Essential Moving Tips

Florida requires movers to have Cargo insurance of at least $10,000 per incident and commercial auto insurance of at least $50,000 per incident in order to obtain a license. In addition, the state of Florida requires all businesses with more than three employees to have worker’s comp insurance. Do note that if your move is going out of state, there are federal regulations as well.

Oftentimes movers cut costs by paying people under the table for the work that they do on moves and get off calling these workers ‘independent contractors’. A true independent contractor has his or her own insurance and equipment. It is unlikely an individual who is working inside your home for cash under the table will have their own insurance available and may simply be a temporary day laborer without proper training or background check. W-2 employees are more expensive and require a little more work on the mover’s end to hire, however, it is to your benefit. An employee is required to follow company procedures, wear the company uniform, and is protected under the company’s insurance, which includes worker’s comp in the event of an injury on your property.

This detail alone can resolve countless headaches if coordinated properly. If your company sent out an estimator, there should be no reason this would be handled improperly. However, it is always good to make sure. It can add a tremendous amount of time if the truck is too small as the crew will have to either take extra time making sure everything fits as tight as possible, or run several trips back and forth, which will also add to your time and make for a long day. This also applies to the crew size. You do not want crew members getting worn out because they do not have help. On the other hand, if you have a small move or tight quarters, a truck that is too big may need to be parked farther away than otherwise necessary, adding time or fees with a long carry. Too many movers on a job site can also cause inefficiency if they are constantly running into each other. It is up to the moving professionals to determine the right crew and truck size, but make sure you know ahead of time in case something doesn’t seem right.

This is one of the most important things to be sure of if you did not request professional packing services. In order for movers to work efficiently and protect your items, they expect all loose items to be in easily stackable boxes. Remember, you may be on the clock or paying for space, so extra trips and difficulties in loading will only add to your bill.

Sometimes, people think they will save money by ‘low balling’ the operator when describing the move. This always backfires. It is important the movers know everything about the move in order to bring the right sized truck, crew, and any special equipment that might be needed. Otherwise, they may not be prepared, which will ultimately add time, cost and stress to your move. If in doubt, schedule an in-home estimate.

Though the movers will be capable of doing this and it is not required, it can save a significant amount of time if you do it yourself. Most household items can be taken apart with a simple screwdriver or allen wrench by one person. Commonly disassembled items include beds, dressers with mirrors, tables, and sectional sofas.

This includes painting, floor cleaning or replacement, pest control, renovations, cable or satellite installation, etc. This way you will be moving furniture into a ready home, and won’t have to move it again or risk it getting damaged or dirty.

Use up any extra groceries or cleaning materials in order to make the load lighter for the movers. Don’t buy any new furniture for the new home until everything else is already moved in. This will both decrease your moving bill and eliminate any risk of damage for brand new purchases.

Use smaller boxes for heavier items like books or canned goods. Boxes over 50 pounds will make the mover’s jobs more difficult, and can sacrifice the integrity of the box causing it to fall through.

The movers will be able to bring the boxes straight into the rooms on the label, saving time and headaches later on.

Although we love kids, sometimes they can get in the way during the move or even get injured. There are people carrying heavy things they need a clear path. You also won’t want anyone slowing the crew down if you are on the clock.

For many of the same reasons, you want to make sure pets are out of the way. Pets can get nervous during moves, and even behave in ways they do not typically act in.

The movers do this everyday. Unless they are doing something blatantly wrong, it is important not to micromanage. Doing so may cause them to get nervous or otherwise not follow the procedures they have been trained to do.

Moving is incredibly stressful, but being pessimistic will only lead to more problems. Keep a good attitude and watch it be reflected by everyone involved!