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Local Moving Long-Distance Moving

What’s the Difference Between Local and Long Distance Moves?

What's the Difference Between Local and Long-Distance Moves

One of the first questions you’ll get when you call professional movers is whether you are making a local or long-distance move. While it’s obvious there are differences between the moves, it might be hard to understand the intricacies from a customer standpoint. Knowing what kind of move you’re going to need will help you save time, effort, and money in the long run. So what are the differences?

Local vs. Long Distance Move

It might be obvious that a move down the street would be considered a local move, but what if you’re moving 5+ hours away in the same state? Generally, a local move is defined as moving either within the same city or within a 50-70 mile radius of your current home.

On the flip-side, a long distance move is one that is more than 70 miles away and generally requires crossing state lines. Long distance moves require careful planning to ensure that the delivery arrives at the right place at the right time. Long distance moves might be calculated in days versus hours depending on how far you’re going. More importantly, crossing state lines means the movers will need additional insurance and licenses to cover different locations and policies.

So what happens if you’re moving 50-70 miles away but it’s in a different state? Well that depends on the movers and your location. For example, many NYC moving companies consider bordering cities in New Jersey and Connecticut to be a local move. Don’t assume that’s the case with all movers, though. You should always give your new address and ask questions!

Price Calculation Local vs. Long Distance

Understanding quotes and estimates from local movers should be straightforward so long as you are working with a reputable company. When talking to the company, give as much information as possible. The more detailed you are, the more accurate the quote will be. The most obvious information is how big your house is, your current address, and your new address. However, don’t forget to note:

  • If the movers will need to go up/down stairs at either of your houses
  • What extra services you’ll need (packing, storage, unpacking, packing materials)
  • Whether you’re moving any bulky items like pianos, pool tables, etc.

Based on the information you give them, they will calculate how many hours it will take them to move, how many movers you’ll need, and any extra services you add on. You can usually get away with  having an extra box or two on moving day as that won’t increase the total amount of hours it takes for your move. Just don’t expect to not get charged extra if you end up with 10 extra boxes!

Long distance moves are calculated differently. There are several factors they take into account to determine the total cost including:

  • How much you’re moving
  • The distance between the origin and destination
  • The total weight of items

Moving companies are required by law to charge by the pound. They must also follow the interstate tariff set by the United States Department of Transportation and might provide discounts. Long distance movers will set their charges in one of two ways:

  • Binding estimate – the movers will estimate the weight before providing the price
  • Weight – you get a price per pound and the moving company will weigh everything after

When you’re deciding which movers to use, try to find one that provides a binding estimate. As the name suggests, whatever price the movers give you will become a fixed cost. If you agree to the estimate, you will pay that price, nothing higher and nothing lower. Make sure to obtain quotes from several different places before you agree to the estimate as some moving companies might overcharge you. Also, you won’t be able to sneak an extra box or piece of furniture even if you have a binding estimate. After all, the estimate was only for the items you told them about. If you add anything new, you and the movers will have to renegotiate so it behooves you to be as upfront as possible.

Tips for a Local Move

Even if you’re moving down the street, you’ll want to stay organized when it comes to your local move. There might be no way to get rid of stress completely, but the following tips can make the transition much easier:

  • Find a daycare for your kids AND pets – depending on how old your kids are they might be helpful, but young children can easily become a distraction and might even find themselves in dangerous situations. The same is true for pets. If possible, entrust your kids and pets to friends or family members.
  • Choose your moving day wisely – there are a lot of things to consider when choosing when you will actually move. If you live in an apartment, you might not have that luxury since you have to be out by a certain date. However, think about the time you want the movers to show up as well as the day of the week. Weekends are usually busier, but more people might be available to help out. Weekends might be quieter, but you’ll need to take time off of work. Weigh the pros and cons beforehand so you’re not leaving the decision to the last minute.
  • Ask for help – there’s no shame in asking for help. Moving is a long and tedious process so the more help you can get the better. Your best bet is to call in professional movers to help load and unload your truck, but for everything else you should rely on friends and family. Bribe them with some treats if necessary to help spread the work.
  • Prepare your new home – depending on how much time you have, how far away your new home is, and whether or not someone is still occupying your new home, you might be able to prepare your new home before moving day. Take advantage of that time if you can! Do some light cleaning, look for trouble areas and patch them up, paint the walls, etc. Heck, you can even set up your small play area for your kids and pets so they have somewhere to hang out the first day/night.

Tips for a Long Distance Move

Long distance moves require a lot more planning and consideration especially if you’re moving cross-country. You will need to figure out when you will be available to receive the movers at your new place and whether you’re going to storage in transit. That means planning out your route, planned stops, and leaving plenty of room for traffic problems. Some other tips to make your long distance move go a bit smoother include:

  • Updating important documents – changing your address means you’ll also need to update your information in a lot of different places. If you’re moving to a new state, you’ll need to get a new driver’s license and registration. Don’t forget that you’ll need to update your address at your bank and online ordering sites!
  • Label your boxes with your name – during a long distance move your boxes will most likely be on a moving truck that is shared with other families. In order to prevent any mix ups, label every box with your name and phone number just in case it gets dropped off at the wrong house.
  • Triple-check your inventory – You will need to provide a detailed inventory to the movers before they load up the truck. Don’t lose this list! When the movers arrive at your new place, triple-check to make sure everything has arrived before the movers leave. That way, you can figure out if anything is missing.
  • Take extra care when packing – While you should always pack your items with care, you should be especially diligent when moving long distances. There’s more opportunities for your belongings to get damaged the longer they are on the road. Wrap your fragile items with bubble wrap, paper, and old t-shirts to prevent vibrations. Tape the sides of all your boxes for added sturdiness.

Make Your Local or Long Distance Move

Now that you know the two different types of moves, you’ll need to find a reputable moving company to help you! Great Movers can help you with every move and will walk you through every step of the way. We’ll do our best to create a customized moving plan to suit your budget and needs. Simply contact us and we’ll provide a free quote.

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Moving Tips

Moving Terminology You Should Know

Moving Terminology You Should Know

As with most industries, professional movers use certain terminology to refer to specific types of services, charges, and fees. Understanding these moving terms can help you better understand your quote and final bill. Plus, it can save you money in the long run as you may end up paying more for your move than you expected or getting a service that you don’t want.

Below is some typical moving terminology you might hear or find on your quote and/or final bill. If there are terms your movers use that you don’t understand, don’t be afraid to stop and ask. The more knowledge and understanding you have about the process, the better.

Frequently Used Moving Terms

Accessorial Services – these are additional services provided by professional movers that are not part of standard service. This could include bulky article moving, stair fees, etc.

Actual Charges – The final cost of the move from start to finish including all additional fees.

Advanced Charges – These charges are for moving services the moving company does not perform, but by a professional, craftsman, or a third party at your request. A good example of this is disassembling a custom-made closet or murphy bed. You could ask the movers to bring on a professional to do this if they do not provide this service. The charges will be paid by the mover and added to your invoice.

Appliance Service – the preparation of major appliances such as stoves, refrigerators, etc. to make them safe for transport

Arrival Window – the set hours or dates where your movers will arrive at your pick-up location. This is normally a 2-hour window where the movers will plan to arrive at your location to start the move.

Assembly and Disassembly – taking apart furniture before loading it onto a truck and putting it back together at the destination.

Bill of Lading – A legally binding document that outlines all the details of the move from moving date to items loaded onto the truck. The receipt for your goods and the final contract for their transportation. This also services as a receipt of your agreement with the moving company.

Binding/Non-Binding Estimate – before you choose your movers, you should always get an estimate on the cost of the move. In general, you want to go with movers that provide a binding estimate as this guarantees the total cost of the move based on the quantities and services shown on the estimate. A non-binding estimate provides a general estimate of the final cost including accessorial services, but the final bill can change based on the actual time/weight of your belongings. This means you could end up spending more money than you initially expected.

Bulky Article – Some moving companies will charge you extra for large items such as pianos, pool tables, big-screen TVs, and more.

Booking Agent – The person that accepts the order for the move and schedules the moving crew and truck for the move.

Cancellation Conditions – This policy governs the conditions and timing in which customers can cancel their booking without incurring any costs. Most moving companies (including NJ Great Movers) provide clear guidelines as to how much notice is required for cancellation.

Carrier – another word for moving company

Cash on Delivery (COD) – When you agree to pay upon delivery of your items to the destination.

Certificate of Insurance (COI) – a form that confirms your moving company has an insurance policy that covers liability and loss up to the insurance limits required by a building. For many apartment buildings, these forms are required in order to move into the building. Your moving company will be the one to supply this certificate directly to building management or the building super.

Claim – An insurance claim filed for loss, damage, or delay or delivery of your belongings during any stage of the move or storage.

Contactless Move – with the advent of COVID-19, contactless moves have become the norm. These moves enable a customer to not be in attendance the day of the move. This option does negate some liability options.

Delivery Window – This sets the hours and/or dates when the movers will arrive with your belongings at the destination. These dates will be listed on the Bill of Lading and Order for Service so make sure to double-check both these documents.

Expedited Service – an agreement with the mover to transport your belongings by a set date in exchange for additional charges.

Flat Rate – a flat rate is an upfront price based on the information you provide during the initial quote. NJ Great Movers customer service team has a 99 percent accuracy rate on our estimates, so long as you provide all the necessary details and services you want to include.

Flight Charge – an extra charge for carrying up and down flights of stairs.

Full Service – If you opt for this service, the movers will take care of every aspect of the move including packing everything up, disassembling and assembling all the furniture, and, of course, getting your items to their destination. This service will cost more money than if you pack yourself, but it’s great for people who don’t have the time or ability to do it themselves.

Full Value Protection Insurance – an insurance policy that covers the current market value of an item, an item’s replacement, or the cost of repair if it’s damaged or lost. You generally need to go through a third-party insurance company to get this protection. This is worth the cost if you happen to have a lot of high-value assets.

High-Value Article – items that cost more than $100 per pound should be disclosed to movers to ensure they are protected accordingly. Examples include computers, flat-screen TVs, artwork, etc. Make sure to list all of these items on the high-value inventory form provided to you by the movers.

Interstate Move – relocation of your belongings from one state to a different state. If you are making an interstate move, make sure to ask the movers if they have these three things: a US DOT number, a license from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, and adequate insurance as a condition of maintaining the license. We at NJ Great Movers have all three!

Intrastate Move – This is the most common move in the United States. You are simply moving your belongings within the same state, just to a different city. These moves are not regulated by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.

Inventory – a list of all your belongings and the number and condition of each. Your inventory is linked to your chosen insurance option.

Linehaul Charges – the charge for the vehicle transportation part of your move.

Long Carry – An added charge for carrying items an excessive distance between the mover’s vehicle and the final destination. NJ Great Movers does not charge for long carry!

Minimum Carrier Liability – Also known as Basic Protection or Released Value Protection, this is the basic insurance that covers your belongings should anything get lost or damaged during a move. There’s no additional charge, but you’re only covered up to 60 cents per pound per item.

Moving Crew – the team assigned to you for your move. This typically comprises of 2-3 people including the foreman, who you can go to with any questions or complaints.

Non-Allowable List – a list of items that movers will not transport such as ammunition, gasoline, and other hazardous items. Other items might include live plants, pets, chemistry sets, and perishable foods.

Order for Service – a document authorizing the moving company to move your items. This is included in the Bill of Lading.

Packing Supplies – items used to protect and buffer items for transportation such as boxes, packing paper, stretch wrap, moving blankets, etc.

Packed by Owner (PBO) – As the term indicates, this acronym means that you have packed everything yourself. While this can save you money, many movers will not reimburse you if any damages are caused due to poor packing on your part.

Storage-In-Transit (SIT) – Temporary warehouse storage of your items pending further transportation. So if your new house or apartment isn’t quite ready to occupy, you will request this service.

Special Handling Fee – If you request a special service such as moving a piano, TV dismounting, full packing, etc. these are considered special handling services and will incur a unique fee.

Tariff – a list of the moving company’s rates, rules, and regulations. The tariff may vary based on the type of move.

Transit Time – the time spent in transit between your old home and the destination.

Travel Time – the time spent by the movers getting to and from your old home and destination to the mover’s garage.

USDOT Number – A registration number for any vehicle that transports cargo across state lines. This number is regulated by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration under the US Department of Transportation.

Conclusion

Moving can be overwhelming for most people, but knowing the right moving terms can help make it less confusing. Whether you’re planning a move or just thinking about it, you should familiarize yourself with the above. If nothing else, print out this list so you can have it on hand as a cheat sheet when you decide to call movers.

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General

Certificate of Insurance for Moving (COI)

Certificate of Insurance for Moving (COI)

If you’re moving to a new apartment or condo, you might hear from your new building management that you need to provide a certificate of insurance before you can move-in. In fact, many luxury buildings require you to provide a certificate of insurance (COI) for moving, which means you’ll need to hire professional NJ movers. NJ Great Movers provides our COI directly to the management team, but we also send it to you so you can keep it in your files. Even though you don’t have to worry about the COI, it’s still a good idea to understand the form.

What is a COI and Why Do You Need It?

A certificate of insurance (COI) essentially is proof that the movers you are using have insurance and are able to cover issues should something go wrong. It will list out the insurance the movers have along with the liability and loss coverage. This way, if anything happens to the building, such as a damage or injury, the mover’s insurance covers the cost of repairs or accidents.

Most reputable moving companies, like NJ Great Movers, can easily procure and provide a COI to your building management company. Although there is no standard for what a certificate of insurance should look like, most businesses use the form created by the Association for Cooperative Operations Research and Development (ACORD). A COI generally includes the following information:

  • Date of issue
  • Information about the certification of insurance
  • Insurance agent or broker that produced/issued the certificate
  • Name and address of the business covered by the policy
  • Liability insurance coverage (general, commercial auto, umbrella, and worker’s compensation)
  • List of insurers
  • Coverage in dollars each policy provides
  • Description of operations, locations, and vehicles
  • Expiration date of insurance
  • Signature of agent, broker, or authorized representatives

While not all buildings will require a COI, if you live somewhere with a doorman or hands-on super, chances are your move won’t happen if you don’t provide one. That means you’ll have to scramble for last-minute storage space for your belongings and reschedule your movers. That’s extra money you probably don’t have! Even if your building says they don’t need one, it’s still a good idea to provide a COI just in case. Why? Because a COI also protects you!

As an example, let’s say you move into a building that doesn’t require a COI. You then move your stuff in but damage the walls and maybe even the elevators! Maybe you even get a parking ticket during the move. You will be held liable for these damages and have to pay for any repairs and tickets out of pocket. This could cost you thousands of dollars! There’s also the matter of your belongings. If it gets damaged during your own DIY move, you will have to cover the entire cost of replacement or repair. This can get costly if you own a lot of high value items.

On the other hand, you don’t have to worry about any of that if you hire professional movers. They will shoulder the responsibility for any damages done to the building and, of course, take care of any parking tickets that were for their vehicles. Your items are also automatically protected by something called released value protection, which will cover up to $0.60 per pound per item for free. If you want, you can spring for the more expensive full value protection. If something gets damaged, the movers will either try to fix, replace, or eventually reimburse you for the damaged items. Ideally the professional NJ movers wouldn’t damage anything since they are highly experienced and know how to maneuver tight corners and narrow hallways.

Even if you don’t think your building needs a COI, call up your super or building management company and ask. They will probably appreciate the heads up and most prefer their tenants to use moving companies anyway as it reduces the chance of potential issues in the future.

There’s also another hidden benefit of asking for a COI. It shows whether the company you chose is reputable or not. All legitimate moving companies are required to carry a minimum amount of insurance. The best moving companies provide more than that. For example, NJ Great Movers has the following insurance:

  • $1 million limit for commercial general liability
  • $1 million limit for automobile liability
  • $5 million for umbrella liability
  • $1 million for workers compensation

Asking for a COI early on in the moving process is a good litmus test to see how trustworthy the movers are. If they aren’t able to provide one or they only provide the bare minimum when it comes to insurance coverage, you’ll have enough time to look for other movers.

When requesting a COI always ask for a copy. That way you can also check the information. While most movers are legitimate, there’s always the chance you could run into a scam company. So even if they do provide a COI, it could be fake or not up-to-date. When looking at the COI check to make sure the name and address matches what is listed on the company’s website. Also, check the expiration date of the insurance to make sure the company is still covered. You should also make sure the COI is filled out exactly like the sample. Otherwise, the building will reject it! While most buildings will find these errors immediately, you can save yourself a lot of back and forth and potential stress by catching these things early.

NJ Great Movers Simple COI Process and Steps

If you work with NJ Great Movers, we make the process of requesting a COI as seamless as possible. With that said, you’ll still need to do a little legwork. Naturally, your first step is confirming with both your buildings whether you need a COI to move in and/or out. While you’re on the phone, see if a COI is needed to reserve the freight elevator. If that’s the case, let us know so we can expedite the process. You’ll want to reserve a time as soon as possible to avoid conflicts with other people. After all, you don’t want to waste an hour or two waiting for the freight elevator! After that, get in touch with your property manager(s) and get a sample of the COI and then send it over to us.

We’ll take over from there. We’ll send the sample COI over to our insurance company so that they can fill the forms out properly. Our team will also check to make sure all of our insurance has expiration dates after your move date and provides the appropriate insurance and coverage amount. Once we’ve double-checked everything, we’ll send a copy to your management company and to you. That way, if they somehow miss the email, you will have a copy on file. We do ask that at least a week before your move date you confirm with the property managers that they received the COI and that everything is in working order. Just in case, we’ll also bring a hard copy of the COI with us on the move date as there have been a few occasions where the security guard and/or doorman on duty did not have the COI we had sent on file. This way, we can prevent any delays in your move!

Our goal as professional and trusted NJ movers is to make your move as smooth and easy as possible. That’s why we triple check everything to make sure nothing falls through the cracks. Thanks to our decades of experience, we can cover even the most complex building management requirements. Just let us know as soon as possible so we can get the process started!

Conclusion

Getting a certificate of insurance might sound daunting at first, but if you work with trustworthy moving companies like NJ Great Movers, we make the process as easy as possible. You can rest assured knowing that we will take care of everything come moving day and that if anything should happen, you won’t have to worry about paying.