Do You Know Your Moving Rights?
If you are looking to hire a moving company for your upcoming relocation, it will be wise to inform yourselves about your moving rights. It is important to ensure that you know where you stand before you sign any piece of documentation. Once you put your signature, there’s no coming back. Not to mention that knowing your rights will give you an advantage in negotiating terms of your movement. This list will guide you in the right direction in order to avoid any unforeseen hassle regarding your relocation.
Know your rights before signing the contract
Any good moving company will inform you about your moving rights. In the written form, so you can study them thoroughly. Read the copy of your rights carefully before agreeing to the terms of moving. If you don’t understand the list, it’s a wise choice to ask advice from your lawyer. Only when you understand all of your rights and the contract terms, you should put your signature on the contract.
Caption: If you have any doubts or concerns, ask movers to clarify them before the signing.
Alt tag: Know your moving rights before you sign the contract.
Mention extras and valuable items before requesting a quote
A moving quote is a basis for calculating the moving expenses. It is only good if it includes everything you possess. When you have very valuable items, dangerous things or hidden extras, you have to inform your movers about them. Liability of the moving company is usually limited for such items, so you may need to purchase additional insurance for them. If you don’t disclose the full list of the goods that you are relocating, the movers won’t be responsible for it. All the items that you hide to report to the movers won’t be protected during the move. That is why it is very important, to be honest with your moving company. Trust is a two-way street, and you need to have faith in your movers so you can ensure the total safety of your items.
The difference between binding and non-binding quotes
When it comes to quotas, there is a big difference between the binding and non-binding quotes. You need to understand what they are applied for and be completely aware of them. Companies’ policies regarding binding and non-binding quotes are similar, but some movers can operate differently. A non-binding quota of one moving company doesn’t have to be the same as the other company. Understanding the quotas and what they are referring to will save you from some unexpected charge at the end of the move.
Be sure how much does your shipment weigh
Request a scale comparison before and after
While the cost of the local moving is usually calculated by the work hour, the long distance moving and relocation abroad are based on the weight of your shipment. To ensure that you are getting what you are paying for, be free to request a scale comparison before and after. This is absolutely your right and doesn’t hesitate to use it.
Caption: Any reputable moving company will ensure you can easily invoke this request.
Alt tag: One of your moving rights is to know how much your shipment weight in any moment.
Reweigh your contents upon delivery
When the moving truck arrives to the driveway of your new home, request that it be reweighed. That will ensure that there wasn’t tampering with your shipment during the transit and that the weight of your shipment hasn’t changed. Be sure to exercise this right if your shipment seems smaller than it should be.
Know the timeframe
Depending on the specifics of your relocation, you should expect your shipment to arrive in the span of 21 days. Of course, this time can be shorter or longer, depending on the moving company terms. Nevertheless, the time of shipment arrival should be clearly stated at the moving agreement. The most important of your moving rights is that you get your shipment in the time frame that is specified by the agreement.
Caption: Your mover should determine the real time frame for delivering your belongings.
Alt tag: One of your moving rights is to know when your shipment will arrive.
There is no need to pay only in cash
Any moving company that insists that you pay them full recipe in cash is not playing by the book. Reputable movers will always have multiple forms of payment. It guarantees safety for both parties. It is one of your moving rights to pay in the way that is most convenient for you. Any movers that are insisting on the cash payment are the ones that you shouldn’t be in the business with. Especially if they are also requesting a big cash downpayment.
Get a copy of the inventory list
When the estimator from the moving company arrives at your home, he will make a list of all the belongings that you are relocating. You should get a copy of that list. If the estimator doesn’t offer it by himself, ask for it. This inventory list will be in the contract, which is a legal guarantee that all of the belongings on it will arrive at your new destination. When your shipment to arrive at your new home, be sure to check the inventory list in order to be sure that all of your items are there.
Summary of Your Moving Rights:
• Movers must give you written estimates.
• You need to understand your moving rights and any documentation that you have to sign.
• The moving company has to explain anything that you don’t understand about the moving contract and your moving rights.
• Be sure you understand the mover’s liability for loss or damage of your belongings
• Request an explanation of the difference between valuation and actual insurance.
• You have the right to be present each time that your movers are determining the weight of your shipment.
• You can request a reweigh of your shipment if you think that is necessary.
• You should be able to pay for the mover’s services through multiple forms of payment, not only by cash.
• Movers must offer a dispute settlement program as an alternative means of settling loss or damage claims.
• You may request complaint information about movers from FMCSA under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).
• You have a right and you should seek estimates from at least three different movers.
• Nobody has a right to ask you to disclose any information to the different movers about their competitors.
