Moving FAQ

Many people hear the terms “Local Movers” and “Long-Distance Movers” and assume that these have to do purely with how long the move is. The truth is that it has to do with crossing state lines. Local moves are ones that take place within the borders of a state while long-distance moves are ones where you cross the border.

The reason for this distinction is that there are laws and regulations in place for moving across state lines, and these vary from state to state. Be sure to ask your movers whether they can take you across state lines if necessary. The best way to be sure is to look for a moving company who is an agent of a national van line.

This will depend on what you want. Any good, full-service moving company will offer both packing and unpacking services. While this will cost a little more money, you will save time while resting assured that your items are taken care of as they are packed by experts with all of the right packing supplies.

Be sure to ask if your moving company’s packing services are tailorable. It is good to have the option of having just some of your belongings packed, such as larger or more difficult to pack items. A good moving company works with you.

From belts to bubble wrap to dollies, moving blankets, moving boxes, and totes, there’s a lot of packing supplies needed for a safe move. Be sure to start getting these items together early on if you are packing yourself.

First, check to see if your friends and family have any supplies left over from a recent move. After this, check in with your movers. They typically will sell all of the packing supplies you could need at a great price.

Any leading moving company will allow you to track your moving shipment. The key here is understanding how to track your move. Most members of the moving industry that offer this service will require you to either contact them over-the-phone or in person. By using an Atlas Van Lines agent, you will have access to their online shipment tracker.

There are three levels of valuation. The basic plan is typically called “Release Rate Liability” and will pay you a certain amount of money per pound or a fraction of what your item’s value is.

You can also get “Full-Value Coverage” which means that, if your belongings are lost or damaged, will be repaired, replaced with items, or get a cash settlement.

Lastly, you will be able to mark your items on a “High-Value Inventory” list. All items that come in at over $100 per pound must be on this list. This can be anything from jewelry to art to antiques and more.

While some moving companies use the terms interchangeably, there is a big difference between a quote and estimate. An estimate is simply a contractor’s best guess as to how much the price will be. On the other hand, a quote is binding. Unless there was a variation to your contract, a quote is set in stone.

No! As virtual options have become more popular, moving companies have followed suit. Any top moving company will allow remote options for your quote survey.

Now, when looking for virtual options, remember how important it is to have a good, thorough walk-through. There are some moving companies who will offer “instant quotes” or quotes over the phone. These should be avoided at all costs. Instead, look for an option over video chat where the moving representative sees your house and the items to be moved.

With how big the moving industry is, it can be pretty difficult to determine who the best moving company is for you. Here are some of the key things to look for when researching a moving company:

• Badges: Look to see if they have any certifications or if they are accredited by the BBB. These will also show you if they have won any awards.
• Experience: You may want to avoid movers that are relatively new. Experience is key to a good move. This could be anywhere on the site but the most surefire location is in their About Us page.
• Reviews: Find online reviews. If a moving company has less than a 4 star average rating on their Google Reviews, there is most likely an issue there.
• Family-Owned and Operated: This is always a big plus. Not only will this help you avoid shady moving companies, but it will also help you avoid ones that are too big to truly care about your move.

The only way to know is to do in-depth research. As you narrow down your list, look more and more into these aspects of the company to find the best one for you.

Yes! Off-site storage is commonly used in the moving process. Some people rent out a self-storage unit and have the movers take your items there. The easier way is to find a moving company that offers its own warehouse storage.

By using a moving company with warehouse storage, they will be able to store your belongings in their own facility. That means when it’s time to take your items out of storage, they can deliver it straight to your new home.