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 ten minutes. This is a fun fact. That is not the ideal way to choose movers. You need to have a real human interaction with your potential mover, since these are the folks you are entrusting with moving all your belongings in a secure and proper way. Here are a few of the initial questions a professional mover will ask on the introductory phone call.It's a huge help if you take pictures of your rooms and have recorded furniture dimensions when you talk with a mover. They will want to know how many bedrooms and living spaces are in your residence, and how many levels your residence is on. You really can't be too specific about your rooms, since they are working off of a standard template, and every home is one-of-a-kind.
If you have a living/dining combination (popular in the sixties and again in the 2000s), don't forget to mention the dining room table, china buffet, and a bunch of armchairs when you list your "living room" contents. Formal dining rooms are more rare nowadays, so many movers do not even include that room on their normal list--and if you don't tell them, contemplate the overall damper on the mood of moving day when you realizes the moving truck is not large enough for all those chairs and a table.
Having the dimensions, and whether things can be taken apart, is also a key part of a precise estimate. Couches are usually between 60 and 84 inches long, some have detachable cushions, and some are sleepers. A hardwood double sleeper weighs much more than a rattan sofa, so be as exact as you can be with details. Some furniture comes apart, so be sure to tell the coordinator so the crew can bring the right tools to take apart and put back together.
At this point, you may be wondering why the moving company is asking you a ton of questions. Well, they are attempting to calculate not only how many boxes you will need for all of your belongings, but also how much room in the moving truck your possessions will consume. Movers will have approximates for boxes based on number of bedrooms and home size, but that is very basic, and it assumes that you've gotten rid of a decent amount of old shoes and preschool art.
After you have chosen your professional mover, and had a few phone conversations, the mover should schedule an in-home appointment to verify their estimates are correct. People are frazzled in the middle of a move and do tend to forget things like the gas grill or the jet skis, because they are not being put in boxes, 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 a smooth move. They don't judge your housekeeping, so contact your local mover, set your appointment date for your estimate and do not be anxious about the dust bunnies. Click here to get started today!
