Selecting a Mover

Choosing who is going to move your home is an important decision. This is not the time to be shy. Make sure you fully understand the services each moving company offers and the rate at which the services can be provided.  

Below is a list of questions the experts at TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® suggest asking moving companies to make sure they fit your needs.

• Is the moving company licensed?

• Does the company charge by the piece or by the hour?

• Does the company have a minimum charge? How does the company charge after the minimum is met — in 15-minute increments or every half hour?

• Does the company have any extra charges for larger items or extra flights of stairs? (This is not unusual.)

• Does the company charge for the travel time from their office to your location?

• Does the company charge extra for moves in the evenings or on the weekends?

• What payment options do does the company offer? (Many moving companies require a deposit.)

• Does the company have full-time employees or does the company use temps and day labor? (Be cautious of companies that use temps or day labor because they may not be properly insured.)

• Does the company carry Worker’s Compensation for their employees?

• What kind of training have the movers and drivers completed?

• Are items insured during the move? (Even if a mover is bonded and insured, it doesn’t mean that your items are covered during the move.)

• What kind of cancellation policy does the company offer? (You should always be able to cancel or postpone until a few days before your move.)

• Does the company offer free estimates? (Getting an estimate for all moves is recommended.)

• Does the company offer suggestions on how to make the move easier? (Movers who care about customer service and making your move a positive experience will do all they can to help you.)

• Does the company have a contact number for the day of the move should any challenges arise?

By: TWO MEN AND A TRUCK®

Moving tips

Moving to a new place? The following guides may be helpful.

* Start with out-of-season items. Next, pack things used rarely. Leave until the last minute things you’ll need until moving day.

*Empty drawers of breakables, spillables, non-transportable items and anything that would puncture or damage other items.

*Pack similar items and keep all parts or pairs of things together. For example, curtain rod hangers, mirror bolts and other small hardware items should be placed in plastic bags and secured to the article to which they belong.

*Wind electrical cords, fastening them so they do not dangle.

*Wrap items individually in clean paper; use tissue paper, paper towels or even facial tissue for delicate items. Colored wrapping paper draws attention to very small things that might otherwise get lost in a box. Use a double layer of newsprint for a good outer wrapping.

*Use newspapers for cushioning only. The ink can rub off and embed itself onto your belongings.

*Place around a 10 centimeter layer of crushed paper in the bottom of boxes for cushioning.

*Place the heaviest things on the bottom, medium weight next and lightest on top.

*Cushion well with crushed paper; towels and lightweight blankets may also be used for padding and cushioning. The more fragile the item, the more cushioning needed. Be sure no sharp points, edges or rims are left uncovered.

*Pack small, fragile, individually wrapped items separately or a few together in small boxes, cushioning with crushed or shredded paper. Place small boxes in a single large box, filling in spaces with crushed paper.

*Limit box weight to about 20 kilograms. Avoid overloading boxes but strive for a firm pack that will prevent items from shifting; the cover should close easily without force, but should not bend inward.

*As you finish with each box, seal tightly with tape and list the contents on the side of the box (for easy viewing while stacked) and in a notebook. You might wish to number and/or code the boxes too.

*Indicate your name and the room to which each box should be delivered at destination. Tape a sign on the door of each room at destination corresponding to the box labels so movers can get the boxes into the proper rooms quickly.

*Put a special mark (the number 1, or the letter A) on boxes you want to unpack first at destination.