By Julie DeLong, A-1 Freeman Moving Group
Some folks believe that it is a good idea to do a quick internet search and check "hire mover" off your list in five minutes. This is a fun fact. That is not the ideal way to hire movers. You need to get up close and personal and have a real human interaction, since these are the people you are entrusting with moving all your belongings in a secure and proper way. These are several of the initial questions a professional mover will ask on the introductory phone call.It's a big help if you have pictures of your rooms and have recorded furniture dimensions when you chat with a mover. They will want to know how many bedrooms and living spaces you have, and how many levels your residence is on. You really cannot be too meticulous about your rooms, since they are working off of a standard template, and every residence is unique.
If you have a living/dining combination (popular in the sixties and back in the 2000s), do not neglect to list the dining table, china buffet, and eight armchairs when you describe your "living room" items. Formal dining rooms are increasingly rare these days, so many movers do not even have that room on their standard list--and if you don't think about it to tell them, think about the overall hinderance on the temperament of moving day when everybody grasps the moving truck is not big enough for all those items.
Having the dimensions, and if things can be disassembled, is also a vital factor of a correct estimate. Sofas are commonly between 60 and 84 inches long, some have detachable cushions, and some are sleepers. A hardwood double sleeper weighs significantly more than a rattan loveseat, so be as specific as possible with details. Some furniture can be taken apart, so let the coordinator know so the moving team can bring the correct tools to disassemble and reassemble.
By this time, you may be questioning why the moving company is asking you all of these questions. Well, they are attempting to figure up not only the number of boxes you will require for all of your things, but also how many linear feet in the moving van your belongings will consume. Movers will have estimated guesses for boxes based on number of bedrooms and the square footage of the residence, but that is very general, and it assumes that you have gotten rid of a fair amount of old shoes and preschool art.
After you have chosen your professional mover, and had a couple of phone conversations, the mover should schedule an in-home appointment to verify their estimates are right. People are absent minded admist a move and do tend to forget things like the kid's swing set or the lawn mower, because they are not being packed into cartons, and this is classic example of out of sight, out of mind. But, these items will be included during the in-home estimate.
Developing a working relationship with your mover is important for an uneventful move. They don't judge your housekeeping, so call your local mover, set your appointment date for your estimate and don't stress about the dust bunnies. Click here to get started today!
