A dishonest moving firm will present you with a lowball price quote. On the day of the move, he will stroll about your home and state, "Oh, many of these things ought to be packed." And then he will charge you an overpriced amount to do it. Or he may state, "Gee, we are going to have to take that bed apart." And after that he'll add another silly charge.
To avoid this from transpiring, make sure that you are as precise and clear about every box and furniture. If you have time, you can ask the moving company to come to your home for a quote. They may wish to do the walk-through over the phone, however, you might get screwed if you go down that path. If you have furniture that needs to be disassembled and reassembled, they should be part of your written quotation - and the crew is responsible for bringing the ideal wrenches and tools. And when you receive your end invoice, evaluate it closely for any odd costs.
2. Make shrewd decisions.
Your biggest dilemma is getting hooked up with a unregistered moving firm. He not only lacks insurance, but in addition workers' compensation. If one of these fellows trips and falls down your steps moving a heavy piece, get out your checkbook, my friend.
3. Schedule your move smartly - if you're able to.
Late May through August is jampacked with individuals wanting to move, so it is not a perfect time. The very best time is around Christmas.
4. Look into specialized moving companies.
Anybody can move a piano or a snowmobile. However if you have museum-quality art work, get in touch with the people with the white gloves.
5. Deal quickly with "questionable" moving companies.
When your movers arrive and you've got a negative feeling about them - say they said something that was not appropriate or they simply appear a little rough - bare a few things in mind. This is a challenging business of tough physical work, so do not judge a book by its cover, as they say. Should it be a question of hostile behavior, get on the telephone in 2 secs with a manager. And get it done before anything's on the truck. For an amazing Removal service take a look at International Removals.
6. Safeguard your items.
If you don't like the manner the movers are managing your items, be direct. Say, "Hey, you're making me restless." If they are throwing stuff around or seem to be reckless, you stop the job. Tell your estimator that you don't know what's going on, however he'll have a claim for damages if things don't improve. He'll get a supervisor out there, immediately. No highly regarded moving service wants a problem.
Remember the fact that the items in boxes you pack yourself are not covered for damage or loss, so make sure you pack them as well as possible. When it comes to valuable items such as jewelry or small electronic devices, it is best to move those by yourself. Let's just say, some things can get "misplaced."
7. Be mindful of the time.
But don't get worried too much about it if it feels like they're "wasting time." Many individuals have an unrealistic target of the time it's going to take. Individuals have complained that they paid for three movers, but they only see two guys moving stuff. Where is the 3rd? He's on the back of the truck wrapping and packing. No crew would like to dog the job. They want to go back home, relax, and have a beer.
8. Watch your own behaviour.
A few movers might "punish" customers for rubbing them in the wrong way. Should they really feel they have been mistreated and disrespected, they will want to get away from the bad customer and get the job completed as soon as possible. They'll end up putting a lot more boxes in the garage than there need to be and quietly mumble, "Let them carry 'em in the house on their own." As an additional tweak, they will flip the boxes so you can't read the labels to determine what is in them or where they go. The worst thing you could do during a move is be dismissive, treat the workers like dirt, and not allowing them to make use of your lavatory.
When the crew gets there in the morning, let them know right off that you'll buy them lunch. Occasionally guys on the crew do not have the money or the time. This tiny action can easily raise the entire spirit of the move. Also, be ready once the movers arrive. Be totally packed. Then, remember to stay out of the way.
9. Be wary of hidden overpriced charges.
The shifty moving firm may start including stuff that isn't on your quotation. He will impose a fee for each moving pad - pads cost nothing, anyway - and then $4 to tape the pads to the furniture. Or they'll say several items all of a sudden require special boxes. And guess what? They're $12 each.
10. Watch out for cash-only transactions.
It's not a warning sign, that's a "run away!" Don't forget: You can't put a stop to cash. You can put a stop to a credit card.
11. Follow up with a complaint.
If you are unfortunate to have something go awry throughout the move and the mover neglects to handle the complaint, register a complaint with the Better Business Bureau. It will lower his rating and damage his company. Then, take him to small-claims court. No moving company in his right mind wishes to stand before a judge who probably has experienced a couple of bad moves in his life.