The Moving Process

Certificated Movers, if requested, are required to submit to you a written estimate. Their estimate will be based on the distance or miles and weight or size of shipment from the origin to destination for your move and the type of moving services requested. It is a Team effort between the Customer and the Estimator to achieve an accurate estimate. The main force for estimating accuracy is the determination of what will be shipped on moving day and other requested moving services by the Customer such as packing, crating, storage, shipment valuation, etc.

The pricing for certificated Movers is based on their published Tariff that is on file at Virginia’s Department of Motor Vehicles and at the Movers place of business. This Tariff will contain all of their pricing information.

Sometimes, if an item is extremely fragile and the original carton is not available, the Mover will pack the item inside a smaller carton and then pack that carton inside a larger carton. This allows maximum protection for the fragile item during moving.

Proper marking on a box includes writing the Customer’s name, contents of the carton, and the room the items came from on the top and side of the carton. This method allows for ease of sorting at destination and helps to make the whole move go smoothly.

Customers that are on a budget will elect to pack all of their items or have the Mover pack only a partial amount. These selections will reduce or eliminate the cost for packing services. There are several pricing levels for packing service. You will need to check with the Estimator for details on the costs.

The moving services are based on removing from origin the various items being shipped by the Customer on moving day and the delivery of those items shipped to destination. The Mover will protect the residence’s floors, doorframes, banisters, and other critical areas before they start the moving process.

All furniture items are protected with a heavy-duty furniture pads. The pad is secured to the wrapped items with an elastic band, shrink wrap or packing tape wrapped tightly around the item. This ensures that the item will have maximum protection during the loading process and the transit ride. Many times, some very fragile items are wrapped inside the origin residence location, and they will stay wrapped until they are delivered to the destination residence location.

Movers will use dollies and other material handling items to help make the trip to and from the van easier and more secure. It is recommend that the floor areas use for the main traffic flow be protected with floor covering or other means.

The most modern Movers will constantly monitor their moving service performance for quality improvement. The quality of moving services is directly affected by the data provided by the reports and the associated improvements made by the Mover. You may want to ask for a current report, if available, from your Mover.

The experience of the moving Crews (Drivers, Helpers, Packers) depends on the amount of the years on the job and the amount of training they have received. The majority of Movers in Virginia use an informal apprenticeship program to train their crews while other Movers will have formal training classes. The goal under each program is to achieve the highest level of service for their Customers.

The normal storage method is called “containerization”. This method uses plywood containers measuring (on average) 7’ by 7’ by 5’. The Mover will load your items inside these containers and stack them inside their warehouse in rows usually three (3) high and sometimes four (4) high. Location of your container(s) is tracked by a locator system, which is based on rows and container numbers. Items that do not fit into these containers have special placement in the warehouse such as rug racks, sofa racks or containers, etc.

The warehouse is protected from fire by various methods. Sprinklers systems or a heat and smoke detection systems may protect your shipment. You may want to ask your Mover for a tour of their warehouse. It is important to know how your possessions are protected from a catastrophic loss. Some warehouses have cameras installed for security purposes.

If you are storing your shipment for a long period of time (over 60 days), extra care must be taken to remove items that would deteriorate over time. Furthermore, items that come from a damp area in the house (basements, kitchen, storage sheds, etc) should be dried out before the moving van arrives. It is important to alert the moving crew about these items. The damp items should be stored together in the storage container, if they must be moved, away from the other items in your shipment since they may cause some damage to the drier items. If any item(s) are wet, they should not be moved.

Construction of a wooden crate is usually reserved for the most fragile or the most awkward shaped items. Normally, most items can be protected with the usual line of cardboard cartons on the Mover’s menu.

If a crate is required, the Movers may crate the item themselves or make arrangements with a Third Party firm to construct and pack the particular item. The Customer can arrange to pack and crate these items, which would reduce any extra charges from the Mover.

Movers will not dis-connect or re-connect appliances or lights. Water connections, gas connections, or electrical connections are not a part of the Mover’s scope of service. The Owner or a Technician should perform these connections.

The liability for the Mover is too great and their Insurance Carriers prohibit this service due to the extremely high risk.

The Mover will offer appliance service which includes securing the tub or other transit related service, if requested, to the appliance once it is dis-connected and they will remove their service materials at destination, based on a tariff charge for appliance service.

It is mandatory that the Owner or a Technician perform the dis-connection and the re-connection of the appliances.

The Mover prior to loading the moving van will perform a descriptive, numbered, inventory of all furniture and cartons being moved. The Mover will place a consecutive numbered sticker on each item being shipped. Furthermore, the Mover will record any old damage found on the item.

This is required for the protection of the Customer, Mover, and the Insurance Carrier. It is very important that all items are recorded on the inventory for security and tracking purposes.

Upon arrival at destination, the Customer will be asked to “check-in” their shipment by checking off the numbers as they are being delivered. Once all of the items have been delivered; there may be a few items that could have been missed during the delivery “check-in” process. Normally, it will take a few extra minutes to search for these items in your new home. The inventory record will show the room the item came from which is very helpful in locating it at destination.

If there is new damage to the item (s), you must record on the inventory or other related form, a detailed description of the new damage. If an item is still missing after a search has been made, you must record on the inventory or other related form, a detailed description of the item and any other helpful data. This method will protect you when you file your claim against the Mover. It is important to note that you will have 30 days from the date of delivery to file your claim with the Mover . If you file your claim after the 30-day period, the claim will be denied.

The Mover cannot be liable for any new damage once the Crew leaves the delivery residence.