Helpful Guidelines for An Organized Moving Process
Here are some Packing Tips if you choose to pack your own boxes!
Please have the following items ready for us upon pickup to make the moving process easier. If you need any help packing, please let me know.
Items That Must Be Boxed
Wardrobe Boxes are Great for Items Besides Clothing:
Aquariums (crated bubble wrap and cardboard)
Dog Cages (houses)
Bird Cages
please have them cleaned and taped up.
Please have all gas removed before pickup at least a week in advance so the smell dissipates.
Filing Cabinets, Toolboxes, Cabinets, Plastic Storage Drawers, etc…. Please have them emptied and taped shut.
Refrigerators, Freezers, Dorms, and Wine Fridges must be unplugged and defrosted ASAP!
Grandfather Clocks, the CHIMES, and the Weights need to be removed and packed.
Washers and Dryers need to be unhooked and the bolts in place to stabilize them.
Please have extra tape on the day of pickup.
Dressers should be empty.
Vacuum Cleaners and Shampooers should be cleaned out as well.
Aquariums (crated bubble wrap and cardboard)
Dog Cages (houses)
Bird Cages
Please have them cleaned and taped up
Please have all gas removed before pickup at least a week in advance so the smell dissipates.
Filing Cabinets, Toolboxes, Cabinets, Plastic Storage Drawers, etc…. Please have them emptied and taped shut.
Refrigerators, Freezers, Dorms, and Wine Fridges must be unplugged and defrosted ASAP!
Grandfather Clocks, the CHIMES, and the Weights need to be removed and packed.
Washers and Dryers need to be unhooked and the bolts in place to stabilize them.
Please have extra tape on the day of pickup.
Dressers should be empty.
Vacuum Cleaners and Shampooers should be cleaned out as well.
To help you make the right choice, please find a very useful US DOT website link below, as well as some items to assist you when researching moving companies:
Safer Web Company Snapshot Link
https://safer.fmcsa.dot.gov/query.asp?
Our D.O.T. number is 1914057 or:
Google Search - 'Safer Web Company Snapshot.' The first link should be to the Department of Transportation (it is a .gov link). You can search your companies by their DOT#, their MC# This information should appear on any email, quote, or contract you receive.
How to Choose A Moving Company
Choosing a moving company is a very important decision, so don’t take it lightly. Who you let drive off with your life’s possessions is a decision you should make after getting all the info possible. Over the next few days, you are going to get A LOT of calls from brokers and middlemen trying to get up-front money from you. This information will show you how to tell the difference, along with other things to look out for… It’s everything you need to know on who NOT to hire.
Things to look for
- You want to be sure the company is 'Authorized.' If they are not, it will say 'Not Authorized' in red letters, or if they had their license pulled, it will say 'Inactive' in red, also. (DO NOT USE)
- You want to make sure the USDOT information for the company does not say 'Broker' or 'Carrier/Broker.' If the company is listed as such, they will subcontract your job out and, therefore, will not be able to guarantee pickup nor honor the pricing, as they are not the company actually moving your household.
- Another 'Red Flag' to be aware of: if a company should ask you for more than a 20% deposit to make your reservation. It is an industry-standard to require a 20% deposit. If a company is asking for more, most likely it is a company that will subcontract out your job, as they are trying to get the most upfront amount that they can… and again, they will most likely not be the company making your move. Also, the deposit (or at least part of it) may not be refundable should your plans change, and you have to cancel. All deposits should be fully refundable, 100%, up to within a week of pickup.
- Other 'red flags' – Should the company send over a final estimate or contract that does not say 'binding.' Or if the final estimate or contract has Fuel Surcharges,' Origin & Destination Fees, Booking Fees, etc.' listed. If these items appear on your estimate or contract, they are NOT BINDING and are added in order to get more money at load up. Those fees should be included in their rate… like ours. The other companies that we would recommend are Mayflower, Wheaton, Bekins, and Allied. We know they do their own work just like we do
- Make sure they own a minimum of 10 power units and at least have driven half of a million miles in the past year. If you see a moving company with 1 or 2 power units that have driven low mileage, you know your move will be subcontracted, which of course, will add money to your delivery.