The first thing you have to remember is that your mover did not provide you with "insurance".

Regardless if you purchased additional "valuation" from your mover or elected to just move with the standard 60 cents/lb./article...you do not have "all risk" coverage.

#1.  If your claim is for packing damage, it is incumbent on you to keep all packing materials, so that the mover can inspect them.  Failure to do so could negate your claim on a technicality.  My advice, if you discover packing damage and your packing was done by the mover.  Stop unpacking that particular box and alert the mover.

#2.  Movers will tell you that you have no coverage for items you packed yourself.  NOT TRUE.  Do not let a mover tell you otherwise.  If necessary the American Moving and Storage Association, AMSA, www.moving.org has more information on this for you to cite with the mover.

#3.  Never waive the Bingo Sheet...it is your best way to prove missing items.  On a local move, where the is no inventory it may be hard to prove that you are missing something.

#4.  The mover is under no obligation to replace a damaged item.  The wording in your contract with them is that they will "repair or replace, at their option". 

#5.  Do not threaten to sue your mover, particularly a large interstate van line.  They have in house legal consel and it will do nothing more than cost you money in the long run...even if you are proved right.  There is a provision for arbitration...it is much less costly and truly fair, use it.

#6.  Use agencies like the BBB to help effect change.  I have personally seen movers bend over backwards so their record with the BBB remains good.

There are many other ways to resolve a claim, these tips are just a small sample.  Remember that the claims person you are speaking with is a human being and don't take your frustrations with the moving company out on them...they are only doing their job.  The old saying goes...you catch more flys with honey than with vinegar!

Have you ever noticed how sometimes when you read the newspaper, afterwards, your fingers are black from the ink?

Well packing with regular newspaper does the same thing to your household goods.  While newspaper is plentiful and easy to come by, it is not suited for packing, especially for items that are light colored.

Professional movers will use plain white paper that comes in 20-40 lb. bundles ironically called "newsprint" or "news-stock".  It is similar in feel to regular newspaper stock, but without the ink.  My suggestion to you is to contact a local mover and see if they will GIVE you their partial/open bundles of newsprint.  Once the bundles are opened, movers will generally set aside the open bundles as they are a pain to use in the future.  Typically movers/packers will wrap packing tape around the bundles to re-roll them and at that point, it's easier for the mover to use a fresh bundle than to go through the hassle of getting the tape off the old. 

Regardless if you are moving around the corner or across the country, pets pose a special concern during the moving process.   

On packing and moving day the doors to residence will be open...a lot!  It would be very easy for a pet to get loose.  In addition, the constant coming and going of strangers into and out of the house may be upsetting...especially to dogs.   

It's highly recommended that you make an accommodation for your pets with a trusted friend or at a local pet resort on moving day.  Why not treat your favorite friend(s) to a day at the pet spa?

Plants pose a unique challenge in the moving biz. 

Drivers may take plants, but are sometimes reluctant to do so due to the space they take up (considerable due to inability to stack anything above them), relative to the weight they add (minor).  Whatever you do, don't count on them being watered by the driver. 

Another factor to consider is that even if the driver does accept your plants as part of the shipment, should his trailer be inspected along the way (i.e. at state weighing stations, etc..) he may be forced to offload the plants, should he be ordered to do so by officiials.

California is particularly tough in this regard.  Most states try to protect their crops/plants from being infested with insects from other states, even if the plants are just passing through.

My suggestion is this.  If you have small houseplants, give them to friends or relatives prior to your move.  If you have larger plants that you want to take a chance with, pack them in boxes and hope for the best at the weigh stations/checkpoints.  Since they're not going to be watered anyway...what do you have to lose?  For tall plants, I'd suggest a wardrobe box.

Ahhh the shuttle.  The single biggest fly in the moving ointment.

Shuttles are OK when they are known about in advance...but when they pop up last minute you know there are gonna be fireworks!

A shuttle is called for when the large over the road tractor/trailer can not get close enough to the residence to allow for easy walking/carry of the household goods onto or off of the truck.  The items are then "shuttled" to a smaller vehicle that can get closer to the home and then into or off of the truck.

A couple of things to remember. 1. There is no consistency to size of truck that is coming to pick up your things.  The driver is generally an independent owner/operator.  So, he may have a HUGE tractor, you know the ones that are like mini-motor homes, pulling a 53' trailer or he may have a small cab over with a 48' trailer.  Like Gump said "You never know what you're gonna get!"  The driver ultimately has the call for safety reasons and so the estimator may see it one way, but the driver another.  2.  The driver does not want to shuttle.  The extra fee for the shuttle in no way makes up for the headache of having to handle the goods twice.  A shuttle is a Pain in the ***.  3.  Even if a shuttle is called for, you do not have to pay for the shuttle on the spot.  New regulations call for the van line to have to deliver and then bill you 30 days after delivery for the additional charges.  Get your things off the truck, don't create a conentious situation.  4.  Be fair.  The driver is doing what he thinks is best for your pick up or delivery.  Don't take it personally...it's not you and they're not trying to rip you off...see point 2 above.  5.  It does not matter about others previous pick ups or deliveries...I don't care how many times you've seen other deliveries done in your apartment complex...it all gets down to the size of the rig and the skill of the driver.  Yours is different from theirs. 

Now, most movers will have a provision on the estimate to "approximate" shuttle charges...should they occur.  Basically it's the movers way of saying...we don't think you'll need it, but if you do...here are the charges...you've been warned!

As they say...shuttle happens!

I get asked frequently about shipping vehicles.

The first thing to keep in mind, is that sending the car inside the moving van with the household goods is NOT the best way to ship the car, even though it would at first appear so, as it is "inside" and protected from the road and the elements.

Drivers will build a deck over the vehicle in order to maximize the space they have available within the trailer.  I can't tell you the number of times I've seen the decking partially collapse or something from above the car fall and damage the vehicle below.

Also, the hauler will most likely charge an "In Van Fee" to haul the car inside the trailer.  This fee will begin at $250 and go up from there.  Should you have a Mini-Van or SUV and you can add an "over sized vehicle fee" on too.

Note:  Something that has never made sense to me; a Honda CRV, which is a "mini" SUV is charged as an over sized vehicle, while a Cadillac Sedan DeVille, which is much larger and weighs much more does not carry the surcharge? 

The best way to ship your car is via the trailers specifically designed to move cars.  You know the ones I'm talking about...the kind you see hauling new cars to the dealership.  These trailers are specially designed to offer maximum protection.

Irreplaceable, valuable items should never be left for the movers to move.

Items like, cash, jewelry, coins, family photographs, and important papers should either travel with you or should be sent ahead by a traceable courier service like FedEx or UPS.  There may be other items too that may not be able to be replaced that are only valuable to you.

While the actual loss or destruction of these items is extremely rare, I can assure you it does happen.  My single worst moment in the moving business came when a fire (caused by trailer wheel bearing malfunction and not as a result of negligence, etc...) destroyed an entire trailer containing items of an elderly couple (he 87, she 85) including all photographs and mementos of their deceased son.  It was heartbreaking to have this elderly gentleman tell me that his life was ruined.

Fortunately the couple had purchased optional valuation and they were issued a large check in order to replace their items.  However, there is NO REPLACING things that are truly irreplaceable.

If you have questions about moving, please feel free to ask me.  If the questions are relevant to the activerain community as a whole, I will blog both the question and the response.

Feel free to direct your clients my way as well with their questions, etc...

I can be contacted either here or via my website at www.boutiquemoving.com .

Harry Lakin

Today, I take a break from the serious subject of moving and make a recommendation to anyone that is in the process of moving, considering moving, has ever moved, will ever move or knows someone who has or will.

Maybe it's just me, but this movie is HILARIOUS!  Two big thumbs up!!!

In 1988, Richard Pryor starred in the movie "Moving", about a guy who gets a promotion and has to move his family to Idaho.  This one may be hard to find in the local video store, but I promise you, you will roll on the floor, laughing!  Also, note Dana Carvey is in this film...I think he must have been 15 at the time, LOL. 

Best single scene.  When the packer shows up...he is just this side of the grave.  Pay close attention to the window behind him as he packs the box.

Enjoy some summertime fun...find the movie Moving.

Here is a link to give you more info:  http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0095662/

IF you purchase additional "valuation" coverage as offered by your mover (i.e. coverage in excess of the 60 cents/lb./article as provided by basic coverage), you will need to fill out a special form provided by the mover to alert them to items of "High Value".

NOTE: IF YOU DO NOT PURCHASE THE OPTIONAL ADDITIONAL COVERAGE, THE HIGH VALUE INVENTORY DOES NOT APPLY AS THE MOVER BASICALLY CONSIDERS YOU TO HAVE NOTHING OF EXTRORDINARY VALUE. CRAZY RIGHT!!!

Movers have different definitions of just what constitutes high value items.  Some define those items as items in excess of $1,000, while others define high value as those items in excess of $100/lb.  Be sure to ask your mover, what their definition of a HIGH VALUE item is!

Either way, failure to alert the mover to the presence of such items may make any claim for damage, destruction or loss an adversarial situation.

If your mover uses the $100/lb. definition, there are many items that you might not consider to be high value, that indeed are.  For instance, most people clearly see where artwork, china and crystal are high value.  But, what about shoes?  For instance a pair of Manolo Blahnik sandals (ladies, you know those, right??) might weigh virtually nothing, yet cost $600 a pair.  What would happen if a box containing a few pair of those went missing?  Without having alerted the mover to their presence...you might end up with a settlement at $5/lb!  They might make a courtesy settlement of $25/pair...how nice of them! 

Be wise, be smart, don't let the mover beat you on a technicality!  Use the high value inventory form correctly and you will be well served!