Booking the help
Moving season runs from May through September, and weekends and month-ends fill first. A Tuesday in the middle of the month is cheaper and easier to get. Local movers charge by the hour for a crew, usually with a two- or three-hour minimum plus travel time. Long-distance movers charge by weight and distance, and you want three written estimates based on a video or in-person survey, with at least one quoted as binding or not-to-exceed. Any interstate mover must hold a USDOT number, which you can check on the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's website. A large cash deposit and a quote given sight unseen mark a bad operator.
The default liability on an interstate move is 60 cents per pound per item, which values a forty-pound television at $24. Pay for full-value protection, or confirm what your renters policy covers in transit.
If you are driving it yourself, a studio or one-bedroom fits a 10- to 15-foot truck, and two or three bedrooms need 20 to 26 feet. The advertised daily rate leaves out mileage, fuel and insurance, and your auto policy often excludes rental trucks.
The buildings at both ends
Reserve the freight elevator and loading dock at each building, and ask whether management requires a certificate of insurance from the movers. City permits to hold curb space for a truck take several days to arrange. Measure the sofa against the narrowest doorway before moving day, not during it.
Packing that survives
Books and dishes go in small boxes, and bedding and lampshades go in large ones, with nothing over about 50 pounds. Label the sides of each box with the room and contents, since the tops disappear when boxes are stacked. Photograph the cables behind the television before unplugging anything, and tape each bag of screws to the furniture it came from. Defrost the freezer a full day ahead. Movers will not carry propane, paint or gasoline.
The day itself
- Walk the crew chief through the home and point out what is fragile.
- Load the beds and the essentials box last so they come off first.
- Read the inventory and the bill of lading before you sign them.
- At the new place, assemble the beds before opening a single box.
A customary tip is $20 to $40 per mover for a half-day job, and more for a long day with stairs.
Tip The essentials box holds sheets, towels, a shower curtain, toilet paper, chargers, a box cutter, basic tools, paper plates and the coffee setup. It rides in your car.
