Moving Myths to Avoid

When you are preparing to go through a new experience, it is common to gather advice from friends, family members and co-workers. Some of their counsels may be grounded in truth; others may not be grounded at all.

When it comes to moving, there are some myths, falsehoods, and misunderstandings that you may have heard before. Though each experience is different, there are a few misconceptions that you should definitely avoid.

Its OK to go with a moving broker because it’s cheaper.  Moving brokers give the entire industry a bad name.  Brokers don’t own any moving equipment – they do what they can to win the job, then they shop around to try and find a mover who will take the job.  This often ends in tears for the person moving because to sell the job, the broker tends to leave important details out so the mover agrees to buy the job at a lower price point.

Movers do not need to be paid until after your items are unpacked. This is a major misconception among first time movers or those who haven’t moved in years. Payment must be provided in full before boxes are unloaded. This is because the product that a moving service offers is the labor of loading and unloading your belongings, and if they are not paid in advance, they put themselves at risk of not being paid at all once everything is unloaded. Typically, payment should be made before or on the day of delivery.

“Moving boxes” can be replaced by any container. The truth is, the moving boxes supplied by moving companies or services are made specifically to carry more weight and better resist crushing and tearing than your everyday box. You should avoid lower the quality boxes you find at grocery stores as they can put your property at risk. If you want to use your own boxes, go to office buildings or the loading docks of libraries and bookstores, where more heavy duty boxes are used to carry paper and books.

Your standard moving insurance policy will replace lost or damaged items. Unfortunately, the standard moving insurance that you typically receive from moving companies amounts to only a portion of the total value of a piece of merchandise. The amount and degree of protection varies from company to company and often depends on the length of the move as well. Also, most standard moving insurance policies only cover goods that were packed by professional movers. You can look for supplemental insurance that will better cover any potential damaged property, but be sure to check the level of reimbursement in order to make sure it is what you are looking for.

Labeling is a waste of time. One of the biggest mistakes made by those getting ready to move is not properly labeling and inventorying boxes. It may seem easier to just throw everything into boxes and worry about it later, but you’ll wish you’d taken the time to label things when you arrive at your new home and are struggling to remember where you packed your pans or sheets. Mark each box with the room it is associated with along with a description of the contents.

Do as much research as you can while preparing for your move, and try to gather information from a variety of sources. However, for a hassle-free move, be sure to avoid certain misconceptions such as those listed above.