| So you got that big promotion and need to move | | | | time to dig a little deeper. I would next suggest going to |
| across country this year? What's the best way to do | | | | their physical location and checking out the operation. If |
| it you ask? Well if you're a poor college kid like myself | | | | it seems like 2 guys renting trucks then I'd pass on |
| who can fit all my belongings in my Civic then the only | | | | them. What you're looking for is a company with their |
| question is where to get the gas money, but if you're | | | | own trucks, with permanent labels on them, a clean |
| moving your whole family then you may need to hire a | | | | organized warehouse and any other signs that they |
| moving company and this can turn into a very tricky | | | | are a cohesive working business. You should also |
| situation pretty quick. When hiring a moving company | | | | know that every moving company is required by law |
| there are many different things you need to consider, | | | | to provide you with a "Your Rights and Responsibilities |
| among then being price of course, but for your sake | | | | When You Move" booklet. If they don't provide you |
| please don't just go on how much they are going to | | | | with this, cross them off the list and move on. Call the |
| charge you as that can lead to a disaster. | | | | ones that seemed like the best-oiled and see if they'll |
| Well the first thing I would recommend doing is figuring | | | | come to your house to give a more accurate |
| out exactly what you posses that is going to need to | | | | estimate, if they say no, then cut em from the list. |
| be packed by the movers, moved by the movers and | | | | After they've given you a more accurate estimate |
| unloaded by the movers. There are plenty of things in | | | | make sure to ask for their DOT number which is |
| your household that with a little initiative and bubble | | | | essentially their certification with the federal |
| wrap you can pack up and get ready for the movers | | | | government to be moving your stuff. Take the number |
| yourself, so why pay someone to do it? Now that you | | | | and go to SaferSys.org and click on the Company |
| have that taken care of decide what can drive down | | | | Snapshot link and look them up. This will tell you if they |
| with you, you'd be amazed how much crap you can | | | | have up to date paperwork, how many registered |
| cram in a car. If you're flying, obviously it will be a very | | | | vehicles they have and how much insurance they |
| small pile of luggage but anything you can take with will | | | | carry, anything under $750,000 should be taken from |
| save money in the next. Now comes the fun part; if | | | | the list. |
| you have big things like couches, big screens, and | | | | By now you should have a list of movers that have |
| refrigerators that will be coming with I'd recommend | | | | given you a fairly accurate quote, passed a physical |
| this next step that most people don't think about doing. | | | | inspection, and a governmental inspection. The only |
| Buy a few six packs and a half dozen pizzas and | | | | thing left to do is maybe check online for reviews of |
| convince your friends to help you come move all that | | | | them either just Googling them or checking with the |
| stuff to the living room or whatever room is close to | | | | Better Business Bureau for complaints, or even word |
| the entrance. This way when you have the mover | | | | of mouth reviews from friends can be handy. Once |
| come take a look at what you have its all right there | | | | you've chosen who you want to use be sure to |
| and then on moving day the movers will love you and | | | | understand everything on the paper they will no doubt |
| you'll save money if you're being charge by the hour. | | | | be asking you to sign, and never sign a blank piece of |
| So now that you've done all the preparation work it's | | | | paper. On the day of the move if they don't show up |
| time to actually start collecting quotes and trying to | | | | with one of their trucks or anything seems fishy, fire |
| figure out who you'll trust your loving possessions to. | | | | them on the spot since you have to be comfortable |
| There are many different ways of doing this and | | | | with them handling your possessions. |
| many different schools of thought on the subject so I'll | | | | Well hopefully something I've said here will be put to |
| just cover a few basics. The most obvious way is to | | | | good use and prevent you from choosing the wrong |
| just pull out the yellow book and call up a few of them | | | | company. It really isn't rocket science, just make sure |
| and see if they'll give you an estimate, but remember | | | | everything checks out, you understand the contract |
| that it is just that, an estimate. A more modern way | | | | you'll be signing and that in the end you are |
| would be to use the internet to compare prices, using | | | | comfortable with the company because in the end the |
| onlines services will speed up the process as you'll get | | | | only person you can blame will be yourself, so do your |
| multiple quotes at once. | | | | homework!! |
| Now that you have a decent amount of quotes it's | | | | |