By Julie DeLong, A-1 Freeman Moving Group
Some folks believe that it's a super 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 best way to choose 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 possessions in a secure and proper manner. These are several of the initial questions a professional mover will ask on the introductory phone call.It is a big help if you take pictures of your rooms and have recorded furniture dimensions when you chat with a mover. They will need to know how many bedrooms and living spaces are in your home, and how many levels your residence is on. You really can't be too detailed about your rooms, since they're working from a standard template, and every home is unique.
If your house has a living/dining combo (popular in the sixties and back in the 2000s), do not neglect to mention the dining room table, china hutch, and eight armchairs when you list your "living room" contents. Formal dining rooms are increasingly rare nowadays, so some movers do not even have that room on their standard list--and if you don't think about it to tell them, contemplate the overall wet blanket on the mood of moving day when everybody recognizes the moving truck isn't big enough for all those chairs and a table.
Having the dimensions, and whether things can be disassembled, is also a vital factor of an accurate estimate. Couches are normally between 5 and 7 feet long, some have detachable cushions, and others are sleepers. A hardwood full sleeper weighs a lot more than a rattan loveseat, so be as explicit as you can be with details. Some furniture can be disassembled, so make sure and communicate that to your coordinator so the moving crew can bring the specific tools to take apart and reassemble.
By now, you may be pondering why the moving company is asking you all of these questions. Well, they are attempting to figure up not only how many boxes you will need for all of your “stuff”, but also how much space in the moving van your items will consume. Movers will have approximates for box counts based on number of bedrooms and home size, but that's very rudimentary, and it assumes that you have gotten rid of a large amount of old Christmas decorations and preschool art.
After you've chosen your moving company, and had a couple of phone conversations, the mover will most likely schedule an in-home appointment to confirm their numbers are accurate. People are absent minded during a move and do tend to forget stuff like the gas grill or the jet skis, because they are not going in boxes, and this is classic example of out of sight, out of mind. However, these items will be caught during the in-home estimate.
Developing a working relationship with your mover is important for a smooth move. They do not judge your housekeeping, so call your local mover, pick your appointment date for your estimate and don't worry about the dust bunnies. Click here to get started today!
