If you are planning to use professional movers for your upcoming relocation, it is important to understand the ins and outs of the full-service move process. Whether you have questions about the move, or if you have no idea how a professional move works, this guide will help to alleviate your concerns and help you better understand the process. Here are 10 things movers want you to know before your move.
- Do not Move on Closing Day
Planning to move on your closing day is not recommended. This causes stress for both you and your moving company. It also puts a time constraint on both the loading and unloading process. It is recommended that you move the day after your closing date.
- Understand your Valuation Coverage
“Do you offer insurance?” is a common question moving companies receive from their customers. Accidents happen, and it is important to know what your valuation covers during your move. Be sure to communicate with both your estimator and coordinator to confirm which valuation option you have selected for you move, and what coverage there will be on your shipment.
- Know your Claim Filing Period
There are many different factors that can determine the amount of time you have to file your claim following a move. The state you live in and whether you moved local or long-distance will determine the amount of time you have to file your claim. Please speak with your estimator or coordinator to determine your claim filing period for your move.
- Know how the Cost of an Interstate Move is Calculated
If you are moving long-distance, the cost of your move is determined by the date of your move, weight of your shipment and the mileage from origin to destination. Fry-Wagner’s goal is to provide a clear and transparent moving quote. If you have any questions regarding your cross country move estimate, please ask your estimator to explain the factors contributing to your final costs and how they are affected by the final weight of your shipment.
- Know how the Cost of a Local Move is Calculated
Fry-Wagner’s local moving services are based on number of movers and actual hours it takes to complete the job. Fry-Wagner requires a 5-hour minimum for all our local moves. This includes 4 hours of moving and 1-hour drive time; we do not have trip charges or charge for fuel. For reference only, an average 3-4 bedroom home usually takes about 8-10 hours to move from origin to destination. Additional costs may occur for packing services, storage or third-party services. Some common third-party services are crating of large flat screen TV’s, servicing appliances, servicing and moving pool table or exercise equipment, etc.
- Tipping
If you would like to tip your crew, please know that tips are never required. If you are happy with the service you received, Google is a great resource to learn more about how you can tip your movers if you choose to.
- Understand Delivery Spreads
For every state to state move there is a delivery spread. A delivery spread is the time it takes to have your items delivered to the destination. Delivery spreads vary depending on the location and time of the year. The driver assigned to your shipment has jurisdiction to deliver at any time during that delivery spread, and you will be given 24-48 hours of notice. To learn more about the delivery spread for your shipment speak with your estimator or coordinator to confirm.
- Avoid Packing Prohibited Items
There are many items that moving companies are prohibited from moving due to safety concerns. Some of these items include but are not limited to: Aerosol cans, ammunition, batteries of all types, liquids of any kind, cleaning solutions, fire extinguishers, gasoline, frozen or perishable foods, paint, pesticides, etc. Please refer to your Prohibited Items page in your paperwork for more information on what will not be allowed in your shipment.
- Understand Packing
Packing can be extremely time consuming, emotional and overall very overwhelming. To avoid the additional stress, many people choose to leave the packing to the professionals. However, if you choose to tackle the task of packing on your own, United Van Lines has a library of videos to help you prep, protect, and pack your belongings like a pro.
- Your Items will be Protected
All furniture will be padded or shrink wrapped before the move to protect them from damage during transport. Your doorways, floors and bannisters will also be covered and protected to prevent any damage to both your old and new home. All items will be secured on the truck to prevent them from moving around during transport.
To learn more about the move process, or for more information on how to get a quote for your upcoming move, reach out to one of our moving experts today!
