On the Move : If you’re among the 42 million Americans who’ll relocate this year, here’sa plan to get you organized
One out of every five California households will move this year. Some will move across town, others across the country.
But Californians aren’t the only ones on the move. An estimated 42.1 million Americans will change residences in 1992, with 19 million of them moving between Memorial Day and Labor Day, according to a recent survey by Ryder Truck Rental.
If a move is in your immediate future, and you plan to use a professional moving company, you can make things go much smoother if you approach the move with a game plan.
--Careful planning is essential, especially for a cross-country move, the experts agree.
Organization is the key to a successful move, according to Dona Hollifield, a Chicago-based moving consultant and author of the booklet “It’s Your Move.”
“I know it sounds trite,” she said, “but you cannot make a move without organization. Get a notebook. Write everything about your move in it. Carry it with you.”
Hollifield’s booklet reflects the expertise she acquired after making 22 moves of her own, including a trans-Atlantic move to Dublin, Ireland. “It’s Your Move” is crammed with tips that range from advice on “dull details” such as address changes to flying with your pet.
--Start your move by shopping around.
“Ask questions of anyone you know who has recently moved before you go to the Yellow Pages to look for a mover,” advises Henry P. Costantino, the author of “Moving? Don’t be Taken for an Expensive Ride.” Costantino worked for eight years as a sales representative for Mayflower and North American van lines.
“Most consumers don’t do enough shopping around. They assume a truck is a truck, and that all movers are the same,” he said. “In a long-distance move, (the consumers) might use a small individual mover who is not even licensed to transport goods in all states. The mover than relays the load, and by the time the load gets to the other end, things are broken or missing.”
According to Costantino, your investigation of a moving company should include calls to the local Chamber of Commerce and Better Business Bureau to check on the company’s reputation.
If you are using a professional moving company for a move within California, your investigation might include a call to the California Moving & Storage Assn., a trade group that represents more than 400 licensed movers.
“We can offer consumers tips on selecting a mover,” Doug Hill, president of CMSA, said, “but we won’t tell them who to use. We can also help them evaluate prices they’ve received to ensure they are comparing apples to apples. Maybe (the consumer) told one moving company he would do all of his own packing and then told another to include packing and unpacking in their estimate.”
--Before setting up an appointment to get an estimate from a moving company, conduct your own in-home survey to determine what will actually be moved.
Since the cost of an interstate move will largely be determined by the weight of your load and the distance it travels, decide what you really need to move.
“Be ruthless!” Hollifield said. “Don’t take things that you have never liked or will not fit. The size of your new residence, especially if it is smaller, will influence the number of things you need to get rid of.”
Costantino agrees:
“Most consumers don’t get rid of enough junk. Throw away sentimentality and be practical about what to move. Talk to family members about what they really need and use. Go through a weeding-out process and go through everything, including the garage.
“Washers, dryers, stoves, dishwashers, refrigerators and freezers are typically the most expensive items to move,” he said. ‘If any of these appliances are old or not performing like they used to, they are likely candidates to sell. In some cases, it is wise to use the money from selling an appliance, plus the money saved by not moving it, toward the purchase of a new one at the other end.”
--Obtain at least three estimates from reputable companies before choosing a mover. Allow at least two hours for each appointment.
Decide before the moving company rep arrives for the estimate how much, if any, packing and unpacking you want the movers to do.
During the estimate visit you can expect the moving company representative to do a room-by-room survey of all items to be moved. This is the time to let the mover know about any unusual items or special handling you require.
“Point out any problematic pieces of furniture you have such as an extra-large sofa,” Hollifield said. “Show them anything that is strange that needs to be taken apart, or something that cannot be taken apart.”
The more information you can provide to the moving company, the fewer surprises you will encounter and the more accurate your estimates will be.
Advise the movers of any transportation or physical problems they may encounter at your destination such as one-way streets, narrow streets that won’t accommodate certain vans or moves involving stairs or elevators.
When the moving company rep is in your home to prepare the estimate, this is also the time to discuss liability insurance coverage. There are three basic types of liability coverage:
1--Basic carrier liability: Coverage is limited to 60 cents per pound weight of the article. A claim for a lost or damaged black-and-white television set weighing 10 pounds would be settled for $6.
2--Depreciated value protection: Coverage for a lost or damaged item is based on the depreciated value of the item regardless of the current replacement or repair cost.
3--Full replacement value: Coverage for the lost or damaged item is equal to the repair or replacement cost at current prices. Full value plans vary from those with a deductible ($250 to $500) to those with no deductible.
Be sure that you understand the different options and that your shipment is adequately covered.
“When a sales rep comes to your home, and he’s explaining how good of a job his company does, he doesn’t really like to get into a thorough discussion of insurance coverage because he doesn’t want to worry the customer,” Costantino said.
While each interstate carrier operates under a published rate tariff, the tariff is a guideline. Since the Motor Carrier Act of 1980 deregulated the industry, individual carriers are allowed to offer discounts to consumers.
At the time the estimate is made, ask the moving company’s representative what percentage will be discounted from the published rates.
Discounts also may be obtained on most services performed by a moving company, including packing and unpacking, as well as the packing materials.
“We discount all moves,” said John Brooks of Studio Van and Storage, a Mayflower agent. “The rate of discount, which could be up to 45%, will vary though, depending upon the speed required for the move and the ease in scheduling.”
Howard Suer, president of California Moving & Storage Co., an Allied agent, said: “Consumers are less likely to obtain discounts or will have smaller discounts during the peak season--summer.”
Most people move during the summer because they think it is less disruptive on their children than moving during the school year.
Suer disagrees: “Unless it is a special school year, such as senior year, it’s generally a good idea to move children during the normal school year.”
“Children adjust much more quickly to new surroundings when they are put right into the environment. If they arrive in their new neighborhood during the summer, they don’t know anybody, and they don’t know where to go or what to do,” he said.
During the estimate visit, be sure to ask for a copy of the carrier’s performance report, which includes timely pickup and delivery, property damage reports and the time required to settle claims.
Since deregulation, consumers may now obtain binding estimates. This is a written statement that gives the precise cost of the move.
Most major carriers provide binding estimates free of charge, but you must specifically ask for a binding estimate. They are generally good for up to 60 days.
Many of the large moving companies will give consumers cash reimbursements if they do not pick up and delivery on time.
Known as delay claims or inconvenience claims, the reimbursement ranges from $100 to $125 a day. As with a binding estimate, you must specifically request this option; in many cases, there is no additional charge.
After the estimate survey is complete, you are expected to sign the survey sheet. The representative will then prepare the actual estimate. Any special services such as packing and unpacking, the number of boxes and cartons required, and shipment of an auto also should be included in the estimate.
“Tell (the moving company) exactly what you want them to do,” Hollifield said, “and be sure it is written up that way.”
Costantino added: “Discuss all details with the estimator before signing. You can always add or delete services after signing. This can be accomplished by using a form called an ‘Addendum.’ ”
CHECK RECORDS--Review the estimates and performance records and select your moving company.
After you have made your decision, the company rep will return to fill out a form called an “Order-for-Services.” It will state the details of your move--addresses, phone numbers, loading and unloading dates, special services, liability coverage selected and method of payment.
PERSONAL ITEMS--Designate an area for the items that you’ll be carrying with you and should not be packed by the movers.
Besides the clothes and personal items you will need as you travel to your new destination, you should not send the following items in the moving van: safe deposit box contents, insurance papers, medical and school records, irreplaceable photos, stamp collections, moving documents and payment, jewelry, credit cards, checkbook and bank records.
There are certain items that you will want immediately at your destination, such as an alarm clock, coffeepot and accessories, basic cooking utensils, toilet paper, extension cords, a first-aid kit, a flashlight, candles, light bulbs, a radio with batteries, and basic tools such as a hammer, screwdriver, wrench, nails and screws.
Make sure these items are packed together and boxes labeled “last in, first out.” You’ll probably want to also label the vacuum cleaner “last in, first out” so you can use it immediately at your destination before the furniture is put in place.
MOVING DAY--The driver will prepare a form called a “Household Goods Descriptive Inventory” before anything is loaded onto the truck. Each item is tagged with a numbered sticker. As the driver prepares the inventory, he writes a coded description of the item’s condition on the inventory sheets. If you don’t agree with the mover’s description of the condition of your items, make your own notations on the inventory sheet.
The driver also will prepare the Bill of Lading--the actual contract between you and the carrier. The details on the bill of lading should agree with the details on the order-for-service and the estimate. You must sign this document before the movers begin loading.
To make moving day easier, treat the movers like professionals. Plan to be on the scene during the loading, but don’t try to follow behind their every move. If you did your own packing, don’t be offended if the driver or his helper asks you to open a carton that rattles for inspection before loading it on the truck.
ARRIVING AT NEW HOME--Before the movers unload your household goods at the destination, you must pay them. Most carriers require payment by certified check, money order, traveler’s checks or cash. Some carriers accept major credit cards, but arrangements for this should be made in advance.
Know where you want the furniture placed before unloading begins. A floor plan of your new home drawn during a pre-move trip that indicates the location of windows, closets, TV outlets, electric outlets, phone jacks, etc., should aid you in furniture placement.
As the goods are unloaded, check off each item on the inventory as it comes off the truck. Unloading is much easier if there are two people on hand when the load arrives, one to check the inventory and condition of the goods, and the other to direct the movers in furniture placement.
“I try to unpack as quickly as possible, no matter where I first put it,” Hollifield said. “If you unpack while the movers are bringing things in, you can usually get them to take back the empty boxes.”
If you notice any damage to items as they are being unloaded, you should make a notation on all copies of the household inventory.
“Inspect the boxes containing fragile items and those that appear crushed or dented as soon as possible,” Costantino said. “If time allows, you should do so while the movers are still unloading the truck. The longer you wait to discover ‘concealed’ damage, the harder it will be to prove the movers were responsible. If broken items are discovered in boxes, leave them in the same boxes for the company to inspect.”
You have up to nine months to file a claim for damages. Obtain a claim form from the carrier’s nearest agent. Include your order-for-service number on any paperwork regarding your claim.
The carrier must acknowledge your claim within 30 days and respond within 120 days either by paying or denying the claim or proposing a compromise settlement.
If you and the carrier cannot reach agreement, you may be eligible for arbitration under the Household Goods Dispute Settlement Program. This procedure is administered by the American Arbitration Assn. Further information on the program is available directly from the nearest field office of the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC).
