How to Get Ready for a Moving Company
A professional moving company is one of the most efficient ways to move your belongings from one place to another. Movers are experts at lifting, minimizing damage, and negotiating narrow spaces quickly.
They also have the expertise to wrap your most valuable possessions for safe transport. They know how to use special equipment that can haul large appliances safely and efficiently.
In order to operate legally, moving companies must be licensed and insured. These requirements vary from state to state and can be a big factor in choosing a good mover.
Licensed movers are required to meet several insurance, safety, and financial standards. These include insurance to protect you and your goods in case of damage, loss, or theft during transport.
Your movers should be able to provide you with proof of this coverage before they start working on your move. This includes copies of their commercial auto and general liability policies, workers’ compensation, and insurance for the buildings they work in.
You should also ask if they offer full value protection, which limits their liability to the replacement cost of the items you have listed on your moving documents. This option is especially useful for heirlooms, antiques, and other high-value items that may be at risk in transit.
If your mover doesn’t have the proper licensing or insurance, you could end up paying a fortune for damages and injuries. You should also make sure that they have worker’s compensation, which covers the medical bills and lost wages of their employees who are injured on the job.
While you can always ask to see their license and insurance, you can also check them online with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). This agency maintains a database of registered movers.
Your state DOT or regulating agency can also help you verify that a mover is licensed and insured. These agencies usually have websites where you can search for a moving company’s credentials and learn about their experience with the state transportation department.
In some states, movers are required to get a specific license for local moves and another one for interstate moves. The licenses are issued by the state’s transportation department and are generally a state transportation license or a DOT number.
Some states also require movers to register with the state and obtain a permit for hauling cargo. This permits a moving company to transport goods across state lines.
Licensed movers are also required to be members of their state or regional movers association. These associations can provide you with a wealth of resources and education on the moving industry, including marketing and business development advice.
A licensed mover is also typically covered by a DOT insurance policy, which is a requirement for all movers in the U.S. This insurance is available as a stand-alone policy or as part of a package.
Getting all your belongings ready for the move is an important part of any moving plan. It saves time and headaches on the actual move itself, and it also helps ensure that your items arrive at their final destination without any damage.
Full-service movers are experts at packing your things safely and securely. They use the correct boxes and packing materials, they load the heaviest items at the bottom, and they label accurately so that your items are easily identified as fragile.
They’ll pack anything that’s too big or heavy for you to handle yourself, including large or unwieldy furniture. They’ll also disassemble and reassemble furniture as needed. They’ll make sure that your furniture arrives at its new home in the same condition it left your old one in.
Your movers may also help you sort through your belongings and organize them into categories. This will make it easier for you to identify your most-used items, so you don’t end up with a ton of duplicates or clutter in your new home.
