Should I Hire a Mover?
Moving is inevitable; whether or not to hire a mover is the question. If you have accumulated lots of stuff, you already know you have a big job ahead of you. Now it’s time to decide how you’re going to get all of it from Point A to Point B. The major considerations are: money, time, and willingness to let other people touch your stuff. You need to consider that other people will be handling your precious possessions and that you don’t have complete control. Read on for advice on how to survive the big day: moving day!
Consideration 1: Who’s packing all this stuff?
In most cases, the answer to this question is you and whoever else is moving with you. If you are really short on time or have extra money lying around, you might consider having professional movers do the packing for you. If the movers do all the packing, then they are liable for any damage to your belongings. If you do some or all of the packing, the mover can claim that a box was packed incorrectly if it falls or breaks. The benefit to packing yourself is that you will know where everything is when you start to unpack. One bit of advice is to keep a box of your most treasured items to the side for yourself. This can be your important financial documents, expensive jewelry or things that have deep meaning to you. A moving company accidentally took this kind of box during the first move of an Apartments.com staffer. She ended up spending the entire first night in her new place going through every single box looking for the one containing her father’s wedding band; luckily she found it. To avoid this panic, make sure that your “special box” is labeled clearly and is kept out of the pile of boxes that the movers will inevitably take.
Consideration 2: What’s it Gonna Cost me?
Local moves, which are any moves less than 100 miles within the same state, are billed by the hour. Intrastate moves (100 miles or more in the same state) and interstate moves (across states) are billed for a set rate that should always be determined prior to the move date. Collect rates from several movers using the phonebook or Internet. Do not accept rates online or over the phone. It is best to have the mover come to your home in person to give you an estimate and you should always get a copy in writing. Check the background of each mover you see with the Better Business Bureau or these consumer-advocacy sites www.movingscam.com and www.movingadvocateteam.com. These sites have a list of companies that have received numerous customer complaints. If this is a major move, try to get at least three estimates so that you have some options. Start this process a few months in advance of your move to get the best rates possible and secure the moving date you want.
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