Whether this is your first time moving or you are an old pro you will reap the benefits from the advice and tips in our extensive moving guide. The information has been gathered from professionals who have been in the business for many years. Read on.
• The moving industry has a "peak" and "off peak" seasons. The "peak" season for movers is during the summer. Also, the beginning and the end of the month and the end of year holidays are extra busy for movers. During that period of time the demand for moving equipment, vans, and personnel is heavy.
• Your move should occur at a time that is convenient for you and your family. If you have children you will most likely want to move when the school term is up. Unfortunately this may fall in to the peak season and your costs will probably be higher. If your move can be rescheduled for a time when Cen-Tex Movers will be less busy you may be able to reduce your moving costs. For younger children moving to a new school in the middle of the school term will probably not create any problems. Older children and teenagers will be in the middle of academic courses and this may not be a good time to uproot them. Older children will also have developed stronger ties to their friends and may be very upset if moved mid term.
• Contact Cen-Tex Movers for estimates. A relocation consultant will come to your home and do a visual inventory of the contents of you home that you are planning to move. He will then prepare a written estimate for your review. It is important for you to know that there is more than one type of estimate. The two most common types of estimates are binding and non binding estimates.
• Decide what items you want to ship and what will be discarded. Inspect your home from top to bottom or from attic to basement before the relocation consultant will arrive. Show the consultant everything that you will be moving.
• Be certain that the mover has marked all items that are “going” and “not going” on the survey sheet. The mover will prepare an estimate that will include transportation charges and the charges of additional services that you requested. Keep in mind that if you decide to take more items or take fewer items the total cost of your move will change. Inform the mover of any changes with your shipment. Effective communication is a key factor for a successful move.
• If you decide to do your own packing or partial packing, remember that the moving company is not liable for damage to boxes packed by the customer. However, if there is obvious exterior damage on packing up your goods, make a note on the inventory sheet of your shipment. The driver has the right to refuse to accept any carton that may be improperly packed. If the driver has to re-pack cartons that the customer has packed, additional charges will apply.
• If you decide to do your own packing, get packing supplies and start collecting strong boxes suitable for moving. Complete all packing by moving day. You will be busy enough on moving day to have to worry about packing
• If your company is relocating you, find out what portion of your moving expenses will be paid your company.
• Obtain a written appraisal of antiques to verify their value. Do not retouch, wax or oil wood furniture before moving. Some products may soften the wood, making it vulnerable to imprinting from furniture pads.
• Notify the post office that you will be moving. Provide them with a new address (permanent or temporary). Use the attached link to change your address online https://moversguide.usps.com/?referral=USPS
Moving companies are required to assume liability for the value of the goods that they move. The level of liability can vary. You need to be aware of the amount of protection and the charges for each option. Insurance is often the area in moving that people know very little about. As a result of this it is often the area in which people make poor choices. Movers are required to provide you with information on what it will cost you to place a value on your shipment. You should be provided with“Your Rights and Responsibilities when you move” brochure. Be sure you actually read these brochures so you can accurately put a value on your shipment. Check with the local Better Business Bureau to get information on how the mover has handled claims in the past .In the unlikely event you have loss or damage as a result of your move you are still responsible for paying for the move in a timely fashion. This is generally COD or cash on delivery on the day of unloading. The mover is required to respond to your claim within 30 days and the issue must be resolved within 120days. In the event that arbitration is chosen to resolve the issue and you are not satisfied with the outcome of the arbitration process you may sue for damages.
•Basic Carrier Liability-Released Value
This is often called limited liability and is the minimum coverage required by law. This insurance is covered in the base price and does not cost you any extra money. It is the most economical option available however your goods are covered to no more than 60cents per pound per article. This is the level of coverage for an interstate move. This minimal amount of liability that must be provided to any consumer when transporting goods is called “released value”. The coverage for local moves is commonly 30cents per pound however this can very from state to state. Loss or damage claims are settled based on the pound weight of the article multiplied by 60 cents. If you have a 10 pound TV and it is destroyed in transit, you would be entitled to a total of $6.00 for the replacement of the TV. Obviously this will not replace the TV with this amount of money so think carefully before agreeing to it. If you agree to this option for insurance coverage you will be asked to sign a specific statement in agreement on the bill of lading.
•Full (Replacement) Value Protection
This option is often referred to as full replacement value protection. With this plan, any goods lost, damaged or destroyed during the move will be either repaired, replaced or a cash settlement made at the movers discretion. This is the most comprehensive insurance plan available for the protection of your goods while in transit. Costs vary depending on the mover however by choosing a higher deductible you may be able to reduce the cost. Remember that coverage with deductible reduces the premium however you will be responsible for the first $250.00 or $500.00 or $1000 of loss or repairs depending on the deductible amount. The mover can protect himself from loss or damage to high value items i.e. value of over $100 per pound unless you list these goods on the shipping document. Jewelry and furs are examples of high or extra ordinary value items. Talk with your mover so you can get a clear understanding of your options and make more informed choices. A valuation fee may be assessed if this option is chosen.
•Extra Ordinary Value Items
All items in your shipment, which are considered to be of extraordinary value, must be identified. You must advise Cen-Tex in writing that they are in your shipment. These items are defined as items having a value greater than $100.00 per pound per article. For example:
If you include items of extraordinary value in your shipment, a High Value Inventory sheet must be completed and signed by you prior to your move. In the event of a claim, any settlement is limited to the valuation you declare for the entire shipment. If you fail to list all extraordinary value items and/or fail to sign the High Value Inventory sheet, the liability for loss of or damage to those items will be limited to no more than $100.00 per pound per article, based upon the actual weight of the article (does not apply to shipments under the "basic carrier liability" option).
You must declare the total amount of the released value that you declare for your goods. This total should include the value of items, including all items of extraordinary value. Record the total value on the bill of lading. Please note that the protection for items of extraordinary value is not available for shipments, which are released to Cen-Tex Movers at a value of 60 cents per pound per article (basic carrier liability option).
•Homeowners Insurance
Some homeowner's insurance policies cover household goods while in transit. Check with your homeowner's insurance company to find out what coverage you may have and be sure to check out when this ends. If the policy is void once you close on your old home it may be of little use to you as this is most likely when you will be moving. If you are fortunate enough to have coverage make sure you contact the insurance company and ask them to explain the level of coverage and what exactly is covered. In the event you need to file a claim with the insurance you will need to prove that the loss or breakage is due to mover's negligence. No money will be paid out due to any items damaged due to poor packing by you.
• Firstly, even before talking with a mover, decide what household goods will be shipped and what will be sold or given away.
• Consider whether or not you would like the mover to pack and what other types of additional services you may require.
• Call or email the movers you are considering for the job and ask for an estimate. Get involved in the estimating process and try to meet with the relocation consultant to survey your home and prepare a written estimate. Ask each prospective mover how long his or her estimate is valid for and question whether the estimate is a binding or a non binding one.
• Inform the mover of any possible unusual situations on either end so your estimate can be more accurate. Make the mover aware of any problems that he may encounter at the delivery such as parking problems, road access, street accessibility, delivery time restrictions or if there are any stairs or elevators involved. The cost of your move can increase for such occurrences. Try to reserve a “parking space” for the moving van if your new home is on a congested street. If the moving crew has to carry your load more than 75 feet from the moving van to your door you may be charged for excessive distance. Some neighborhoods may prohibit trucks over a certain weight. The driver will offload your possessions into a smaller vehicle and the charge for that can be quite high. Advise the relocation consultant if you anticipate this situation arising. In addition, advise the consultant if you are moving to a high-rise building where an elevator reservation is required. This can cause problems for the delivery schedule if the mover does not know about this in advance and additional charges will likely apply.
• To check the reliability of the moving company you can contact the local Better Business Bureau (BBB) to inquire about the company's complaint record and how these complaints were resolved. Ask your friends, family and neighbors for recommendations and advice on movers.
• Check for the DOT license number. All movers are required to be liscensed.
• Ask all movers for references.
• Ask the mover questions – Use the following as a guide on what to ask.
1. Are there extra charges if the movers have to go up an extra flight of stairs even if I did not know about it when booking? Many times you may not have enough information at the time of the estimate to be completely accurate however.
2. What is the estimated delivery time and will the driver notify me?
3. If I pack myself what type of packing material such as boxes are acceptable?
4. How do I pay? Cash, credit card, personal checks, or certified?
5. When do I pay? Cash on delivery?
6. Will the movers disassemble everything and will they reassemble all items at the destination?
7. Following the initial weigh in, will there be an additional weigh in to determine actual cost?
8. If I have purchased liability insurance and I need to make a claim what is the process?
General
In general moving can be very challenging however moving with a family brings a whole new meaning to the word challenge. Adults can be emotional however we tend to have more control over our emotions whereas children's emotions can be like a roller coaster ride on a good day.
Keep everybody involved
As the move gets nearer be sure that the entire family is included in progress reports so nobody feels left out. Keep everyone informed on plans and tasks and any activities associated with the move. Keep everybody involved. It is good to allow the children to be involved in some of the decision making. You could consider taking them with you on house hunting trips at your new location if finances permit. Ask the what they would like in new home, what specific feature would appeal to them and if you are unable to take them with you on house hunting trips you can always take pictures so everybody feels as if they have some say in the purchase of the new home and can begin to get to know it.
If your move is to another city get as much information about the new city as you can so you can share with the kids. If the city is not too far away perhaps you can take a family trip to begin to get to know your new home. Visit the local parks and museums or any other local attractions. Take a ride by your new workplace to show the kids so they will begin to feel more comfortable about moving
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Best time to move
What's the best time to move, during the school year or during the holidays?
This has been a hotly debated topic with people very divided on their opinions. Here are a few things to consider as you work on making a decision. If you are one of those fortunate people who has a choice on when to move you can consider moving during the school term or you can decide to move during the holidays.
Moving during holidays has the advantage that the children are out of school anyway and their studies will not be interrupted. Your child will also start the new term with other new kids and will not be considered the new kid on the block. The advantage of moving during school term is that your children will be in school and can make new friends quickly and they may not have as much opportunity to make new friends if you move during the holidays. The other major advantage of moving during the school year is that your children will have a routine established quickly and this has been known to be helpful to children in adapting to a new location.
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General guidelines
Pets are generally creatures of habit so keep your pets' routines as regular as possible in the days coming up to your move date. Continue to carry out normal activities and try not to break your pets routine too much, for example if you walk your dog each morning continue to do so.
It is a good idea to ask a family member to assume responsibility for your pet during the days of the move. If this is not possible you might consider hiring a professional pet service for the day or couple of days you will be packing and moving. These pet services have cropped up all over US and are available in many cities and towns. Some of these companies even offer door to door service. Your pet can be picked up at your home and will be delivered to your new home on a predetermined date. Many pets become very scared and may bolt and run away during all of this irregular activity. Be careful with leaving doors open as it only takes one door to be left open to the outside unintentionally and your pet could be gone forever. If your pet bolts on moving day, you may not be able to give the necessary attention and time to the search as you should and you may have travel plans which limits the time you can search. Another option that may be helpful is to organize for your pet to be boarded until you have moved in to your new home and arranged things.
Dogs
Whether traveling by air or car moving can be even more stressful for a dog than a human. Some dogs however take it more in their stride than others. Leave packing his/her toys, bedding and other equipment to the last moment so that he/she is comforted by the presence of familiar things. If traveling a long way prevent travel sickness by not feeding them for 12 hours before the journey. If you know your pet suffers from travel sickness, ask your veterinary surgeon about anti-sickness pills.
If you plan on flying to your new home, try and book a direct flight. If your dog has to be transported by freight and the flight is not direct he may have to sit out in the hot or cold weather as the freight is boarded to the new flight. Check with the airlines for details. If your dog is small enough he may be able to travel in the passenger cabin with you. He will need a special carrier which you can purchase at a local pet sore. The airlines will be able to provide you with details of the cage specification that you will need.
If you are traveling by car remember to have your dogs nails cut prior to the road trip otherwise the upholstery may be damaged by scraping and scratching. Carry an adequate supply of plastic bags and use these to clean up after your pet at any rest stops you use. Never let your dog hang its head out the widow of a car as he may get sore eyes, ears or a sore throat.
Never leave your pet alone in a car especially in hot weather as the temperature can quickly rise to an unbearable level.
When you arrive at your destination be sure to get your dog back in to his routine of eating and exercise. If you have moved to an apartment building and your pet dog was used to having a yard to play in and relieve in, you need to be extra considerate. Bring you dog out more at least until he gets used to his new living situation. Make allowances for 'accidents' on the carpet if they should happen. Don't make a fuss or punish your pooch as this may make the problem worse. Pick up the mess and clean the area properly to remove the soil and smell. Once your dog has settled in they should stop. Always praise him when he goes to the toilet in the correct place so that he knows where to go.
Make sure you make up a comfortable sleeping area for your pet pooch so he can settle in quicker. If you have a new home with a yard make sure you check your boundary fencing to make sure that it is secure, of sufficient height and 'hole-free' before letting your dog run free in the garden. If your dog is able to escape then take him out on a leash until you are able to do the necessary improvements for your pet.
Moving Plants
Plants make us all feel alive and well. They are attractive to look at and when we move we may have an emotional attachment to them and often wish to take them with us. Whether it's a small potted plant on a window sill in the kitchen or a larger garden plant there are ways to move plants safely and carefully to prevent them from breaking or even worse, dying. It is critical to pack them very carefully as they are generally not covered by insurance. Be sure to show the moving company all of your plants as plants take up a lot of room in a trailer as they cannot be stacked on top of each other and the mover needs to know this upfront. If you are planning on shipping your goods via air freight it is important to contact the airline first to understand what plants can, if any, be carried air freight. The airlines have rules and regulations regarding the transportation of plants that you will need to understand.
House plants
In the weeks or even months coming up to the move take good care of your plants to ensure they are strong enough for the move. Of course you can decide to give the plants away before you move or even throw them away if you feel you cannot take them with you to your new home. If you must leave your plant, consider taking some cuttings which are small clippings of your favorite plants. Pack these in damp paper or moss and place in jiffy bags unsealed and try to include some of the original soil in the bag also. These clippings can remain like this for several days until you arrive at your new destination. You can then replant these in peat or vermiculite with plenty of water. Moving companies will generally carry plants if the distance is below 200 miles or within one days travel from destination. Be careful if you ask the moving company to move plants in the winter or hot summer days as it can be very damaging to plants at temperatures below 35 and above 95 degrees Fahrenheit.
Several weeks before moving you should begin getting your plants ready for the journey by pruning them to help ease of packing and remove any straggly bits. Do not prune ferns or succulents. Different plants need to be pruned differently and it is recommended that you consult a gardening book for the correct method for pruning your plants. If necessary, re-pot plants into non-breakable plastic containers. Be sure to clean the new pots thoroughly as they may contain thriving pest communities of their own depending on what was last planted in the pot. There is nothing worse than seeing your favorite plant destroyed due to a pot breaking en route. Terra cotta pots are notoriously easy to break so treat them gently. Next, treat your plants for pests about a week before the move. You can treat them for pests by placing the plants in a large plastic bag and applying a bug strip or bug powder. Seal the bag and leave overnight to ensure a complete kill.
On the day of the move place the potted plants in a large box separated by newspaper. Beforehand line the box with plants in case of a spill. Make sure you have drained off any excess water before placing the plants in the box. Tie cane to support larger plants to minimize damage and the likelihood of breaking. Regardless of your method of transportation however, the most important thing to do is keep your plants moist throughout their journey. You could place moistened newspapers around the soil and wrap this around the stalk of the plant. If you need to box your plants make sure to put some air holes in the boxes. When you are ready to remove the plants from the boxes it is recommended you do this gradually as too much sunlight too quickly may do more damage then good. House plants can survive without much light for up to one week without a negative impact if other conditions are favorable such as temperature and moisture level in the soil.
Garden plants
Garden plants are a little more difficult to move simply because you have to dig them up, move them and then replant them in your new location. Some garden plants cannot be dug up and replanted so before going to all that trouble contact your local horticulture store to get advice. It is also important to consider if the plants will even survive in their new habitat as the climate and soil may be very different to the plants preferred living conditions. There are many things that can go wrong so follow our useful advice and you should be well on your way to a glorious garden in your new home.
On the day of the move dig up the garden plants being careful to dig around the roots in a circle. The root ball can be placed in a plastic bag with a pest strip. Seal the plastic bag for up to 6 to kill off any remaining pests. Make sure the soil is moist around the ball. When you arrive at your destination replant as soon as possible Check the soil ph level for acidity or alkalinity. Ph test kits can be purchased in any plant store. Add fertilizer and water to the soil around the plant regularly and allow the plant some time before it gets use to its new home.
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