When you hire a moving company, you are basically asking someone to do something for you that you are unable or have no desire to do. You are asking them to transport your household goods.  Just like when you are really busy and you ask someone to help you, most of the time all goes well but sometimes it doesn’t. Everyone has heard or used the saying,” I should have just done it myself”.  However, what if you ask someone to do something for you; and they say OK, but then ask a third person to do it. Now it can become really confusing! In my opinion, communication can really start to break down as more and more people get involved. If you are moving, DEFINITELY ask the moving company if they use subcontractors. By the way, verify that you are speaking to a moving company that has their own trucks and not a broker or agent because they most likely will be using subcontractors. If you are planning on using a certain moving company and they do use subcontractors:  (1) Find out why they are hiring subcontractors to do the job. Is it because there is a specialty service involved, for example, satellite dish removal, transporting a front load washer, plasma or LED TV, piano or chandelier? Or is a storage facility needed? Is it because of the location where you are moving to? (2) Ask for the subcontractor’s information and then do your own screening on the company. See my previous blog post on “Screening a moving company at www.slickmove.net) 3) Finally, find out what level of protection they offer to protect your household goods (insurance) , how payment will be made and what your drop off window is. You should be able to have all of this information in writing prior to the move.

The first time that I had an experience with a subcontractor was when I was living in south Texas (Rio Grande Valley) and I had to relocate to New York. I called a moving company who had their own trucks and I expected them to show up.  When a totally different moving company showed up, I was surprised but it was too late to argue, because it was moving day. It is my belief that because we were so “out of the way”, a subcontractor was sent to pick up our goods. So, if you are going to or moving from a remote area, definitely, investigate the moving company that you choose.  If you have a subcontractor that is experienced and wants to please their customers you should have no problems. However, if you have a non-experienced subcontractor it could be unfortunate for you.  A quality moving company that wants to get a lot of repeat business and referrals will most likely use quality subcontractors and monitor their work. A quality moving company will want to please the client and will work hard to arrive during the beginning or middle of the “drop off window”. A subcontractor who may be less concerned about his reputation or his job may not strive to please. For example, in the contract, it may state that the movers have 3 to 20 days to deliver your items. A concerned moving company may hustle to get your items to you as quickly as they can. A subcontractor may be less concerned and it may arrive on the latter end of the window.  If you have never moved, you may not even understand the importance of being in an empty home without any of your possessions and waiting and hoping that the items arrive on time or possible early. This is exactly what happened to us. Our household goods took 17 days to arrive in New York. We were there in 3 days so that left us in an empty apartment for 15 days with nothing but the items we brought in the car.  Believe me, it’s not fun being in an empty place, without any of your possessions for that long. You might think, “What’s the big deal, I am a camper and I can “rough” it for a couple weeks”. You need to really think about it. This means going out to eat because you have no cookware or buying paper plates and cups and eating simplified. You may or may not have a microwave. You may be sleeping on the floor and have to buy blankets, an air mattress and or pillows. If you must report to work, you may have to buy clothes and if the weather is colder than where you are coming from you may have to buy warm clothes.  You may need personal care items, etc. It is not only uncomfortable but it is very costly. When we complained, we were told that our window was 20 days and it was in the contract. I guess it was, but we never assumed that it would actually take that long. Our previous move had been very timely. Remember that when you move, you may also  be encountering the costs of a security deposit and first month’s rent, storage fees, closing costs and court costs, car registration, inspection, emissions, and a repurchase of a lot of little items that you did not put on the moving truck such as cleaning supplies and perishable food. It all adds up very quickly.

Your chances of having a subcontractor transport your items increases when you move during the busy season, Professional, quality moving companies know that when your household items are on a large moving van with several other customers’ items, there is a great need to keep these items separated. People who are doing their own packing and have never moved may not realize this and they might use small boxes and have a lot of “loose” items such as shovels, skis, surf boards, small furniture, etc. Small items can easily “shift” when a large moving van stops quickly or makes a sharp turn leaving your item way at the front of the truck or vice versa. Upon picking up your household goods, a quality mover will recognize small and loose items right away and have extra boxes on hand to put small items in to protect them. An inexperienced moving company may not carry extra boxes or may not be concerned which will result in you losing some of your possessions. Color coding items is a way that movers keep items together on a truck but this only works well if the mover goes over the list and counts all of the delivered
items after the drop off. An inexperienced mover may not want to take the time to do this. Yes, you may have all green tagged items sitting in front of you but do you have the green tagged item that shifted all the way to the front of the truck when the driver had to slam on the brakes? Taking inventory after drop off is seriously important so don’t allow the driver to leave until you check for all of your goods and he signs for the goods received. If an item is damaged in transit or missing, a notation must be made on the bill of lading on the receiving end. The bill of lading is your only legal instrument on which to make these notes that will stand up in court should you need to make a claim for missing items or damage during handling or transit.

Another important issue to consider when a subcontractor is used is how payment will be made. Many of us are so used to the convenience of using a charge card. A subcontractor may only accept cash or a certified check. If you are caught off guard by this and do not have cash or a certified check when the subcontractor arrives with your household goods, they most likely will not unload them. Your shipment will be taken to a storage facility until you can pay in cash and you will be charged extra for this as well. It is important to agree in writing about payment terms with any moving company prior to using them.

Lastly, brokers, agents or small local moving companies who may be affiliated with a large van line company, which makes them appear like a reliable choice, may present some problems. When you schedule a move through an organization like this, they will have to pay a fee to the large van line company for your move. In some cases, to avoid the fee, they may skip registering your move and they may use a totally different moving company (a subcontractor). At this point the broker or agent is placing this move on their own authority and they may be under-insured or not have the proper insurance to cover the cost of an accident.  The subcontractor may be uninsured as well. If the truck is involved in an accident with your household goods on board and they do not have proper insurance, it could be very costly for you. This is a case of a “loose” agent relationship, having much less structure than a franchise – for example.

A final “tip” for you is to move Monday through Thursday when movers are not as busy, and if possible, move in the “off season” (October through March) for the same reason.

Be Prepared For Your Journey.

Click below to order the money saving, consumer written Slick Move Guide:

http://www.amazon.com/Slick-Move-Guide-Secrets-Moving/dp/0615182003/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1326283546&sr=1-2

I want to thank my friends at South Hills Movers who provided some input for this article!

Screening A Moving Company

A few people have responded on my blog asking me how to
choose a good moving company.  The Slick Move Guide
contains a list of 25 questions for movers. To make it easy, I have come up
with three important areas of concern that will allow you to quickly screen a
mover so that you do not waste a lot of time. You can visit many web-sites on the
internet, clicking and reading for hours and feel exhausted in the end. Not
everyone has that kind of time. If you choose a reputable moving company, you
will most likely not have to worry about some of the research and questions. For
this reason, I highly recommend choosing a quality mover by screening them
first with these three steps. Once you find a handful of good prospects, then you can

refer to the 25 questions to investigate the moving company further. Your goal is to end

up with three quality companies that you feel comfortable with so that you can arrange for an
in-home estimate.

First, make sure that the moving company is licensed with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/) and does not have any unresolved complaints. Also, check with the Better Business Bureau to ensure their quality.

Second, call the moving company to see if they will provide a “free” in- home estimate. If they refuse –
scratch them off your list because a QUALITY moving company WILL do this for you. Never receive a quote over the phone because the moving company needs to see what you have.

Third, inquire if they have their own trucks or if they are a broker. A quality moving company should have their own trucks and if they do, then you will want to ask them if they use subcontractors. It is ideal if they do not; but if they do then request information about their subcontractors so that you can research them as well to verify that they are reputable. (I plan to blog about moving companies and subcontractors next week)

Once you have found a few companies that pass these first three steps, you can move onto asking them some more in depth questions. Always get three estimates when you are moving! For some reason, we bargain shop for TVs, cell phones, carpet, etc. but when it comes to moving many people often call just one mover who may have been suggested by a friend or an employer. Three estimates may take some time but it is worth it. Here are five of the 25 questions that are listed in the Slick Move Guide (you will find much more detail and explanation in the guide).

1)      Ask if your estimate will be binding or nonbinding?

2)      Will there be any unforeseen costs such as packing materials, moving blankets, shuttle service
(if their truck is unable to get close to your home) charges for stairs, long carries, gas surcharges, travel time, or credit card charges ?

3)      What are the terms and conditions of their cancellation policy?

4)      Can you save money by disassembling and reassembling the beds/furniture yourself and/or having all of the items on the first floor?

5)      What type of payment options do they offer and is a deposit required? Will you pay half before and the balance upon drop off?

Once you have chosen a mover, there are certain steps that you can take when packing to help your items remain safe and decrease the chance of losing them. Please see the Slick Move Guide for “Smart Packing” instructions. It is extremely important to ensure that everything you discuss and agree upon is in writing on the contract; I cannot stress this enough.

If you think an estimate or cost is extremely high you can contact the Surface Transportation Board (http://www.stb.dot.gov/stb/index.html) where you can inquire about an average cost for your move and you can also file a complaint if you have already been charged. For more information, details and the COMPLETE LIST of questions to ask moving companies please click below and order the
Slick Move Guide! Be Prepared For Your Journey!

http://www.amazon.com/Slick-Move-Guide-Secrets-Moving/dp/0615182003/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1326476246&sr=1-2

Organization and preparation are key aspects of moving. Whether you have rented a moving truck or you have hired a moving company, these ten tips can save you time and money if they are done PRIOR TO MOVING DAY.

1)      Disassemble: All appliances should be unplugged/unhooked and “ready to go” (empty, dry, defrosted, bound, cords stabilized, loose pieces inside or tapped securely to the back of the appliance, and boxed if it is a small appliance). All electronics, entertainment centers, beds and furniture should be disassembled.

2)      Communicate and confirm: If you have friends/family coming to help you move, remind
and confirm with them a few days before. Confirm with the rental truck company or moving company.

3)      Phones: Charge your mobile phone the night before the move and write down any important
numbers in case you misplace your mobile phone. Do not pack your landline phone until the last minute.

4)      First floor: Move all of your household goods and furniture to the first floor. You may have to remove the doors of tight doorways to get furniture through. Locate your toolbox and keep it close by. Doing all of this the day before will be a big help in saving time and money.

5)      Organize: Have all items that are going with you in a certain area and far away from what the
movers will be taking. Have fragile items, storage items and last minute boxes all marked and in separate areas so they will not be accidently taken to the wrong place or broken.

6)      Cleaning supplies and packing supplies: Set aside cleaning supplies, trash bags, vacuum
cleaner, tape and extra boxes because you will most likely need them.

7)      Say goodbye: You may want to visit your neighbors and say goodbye the night before because they will most likely see the moving truck when it arrives and may want to talk for a while. If you are selling your home and it will be left vacant, arrange to leave your keys/garage door openers with a neighbor, relative or real estate agent and make sure they will be available for the drop off on moving day.

8)      Meals: Know what you are going to eat on moving day. Make sandwiches and have drinks
available. If you will be traveling with a cooler, have it cleaned and ready to go and buy ice the night before. If you plan on ordering pizza, make sure that you have the number available or in your phone. Movers love when you order pizza for them!

9)      Returns: Drop off computer modem, cable box, router or any electronic equipment that you are
renting to the appropriate places PRIOR to moving day. This is an important one.

10)  Weather: If the predicted weather outlook is bad for moving day, purchase carpet protection plastic to protect the carpet or use the “two carriers stay inside method” to prevent tracking dirt/mud, water or snow into the house. If you or a friend/relative will be driving a rented truck, confirm that you or they are able to drive in bad weather.

Order the “Slick Move Guide” to learn more about moving and read more
detail about these ten tips. Thanks for reading and remember, Be Prepared For
Your Journey”!

Click to order: http://www.amazon.com/Slick-Move-Guide-Secrets-Moving/dp/0615182003/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1324477410&sr=1-2

I was unpacking in Philadelphia, Pa having just moved from New York. In New York the apartments are so very small and I was in a habit of keeping a jug of wine on the back burner of the stove because there wasn’t much counter space. In Philly, I bought some wine because my parents were coming to help us unpack and move in. There were a ton of boxes everywhere and I was just trying to get some room cleared and get some of the boxes organized. I put the wine on the stove like I did in New York and I also put a pot of water on the stove to boil water for pasta. I went to play with my 18 month old daughter on the living room floor. I heard the water sizzling but when I looked the water was calm. That’s weird. Then my eyes glanced behind the pot of water and the wine in the glass jug was boiling! I had put the wrong burner on. Watch out for those unfamiliar stoves!! And then it exploded. I had second degree burns on my stomach. God saved my baby – but there was glass all around her and everywhere in the apartment. She was somewhat protected by a bar that divided the kitchen and living room. My parents helped clean glass up instead of helping us move in! Be careful in those unfamiliar kitchens when moving into a new place. Oh yeah, and never use the stove as counter space!