Things to Know when Selecting a Furniture Moving Company

There are a number of factors that you need to keep in mind when you are preparing for a move. From logistics to packaging, things can get quite hectic and hiring a moving company is definitely the best way forward.

While hiring a moving company is the best way to make things easier for you, finding the right one can be quite a bit of a hassle. Here are the things you need to know when selecting an interstate removalist moving company.

Personal Recommendations: The best way to get information on moving companies is by talking to people you know. Ask anyone you know personally for recommendations and it should help you get some good leads. Not everything is known on the internet and getting the extra bit of information can definitely help out.

Reviews: If you are unable to get any personal recommendations you can check out reviews. While there is the risk of running into paid reviews, you should be able to discern them from real ones quite easily. It is important to look for both good and bad reviews of any company that you shortlist because experiences can vary depending on variables.

Track Record: You do not want to invest in a company that does not have a proven track record. Investing in a completely brand-new company does pose risks and you should opt for a moving company that has been in business for a reasonable amount of time. After all, proven competency is far more reliable than a new company that promises big things but has nothing to substantiate its claims.

Licensing and Insurance: You should never trust any moving company that is not licensed or insured no matter how good their offers are. You should never skip insurance even though it is optional. In fact, most good moving companies will insist on opting for insurance to protect your investment. You do not want your belongings damaged or stolen.

International movers need to register with the Department of Transportation in the United States and they also have a unique identification number known as the USDOT. You can check the official database to see if the company is legitimate or not. Other countries generally have such implementation as well and you may want to check your local regulations that are in place to protect movers.

Transparency: You want to invest in a moving company that is completely transparent with its rates and services. There should be no hidden charges and all variables must be communicated in advance. Packing materials often cost extra and the best thing you can do is be fully aware of everything involved in a package. If a company is not transparent you should definitely avoid it and look for more ethical companies.

These are the top things that you need to keep in mind when selecting a furniture moving company. Simply plan everything in advance to make moving a smooth sailing experience.

Moving Insurance – Is It Necessary

There comes a time in our lives where we find ourselves consolidating our belongings, packing what we cherish most and moving it with us where ever life leads us. Whether planned or unplanned, life circumstances can change and seeing all your worldly possessions loaded into a truck and moving your life to a new home could not be a more fragile scenario. It is natural to feel some degree of anxiety, questioning whether your belongings will make it to your new home and what state would it be in if it does arrive.

Like any insurance, it is there to provide peace of mind in case any unforeseen circumstances should arise. Health insurance is there to protect your personal health, automotive insurance is there to safeguard your vehicle and there is moving insurance that can provide protection for all your possessions being delivered to your new home right until it is in its final position. Insurance is there in the event of an accident and unfortunately cannot be purchased when things go wrong.

Whenever goods are moved between homes there is a small degree of risk that the goods are lost or damaged. Moving insurance or Transit insurance provides protection for your belongings if this was to occur; even the most careful moving companies are not immune to accidents.

Researching moving insurance is one thing that shouldn’t be neglected throughout the process of moving. Naturally, most of us do have contents insurance and assume that our belongings are already covered by damage whilst it is being delivered but this is not correct. Contents that are already in the home are at low risk and the potential of contents being damaged which are not physically moved is highly unlikely, there is a risk of it being stolen but the prospect of having your entire contents stolen is relatively low. Hence, a lower insurance premium is offered and most likely won’t cover goods in transit, it is always a good idea to check with your contents insurance provider to confirm if you are covered whilst moving home, some insurance policies would cover during transit if only a professional mover is being utilized.

Other providers for moving insurance include removalists qualified to sell financial products, these removalists can offer insurance as part of their service. You can also look at specialist insurance brokers who are able to help with your moving insurance needs.  

Many removalists advertise as being ‘fully insured’, this can be quite general and may only be referring to the company’s public liability insurance, motor vehicle insurance and not third-party property. You should never make assumptions when it comes to insurance, always check and make sure you understand what you are and aren’t covered for.

All good removalists are covered for third-party property, they may be more expensive but knowing that they are legally responsible for damages to furniture during a transit is worth the money spent. For those who cannot offer transit insurance, any damage caused during a move would be difficult to claim and the owner could end up worst off by not having insurance protection in place.

The cost of moving insurance is based on the amount the contents are insured for and moving the contents of the Australian home to the other side of town can cost between $350 to $680 for insurance. Only you can determine if your contents are worth protecting and have peace of mind.