On line moving quotes?

 The internet is a resource for consumers today. Many families who are getting ready to move seek on-line guidance. There are numerous valuable web sites to inform and assist consumers … but, the lack of face to face contact creates problems! Once you go on-line to research moving and get some quotes to move your household goods you get innundated with phone calls and emails of agents trying to sell you! My advice is “Buyer Beware”! 

  The majority of on-line contacts will be brokers or third party individuals trying to secure money from you before the actual move. A broker will want to do an on-line or over the phone quote because they don’t have a physical presence in your area. They may even ask you for money up front … a down payment! Your down payment is actually to help that broker then secure the moving labor and trucks from another entity! A moving company should not ask for money up front on a domestic move.  We require payment on the date of delivery prior to delivery starting. Payment upon delivery guarantees accurate pricing and no lost money up front! I have heard stories of families losing their “down payments” or “deposits” they have made to these brokers … and then have no moving crew or truck show up! And please always ask for a physical walk-through of your home for pricing! And then make sure you understand what type of estimates you can request: Binding, Non-Binding, Guaranteed No to Exceed (which we have discussed in previous blogs but, I would be happy to re-visit).

I suggest a few websites to educate those planning a self paid relocation (or a company paid relocation for that matter)!  www.protectyourmove.gov , www.amsa.com, www.movemyhouse.com   

Have a happy and smooth move … stress free! You deserve it!

Geff Moyer

Signing a contract with your mover

If you are booking a move there are certain documents you will have to sign for legal tariff transport. Always read over the documents you must sign and make sure you understand them. If your moving consultant can’t explain what you are signing there is a problem.

First, a moving consultant should leave you a weight estimate form. Once the walk through of your home is completed you should be given a form that shows the items being moved and their estimated weight. This form should show:  total items going, any packing needed, and always list the mover’s Motor Carrier number and DOT registration number! This is required by law!

Second,  you should get an Estimate/Order for Service form. Make sure the moving consultant lists what kind of estimate you are requesting: Open estimate, Binding estimate, or Guaranteed Not to Exceed estimate. This form should have a spot for you and your moving consultant to sign and date. This form by law should also have the mover’s Motor Carrier number and DOT registration number. The moving company must obtain this form to put the onus on them for the transport of your household goods. This is the most important document you will sign and obtain.

Third, you will have to sign a Bill of Lading on the actual move date. The Bill of Lading is the document that allows the moving company to haul your household goods across state lines. This should be a carbon copied form and you will receive a copy once it is signed on your move date.

Always know what your signing … and if you have questions reach out to a reputable moving consultant. There are on-line resources you can take advantage of as well. Which I will be glad to update in a future blog!

Geff Moyer

National Account & Residential Manager at Graebel Kansas City

Winter Moving

Winter is coming … and with it cold temperatures, snow, and ice. If you have a move during the winter months it can still be done with the same level of care and trust as any other time of the year. But, I would recommend a few precautions when planning a winter move.

1st – Plan to have a day or two cushion to get out of your home prior to closing. Inclement weather is something the moving company will push through but, we all know that heavy snow, ice, and freezing temperatures can slow down and delay trucks. Having an extra day to get out of your home can keep you from being held hostage by really bad weather.

2nd – If you are moving appliances, specifically with any water lines (e.g. Refrigerator with an icemaker, washing machine, dishwasher) special precautions need to be taken by you or your mover to service them. Water lines should be disconnected the day prior to moving out to flush the line of residual water. The appliance should not be reconnected until 24hrs after it has been delivered to your new home to allow thawing. This precaution keeps water from freezing in lines and ruining the appliance and/or damaging your new home!

3rd – Ask for floor protection. Graebel Van Lines will always protect your house with: floor runners, carpet coverings, corner protectors, and wood trim buffers. Having fully bonded employees Graebel is responsible for residential damage and will take the precaution to avoid it. However, other movers that are independent and franchised are not responsible for residential damage so you need to ask them to provide floor protection! Don’t let the movers track in snow, sleet, and ice during a winter move.

4th – Bundle up … it may get cold out there!

Geff Moyer – Graebel Relocation Kansas City  Office# 800-832-0133  email:gmoyer@graebel.com

Are my valued possessions insured when I move?

Home owners carry insurance on their home and contents. Unfortunately, the majority of Home Owner Policies won’t cover your household goods contents when they are moved by a professional mover or in a self haul container. If you’re moving your worldly possessions make sure you either have Home Owner’s coverage or you’ve purchased Valuation Coverage from the moving company. One call to your agent can determine whether your policy covers your household goods while in the possession of the moving company. The moving company is required to have Valuation options you can purchase from Replacement Value Protection for full coverage down to Carrier Base Liability for minimal coverage.

Carrier Base Liability (CBL) is free of charge. It covers at .60 per item per pound. If damage occurs to an item the moving company will take the weight of the damaged item and give you 6o cents per pound for repair/replacement money. CBL is a very nominal coverage but, of course it is “free”.

Replacement Value Protection (RVP) is billed based on the weight of your household goods.  RVP coverage provides you “full replacement coverage” on damaged or missing items. If an item is damaged or missing the moving company should repair the item to your satisfaction or replace it on the current market. RVP coverage is the most comprehensive and can be purchased with $0 deductible, $250 deductible, or a $500 deductible.

Find out what you need to protect your worldly possessions when you move them!

Geff Moyer

National Account Manager – Graebel Relocation Kansas City

gmoyer@graebel.com

www.graebel.com

#800-832-0133

Moving your home? Get the right price from the Moving Company!

Everybody is on a budget these days. Wise consumers shop products for price and quality. If you’re selling your home and getting ready to move you need to know how to get the best deal from the moving company. Most people only move a couple of times in their lifetime and don’t always need the service of a moving company. But, when you’ve got more “stuff” in your house than you and your friends can handle (or want to handle) it’s time to call on the services of the moving company.

First: Know what services you need or want. If you want to have a full service move with packing and moving the price will be higher. You can pack some, or all, of your items into boxes yourself and still have a moving company handle the heavy lifting. Packing is one of the easiest ways to cut back on your moving expenses. Ask your moving representative if they have any used boxes they could provide for a reduced charge. Just remember that packing is a lot of work and it’s got to be done by the time the movers arrive on move day … so you need to know that you can finish your own packing. Movers can always do ‘Partial Packs’ as well perhaps only packing breakable items you don’t feel comfortable packing.

Second: Get three estimates. It is always advisable to shop around for price and trust. Remember you get what you pay for! So trusting your moving company with your worldly possessions is vital. The moving company should send a representative to your home to do a visual walk-through. The in-home survey will give you an accurate estimate of how much weight is being moved and how much packing needs to be done. Compare all three estimates. Ideally, the three estimates should be very similar in weight and packing count.

Third: Ask about pricing practices that protect you as the consumer. Most people are not aware that moving companies can provide you “Guaranteed Prices” or “Not to Exceed Prices” as part of their standard cost quotes. You have every right to request these pricing structures and if your moving representative won’t do that – it’s time to get another mover’s estimate!
Guaranteed Pricing – sets a price that is firm. At the end of the move that is the dollar amount you will be paying.
Not to Exceed Pricing – sets a price that is the cap you will pay. If weight, packing, etc. cause the cost to be less you will pay less. You will never pay more than your Not to Exceed Cost. A smart consumer will usually opt for a Not to Exceed Price.

Moving can be an expensive process. Before you spend money on your own rental truck and do it yourself check with a moving company. You will be surprised at the pricing and service you can get if you’ve done your homework!

Geff Moyer – Relocation Specialist

Graebel Relocation – Kansas City

#800-832-0133    gmoyer@graebel.com

Moving is stressful

     Stress can rule your life. The three most stressful life events: 1 – Death in the family, 2 – Divorce of spouse, 3 – Moving your family. The unfortunate thing is we usually can’t control death or even divorce when it rears it’s ugly head. We can control the family move. If your employer is hiring a professional moving company it will feel like you’re getting special treatment. If you’re moving yourself the stress just builds. Not all of us get an “Employee Relocation Package” … but, all of us can look into the option of hiring professional movers. 

     A family friend was recently telling me their “Horror Story” about moving. It all started with: “When friends and family heard we were moving, their response was universally something along the lines of, ‘Oh, I hate moving.’ ‘Moving is so stressful.’ Or ‘Good luck. You’ll need it!’ We got three quotes from three different moving companies. My company chose the most economically priced estimate which was $1,500.00 below the next quote. The moving company called us on the phone and asked us questions about how much stuff we had in the home. The representative on the phone assured us he was very accurate with this method. Needless to say the weight was much higher once it was loaded on the truck. The additional weight, some other services needed (e.g. appliance disconnect and reconnect, crating larger fragile items that couldn’t fit into a standard box, and insurance they tried to skimp out off) actually pushed our final bill up an additional $1,860.00 On top of all this … we had lots of damage. It took us 6 months of fighting with the movers to even get a Depreciated Value of compensation for the damages. We thought we had purchased a Full Value coverage!”

    

     Most of our friends just nodded their heads in acknowldgement. I was appalled! Most people do research before they purchase an automobile. Why don’t we research a moving company? If you are spending hundreds of dollars for a simple local move, or thousands of dollars for a long distance move, you SHOULD know what you are purchasing. Buyer Beware, be a smart consumer, be knowledgable of your purchase … I can say it a hundred different ways it all just means taking the stress out of one of the most stressful events in life. See? I’m telling you: You can control the family move.  

   

    I know I can help. I am the resource to help you in one of life’s most stressful times. If you’re moving I can guide you through it. You will save money. You will de-stress.