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5 Things You Need To Do Before Choosing a Moving Company

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You’ve built a new house and sold your old one. Moving a lifetime of living from one home to the other is where the fun really starts! Here are some helpful hints for locating and selecting a dependable moving company to move your possessions.

If you’re looking for NYC movers, start with our five tips below before selecting a moving company.  

1. Do your research

Think of your move like you would any other project: research builds confidence. Moving is no different. When it comes to finding the right moving company, nothing eases that decision than doing adequate research on all your options and feeling confident about the mover of your choice. 

You can also narrow down your research by getting into specifics. Depending on your situations, you can look up Commercial Movers in NYC or, if you have specific items that need special care, look for companies specializing in Fine Art moving

2. Ask for recommendations

Talk to your friends, family and even business partners about their experience with moving companies. Nothing beats a good referral and getting information about people’s experience with any supplier is invaluable.  

3. Check license and liability coverage

A trustworthy moving company should have a USDOT license number issued by the FMCSA if they offer cross country services. You can check this number online easily so that you can be sure your move is in good hands and your items will be handled safely.     

Insurance is another important item to keep in mind and you have several options. Standard coverage offered upon signing a contract is 60 cents per pound but most movers choose an additional protection plan as that is not enough to cover the true replacement cost of a damaged item. Ask your movers about a full value protection plan, as that will be available for you for an extra fee. 

Make sure you understand each provision in the insurance plan of your choice and be clear with the movers about what you prefer.

4. Get a thorough walk-through for estimates

moving company in NYC

If you haven’t moved in a long time, you might not be aware of current rates, so shortlist at least three moving companies and compare their services and pricing. Then, ask them to do a walk-through before issuing an estimate.

A good walk-through means you will be asked questions about what you wish to take with you to the new house, which items will require special packing and which items you will take with you in your car.

TIP: pack your jewellery, family heirlooms and precious smaller items yourself and take them with you on moving day. This way, you avoid them getting lost by mistake amongst the other boxes.

Be careful about quick walk-throughs or estimates issued over the phone. Without a clear image of the size of the move, any estimator will be off the mark and you might have an issue on the day of the move.

5. Ask about binding estimates

A binding estimate is a document that ensures that the price quoted to you is the exact amount you pay. This will ensure that there are no surprises on moving day, and you won’t find yourself in a situation where the price of the move increases exponentially on moving day when it is too late to find another mover. 

What Must I do in Advance of the Movers Arriving?

moving company nyc

Here are 16 things you should complete before the movers show there to make your relocation as easy and affordable as possible:

1. Remove anything you’re Not Moving

It is anticipated that everything still in your home will be transported there. If there are still objects in your home that you don’t want moved, make sure to gather them all together in one spot and let the movers know that they won’t be transferring those items.

2. Things to Pack & Label Boxes

It’s crucial to correctly identify your boxes with their final destination if you want to keep the expense of moving low. Moving companies can avoid handling objects more than once because they will know exactly where they belong. Your costs will increase in direct proportion to how chaotic you are and how often your movers are going in circles.

3. Dust your furniture and clean your house.

Don’t bring the dust from your old house over to your new one. Also, let’s be considerate of the movers and spare them from breathing in all your dust and dirt. Before moving, give all of your furniture a quick clean down so you can truly benefit from a fresh start. And when you move into your new house, be sure to undertake a full clean on your own and be aware of what needs to be cleaned.

4. Gather all of your small valuables, such as jewelry, and move them on your own.

It’s crucial to collect all jewelry, cash, small devices, and other valuables and store them safely before hiring a moving company. You don’t want anything to disappear because there will be a lot of people coming in and out of your house while it is being sold.

When it comes to goods like jewels, cash, etc., movers are not responsible. It is your responsibility to gather up and transport all of your valuables.

5. Clearly Delineated Interior Paths

When the movers arrive, one of the first things they’ll start doing is padding and protecting your house. Make sure you’ve left enough room for movers to transport your belongings out of your house. Additionally, check sure there are no obstructions on your staircase and that it is free of clutter.

6. Prepare The Parking Spot For The Moving Truck

Make sure the location of the moving truck’s parking is planned. Any vehicle that might be blocking the way or in the garage should be moved.

Ask your management if there are any requirements for you and the movers on moving day if you live in an apartment. You might need to ask for the truck’s spot or elevator usage time.

7. Hire Pet and Babysitters For Moving Day

The last thing you need is for children or animals to be rushing about and obstructing the movers. Every person participating in the move should avoid doing this. On the day of the transfer, be sure you arrange for a babysitter or pet sitter. If you wish to reduce expenses, travel as your family or friends.

8. Take pictures and list every item you have.

Nowadays, it’s fairly simple to simply take some images of your belongings in their current condition before moving. By doing this, you can be confident that you actually had the item or that there wasn’t damage before the move.

Taking images of your electronic parts, such as your TV and cable, will help you put them back together whenever you move.

Create “Last Load Items” Boxes.

These are the typical boxes that you could require access to. Create a special space in your home for anything you feel you need access to but don’t have enough storage for in your car, and let your movers know.

These are often things for the first night. Some common items to include in this box are listed below:

  • Toiletries
  • Shower Curtain
  • Towels
  • First Aid Kit
  • Toilet Paper
  • Cleaners
  • Dish Soap & Sponge
  • Dish Towels
  • Garbage bags
  • Portable tool kit

10. Disconnect all of your devices and unplug the refrigerator

The majority of movers won’t disconnect or reconnect your refrigerator, washer, dryer, or other large appliances that you’ll be bringing with you. If something isn’t properly attached or disconnected, they aren’t responsible. Prior to the arrival of the movers, make sure you or a professional disconnects these items.

Be sure to unplug your refrigerator at least 24 hours prior to the arrival of the movers. A cloth should also be placed inside your freezer to absorb any moisture. When the towel has defrosted, take it off.

11. Hazardous Materials Disposal

Hazardous items can’t be moved by movers. Ensure that any hazardous materials you no longer require or cannot transport to your new location are disposed of correctly.

12. Lawnmower and Other Gas-Powered Tools: Drain Oil and Gas

Any things that still contain gasoline or are combustible won’t be moved by movers. Ensure that the oil and gas from these things are removed. They can leak onto your furniture or other objects in the moving truck in addition to being highly combustible and hazardous.

13. BBQ should be disconnected and the propane removed.

Moving companies won’t transport propane in their trucks; you’ll need to do it yourself, donate it, or hire a specialist who deals with such materials.

One of the riskiest things you can do while moving is to fail to disconnect the propane from the barbecue.

14. Be Weather Aware

Make sure you have a strategy if it’s going to rain or snow. Although you can probably count on your movers to protect your carpets and floors when they arrive, you should still keep some cleaning products on hand.

Ask your moving company how they will protect your carpets and flooring because not all movers will. Before the movers arrive, it’s a good idea to purchase some plastic carpet mask and install it at your new home.

  • Make sure the movers have a clear path and lay down a layer of sand or salt to prevent slipping if it has been snowing.
  • To prevent movers from tracking mud, the movers may use an assembly-line method depending on how bad the weather is.

In any event, be sure to have enough blankets and towels on hand to cover your floors on moving day if there is going to be any precipitation.

15. Attend the moving day.

The most crucial thing you can do is show up on moving day. Although you aren’t required to help with any of the shifting, the movers will probably ask you questions about where to put things in the new house, what’s going, and what isn’t. When the movers have any questions for you on the day of the move, being present will make everything go more smoothly.

16. Know where everything goes in the new house and make sure the movers understand this.

Make a simple floor plan of the new house and arrange all the furniture in it if you really want to be organized and make the transfer go smoothly. The moving firm can then receive copies of them from you.

The floor plan offers movers a notion of the obvious goods, such as the sofa, dining room table, etc., though they may still have queries about specific items.

You should always ask for a binding estimate and get it in writing, but keep in mind that you also need to do your part and list every item that you need to move, which will be clearly outlined in the estimate. Adding last-minute items to your inventory in the hopes of keeping the same price may give the movers the Right to Refuse service. To avoid this, tell the moving company of any extra items that need to be transported, so you can work out an agreement before they start loading your truck.

Conclusion

The bottom line is that doing your research will only benefit you and protect you from moving scams, overcharging and give you peace of mind for the moving day, so you can enjoy the process. Hiring a moving company doesn’t need to mean extra hassle, but rather getting professional and trustworthy help to pack your things, ship them to your new location and make sure your belongings arrive safely and damage-free. 

5 Things You Need To Do Before Choosing a Moving Company