Moves

Interstate

Moving State to State?  Please consider the following in your search for the right long distance mover:

• Estimates are provided to determine weight, which was derived from the survey of furniture and boxes (x7lb/cu ft).  See Detail Below V
• How thorough was your estimate. Were you asked about the attic, crawl space, shed contents? Were all doors and cabinets opened? If not, there was probably weight that was missed.
• Your final charges are based on actual weight, actual packing, and assume that a tractor-trailer can get to within 100 feet of the origin or destination. If the Origin or Destination requires a small truck to shuttle household goods 150+ feet, then a shuttle charge on delivery is required.
• Any boxes that are packed by your mover but are not listed on your original estimate will be charged on delivery. If the company will not charge for them the cost usually means that the packers would only get a set rate for the job.  See Detail Below V
• Any bulky items, which actually move and are not listed on your original estimate, will require a Bulky Item charge on delivery. Bulky Items include, but are not restricted to Pianos, Safes, Boats, and Hot Tubs.
• Any pick-up or delivery stops other than the origin or destination that are not listed on the original estimate will require and Extra Stop charge on delivery.
• Any pick-up or delivery stops from a Public Storage unit including the origin or destination that are not listed on the original estimate will require and Pick-up / Delivery Public Storage charge on delivery.

Intrastate

 CHECK WITH YOUR STATE:  Every state has its' own guidelines and regulations for movers. Many are regulated to charge by weight which is important if your truck is stuck in traffic.

For instance, in Virginia,  from Virginia Movers & Warehousemen's Association

"Movers are required to have a Certificate issued by DMV in order to legally handle your move if the distance is 31 miles or more within Virginia.  If your move is local (30 miles or less) a Permit number is required.  If they have a Certificate number the Mover can legally handle both a local move and an intrastate move.Virginia's Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) regulates the Movers within the Commonwealth. They require strict insurance compliance and operating rules in order to protect the Consumer."

These moves are based on Weight and the Movers tariff on file with the state.

Local

Whether its around the corner or 31-100 miles state to state these moves are usually measured by time and material used for packing.

• Extra Charges should be limited to bulky Items or special services where extra equipment or expertise is needed.  See Detail Below V
• The best movers and the worst movers generally move at the same speed What differentiates the best from the worst may be:

• The combined experience of the whole crew as "professional movers".
• The companies investment in the movers education of best protection, moving and customer service practices.
• The movers motivation for you to have a good moving experience ie. profit sharing
• The length the company goes to make sure there aren't thieves, felons, or undocumented workers on your crew.
• The companies investment in up to date equipment and maintenance..if your truck breaks down or movers show up at apartment building without enough dollies.
• The resources the company has to take care of any problem that may arise..they sometimes do arise.
• Whether or not the company goes over your valuation options at time of estimate.
for Storage in conjunction with any of the above Move Types see the STORAGE page

Moving Detail

Weight vs Cubic Footage on Interstate Moves:
 Weight is something that you can measure if there were ever a dispute over a cost based on weight..there is really no way to measure the cubic footage after the charges are made..but per your DOT Rights and Responsibilities you have the right to reweigh a shipment.
Paying for boxes packed:
Make sure you are covered.  If the mover isn't charging more for more boxes someone will lose.   If the packers would lose it may be reflected in the quality of their work.  If the company would lose it may be reflected in whether or not work is done.  Either way you lose so please make sure YOU are covered in the number of boxes packed on your estimate.   Also note the type of box: a lot of fragiles = a lot of dish packs, a lot of pictures = a lot of mirror/ picture boxes.
Weight estimates on (Interstate or Intrastate Moves) do not account for:
  • light things that takes up a lot of space ..like a boat
  • extra labor needed to move a heavy safe or bulky hot-tub
  • waiting hours to start a job
  • taking extra time for blocked access to to a job
  • when the truck can not get to the job  ...some things you know about at estimate time and some you can not.  Tariffs have pre-determined charges for things that weight does not account for which should be disclosed to you on your estimate
If a mover charges you for pads and shrink-wrap to wrap furniture:
then their hourly rate will be low at estimate time and these added charges will add up to what a reputable mover would have charged.
This is the way companies who do not receive enough referrals to sustain business on the merits of "good moves" get your job and stay in business.