff than estimated" or "it took |
| The second way is an over the phone estimate, | | | | longer". With long distance moves (my horror story) |
| were the sales agent goes over the inventory, list of | | | | they subcontract everything out--the moving |
| item in your home and by what you tell them they | | | | company is often just a shell. The movers show up |
| will give a price per lbs or by CF. this way is not a | | | | way to late on weekends, and pretend to be taking |
| binding price not to exceed price , sales agent often | | | | a good inventory but when the time comes to sign |
| go quick over the inventory list and most often you | | | | the paperwork they cleverly hide some of the |
| forget items or miscalculate how many boxes you're | | | | inventory sheets. You don't discover until later you |
| going to be bringing in this case your price is bound | | | | don't have an accurate count. Then your stuff is |
| to increase. This None Binding Agreement very | | | | shifted from trailer to trailer, expectations of when |
| seldom reduces your price, and you find yourself in | | | | delivery will happen are never met, and when your |
| paying more, or even worst , running in to a scam | | | | stuff arrives it will be damaged and many items lost |
| company. | | | | but with no record to hold them too, And then there |
| In my experience I learned that there are ways to | | | | is the amount of time that these companies take to |
| insure your getting the best price from the moving | | | | actually deliver your things. These companies break a |
| company and the best service , You should ask for | | | | lot of laws pulling off this scam, but be aware that |
| an estimates for your move from at least three | | | | since Congress did away with the Interstate |
| reputable moving companies before deciding on one | | | | Commerce Commission in the 1995, the Federal |
| to use, by asking a couple of questing and doing | | | | Motor Carrier Safety Administration is responsible for |
| much research you can save yourself a lot of | | | | oversight of the industry. The FMCSA, however, has |
| headache in the future . Most common questing to | | | | very few investigators enforcing the regulations in |
| ask the moving company | | | | this industry... Movers know it! |
| Q. How do you charge for moving services? | | | | Most moving companies are completely legit, |
| A:Good companies charge by weight and miles, not | | | | however more than a few will try to trick you into |
| volume. Volume-based estimates are notoriously | | | | paying a lot more money than you expected even |
| inaccurate and we often hear of customers who are | | | | the legit companies this is due to lower prices the |
| charged more when their stuff arrives because the | | | | companies have to give in order to survive in the |
| volume-based estimate was wrong. We'd also be | | | | business. As the number of competitors are raising |
| skeptical of movers that charge only based on the | | | | the prices for moving are falling, which mean that it is |
| weight (regardless of how far you are shipping your | | | | becoming more difficult for them to make a profit |
| items). | | | | and survive in the business, most companies start |
| Q. Can you guarantee that the estimates you give | | | | Leaving normal transportation ethics and guidelines |
| won't be exceeded? | | | | aside, and for you moving can become a big stress |
| A: The sales line we hear often is "sure, I typically | | | | factor and pain if you run into a moving company |
| over-estimate to be safe, so your charge will | | | | scam. |
| probably be less." It sounds like a great line, but it's | | | | |