Moving questions, or how can I keep from getting screwed?

In My Humble Opinion
1

Well, the time has come for me to move once again. I am thinking about using movers because since the last time I’ve moved, I’ve gotten married and acquired a whole shitload of stuff. Since I have never used movers before, I have a few questions.

  1. What should it cost? I am in the DC metro area, and I am moving a one bedroom apartment.

  2. What questions should I ask the movers?

  3. What should I look out for?

  4. Any companies that you would use or recommend not using?

  5. Any horror stories that you want to share?

2

I saw something on one of those 20/20 type shows where they went undercover and did a couple of moves. The movers tried to rip them off whenever they could. The final price was way over the estimate, the movers would estimate weight by the size of the box (an empty box would still count as X pounds), etc.

The show said there’s some law where the final price can only be 10% different from the estimate. So if they quote you $500, they most they could charge would be $550.

If I were to hire movers, I’d tell them that I was going to record and videotape everything the movers did just so there won’t be any misunderstandings. I’d also get a printout of the relevant laws and show them to the movers. I might even tell the movers I was a lawyer (or maybe I’d tell them that my friend was a lawyer).

3

I’m not sure I would do the videotape thing, unless you really don’t want your stuff to arrive intact. Same goes with showing them copies of laws, etc. No point in antagonizing people who are about to move your worldly goods.

The best thing to do during the move is to be present, to spot- check boxes for excessive or insufficient packing material, to monitor the inventory process and make sure that what is written on the boxes accurately reflects what is in them. If something is very important to you, make sure the inventory specifically lists that item, instead of some generic description. Check to see that the movers aren’t recording excessive damage for furniture. I’ve had them note that nearly new furniture was “scuffed, marred, stained and scratched”.

If you pack anything yourself, leave the box open for them to inspect. Otherwise, the mover is not responsible for damage or theft of the contents.

Most importantly, get a copy of the inventory and bill of lading. Without it, you’re screwed insurance-wise.

4

When the estimator comes to your house, scrupulously show them EVERYTHING. Draw up a careful list of everything you’ve got, and give them a copy. Particularly point out all your books, which are dense and heavy compared to your other stuff. Don’t leave them any way to say you hid things from them to defraud them.

If you can’t get a “guaranteed estimate”, that is, one which is a binding contract signed by both you and the mover, be very, very wary. Even if you do get one, read it in detail and do not expect everything to go perfectly as described.

Take no flack but be polite, as recommended by Chefguy). Do not accept verbal assurances and do not allow anyone to browbeat you or pull car salesman type tricks on you after the contract has been signed, but treat them like good and intelligent people. Heck, they might be.

Get recommendations from friends.

DEFINITELY check with your local Better Business Bureau for complaints.

Understand that the national companies (Mayflower, Allied, etc.) have local affiliates (Bob’s Moving, Two Men and a Truck, etc.), and check on both thoroughly.

Understand also that your local company will probably subcontract the actual driving to drivers from just about anywhere, and there’s always a risk involved with that – so find out exactly how they intend to cover your loss if their subcontractors make off with your stuff, or roll over on the highway, or get robbed, or whatever.

Unless you have a whole honkin’ huge lot of worldly goods, realize that your stuff will be combined with other people’s stuff on the truck. If you are the first on, you will be the last off. You are unlikely to have any control over when your stuff gets on.

Expect delays, no matter what they tell you or even promise. Two month delays are not uncommon, and longer delays are not unheard of. Plan ahead for them. For instance, if you’ll be going to job interviews anytime in the two months after you arrive, pack a few interview outfits in your suitcase. Pack the essentials for the kitchen unless you can afford restaurants for at least two months. Take camping basics, including comfortable sleeping pads or an air mattress, and something to light up your potentially dark and empty new home.

If you don’t have a laptop, you’ll probably also be without your computer during that time, so scope out stopgaps like internet cafés or the local library, and make portable copies of any files you might need (like your résumé, financial info for the new bank, etc.)

Make sure you will have a valid check, drawn on an account that’s fully up and running in your new location, to hand to the drivers when your stuff arrives. Some of them won’t accept Visa or Mastercard without a 24 hr+ delay, which can mean your stuff goes into storage for a few days, which YOU PAY FOR at high rates. DO NOT accept their verbal assurances that “Oh, of course we take credit cards, no problem!” – get all conditions in writing.

Tell them it’s for your accountant or something if they act like you’re asking for too much in writing, and smile at them. “Oh, my picky accountant, you know how it is, sheesh, so sorry, gotta have everything on paper.”

Oh, and if you do any of the packing yourself, pack much more securely than you might think necessary for, say, UPS. They’re gonna make dense stacks of things and occasionally even the best movers put the dishes on the bottom.

I recommend packing boxes yourself, with Chefguy’s caveat about letting them see inside if possible. Make them lighter than you think they need to be, especially with books. Much better to have two small, managable boxes than one big one.

Your furniture WILL get dings, so if you have heirlooms, insure them at replacement value. Whether your stuff is valuable or not, look carefully at the mover’s contract’s clauses for restoring things to their pre-move state. If restoration is necessary, know that it will be a giant pain in the ass, no matter what.

Get insurance from your regular provider, not just the “add-ons” from the moving company.

WATCH the movers as they load the truck – not because they’re likely to steal things, but because they’re likely to be somewhat more careless if no one’s watching. Be friendly to them and make soft drinks, water, and some basic snacks available to them, and show them where the bathroom is. Tip them afterwards (they’re almost certainly underpaid out of whatever their boss gets off you).

Good luck – I have a truly epic godawful horror story but I hate even thinking about it, three years later.

5

Oh, if you’re only moving within the DC area, you can ignore most of the monthlong delay stuff. Sorry!

6

Are you moving to another state? Be sure you pack your car titles, birth certificates, passports, etc. with you in your suitcase, instead of boxing up the folder they’re filed in and letting the movers have it. You’ll need those to get a new car registration, driver’s license, etc., and you can’t do that if they’re packed away in a box God knows where.

7

When the mover shuts the doors on the truck, put YOUR padlock on it.
YOU be at the weigh station to check the weight.

8

Hi guys, It’s a short distance move, we just have enough stuff that I don’t want to rope in my friends to help me move and it’s enough stuff that I can’t do it myself anymore. I plan on packing it myself, and if possible being on the truck myself.

What does a local move cost?

9

I have had good luck packing and upacking my own stuff, and hiring movers to load and unload the rented truck, which we drove. Much less expensive, and I see them packing and unpacking as just another expensive opportunity for them to make a mistake or take advantage. Movers may be in the habit of “padding” bills because moving expenses are often picked up by an employer, so the customer doesn’t really care. I second the recommendation to be kind to those who are actually moving your stuff.

10

We paid about $250 to the movers for that type of local move service, for a 3BR house. Truck rental was separate.

11

$250 for a local move?!? That seems to be a great deal less than what I’ve heard from calling around so far. I’m going to try some smaller businesses as well.

12

I can recommend a company that I used to do some part time work for. My brother still works for them. Email me if you want their name and number.

13

If something is very valuable and irreplaceable, don’t let the movers move it, if possible. Keep it with you and move it with you.

Make sure things (electronics especially) work after the move’s done. The process of moving can jostle things about. And should something need repair, keep your paperwork handy in case you need to file a claim with an insurance company.

Be present when the movers are packing and unpacking your things… but try not to act as though you’re monitoring them against theft or mishandling of your belongings. Don’t act like you expect to be ripped off or cheated. Be nice.

You may not be allowed to pack items into boxes yourself; some movers won’t take responsibility for items they didn’t prep themselves. But that doesn’t mean you can’t do some prep. For example, I stuffed some clothes into a garbage bag, and when the movers came, they peered inside the bag, and then packed it in a box.

In addition to checking the company out with the BBB and fielding recommendations, don’t be afraid to get a second estimate from a different company if you feel you may be getting ripped off.

Be sure you understand the shipping process (exactly what they’ll do and when they’ll do it) and the payment schedule.

14

What are the fielding recommendations?

15

I had good luck by choosing a smaller, local moving company (which therefore relies on good word-of-mouth advertising) over a large chain McMover.

16

$250 does sound a little cheap to me, especially for the DC area. For that price, you might get someone with even less scruples than the big guys.

I know what a pain moving is, but at least consider renting a truck and packing yourself. Especially if the move is not a great distance. Sure its hard work, but you’ll completely eliminate the problem of unscrupulous movers (sorry, that’s redundant).

I’ve moved all over the US, and on average I’ve moved about once every two years. The only two times I ever had problems were the two times I used professional movers.

17

We had a hole built in our new house specifically for our rear projection TV. (The fact it took 5 times and 6 weeks to get the builder to make a 44x55x22 inch box in a wall notwithstanding.)

We paid for a mover to ensure the TV got moved without damage. Stupid stupid stupid.

The mover shows up with two trucks and four people, we later find out the guys actually carrying stuff out of the house were from a temp firm and had most likely never worked for a moving company before. The other two guys were out loading the trucks to make sure they got everything in one load.

Luckily we paid for the insurance as the temps put a nice big gouge in the plastic screen of the TV, and it bounced down every damn step on the stairs.

So a move if a 1800 sq. ft. house, to another location 6 miles away, cost us $1150, and cost THEM $950 to fix the T.V.

(The temps were eyeing the sofa/hideabed and the door trying to figure out which way they could cause the most damage (I’m sure), when I went out and grabbed the ‘pros’ saying they’d already bought a TV, did they want to buy a leather couch too?)

18

the scam the movers on that 20/20 special were pulling was they would quote you a price for a move and then get you to sign sign a blank pieve of paper on which they would put the total $$ for “supplies”, that is, boxes and tape. These guys boxed and taped everything, at a cost of $2.50 per box and $5 per roll of tape. So the move was a reasonable $500, but supplies were another $450 or something. REAL movers don’t box furniture they wrap it in pads and tie it down in the truck.

I’ve used the same company twice in very short local moves and had one good crew and one bad crew. Both prices were well below $500, with no other charges. Basically it works out ot an hourly rate, with a minimum charge. Good luck.

19

While certain that there are reputable movers, I read dozens of horror stories. One of the most common cheats is if you are paying by weight. Were I to stop at your departure residence and load, then go to the fuel station, and from there to the weighmaster, it would be simple for me to add close to 1.5 tons to the bill. Figure twin saddle tanks at 100 gallons each, comparing diesel fuel to water at approximately 8.5 pounds per gallon.

Granted, it doesn’t work if you’re moving a great distance, but that’s why I love being a firefighter. You pack your own stuff, invite your buddies, they all bring trucks, wives/girlfriends, and kids, you pay for beer/soda and pizza, and all is good. :smiley:

20

That should have been 3/4 ton. my bad.