FAQ

Pre-Move Checklist for a Smooth Relocation

1. Create a Moving Plan
   • Set your moving date.
   • Organize your tasks by week (packing, utilities, etc.).
   • Confirm moving company details.
     
2. Sort and Purge
   • Go through each room and declutter.
   • Donate or sell items you no longer need.
   • Shred old paperwork or anything with sensitive information.
     
3. Pack Smart
   • Use sturdy boxes and packing materials.
   • Label boxes, on the side, by room and contents.
   • Avoid overfilling boxes, as they can break. Keep each box manageable and balanced. Boxes should be fully closed and taped up.
     
4. Notify Important Parties
   • Change your address with USPS.
   • Update your contact information with banks, subscriptions, etc.
   • Notify utilities to schedule disconnection/connection (electric, water, gas, internet).
     
5. Plan for Pets & Plants
   • Arrange for pet transport or boarding.
   • Check with your moving company about plant restrictions.
   • Take care of plants and arrange transport if needed.
     
6. Pack an Essentials Box
   • Include toiletries, a change of clothes, important documents, and snacks.
   • Keep these items with you on the day of the move.
     
7. Confirm Details with Your Movers
   • Double-check the moving time, address, and payment details.
   • Clarify any special requirements for large or fragile items.
     
8. Empty Drawers
   • To ensure structural integrity of your furniture we recommend unloading the contents in your drawers of your furniture. Drawers can warp in transit if loaded heavily.
   • Fridges and Freezers need to be unloaded before being able to move.
     
9. Be Present During the Move
   • Be available to supervise and answer questions. Ensure access to parking, elevators, and any required permits.

Items We Can’t Haul for Safety and Legal Reasons

To ensure a safe and smooth move, there are certain items we cannot transport:

1. Hazardous Materials:
   • Paints, solvents, and chemicals.
   • Propane tanks or gas cylinders.
   • Fireworks, explosives, or flammable items.
   • Small engines with gas in them. Be sure to empty gas in gas powered equipment such as lawn mowers, snowblowers, etc.
     
2. Perishable Goods:
   • Refrigerated or frozen food.
   • Fresh fruits, vegetables, or food items that can spoil.
     
3. Pets and Live Animals:
   • Due to regulations and safety concerns, pets and animals must be transported separately.
     
4. Personal Documents and Valuables:
   • Passports, birth certificates, and other important documents.
   • Jewelry, cash, and other irreplaceable valuables (please transport these personally).
     
5. Combustible or Explosive Items:
   • Firearms, ammunition, or any explosive materials.
   • Fire extinguishers or anything pressurized.
     
6. Plants:
   • We will not move live plants.

Understanding Valuation of your Household Goods

Released Value Protection
Released Value Protection is the most economical option because it doesn’t cost anything. It is offered by movers at no additional charge, but the protection is minimal. Under this option, the mover is responsible for no more than 60 cents per pound per article. For example, if your mover lost or damaged a 50 inch TV weighing 25 pounds, you would only receive $15 (60 cents x 25 pounds).

If you choose this option, you must sign a specific statement on the bill of lading or contract agreeing to it. Just remember that you will only be compensated according to the weight of the item, not its actual value.

Full Value Protection

Under Full Value Protection, your mover is responsible for the replacement value of lost or damaged goods in your entire shipment. This is the more comprehensive, but also more expensive, option for protecting your belongings. While moving, if any of your items are lost, destroyed, or damaged, your mover will offer to do one of the following for each item:

• Repair the item
• Replace with a similar item
• Make a cash settlement for the cost of the repair or the current market replacement value.

Under this option, movers are allowed to limit their legal responsibility to loss or damage to items of “extraordinary value”, meaning items that are valued more than $100 per pound (such as jewelry, china, or furs). However, if you specifically list these items on the shipping documents, your mover is still responsible for their safe delivery. Ask your mover for a written explanation of this limitation before your move. The minimum declared value of a shipment for Full Value Protection is $10,000 or $6.00 multiplied by the total weight of the shipment in pounds, whichever is greater.

Keep in mind…

Some of your actions may limit your mover’s liability. These include:

• Packing perishable, dangerous or hazardous materials in your household goods without your mover’s knowledge.
• Packing your own boxes. You may consider packing your own household goods articles to reduce your costs, but if the articles you pack are damaged, it may be more difficult to establish your claim against the mover for the boxes you pack.
• Choosing Released Value coverage when your household goods are valued at more than 60 cents per pound per article.
• Failing to notify your mover in writing about articles of extraordinary value.