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Pinky The Washington DC movers

 

The following information available in this page will provide you with important knowledge, understanding and tools on how to choose the right moving company.
Before starting to contact moving companies, make sure to have readied all inventory list on items that need to be moved.
Furniture and boxes should be included in the inventory list, Make sure to determine the items that you will pack and those that you wish the mover to pack. If you ask a moving company to provide you with packing supplies prices or packing services cost, it is necessary to compare these same services with other companies to have a fair comparison in price. It is necessary to request the information in writing to avoid any surprises.

 

How to choose the right company?
Examples of additional charges
Packing Supplies charges
Local move information
Storage information
Insurance information
Additional information
Checklist

 

 

How to choose the right moving company.
In order to choose the right company, it is necessary to verify three other companies that offer the same service. The lowest price is not necessarily a good indicator for you to choose the company. The customer should not base its decision solely on the price factor. The customer should require more information about the service such as additional and hidden charges.
Some companies will provide the customer with a very low quote, however it will include solely the shipment of the merchandise but will discard in the price other charges, such as the handling and packing of the equipment.
This is why it's very important for the customer to go through all the details of these hidden charges.
Here are a few examples of additional charges that you should ask the moving company about.
Some of them have different terminology but are the same charges. If they’ve mentioned that there are NO additional charges for your moving, you will need to require it in writing. The estimate will need to mention that these chargesare not applicable for your moving.

  Some examples of additional charges
There are a few additional charges such as: Packing Supplies cost, long carry, elevator, stairs and flight charges, appliances and piano charges, Big screen TV's, miles, tolls, fuel etc... If the company chooses to mention over the telephone that none of these charges are applicable for your move, you will need to verify in the estimate, and in writing, that none of these charges are added.
  Packing Supplies charges
If a moving company has provided you with packing or wrapping supplies there is a charge for those materials used to pack and/or wrap each individual item of your shipment.
It is very important to get informed and ask about the comparative prices of the packing supplies.
Some companies will provide the customer with a very low quote, however it will include solely the shipment of the merchandise, but will discard in the price other charges such as packing supplies, appliance handling fee, etc. Some of the companies will mention that packing supplies are additional charges, but usually they do not provide you with their Tariff cost. It is necessary to compare these charges with other moving companies.
  Local move: Labor charge
Some moving companies will provide you with their minimum labor charge cost. Most of the companies charge a minimum of three hours of labor charge plus Truck Fee/Travel time, Please note: Travel time is the driving time from the moving company office to the customer’s origin address and then from the customer’s destination address back to the moving company office. Travel time is not the driving time between the origin address to the destination address, this time is considered to be Labor time and is part of your "labor hour estimate". For that reason, it is important to discuss with the moving company the inventory list of all items that should be included in the moving. That will allow the moving company to give an almost accurate quote for your move, since most of them do base their quotes, depending on the total poundage or cubic feet. This will provide them with approximately how many hours is necessary to complete the move. If for any reason, a moving company claims to be able to move more than 3000 pounds or 300 cubic feet of merchandise within their three hours (which could be an efficiency studio apartment, usually one bedroom apartment requires more than three hours move), you are probably
dealing with "Superman". However, since we all know that Superman never entered this earth (-_-) , we can come to conclusion that they are probably to anxious to get you as a client.
  Storage information
Warehouse handling Versus Storage fee/S.I.T - Storage in Transit:
It is important to understand that storage fee and warehouse handling are two different fees!

Warehouse handling: is the charge of the time that the company will unload your shipment in the storage and then will reload it to the truck in order to complete its delivery.

Storage fee: is the actual charge for the time that the shipment was in storage, whether a couple of days or months. The customer always pays for both of these charges (warehouse handling and S.I.T.). This is why the customer should know that if it was told over the telephone by any other company that there are, or aren't, any storage fees applicable to the cost of the move, it doesn't necessarily mean that there is no charge for warehouse handling.

Insurance information

 

Moving companies require by state law to provide you with a minimum liability coverage of 0.60 cents per pound per item. The difference between insurance and liability coverage is that liability coverage is the minimum or maximum requirement approved by the state.
The insurance company can fully cover the customer with all his belongings during the move.
Most of the moving companies will provide you with a free basic liability coverage, which covers up to 60 cents per pound per items (damaged or lost).
Moving companies are not qualified as insurance agencies, however some companies will offer you additional insurance, but will solely provide you with a maximum liability coverage which is very limited and can cost you much more than you will pay to an insurance agent and usually involves high deductible, which can range between 250 and 500 dollars. This is the reason why it is necessary to obtain an independent insurance company to fully insure your belongings.
In this case, the cost of insurance will be cheaper; you will be fully covered and pay less deductible.
It is irrelevant to which moving company you will choose, it is always important to look for an outside independent insurance broker. A customer who has home owner insurance can check for additional coverage before contacting other comparative prices in the market. Most homeowner insurance plans cover the customer for transportation purposes.

  Additional Information
• For a local and long distance move, it is prohibited to ship any kind of liquids which are mentioned but limited to: water, alcoholic beverages, beer and wine. As well as car and household cleaners, bleach, paints, thinner, gasoline, or any other flammable liquids.
It is also prohibited to ship aerosol cans, hair sprays, deodorants that are held under pressure.
• Customers are not allowed to ship any guns or arsenals.
• It is necessary to empty flammable liquids and dispose of the liquids in lawnmowers and kerosene heaters
• It is prohibited to ship propane gas tanks.
• If you plan to ship your Bar-B-Q grill, it is recommended to clean the grill and empty all ashes and stones.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Check List
The following checklist may help you to prepare for your move. Time periods will vary depending on each individual.

About six weeks before your move
* Need to prepare inventory list of your shipment to include furniture and boxes you will need to determine what you will pack by your self and what packing you wish to be performed by the moving company Call for several quotes from different company and make sure that there are all mention all charges to you in writhing.

* Call non-profit organizations and give away items that you no longer need or make arrangements for their disposal.

About five weeks before your move
· Call and order packing supplies such as boxes, bubble wrap and boxes.
· Identify the contents of each box and the room in which it is to be placed at destination.
· Arrange for applicable information to be provided by schools for children transferring from one establishment to the other.

About three weeks before your move
· Call utility and phone companies to disconnect services the day of the move.
· Call the same companies from above and reconnect your service to the new location.
· If you are moving in or out of a condo or apartment building, it is necessary to reserve elevators and/or loading docks.

About two weeks before your move
· Alert friends and family new changes of addresses to contact you.
· Make the new change of addresses at the post office to transfer your mail at new location.
· Arrange for the discontinuation of delivery services (newspapers, etc...).

One to two days before your move
· Work on appliances that need to be ready for the move, such as freezers, refrigerator.
· Make arrangements for moving costs and other expenses

Moving day
Well, you just move :)
If you do get lost looking for your new home that might help you out.