Florida's Spacecoast

Movers

Michael DePalma
Operations Manager
"Movers Who Care".
1600 North Harbor City Blvd.
Melbourne, FL 32935
(321) 264-2722
(321) 242-8786
Website

Taylor and Sons Moving and Storage
321-953-2329

HOW TO CHOOSE A MOVING COMPANY

• If the company is registered with the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

• How long the company has been in business.

• If the company offers extra services, such as packing, unpacking and storage.

• What type of protection you are afforded against loss or damage (full replacement cost, depreciated value, or the basic per-pound valuation carriers are required to provide).

• Whether the mover has a good reputation for settling claims.

• If the company offers arbitration for claims disputes.

• How well the company meets its delivery schedules.

• If the company provides proof of workers compensation, and general and legal liability coverage.

Have at least three movers come to your home and give you an estimate, two to six weeks ahead of your planned move date. A mover's estimator should actually see what needs to be serviced and moved to provide you with a reasonable and accurate estimate.

The cost of the move will depend on:

• Distance involved (generally on long-distance moves).

• Time involved (generally on local moves).

• Volume of the shipment.

• Weight of the shipment.

• Special services required, such as long carries, stairs and elevators, and appliance servicing.

• Declared value of the goods to be moved.

WHAT'S AN ESTIMATE?

Effective July 1, 2002, all movers are required to provide you with a written estimate regarding the cost of your move. You should understand that actual costs at the time of your move are based on services performed at the time of your move. Additional service requests on your part may increase the price of your move.

PACKING

Another key area in which you can decrease your moving costs is in added charges for packing and unpacking. When a moving company does the packing, they charge for the containers and packing materials used and the labor for each container packed or unpacked.

You may be able to perform some of the packing yourself. A do-it-yourself packing guide may be available from your mover. Allow four weeks to pack; the task can be much more time consuming than it appears. Also consider packing less valuable items yourself and having the mover pack the rest.

Keep in mind that professional movers will generally not accept liability for breakage of items packed by homeowners. Weigh the savings from self-packing against possible losses from damage to self-packed items.

Suitable boxes may be found at local merchants. Do not use plastic bags or boxes which cannot be closed. Pack properly -- do not exceed the box's weight rating (stamped on the box). Choose boxes with care: very large boxes (such as toilet tissue cartons) can have very low weight ratings. Pack heavy items in small boxes and light items in larger boxes. Wrap fragile items in tissue. Number each box and keep an inventory list of the contents.

Mark boxes with the room in the new house in which they should be placed. If you choose to have movers pack your goods, this will be done before the actual moving day, usually one or two days prior. Make plans to be there to observe and provide direction. The more involved you are with your mover, the better the process is likely to go.

Before the packers arrive, make sure you have set aside any personal items you will want to take with you, including medicines. Delays can occur. If you'll need something immediately when you arrive at your new home, take it with you -- do not pack it.

Before you sign the packing order, make sure all items you want moved are packed and that the carton count matches the pack order form.

BEFORE YOU SIGN THE SERVICE ORDER

Some intrastate movers use service orders, but most do not. Ensure that the dates for packing, loading and delivery are part of the contract before signing. Understand what the price is based upon:

• Hourly rates

• Weight, distance

• Cubic footage

• Number of items

• Packing/unpacking

• Appliance servicing

• Stair/elevator charges and/or long carries