What should you do if your friends, family, or the
contractor you hired cancel days before your moving day? If you're left in a
lurch, take a look at these simple steps that can make your move smooth and
stress-free.
Contact a Reliable Mover
Now that you've had one negative experience with a friend,
family member, or mover, you don't want a repeat. You could call everyone in
your contacts until someone agrees to help. But you might not end up with the
most reliable person. The same goes with randomly choosing the first moving
company you Google.
When you contact a mover to replace whoever cancelled on
you, ask:
- Do
you have references?
References from past or current customers can
help you to judge whether the company is experienced and reliable. Look
for reviews that focus on the moving company's ability to stay on
schedule.
- How
many appointments do you schedule daily?
A moving company that
schedules overlapping or multiple appointments may miss your appointment
time.
- How
many trucks do you have?
If the mover only has one truck, but commits
to several jobs each day, they may need to push some customers back to a
future time slot.
- How
many staff members work for you?
As with the number of trucks, the
more staff members a mover employs, the more likely it is they won't need
to cancel on you.
- Are
your licensed and insured?
Even though you're in a pinch, you
shouldn't hire a sub-par mover. Make sure the contractor is licensed in
your area and has the required insurance. Look for or ask for the mover's
DOT (department of Transportation) number.
- Are
there extra fees?
Will the mover charge you extra for a last-minute
appointment? Even though you need to move immediately, carefully review
the estimate and ask about any additional charges.
Along with these questions, ask the moving contractor about
their overall experience and industry-related experience. While these issues
don't speak directly to reliability, an experienced and knowledgeable company
can make the moving process easier, save you time, and potentially save you
money.
Organize Everything Immediately
Did you expect your helper friends or hired movers to assist
with the organization? If you've already boxed, binned, and bagged your
belongings, but the containers are currently scattered around your house in no
particular order, you need to:
- Inventory
everything. Use an app, spreadsheet, or notebook to list an inventory
of your to-move items. Not only can this help you to organize everything,
but it will provide your reliable replacement mover with the information
they need to provide you with an estimate.
- Label
everything. If you haven't already labeled your moving containers, now
is the time to do so. Clear labels that include the items inside each box
and bin and the room they belong to can streamline the moving process.
- Move
everything. While you don't need to move heavy items (such as
furniture) by yourself, you can move boxes, bins, and bags to the first
floor of your home. If your cancelled move caused a time crunch, this may
speed the process.
- Talk
to the mover. If your newly hired mover was able to squeeze you into a
busy schedule, you may not have much time to move. Ask the contractor for
their top organizational tips and how you can help make the move easier.
Now that you've organized everything, it's time to take the
next step and move. With a reliable moving company ready to help, you can relax
and enjoy this major life transition.
Do you need help with your next move? Contact Los Flores Movers
for more
information.
