Make your local move go as smoothly as possible by being properly prepared for the event. In this blog, we’ll discuss how to find your moving company and what to ask them, as well as how to keep the most important items from your moving contract. We’ll also make suggestions for your cardboard box selections and their placement in your home. Read on and learn how to
- Contact at least three moving companies.
- Read your documentation carefully
- Purchase specialty boxes
- Arrange your packed belongings.
Local Moving Tip #1: Contact at Least Three Moving Companies for Quotes
Shop around for your local moving company. After you ask your friends and family for recommendations, do a Google search. Choose at least three experienced moving companies to call so you can compare rates and services. Ask the same questions of each company so you can examine their answers side-by-side. A few questions to ask your local movers include:
- Do you charge a flat hourly rate?
- How many crew members are standard?
- How many hours will my move take you?
- How much will my delivery or travel charge be?
- Are there any other fees?
Local Moving Tip #2: Please Read Your Documentation Carefully
Read your moving contract over carefully to familiarize yourself with the agreement. Extract the important information and write it down. Things to look for in your documentation and write down include:
- Pick-up and delivery dates and times
- Inventory list, where many misunderstandings occur
- Customer service agent name and extension number
- Job number for easy referencing by your service agent.
As your pick-up date gets closer, your customer service agent will introduce you to your driver and narrow down your pick-up time. It works the same way as your delivery date approaches.
Local Moving Tip #3: Purchase Specialty Boxes to Protect Your Goods
Yes, specialty boxes are expensive. But replacing your china, buying a new TV, and taking your fine linens to the cleaners can be more costly. It’s ok to scrounge for most of your boxes, but it’s a good idea to pay up for certain types of specialty boxes when you relocate. Three important types of specialty boxes you should think about buying are:
- Wardrobe boxes.
- TV boxes.
- Dishpack boxes.
If you own clothing that requires dry cleaning, you’ll prevent wrinkles by purchasing hanging wardrobe boxes for your finer clothing. Have you priced a new widescreen TV lately? TV boxes that fit your widescreen allow you to wrap the screen before you put it in the box. If you own expensive fine china or glassware you value, dishpack boxes are double-walled for sturdiness and come with handles for easy transport.
Local Moving Tip #4: Arrange Your Packed Belongings Efficiently
Leave the boxes you pack in the room where the belongings reside. Label your boxes with the destination room. Most importantly, stack your boxes in each room so there’s a path in and out for the movers. Specific instructions for each room include:
- Living room. Take everything off your walls and pack it. Your movers can’t help remove items from walls due to liability concerns. They don’t want to spackle.
- Bedrooms. Your movers will dismantle and reassemble your basic bed if needed. Otherwise, everything should be packed and stacked for your move.
- Kitchen. Things that remain in drawers won’t get moved. Don’t make your kitchen boxes too heavy, because then the bottom falls out and items get broken.
- Garage. If you’re not done cleaning, separate the things you aren’t moving from the moveable items. Don’t make your movers search through your storage items.
Choose American Van Lines to Move You Locally in These Three States
American Van Lines charges a low, flat hourly rate for local moves that feature three-person moving crews. Our hourly rate begins when our moving vehicle leaves the shop, which is commonly called a travel charge or destination fee. There are no extra charges on a basic local move from American Van Lines unless you request extra services like packing or storage. American Van Lines offers smooth local moving services in:
- Florida. Our home office in Pompano Beach also serves as our main storage facility. Contact us about local or intrastate moves anywhere in the state.
- Texas. Our regional hub in Lancaster, south of Dallas,
- North Carolina. Our Greensboro location serves the entirety of the state with local and intrastate moves, including cities surrounding the Research Triangle.
