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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

5 Simple Steps to Hiring Professional NJ Movers

5 Simple Steps to Hiring Professional NJ Movers

At first glance, hiring a professional NJ mover might seem easy. After all, there are dozens of companies to choose from that all tout affordable prices and good service. However, not everything you read on the internet is true. There are plenty of scam/unsavory moving companies who are more than happy to separate you from as much of your money as possible.

To reduce your chances of getting scammed, it’s important to plan and gather information before you hire your mover. If you want to make sure you’re hiring only the best NJ movers, then follow the steps below to avoid potential disaster.

Understand and Identify What You Actually Need

Before you even look into NJ movers, you first need to decide what kind of move you will do. Your options will depend on how much stuff you have to move, the distance you’re traveling, and your budget. If you are short on time and you have a flexible budget, a full service move might be a great option. The movers will help you pack, disassemble, and reassemble your furniture and, of course, load and unload your belongings.

Of course, a full service move is the most expensive option. These can cost upwards of $4,000 for a studio or one-bedroom with the price going up the more you have. You can also pack everything yourself and just hire movers to load and unload your boxes and furniture. Not only will this save you a lot of money, it also gives you the best of both worlds as you get to organize your boxes exactly how you like without dealing with the physical strains moving puts on your body.

For those on a very tight budget and/or don’t have a lot to move, the cheapest option is to hire a moving truck, which can cost as little as $150! You have more flexibility as you don’t have to stick to the mover’s timeline. However, this also puts the most responsibility on your shoulders. If you end up damaging your belongings or the building you’re moving into, you are responsible for the cost of repair.

Research and Shop Around

Now that you’ve figured out your needs and your budget, it’s time to shop around for local movers near you. A quick search should turn up plenty of options, but only note the companies that have good customer reviews, offer the services you need, and work in your area.

Once you’ve made your list, do a quick background check by looking them up on the Better Business Bureau or entering in their company name or USDOT number into the US Department of Transportation website. While you might not be able to read reviews, you can find pertinent information such as number of crashes, what type of cargo they are legally allowed to carry, if they are authorized to move specific items (movers should at least be authorized for household goods or HHG), and more. If the movers don’t have their numbers on their site, you can try searching by name. If they don’t pop up, you should probably cross the company off your list as all movers are required to register with the US Department of Transportation. Many states, including New Jersey, require movers to also register with the state they operate out of. If they’re not listed, it’s a good sign they are not a legitimate company.

Finally, look up customer reviews on Yelp and Google Reviews. Read both positive and negative reviews to get the most accurate picture. Some red flags to look out for include:

  • A lot of damage complaints
  • Consistent last-minute changes
  • Unexpected delays
  • Companies holding belongings hostage for money

While there will always be a handful of bad reviews, if you notice a trend of negative reviews you should cross them off your list. In general, a company with mostly positive reviews should be fine. Still, if you do see a review that says the company held their belongings hostage, you should reach out to the reviewer to ask further questions. This is a huge red flag and is not something you want to deal with. So ask the appropriate questions and find out the full story as best you can.

Of course, online reviews aren’t a replacement for word-of-mouth recommendations from people you know. Ask friends, family, co-workers what moving companies they recommend and which ones to avoid. Nothing beats personal experience!

Reach Out to a Few Trustworthy Expert Movers

Once you’ve done your research and whittled down your list of movers, it’s time to contact them via email or telephone. Provide them with the essential information for your move and don’t forget to ask questions! There are a few fundamental questions you should ask moving companies before you book them:

  • How long has your company been in business?
  • Are you licensed and can you provide your license information?
  • What kind of insurance or ‘valuation’ do you offer to protect my goods?
  • Do you have the appropriate moving equipment for my job?
  • Do you require a deposit?
  • What is your cancellation/rescheduling policy?
  • How do you prevent damage to my belongings?
  • What happens if my items go missing or get broken?
  • How do you handle disputes and claims?
  • Can you provide a certificate of insurance?

A trustworthy moving company will be able to answer these questions with no hesitation. Make sure to pay attention and write down the answers to these questions. Also, pay attention to how they answer you. A polite and professional attitude is what you’re looking for. If they try to avoid the questions or, worse, get angry and start yelling, cross them off your list.

Even if the first movers seem perfect, go ahead and talk with the others on your list. You want to have as many good options as possible so you can compare and contrast their services and prices.

Get an Estimate from Movers and Compare It

Keep in mind that in order to get the most accurate quote/estimate you need to provide as much information as possible to the movers. In the past, movers would do a home visit to see everything you needed to move as well as potential obstacles/issues they would need to deal with. With COVID-19 most movers are doing this all via a virtual walkthrough so make sure you show them everything! That includes mentioning whether you live in a walk-up or elevator building and if your old and/or new building will require a certificate of insurance. You should also ask if you will need to reserve parking spots or elevators on moving day as you don’t want to be charged extra because the movers couldn’t find a parking spot.

Once you have gotten the full estimate, read it over and make sure you understand everything. If there’s something in the estimate that you don’t understand, call the company and have them clarify why you are being charged a fee. After that, compare all of the estimates and your overall impressions of each moving company. Yes, it might be tempting to go with the lowest offer, but many scam movers lowball the estimate, so don’t go for the cheapest option, especially if you notice a lot of red flags!

Choose the Best Professional Movers for Your Move

The best NJ movers for you should be obvious by the time you have reached this final step. All you have to do now is call them up, confirm the details, and sign the moving contract. The company should provide you with a Bill of Lading and an inventory list for your belongings – both of which are basic moving-related documents. Make sure to keep this with you during the entire move so that you can cross-reference everything once you’re in your new place.

On moving day, make sure you’re prepared and that you have packed and disassembled everything (if you’re not doing a full-service move). Stay focused and provide clear directions for getting to your new home and where to place the boxes and furniture in your new home. If the movers are late or something seems off, call the company immediately. You should also check the condition of your belongings on arrival and inform the movies if you notice any problems.

Hire the Best Professional NJ Movers

Finding the right movers for the job isn’t a difficult task, but it can be time-consuming. You should start looking for movers in NJ at least a month before your expected move date so you have enough time to do your research. Provided you didn’t skip any of the steps, you should have a stress-free moving experience. Also, don’t forget to leave a positive review on a third-party review site so other people who are moving can find a trustworthy moving company.

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Moving Tips

How to Move in New Jersey During COVID-19

How to Move in New Jersey During COVID-19

Despite the 2020 pandemic, moving companies have been operational as they are considered an essential business. As the number of cases have dwindled and vaccines have started to roll out, New Jersey has also started to reopen. However, there are now multiple variants so it’s still important to follow safety precautions.

While moving today might be easier than it was a year ago, you and your movers should still follow certain safety procedures to make sure that they aren’t potentially spreading COVID-19. When done properly, these steps can help reduce the chances of a new outbreak and hopefully help achieve herd immunity. Below are some steps you should take when moving during COVID-19 in New Jersey.

Make Sure to Sanitize and Wipe Down All Your Belongings

Even if you don’t have to worry about COVID-19, it’s still a good idea to to clean your belongings before you pack them away. By doing so, you’re reducing the risk of transporting germs and other issues like mold to your new apartment. You don’t have to spend hours sanitizing everything, but you should give a good wipe down to items such as cups, bowls, utensils, etc. If you have the time to spare, you should also wash your clothes and bedding so that they’re nice and clean when you get to your new place. There’s nothing worse than having to do laundry right after a big move!

Besides cleaning your personal items, take some time to wipe down all the surfaces in your old place, especially areas that you touch a lot like countertops, doorknobs, light switches, etc. Also, don’t forget to clean the rest of your apartment. It’s a common courtesy for the next tenants and it can help you get your security deposit back. You want to get your apartment back to its original condition as much as possible so take the time to really get in the nooks and cranny and clean out whatever gunk has built up since you moved in.

Advice on Packing Everything Yourself for Safety

Unless you really don’t have any time, you should pack everything yourself. For one, it will save you a lot of money. Most movers charge an hourly rate so depending on how much stuff you have to pack, your final bill could cost over $5,000! Plus, you have complete control over how everything gets packed. This will make unpacking and organizing much easier since you know exactly what is in each box.

In terms of COVID-19 prevention, the less time you spend around strangers in a confined space, the better. Yes, reputable moving companies will not allow movers who are sick to come to work, however you or they could be asymptomatic. Instead of increasing the risk of transmission by having the movers spend several more hours packing your belongings, it’s better to do it yourself. This way, the movers can be in and out of your apartment as quickly as possible.

Hire Professional Movers Who Follow All Covid-19 Precautions

Sure, restrictions might be loosening up a bit, but the last thing you want are movers who have dropped all their COVID-19 requirements. After all, the virus is still around, along with its variants, and chances are you’ll have to spend at least 2-3 hours indoors with the movers who have likely been in contact with multiple people and their belongings throughout the week. Looking for movers who maintain their COVID-19 protocol won’t cost you more money either so why not hire ones that are still taking the risk seriously?

For example, NJ Great movers still continue to follow the following guidelines to keep you and our employees safe:

  • Sanitize our trucks and moving equipment on a daily basis
  • Our movers sanitize their hands before and after every move
  • Daily temperature checks for our movers
  • Mask requirement for our movers
  • Implementing social distancing guidelines
  • Ensuring widespread vaccination of office staff and moving crews

Speaking of vaccinations, while you can ask the movers if they have been vaccinated, under federal law (HIPAA) they are not obligated to disclose this health information. With that said, reputable NJ moving companies (such as us) encourage all our employees to get vaccinated and ensure any new member who gets onboarded books their appointments as soon as possible.

Clean Your New Home First

This step is a requirement regardless of whether there’s COVID-19 or not. Even if you’re moving into a brand new apartment complex, you still want to give the new place a rub down before you unpack. This way you can get to spots that might otherwise be cluttered with items. Plus, this gives you the opportunity to take a closer look at your new place and find any holes or cracks and seal them up.

If you’re not sure where to start, go through this cleaning checklist:

  • Wipe down all drawers, countertops, and cabinets with disinfectant spray. Add some lining after they dry.
  • Clean the fridge and stove top with soapy water and place a tray of fresh or used coffee grounds at the back of the fridge
  • Replace all toilet seats and covers and wipe down every surface in the bathroom with disinfectant spray
  • Vacuum all floors and mop what you can

Once you’ve cleaned everything, don’t forget to take pictures to keep a record of what the apartment looked like when you moved in. Make sure to timestamp it and even send it over to your new building management so they have it in their files. This way when you move you have evidence of the apartment’s condition just in case the landlord/management company doesn’t want to give you back your security deposit.

Hire the Best Professional NJ Movers for a Safe Move

For the most part, moving has resumed as normal and most buildings have lifted restrictions on their property. Of course, that doesn’t mean COVID-19 has disappeared. With the new variants popping up, it’s more important than ever to remain vigilant and follow safety guidelines. At NJ Great Movers, we take your and our health seriously and we are doing our best to make sure we keep everyone healthy and happy.

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Moving Tips

A Few Ways to Avoid a Bad Moving Experience

How to Avoid a Bad Moving Experience

Chances are you’ve heard some terrifying moving stories from friends, family, or from the news. Hearing these stories can make you think twice about hiring a professional moving service. After all, how do you know they won’t try to charge you more money after they already have your belongings in your possession? Or what if they end up losing or breaking a bunch of your valuables? There are so many risks involved with hiring movers that it might seem easier to just do it yourself. Of course, this comes with its own risks as you might get in an accident, you could injure yourself, or you could damage your old or new building and have to pay a repair fee! It seems like there’s no winning.

Luckily, your moving experience doesn’t have to be stressful and you can avoid a bad moving experience. With that said, this will require some time and planning on your part. However, it’s worth the effort and the headache that you’ll save yourself. Here are three simple ways you can avoid a bad moving experience.

Check the Information and Research It

In this day and age, there’s no reason why you can’t look up the information on the moving companies you’re interested in hiring. The first thing you should do is look up the company’s website. Check to make sure they list basic information such as address, phone number, hours of operation, and so on. See if they have a fleshed out FAQ that provides detailed answers. If there’s hardly any information on the site, it’s a good sign that they either aren’t professional or they are scammers.

You should also check to see if they have the appropriate licenses to operate as a moving company. Reputable moving companies will list their Department of Transportation license directly on their site so you can easily look them up to make sure they are in good standing. Some states require additional licenses. For example, in New Jersey, movers will need to be licensed by the State Division of Consumer Affairs.

Don’t stop at the website though! You should look up reviews and the online reputation of the company. Check Google and Yelp for user reviews to check the moving experience from actual customers. You should also take the time to look up information on the Better Business Bureau to see if there are any complaints lodged against them. You should also check in with family and friends if they have used the same moving service to get their insight.

Once you narrow down your choices, ask all of the moving companies for personal references from recent customers. Moving companies NJ residents trust should have no issue providing this information. When talking to the customers on the phone, ask questions! Common ones include:

  • Was the moving crew on time?
  • Were they friendly and professional?
  • Was anything broken/damaged/lost during the move? How did the company react to these issues?
  • Did you have any add-on services and what was your experience?
  • Were there any surprise costs?
  • Would you move with them again?

Clear Your Queries

You might have heard the saying, ‘there are no stupid questions.’ This is especially true when you’re moving. If you’ve never used a professional mover before or this is your first time moving, you should ask as many questions as possible. Don’t worry about being annoying. If you find out reliable movers, they’ll be more than happy to answer you. Of course, you can always check out their  FAQ  on their site to get a general idea in terms of pricing, cancellation policy, etc. With that said, if you really want to ensure they are capable movers, you should ask the same questions on the FAQ to the customer service representative to make sure the answers line up. Some scammers will copy the FAQ from reputable companies to fly under the radar.

If you’re stumped on questions, ask the following:

  • Do you have storage capabilities?
  • Do you provide packing services?
  • What is your rescheduling/cancellation policy?
  • Can you provide a certificate of insurance for my building?
  • Do you provide an arrival window?
  • What other fees might be added to my final bill?
  • How long will my move take?
  • Can you provide references?
  • Are my items protected by insurance while in transit?
  • How will you protect my floors/walls when moving in and out of buildings?
  • Is the estimate you provide binding?

Top-rated movers (like NJ Movers) will be able to answer your questions without any issues. In fact, they’ll be more than happy to volunteer as much information as possible so that you can feel totally at ease with your move. If the company you call tries to duck your questions or gets angry with you, do yourself a favor and find another one.

Make Sure They Have Proper Insurance

In addition to having national and state licenses, you should also check if your moving company has insurance. One of the many benefits of hiring professional movers is that they are held liable if an accident happens instead of you. While they will all do their best to avoid problems, there’s always the chance that something could go wrong. If you do a DIY move,not hiring professional movers you will be the one to pay for any damages. In some cases, you might not be able to move into your building if you don’t use a professional because the building management company wants to protect their assets from being damaged. Many of these buildings won’t let you rent out the freight elevator without a certificate of insurance. That means if you show up without one, you won’t be let into the building and you’ll have wasted a day and money on a truck rental. To avoid these issues, it’s best to hire pro NJ movers from the start.

While you don’t have to get too into the weeds when it comes to learning all about their insurance coverage, you should check to make sure your movers have:

  • Cargo coverage
  • Automobile liability
  • General liability
  • Umbrella
  • Worker’s compensation

Most buildings will require the movers to have at least $1 million in coverage for general liability, automobile liability, and worker’s compensation. For umbrella liability many buildings ask for around $5 million in coverage. You can check the mover’s certificate of insurance (COI) for the types of coverage they have as well as the amount. In addition to looking at their insurance, you should also check to make sure their policy expiration date comes after your move and that the name of the insured matches the name of the moving company you are using. Some scammers will forge or copy another moving company’s COI to appear more legitimate. Speaking of insurance, trustworthy moving companies also provide general moving insurance for free. . While it won’t cover much (it’s $0.60/pound of damaged or lost item), it at least shows that they take their job and your belongings seriously.

If you have a lot of valuable items, your best bet is to pay extra for the full release value. Just let your movers know if you have items that are worth more than $5 per pound so they can note it in their files. This step is necessary as moving companies can deny a claim if they didn’t know the damaged item(s) were extremely valuable.

Additional Relevant Tips

The above steps can help you weed out obviously bad moving companies from the start. Still, many scammers have become more sophisticated and the red flags might not be so obvious. Some other signs that you’re not dealing with a reputable company include:

  • Slow responses to your questions
  • Incomplete, incomprehensible contract
  • Large deposit or upfront payment
  • Prices are significantly lower than other companies

Not all unsatisfied customers were scammed. In fact, there are also plenty of occasions where a customer might misunderstand certain charges. IFor example, some companies charge a long carry fee. This is an extra charge for when the movers have to walk over a certain distance from the front door of your house to their truck. The distance varies and not all companies charge this fee. Another example is a materials charge during a move. This might pop up if the movers had to pack some of your items like vases, lamps, etc. that you did not pack.

Conclusion

Moving doesn’t have to be a total pain. Sure, you’ll have to still pack, clean, and purge your apartment, but there’s no reason you need to stress if you hire professional movers. We here at NJ Great Movers strive to provide you with a seamless and stress-free experience so you can focus on enjoying your new apartment.