Before becoming a trader, I partly owned a moving company for 10 years. There are many moving companies that are scum, but there are also many that are good concientious companies with hard working movers. The company I owned did not have a single official complaint in our first 10 years of business.
Some things you should look for for an Interstate move:
1. Even if you pick a Van Line (United, Mayflower etc...) it is still individual companies that are affiliated with those Van Lines. So if someone recommends United, you will not really be getting the same company to move you, as they used. Its better to get a good referral about an 'individual' company.
2. Make sure you get an on site estimate. Have one of their salespeople/estimators visit your home and take a complete inventory of everything that is going to be moved.
3. Make sure that you get a 'flat rate' price for the actual transportation of your belongings, and at the very least a 'not to exceed' price for any other services, like loading, unloading, packing of boxes, packing supplies. There are 2 ways to price an interstate shipment:
A. By 'actual' weight. (truck is loaded with your stuff, then weighed. Price is based on the actual weight of your stuff.) You will not know the price until the truck is actuall weighed.
B. By dimensional weight (recommended). This is from the scenario above where a salesman/estimator will come to your home and take an inventory, then give a fixed price based on the volume that they calculate. This method is recommended.
4. Make sure that you understand all insurances that they offer. Damage is part of the business, and unavoidable. (kinda like a losing trade).
5. Be completely honest with your moving company regarding everything that is being moved (don't hide the basement with 100 boxes until the last minute...tell them about the 200 yard walk to the elevator in your new apartment etc....)
6. Check with Better Business bureau, Chambers of Commerce etc.. for any complaints about the mover. More often than not, there will be complaints. Moving is stressful, and many people will end up complaining about the smallest of issues though. It is more important how the company responded to these complaints, than the actual complaints themselves. (Think of all the people that complain about Interactive Brokers over the slightest problem).
I could go on and on with advice, but I will leave it at this for the time being. Feel free to ask me any questions as they come up.
Some things you should look for for an Interstate move:
1. Even if you pick a Van Line (United, Mayflower etc...) it is still individual companies that are affiliated with those Van Lines. So if someone recommends United, you will not really be getting the same company to move you, as they used. Its better to get a good referral about an 'individual' company.
2. Make sure you get an on site estimate. Have one of their salespeople/estimators visit your home and take a complete inventory of everything that is going to be moved.
3. Make sure that you get a 'flat rate' price for the actual transportation of your belongings, and at the very least a 'not to exceed' price for any other services, like loading, unloading, packing of boxes, packing supplies. There are 2 ways to price an interstate shipment:
A. By 'actual' weight. (truck is loaded with your stuff, then weighed. Price is based on the actual weight of your stuff.) You will not know the price until the truck is actuall weighed.
B. By dimensional weight (recommended). This is from the scenario above where a salesman/estimator will come to your home and take an inventory, then give a fixed price based on the volume that they calculate. This method is recommended.
4. Make sure that you understand all insurances that they offer. Damage is part of the business, and unavoidable. (kinda like a losing trade).
5. Be completely honest with your moving company regarding everything that is being moved (don't hide the basement with 100 boxes until the last minute...tell them about the 200 yard walk to the elevator in your new apartment etc....)
6. Check with Better Business bureau, Chambers of Commerce etc.. for any complaints about the mover. More often than not, there will be complaints. Moving is stressful, and many people will end up complaining about the smallest of issues though. It is more important how the company responded to these complaints, than the actual complaints themselves. (Think of all the people that complain about Interactive Brokers over the slightest problem).
I could go on and on with advice, but I will leave it at this for the time being. Feel free to ask me any questions as they come up.
