What Additional Services Do Movers Offer?

By Scott Boone

Image courtesy of Flickr

When most people hire a mover, they assume that all the company will do, is load the truck, drive the truck and unload the truck.  How complicated is that?  What many do not realize is that moving companies offer a number of extra services that are designed to make your move less of a hassle… for a price.  They also have a list of what are considered additional services that can cause your bill to become inflated beyond the agreed upon price quoted prior to the move. Below is a list of additional services of which you need to be aware.

We Can Pack for You

One of the biggest frustrations that most homeowners have when moving is the arduous chore of packing all their belongings.  This usually involves weeks and weeks of work sorting, boxing and labeling their stuff, one room at a time.  It also involves real dollars and cents that must be spent to acquire boxes, padding, and other packing supplies.  Not only is this a huge sinkhole for time and money, but it can also result in breakage since most people really don’t understand the physics of what happens when boxes get stacked on top of one another. 

For a nominal fee, moving companies can do the packing for you.  No fuss, no muss, we know how to pack, label and stack your belongings, so they don’t get smashed in transit.  Better still, we can also unpack your belongings after hauling them across town or across the country.  This not only frees you to take care of the dozens of other things that need to get accomplished when you move, but it eliminates a ton of stress.

Some Assembly Required

Image courtesy of Wikipedia

Whether we are talking about furniture or electronics, the most terrifying label for most of us is - “Some Assembly Required.”  While it is one thing to construct that corner desk set, home gym or entertainment center while perusing the manual when it comes time to move complicated gear, who’s to say you will even be able to remember where you put the manual?  That’s why savvy home and business owners pay their movers to disassemble and reassemble all kinds of gear.  While it might cost a few dollars, professionals know how to get the job done without losing any pieces along the way.  (Have you ever moved a complicated piece of equipment only to discover that you lost a critical fitting or two?)  If you are contemplating this service, make sure you discuss it in advance.  Never assume that this service is included with the move.

Handle With Care

One of the main reasons to let the pros lend a hand is to ensure that anything fragile or expensive gets to your new location in one piece.  While most people are looking to get a “deal” when they make a move, if the deal results in the destruction of your $3,000 plasma TV or a family heirloom, what kind of a deal is that?  Not a good one, especially if the mover then informs you that you will be compensated at the rate of 60 cents per pound for anything they destroyed.  Always discuss with your movers any expensive items that need a little extra TLC.  Also, be sure to find out whether their insurance will pay you the replacement value of anything broken in transit?  (Reputable firms will cover this at no additional charge.)

Special Delivery

When it comes to moving extra-large items, such as pool tables, safes, hot tubs or pianos, not only can you expect to pay extra for this service, you need to find out if the mover has the ability to handle this kind of special delivery.  If not, you or they will need to arrange to have a specialty freight hauler move these items.  Did you know that a pool table or grand piano can weigh more than 1,000 pounds?  As well as physically hauling these kinds of items, moving them into a structure can also require special handling as well, especially if you are going to want them delivered to anything but the ground floor.  Just as with other expensive furnishings you own, you need to make sure that anything requiring special delivery is also insured against damage or destruction.

High Wire Act

Image courtesy of Flickr

Speaking of moving your belongings to anything but the ground floor, if you intend to relocate to a high-rise, your moving company needs to know in advance.  What most flatlanders don’t realize is that moving into a condo in the sky requires a lot of extra logistics.  In the first place, the move itself will need to be okayed by building management.  Your mover will then need to have approval to park the truck in the building’s loading dock.  They will need to know where the freight elevator is located.  More importantly, they will need to have management approval to use the freight elevator.  This usually requires them to be on and off the premises at a specific time.  Failure to secure permission runs the risk of the move being preempted, and it could also result in the tenant (you) having to pay a steep fine for noncompliance.

Storage

There are a number of reasons why you might need to store some or all of your belongings.  Perhaps you are going to move out of your present location on the 15th, but can’t move into your new home until the first.  If the mover has the ability to store your belongings, this could save you time and money.  Maybe you are moving into a smaller residence and need to store some of the things temporarily.  These are both reasons to discuss the storage option with your mover.

On the other hand, your goods could be placed in storage without your consent, especially if there is a discrepancy in the final bill.  That’s another reason you need to read the contract in its entirety.  It’s also the reason you need to know about any additional service fees before your belongings are loaded onto the truck.

Cue the Extras

Movers expect to be paid extra for a number of additional services. This includes things such as if they can’t park their truck near your new residence and have to either hire a van to shuttle your goods from the truck to your front door or if they are forced to carry your goods a long way to reach the front door.  If your street is extremely narrow or your house is located on a hill, you need to discuss whether any “Long Carry” or “Shuttle Fees” are likely to be levied. 

If either your current address or your new home will force the movers to haul your belongings up and down stairs or make numerous trips in an elevator, you need to find out if a “Flight Charge” is going to be added to your bill.  Failure to pay these fees could result in your belongings being dumped on the curb, or the movers could get in the truck and drive off with your things until you pay up.

The bottom line in understanding what constitutes “Additional Services” is to bring this matter up before you sign on the dotted line.  Failure to do so could mean the only place you are likely to be taken to is the cleaners.

With over 4,000 moves, Scott's Discount Movers has handled moves of all sizes, including local and cross country. If you are looking to move your home or office, you can depend on Scott's Discount Movers to provide a stress-free relocation.