Dealing with the Moving Company: Taking Stock of Your Responsibilities

Many customers who have a sour experience with a moving company are partially at fault themselves for not taking proper responsibility in several key areas. Hiring a team to come in and take care of the labor part of the move doesn't absolve you of your responsibility to stay vigilant and present. If you get scammed or don't get the service you thought you should get, it could be more your fault than that of the team you hired. Here are the things you need to remember to do, when you need to speak up, and the responsibilities you have when making the move.

Get an Estimate

Many people mistakenly believe that an "estimate" means "final price". The terms themselves would seem to defeat this kind of logic, but it is nonetheless a commonly held belief. While the price may change to some degree, however, it always helps to have something in writing before you get started. There's little reason why the price should change dramatically by the time the final bill arrives, although if you neglect to mention certain things (such as the fact that you live in a two-story house), they certainly could. Either way, it's nice to have a written estimate you can look back on and bring up should you be unhappy with the bill from the moving company.

Be There On The Day of the Move

While it's not terribly common for homeowners to leave while the moving company is looting through their house, some people believe they will just be in the way. This is a bad way of thinking, even if it might be true. It's your house, and there are strangers going through your belongings. What makes you think that leaving is a good idea? While hiring a trusted firm can alleviate most of your concerns about theft, you should always keep a healthy suspicion about yourself. Fears of security aside, you should be present to answer any questions and tip the workers should they finish before you were planning to come back home.

Take Inventory

Don't just assume that all of your valuables will make it to their destination. You should have complete homeowner's insurance to cover any damage or loss, but you're not going to get coverage if you don't have a detailed inventory. Photographs and receipts go a long way towards making a claim. If you're packing your own belongings, you can use this time to simultaneously make your inventory.