Moving to Austin
Before moving to Austin, you should figure out how to hire a qualified moving company because moving can be highly stressful. Even before considering which moving companies to hire, you should first go through your things and decide what to donate or get rid of. This means that you will not have to move and pay for things that you no longer wish to use or no longer want. You should also assess what you will actually require movers to move and what you can move by yourself. Certainly, the larger items such as your large couch and your flatscreen TV should be left in the capable hands of a moving company while you concentrate on moving your valuable and priceless possessions yourself such as passports, certificates and so on.
Get the names and numbers of moving companies from friends because word-of-mouth is the most valuable resource when selecting a good company and first hand testimony about good experiences is the most reliable. Look at the online rating sites to read reviews and doublecheck these companies with the American Moving and Storage Association to see if a moving company is a member. AMSA members are licensed, properly insured, abide by federal regulations, follow ethical business practices and receive acceptable ratings from the Better Business Bureau. Next contact moving companies to ask for an estimate which will normally be free. Moving companies charge between $ 70 and $ 100 per hour so be careful about offers on either side of these numbers and refuse to deal with a moving company whose charges are based on weight because you could be in for a nasty surprise.
During the process of the estimate, ask the moving company representative specific questions such as what extra charges could be payable during a move. You may not have enough information when the estimate is being prepared to cover all the possible scenarios of moving so it is always good to ask an expert. What is estimated time movers will arrive and will you be notified by the driver before arrival on your moving day? Approximately how long should the move take and this is particularly important to ask when you are being charged by the hour. If you think that the move is taking too long, you may want to ask somebody senior at the moving company. What supplies will the moving company provide? Wardrobe boxes are extremely useful and may be worth paying a fee especially if you have plenty of hanging clothes. What type of payment will the moving company accept whether credit card or check or cash and when is payment expected to be made? Do not
ever pay in full for a move unless the move has actually been completed. Will the movers disassemble and reassemble items during the process of moving?
All legitimate and reputable moving companies carry insurance so ask for a copy of the policy. You should also ask if there are additional fees and, if there are, you may want to think again about using that particular company. If the representative of the moving company reassures you that there are no additional fees payable, you should make sure that it is stated in the contract.
Get the names and numbers of moving companies from friends because word-of-mouth is the most valuable resource when selecting a good company and first hand testimony about good experiences is the most reliable. Look at the online rating sites to read reviews and doublecheck these companies with the American Moving and Storage Association to see if a moving company is a member. AMSA members are licensed, properly insured, abide by federal regulations, follow ethical business practices and receive acceptable ratings from the Better Business Bureau. Next contact moving companies to ask for an estimate which will normally be free. Moving companies charge between $ 70 and $ 100 per hour so be careful about offers on either side of these numbers and refuse to deal with a moving company whose charges are based on weight because you could be in for a nasty surprise.
During the process of the estimate, ask the moving company representative specific questions such as what extra charges could be payable during a move. You may not have enough information when the estimate is being prepared to cover all the possible scenarios of moving so it is always good to ask an expert. What is estimated time movers will arrive and will you be notified by the driver before arrival on your moving day? Approximately how long should the move take and this is particularly important to ask when you are being charged by the hour. If you think that the move is taking too long, you may want to ask somebody senior at the moving company. What supplies will the moving company provide? Wardrobe boxes are extremely useful and may be worth paying a fee especially if you have plenty of hanging clothes. What type of payment will the moving company accept whether credit card or check or cash and when is payment expected to be made? Do not
ever pay in full for a move unless the move has actually been completed. Will the movers disassemble and reassemble items during the process of moving?
All legitimate and reputable moving companies carry insurance so ask for a copy of the policy. You should also ask if there are additional fees and, if there are, you may want to think again about using that particular company. If the representative of the moving company reassures you that there are no additional fees payable, you should make sure that it is stated in the contract.
