Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Choosing the Best Moving Company

Moving a home or office requires a lot of planning and the most integral role throughout the process is that of the moving company. Getting a good bargain on the moving company can make your whole move easier without burning a hole in your pocket. You can talk to your friends and relatives who might have hired a moving company to find a reliable one, or read the following for some useful advice on how to find a good moving company.

The cost of a moving company can be calculated and estimated on a number of factors which includes the size of the vehicle and the distance it will cover. Nationwide companies may charge a little more than your local moving company, which might have lower rates and suit you better. All you need to do is to keep the factors of reliability and safety of your goods in mind. Whether you are planning to do a local move, interstate or even international move – the moving companies’ reputation, reliability, prompt delivery and safety of goods is what’s important. To find a good moving company you may refer to local directories and even browse online sites that detail moving companies. With a variety of services offered by moving companies, you can get a full service moving company, a pack-only moving company, a drive-only moving company, or even a trailer rental for you to pack and drive your own belongings. A lot will depend on whether you are doing the whole move yourself or require the help of moving professionals. The costs of moving trucks and professionals come at different rates depending on what you require.

There is different pricing for each moving company depending upon the nature of goods being moved, the distance covered by the truck and the size of the haul. So it’s best to do a bit of research first, get quotes from different companies on the cost and insurance, and then decide which company is the best for your move.

Tip: Once you have the above information, do some searching with the moving companies’ name online and see if you can find any customer service reviews. Knowing your goods are being safely handled or that the moving truck will be reliable is extremely important during a move. Remember the cheapest moving company may not always be more economical over the longer term if your goods are damaged or lost. Lastly, make sure you have reliable cell phone numbers of key people in the moving company should anything go wrong on the moving day.

Comparing the price quotes will give you a good idea on the actual cost, but make sure the prices quoted include insurance of your goods. Insurance is necessary in the event of accidents and loss of goods. If the moving company does not offer insurance, be sure to obtain your own insurance though another company.
The cost of a moving company depends upon whether it is making a one way trip or round trip, and whether you are booking it for a weekend or a weekday. Weekdays are comparatively cheaper as compared to weekends and similarly summers are more expensive than winters. You may also be required to make a deposit at the time of obtaining a moving company, depending on the moving company terms and conditions.

To make your move easy, remember to:
• Keep the Bill of lading that is given to you by the moving company as it is a legally binding note of contract between you and them.
• Read the quote which is on your contract as well as the agreed upon rates. Also be sure to read the moving company’s liability of your goods, delivery date and insurance claim clauses.
• If you are packing your goods, pack them properly to eliminate damage and breakages. With better moving boxes and wooden crates easily available, it is best to pack delicate glassware and other items in Styrofoam.

Finding a good moving company gives you peace of mind and allows for an easier relocation whether it is an office or home furniture and household items.

Choose the best moving company for you at EasyStorageSearch.com, where you can also find self storage units to assist with your move.

Using the Right Moving Boxes Makes Moving Easier

Whether you are moving to a new city or just across the town, moving and packing becomes a chore. The main requirements that come up are finding good moving boxes, truck rentals and careful packaging that will keep your delicate items and other goods safe while being transferred. Packing is not fun but an essential component of your move and good quality moving boxes are important. Professional moving boxes are heavy-duty cardboard boxes with corrugated patterns in different sizes, which is used to facilitate and ease a safe moving process.

Box type. Super strong packing boxes with protective bubble wrap or cellulose keep your delicate items such as glassware and dishes safe. But if you are looking for the best boxes, professional moving boxes become your best bet. For non fragile items, the single walled corrugated cardboard boxes are best to pack your electronic goods, television, clothes etc. while for fragile items its best to use the double lined, bubble wrap moving boxes with extra fillings of Styrofoam, to keep glass, dishes and art pieces safe.

Box strength. Usually the moving boxes are tested for strength and durability by a test known as Edge Crush test and the ECT of the box is printed on the side of the box flap, which you can check and buy accordingly. Professional movers use boxes tested for at least 200 lb or 32 ECT but there are cheaper versions also available for casual moving. You can also use huge cartons and office file boxes to keep goods that may not break or if you are shifting locally. But, long distance moving may require professional moving boxes tested for strength so that accidental opening or breakages do not happen.

Box size. Moving boxes come in a variety of shapes and sizes. You can pick according to your requirements, so check out the professional moving boxes sizes:
• Small Kits-- best to pack records and books or other heavy weight items.
• Medium --18”x14”x12” are best to pack your kitchen ware goods.
• Large--20”x20”x15” can be used to pack linen and bulky items.
• Extra large--23”x23”x16” packs TVs, toys, tall lamps and other bigger items.
• Dish pack or Kitchen boxes-- 18”x18”x20” are used to pack your kitchen items and dish boxes with a lot of packing paper to keep fragile items safe.
• Wardrobe large box--24”x24”x40” are double lined and extra wide with hanging bars for keeping your clothes pressed.
• Frame box--41” x 6”x 26” are strong enough for shipping, packing large picture frames, delicate mirrors and any other flat thin items.
• File boxes-- 16” x 12.5” x 10” are good to pack your office/ home office supplies.

For safe transit, its best to use boxes that are suited for manual handling, so choose the size to match the goods being packed inside it. Also, if you are packing yourself, ensure that each moving box is a safe lifting weight for whoever is going to move your goods.

The best aspect of moving boxes is that these are recyclable and eco friendly, being made out of cardboard so you don’t have to worry about adding to the waste, after the move. If you are on the look out for buying strong moving boxes, you can either look up your local Yellow pages or directories but now even browsing online will help you as there are many companies listed which sell moving box kits that saves you a considerable amount of money.


Tip: When you are moving household goods or furnishings long-distance, always check the insurance terms and conditions on whether your belongings need to be packed by professional movers in order to be insured. This usually relates to overseas moves where packaging has to meet shipping standards in order to meet insurance conditions.

Find the lowest price moving boxes on EasyStorageSearch.com.